New vertical plate freezer with mechanised unloading

Aiming to incorporate the unloading system to the plate freezer, Tucal has used an innovative design. The plates are placed lengthwise, which also reduces the cost because the number of plates, flexible hoses and corresponding accessories are much lower than in traditional plate freezers. The pneumatic system provides the appropriate pressure for the different movements (bottom elevation, plate opening and closing, and blocks unloading), avoiding possible problems caused by incorrect regulation. The plate freezer’s height does not vary during the unloading operation, which means that the overhead crane can be incorporated in the upper part of the freezer.

Thanks to this original design, Tucal says that the required investment is minimal, and there is no need to carry out any kind of alteration in the premises, because the equipment is autonomous (it is only necessary to place a conveyor belt or a mobile table at the unloading zone). The difference in price between a traditional vertical plate freezer and the new one is only around 10%, so any kind of company can afford this system, says Tucal.

Characteristics:

• Longitudinal plates: lower number of plates, flexible hoses, and corresponding accessories
• Fixed dividers
• Bottom structure to push up the blocks of frozen product
• The system for opening/closing the plates and for the up and down movement of the bottom is pneumatic

The integrated unloading system consists of:

• Two rails placed at both sides of the freezer, with hinges at the unloading zone that can be folded up, giving the possibility of working with two lines of freezers over the same conveyor belt and also facilitating the access to that zone.
• An overhead crane which moves over the rails, with a series of pneumatic lifting tongs adapted to the blocks. This overhead crane also has a system to stop at the exact collecting point of each station.

The plate freezer and the whole unloading system’s structure are made of stainless steel.