AN APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS OR SEMI-CONTINUOUS FREEZING-DRYING OF A LIQUID MATERIAL AND A CONTINUOUS OR SEMI-CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT THE SAME

摘要

(57) Abstract: An apparatus for continuous or semi-continuous freezing-drying of a liquid material contained in a vessel. The said liquid material forms a shell of substantially uniform thickness on the inner of said vessel and the vessels loaded at one end of the process move automatically through the various stages. The apparatus consists of: racks or magazines which have individual locations for locating vessels; a washer for washing and steriliser for sterilising the vessels and racks; rotatable gripping moans for removing the vessels and returning the vessels to the racks, and for holding a vessel and rotating said vessel about its longitudinal axis at a high speed; filling means freezing means for freezing the liquid in the form of a shell; a vacuum drying chamber containing heating means; and conveying means to move racks into and through the vacuum drying chamber, and to move subsequent racks loaded %vita vessels into position for tilling and freezing. The present invention also provides a continuous or semi-continuous foxiness for carrying out the skit’s.