A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.

A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed at heatsinks configured on the mechanical mixing driveshaft and/or into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a first processing container for processing a liquid or semi-liquid base product and defining a processing chamber; a stirrer mounted inside the first processing container; a thermal system including a heat exchanger, associated with the first processing container; a processing and control unit, including a module for receiving and transmitting data, a processing module and a memory containing processing software instructions which can be carried out by the processing module, the processing and control unit defining a storage node of a distributed architecture database.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a first processing container for processing a liquid or semi-liquid base product and defining a processing chamber; a stirrer mounted inside the first processing container; a thermal system including a heat exchanger, associated with the first processing container; a processing and control unit, including a module for receiving and transmitting data, a processing module and a memory containing processing software instructions which can be carried out by the processing module, the processing and control unit defining a storage node of a distributed architecture database.

A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.

A system for cooling and mixing a food or drink in a pod includes an apparatus for cooling and mixing a food or drink in a pod, the hermetically sealed pod, and a magnetic stir bar. The apparatus has a cooling system defines a recess sized to receive the pod. The apparatus includes a magnetic stirring assembly for rotating the magnetic stir bar and an actuator operable to create a vibration in the recess, The magnetic stirring assembly is operable to generate a magnetic field in the recess of the cooling system and has a rotating magnet. The magnetic stirring assembly rotates the immersed magnetic stir bar in the pod causing the food or drink to rotate to the wall of the pod to increase heat transfer from the food or drink to the cooling system.

A refrigeration subsystem removably received within a base machine to cool an object. The subsystem includes a body with an opening that receives the object. An evaporator thermally communicates with the object, which is cooled by refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. A compressor receives the refrigerant downstream of the evaporator and increases a refrigerant pressure. A condenser receives the refrigerant downstream of the compressor, which cools the refrigerant. An expansion device receives the refrigerant downstream of the condenser and decreases its pressure, the evaporator being downstream from the expansion device. A refrigerant circuit fluidly couples the evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device such that the refrigerant flows therebetween, all of which are coupled to the body and move together therewith. The refrigerant circuit forms a closed loop that remains unbroken when the body of the refrigerant subsystem is removed from the base machine.

The present invention relates to a portion control system for food products dispensed from frozen beverage equipment and soft-serve ice cream equipment. The system, injects a food product into a mixing cylinder and chills the food product to a predetermined frozen malleable consistency. When a portion-controlled dispense amount volume indicating volume of the food product to dispense is received a dispense time is determined based on a dispense amount volume and current values of dispense condition variables. If the auger motor is initially off a surge dispense amount volume is first determined and dispensed, the auger motor started, and the remainder dispense time and dispense amount volume are determined and dispensed. If the auger motor is initially on a dispense time is determined. Dispense time is determined by interpolating between dispense table records that comprise dispense times, dispense amount volumes, and dispense condition variables.

Food-grade shapers and serving containers for frozen confections are disclosed. A system of the disclosure includes a serving container and a shaping lid. The serving container includes a cup portion and a shaping portion, wherein the cup portion comprises a lower sidewall defining a cup cavity for receiving a shaved ice confection, and the shaping portion comprises an upper sidewall defining one or more shaping regions. The shaping portion includes a top rim defining a top-most portion of the serving container. The shaping lid is configured to removably connect to the serving container.

A machine for producing frozen comestibles having a control system based on one or more operational characteristics, including product characteristics, to control the consistency and quality of the comestible, and to extend the useful lifespans of its components.