A machine for pasteurizing liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a first container for the thermal treatment of a liquid or semi-liquid base product; a second container for feeding the liquid or semi-liquid base product, connected to the first, thermal treatment container, for feeding the liquid or semi-liquid base product; a stirrer for mixing the product in the first, processing container and mounted inside the first, thermal treatment container; a thermal system including an exchanger associated with the walls of the first, processing container and configured to release heat at the walls of the first, thermal treatment container, the machine wherein the stirrer is externally helically shaped and extends between a first, inlet end and a second, outlet end, so that as it rotates, the liquid or semi-liquid product is made to advance between the first, inlet end and the second, outlet end.

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.

An apparatus for consuming a freezable substance is disclosed. The apparatus can comprise a squeezable chamber configured to store a liquid. The apparatus can comprise a flange coupled to or formed with the squeezable chamber, the flange sized and shaped to support the freezable substance. The apparatus can comprise a liquid pathway from the squeezable chamber through the flange to deliver the liquid to the freezable substance.

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

A system for dispensing a frozen beverage. The system includes a barrel having an inner wall and being configured to retain the frozen beverage therein. A mixing system causes mixing of the frozen beverage within the barrel. A cooling system cools the frozen beverage from radially outwardly of the inner wall. A melting system heats the frozen beverage from radially inwardly of the inner wall. The mixing system causes relatively larger ice crystals to move inwardly from the inner wall, and the melting system reduces a size of the relatively larger ice crystals.

A container contains a food product to be dispensed, the container volume being closed by a closure and including an identification member; the container being further provided with an engagement member designed to engage with a corresponding driving member to displace the identification member according to a certain pre-defined path in order to allow its reading. A device is operable with such a container, the device has a driving element and a reader, the driving element engaging with the container to displace the identification member according to a certain pre-defined path with respect to the reader. A system prepares cold or frozen dessert products from a fluid contained in a container, the system has a container and a device operating it.

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

The invention relates to apparatus and method of making a frozen confectionary product such as ice cream or sorbet in which a confectionary mix is churned in a vessel whilst a liquid gas such as liquid nitrogen is added. Existing churning apparatus moves a stirrer through the ice cream mix in an epicyclical motion. This tends to splash liquid nitrogen so that it evaporates without contributing to the freezing of the ice cream. In the improved mixing method, the stirrer is repeatedly drawn against the inside wall(s) of the vessel. This reduces splashing of the liquid nitrogen. The drawing action also removes build up of frozen confectionary product on both the stirrer and the vessel walls and allows unfrozen confectionary mix to move to the edges of the vessel and be preferentially frozen.

A frozen beverage dispenser includes a housing, a hopper configured to store a beverage product, a freezing chamber, a front cover removably coupled to the housing, a refrigeration system, an auger positioned within the freezing chamber, a drive configured to rotate the auger, an air inlet formed near the bottom of the housing, a single air outlet formed near the rear and the top of the housing, a fan for drawing air through the air inlet into the interior of the housing and exhausting air from the interior of the housing through the single air outlet, a spigot fluidly coupled to the freezing chamber, the spigot including a valve and an outlet wherein with the valve in a closed position, frozen beverage does not pass through the valve and with the valve in an open position, frozen beverage passes through the valve and exits through the outlet of the spigot.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, specifically ice cream, includes a vessel for processing liquid or semi-liquid base products by means of a stirring device driven by a motor. The mixture in the vessel is transferred through a duct, along which movement means for moving the mixture are operatively located, these movement means comprising a rotary device including two juxtaposed discs, on which a series of rollers is mounted in such a way as to press a flexible portion of the duct, and an opposing element confronting the rollers.