A beverage nucleation device includes a housing, a beverage receiving area defined by the housing for receiving a beverage container containing a supercooled beverage, and a support configured to support the beverage container in an upright orientation in the beverage container receiving area. The beverage nucleation device may further include an applicator configured to contact a sidewall of the beverage container on the support, wherein the applicator includes an elastomeric material. An ultrasonic transducer of the beverage nucleation device is configured to generate and apply ultrasonic energy to the beverage container via the applicator so as to cause nucleation of the supercooled beverage.

A device for shredding deep-frozen food products provided in block form comprises a tool coupled to one end of a rotatable shaft by means of which it is rotated about an axis of rotation and advanced along the axis of rotation in the direction towards the block, thereby scraping layers off the block. The tool can be uncoupled from and recoupled to the end of the shaft without using a tool. When the tool is coupled to the end of the shaft it axially abuts the shaft's end and is thereby held in a force-locking manner on the end of the shaft for the transmission of drive forces from the shaft to the tool. The device includes a tool detection device to determine whether a tool is arranged on the end of the shaft as intended so that operation can occur only when the tool is connected as intended.

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

A mixing device suitable to mix substances or liquid or semi-liquid mixtures to increase the volume thereof, includes a hub which develops along a central axis and two mixing spokes connected to the hub, wherein each of the spokes includes an external lateral fin and two upper and lower connection segments, which connect respective upper and lower ends of the lateral fin to the hub.

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

A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.

A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.

A self-contained food processor is provided for treating a food flow path in the food processor with a solution. The food flow path can be treated without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor and without requiring direct operator input. The food processor includes a controller for directing passage of a solution through at least portions of the food flow path without requiring constant operator oversight. The food processor can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through the food flow path in the food processor.

An ice cream roll maker includes a housing, a freezer wheel mounted within the housing and configured for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a reservoir within the housing for holding a liquid ingredient. An outer peripheral surface of the freezer wheel is configured to receive the liquid ingredient from the reservoir and transform the liquid ingredient into a frozen coating layer on the outer peripheral surface.

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.