Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A method of forming frozen beverage blocks from a liquid beverage. The method may include introducing a beverage into a hot beverage reservoir of a beverage receiving subsystem to initiate the process. Next, the beverage may flow from the hot beverage reservoir of the beverage receiving subsystem into a cooling subsystem. The flow from the hot beverage reservoir into and through the cooling subsystem may be done entirely via gravity. Cool air may be blown across the cooling subsystem to cool the beverage as the beverage flows through the cooling subsystem. Upon the temperature of the beverage being measured at or below a predetermined lower threshold temperature, the beverage may be permitted to flow, via gravity, from the cooling subsystem into a cool beverage reservoir of a freezing subsystem. The freezing subsystem may be configured to convert the beverage from a liquid into frozen beverage blocks.

Various embodiments relate to a device for simultaneous consumption of a fluid and a frozen substance. in some embodiments, the device can include a handle assembly and a variable-volume chamber configured to store at least a portion of the fluid substance, the variable-volume chamber removably connected to the handle assembly. A cover can be removably coupled with the handle assembly. The cover can have an open end and a closed end and can at least partially define a mold cavity for molding the freezable substance.)

A latching mechanism suitable for suppository molds, where the latching mechanism is designed to assist the separation of mold when the latch is released. In embodiments, the latching mechanism has a lever portion on a first mold half and a catch portion on a second mold half. The lever portion is configured to impinge upon the catch portion to provide a force to bias the first mold half away from the second mold half. Other embodiments include methods of utilizing such a catching mechanism with a suppository mold.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A horizontal molding system and method can include: an ice pop stick, the ice pop stick including: an ice pop stick key, the ice pop stick key including a key top side, a key bottom side and key edges, an inner portion having a top side, the inner portion vertically below the ice pop stick key, and an external portion coupled to the ice pop stick key, the external portion having a curve extended vertically down and horizontally away from the ice pop stick key and extended below a horizontal plane defined by the top side of the inner portion; and a mold including a notch and a mold upper lip, the notch configured to seal around the key edges and the key bottom side, and the key top side being co-planar with the mold upper lip.

The invention relates to an ice cream machine having a filling zone and an emptying zone. The ice cream machine comprises a rotatable unit having a radial extension, a mould for receiving ice cream, the mould being arranged to rotate with the rotatable unit, an extrusion nozzle for extruding ice cream into the mould, the extrusion nozzle being arranged at the filling zone. The ice cream machine further comprises an ejection mechanism for ejecting ice cream radially out of the mould at the emptying zone. The invention also relates to a method for producing an ice cream product using an ice cream machine.

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.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.