Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for cooling articles (4), especially articles being covered with a chocolate mass, includes a cooling channel (1) and a conveyer belt (2) for transporting the articles (4) through the cooling channel (1). The articles (4) in the cooling channel (1) are exposed to a temperature profile (31) extending approximately from the entrance (5) to the exit (6) of the cooling channel (1). A first cooling circuit through which a first cooling medium (14, 24) flows is connected to a first cooling stretch (12). The first cooling medium (14, 24) enters the first cooling stretch (12) in the middle region (11) of the cooling channel (1) at a first entering temperature (17, 30). A first temperature sensor (18, 25) is arranged in the region of the entrance (5) of the cooling channel (6) for sensing the temperature of the first cooling medium (14, 24). A first control device (37, 51) controls the temperature of the first cooling medium (14, 24) in the sense of keeping the temperature substantially constant in the region of the entrance (5) of the cooling channel (1) and in the sense of changing the first entering temperature (17, 30) of the first cooling medium (14, 24) in response to the load of articles (4) being located in the cooling channel (1). Correspondingly, there is a second cooling circuit and a second cooling stretch (13). A second temperature sensor (23, 27) is arranged in the region of the exit (6) of the cooling channel (1) for sensing the temperature of the second cooling medium (24, 26). A second control device (46, 58) correspondingly controls the temperature of the second cooling medium (24, 26).

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First Claim