An ice cream production apparatus comprises a control unit, a freezer, a freezer outlet pump and a piping system provided from the freezer to one or more ice cream outlet nozzles downstream the freezer, can assume at least two operational modes. The first operational mode is a production mode. The second operational mode is a pre-production mode comprising the steps of freezing the ice cream in the freezer such that the ice cream obtains a pre-production viscosity value being equal to or higher than a production viscosity value, and pumping the frozen ice cream into the piping system at a pre-production outlet flow being smaller than a production outlet flow. The pre-production mode is used for cooling the piping system and the ice cream outlet nozzles before operating the ice cream production apparatus in the production mode.

An ice cream production apparatus comprises a control unit, a freezer, a freezer outlet pump and a piping system provided from the freezer to one or more ice cream outlet nozzles downstream the freezer, can assume at least two operational modes. The first operational mode is a production mode. The second operational mode is a pre-production mode comprising the steps of freezing the ice cream in the freezer such that the ice cream obtains a pre-production viscosity value being equal to or higher than a production viscosity value, and pumping the frozen ice cream into the piping system at a pre-production outlet flow being smaller than a production outlet flow. The pre-production mode is used for cooling the piping system and the ice cream outlet nozzles before operating the ice cream production apparatus in the production mode.

A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products for the ice cream, pastry or catering trade, including: a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a thermal treatment system provided with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container; a feed unit including a container containing a basic preparation for an ice cream, pastry or catering product, and a pressurized gaseous fluid injection device configured to inject the gaseous fluid into the container in such a way as to cause the basic preparation to be expelled from the container and transferred to the processing container; a diluting liquid injection device for delivering a diluting liquid.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products comprises: a container adapted to contain a liquid or semi-liquid base product; a thermal treatment system associated with the container to cool or heat the walls of the container; a stirrer equipped with a plurality of radial vanes and, in use, mounted inside the container to mix the liquid base product inside the container; the machine being characterized in that it further comprises a basket having a plurality of through openings on its walls, defining an internal space for containing flavorings or the like and, in use, mounted inside the container.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products comprises: a container adapted to contain a liquid or semi-liquid base product; a thermal treatment system associated with the container to cool or heat the walls of the container; a stirrer equipped with a plurality of radial vanes and, in use, mounted inside the container to mix the liquid base product inside the container; the machine being characterized in that it further comprises a basket having a plurality of through openings on its walls, defining an internal space for containing flavorings or the like and, in use, mounted inside the container.

An ice cream freezer comprising an elongated housing having a jacket and an interior space in which a dasher with a rotatable hollow cylinder body is arranged, the cylinder body comprising a scraper blade arranged along the periphery of the cylinder body, an inlet located before the scraper blade for allowing ice cream mixture to enter an inside of the cylinder body, and an outlet located after the scraper blade for allowing ice cream mixture to leave the inside of the cylinder body, wherein the inlet comprises a lead surface that has a lead angle of at least 3 for pushing the ice cream mixture in the axial direction of the cylinder body.

A thermodynamic system for cooling or heating at least a first container containing food products of the liquid or semi-liquid type, including a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid, having at least: a compressor having at least one inlet for the heat exchanger fluid and one outlet for the heat exchanger fluid; a first heat exchanger connected to the outlet of the compressor; at least one first expansion element connected to an outlet of the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger which can be associated with the first container and which has an inlet connected to an outlet of the at least one first expansion element; a return duct having an inlet portion connected to an outlet of the second heat exchanger and an outlet portion connected to the inlet of the compressor.

A thermodynamic system for cooling or heating at least a first container containing food products of the liquid or semi-liquid type, including a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid, having at least: a compressor having at least one inlet for the heat exchanger fluid and one outlet for the heat exchanger fluid; a first heat exchanger connected to the outlet of the compressor; at least one first expansion element connected to an outlet of the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger which can be associated with the first container and which has an inlet connected to an outlet of the at least one first expansion element; a return duct having an inlet portion connected to an outlet of the second heat exchanger and an outlet portion connected to the inlet of the compressor.

A machine for making liquid/semi-liquid food products includes a container for the product; a dispenser connected to the container which allows or inhibits dispensing of the product; a mixing stirrer rotatable about an axis of rotation and mounted inside the container; a thermal system including a circuit with a heat exchanger fluid and an evaporator operatively associated with the container and including an inlet aperture for the fluid, a discharge aperture for the fluid, a first tubular element and a second tubular element coaxial with the first tubular element and having an axial direction of extension and a radial direction of extension, the second tubular element extending along an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and being disposed inside the first tubular element to define an annular chamber for circulating the fluid and defined by at least one microchannel, the microchannel having a hydraulic diameter of 3-13 mm.

A machine for making liquid/semi-liquid food products includes a container for the product; a dispenser connected to the container which allows or inhibits dispensing of the product; a mixing stirrer rotatable about an axis of rotation and mounted inside the container; a thermal system including a circuit with a heat exchanger fluid and an evaporator operatively associated with the container and including an inlet aperture for the fluid, a discharge aperture for the fluid, a first tubular element and a second tubular element coaxial with the first tubular element and having an axial direction of extension and a radial direction of extension, the second tubular element extending along an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and being disposed inside the first tubular element to define an annular chamber for circulating the fluid and defined by at least one microchannel, the microchannel having a hydraulic diameter of 3-13 mm.