Expandable holder apparatus for flattening and freezing fluid-containing flexible pouches

Claim 1

Apparatus for holding a flexible pouch containing fluid in a condition and orientation for freezing into a thin layer-like unitary article comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially flat parallel planar plates separable to permit enclosure of a slack filled pouch of fluid to be frozen, edge connecting means on at least two edges of the assembled plates arranged and diposed to hold said pouch flattened, said edge connecting means on at least one of said two edges being moveable in a direction which permits expansion of said pouch against the plate pair, a plate pair holding jig fixture, first plate bearing means mounted moveably on the jig fixture and arranged to bear yieldably on the outer surface of one of the plates of a plate pair disposed in the jig fixture, resilient means operably connected between the first plate bearing means and the jig fixture to effect yieldable bearing of said first plate bearing means on said outer surface of said one of said plates of said plate pair disposed in the jig fixture. second plate bearing means mounted moveably on the jig fixture, arranged to bear on the outer surface of the other of the plates of said plate pair disposed in the jig fixture when moved into a second position from a first position wherein said second plate bearing means is substantially out of bearing contact with said outer surface of said other of said plates of said plate pair, and means to move the second plate bearing means into said second position.