Described is an apparatus for controlling the quality of a food product, including a quality control module, equipped with: at least one sensorized device, the sensorized device being adapted to detect at least one parameter regarding a property of a food product; a processing and control unit connected to the sensorized device for receiving the detected value regarding a property of a food product; the processing unit is configured to derive a quality indication of the food product based on the value detected by the sensorized device, and the apparatus includes a communication module connected to the processing and control unit and configured to transmit information relating to the derived quality indication.

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 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.

Devices and systems for dispensing flavored, frozen flowable foods are disclosed. Such devices and systems may include a flavor injection and blending assembly having an inner surface that tapers inwardly near an outlet end to form a nozzle that aids in coalescing strands of frozen flowable confection, formed during mixing, into a unitary form. Flavor injection and blending assemblies having a first mixing vane and a second mixing vane welded to one another are disclosed. Sanitizing systems configured to provide water to a flavor injection and blending assembly are also disclosed.

A stirring unit of a machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a first base element rotatable about a first axis and having a plurality of first mixing vanes and a plurality of scraping appendages connected to the mixing vanes; a first actuator, connected to the base element to set it in rotation about the first axis, a second base element rotatable about a second axis and having a second mixing vane; a processing container forming a processing chamber for processing a base product and in which the first base element and the second base element are mounted; a second actuator, connected to the second base element to rotate it, the first base element and the second base element being configured to rotate independently of each other and the first actuator and the second actuator being configured to be activated independently of each other.

A frozen food appliance and related method of making a frozen food product. A rotational drive assembly configured in an axial alignment using a direct drive to produce rotational movement of a blade element to contact a frozen food precursor in a frozen food container associated with the frozen food appliance where the rotational drive assembly omits rotational speed modifying gears and transmissions positioned between a drive motor and the blade element. In another aspect, a rotational drive assembly may be kept in axial alignment with a frozen food container via a multi portioned container mount having a float connector.

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

An interface assembly for a frozen dessert machine is disclosed that includes a freezer door having opposed front and rear sides and including at least one recessed mounting pocket formed in the rear side thereof, the at least one recessed mounting pocket including a cornice covering an upper portion thereof, and at least one elongated baffle having opposed proximal and distal end portions, the proximal end portion of the at least one baffle including a retention flange that is dimensioned and configured for detachable reception within the at least one mounting pocket of the freezer door behind the cornice.

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.

Equipment for processing food creams, which comprises a tub (11) housed in a removable manner inside a containment structure (2) and comprising a side wall (15), which is provided at the top with an access aperture (20) for loading the cream and is closed at the bottom by a bottom wall (17) provided with an exit aperture (22), through which the cream is dispensed outside the tub (11); cooling means (21) operatively associated with the tub (11) to absorb heat from the cream; an obturator (23) operatively connected to the bottom wall (17) of the tub (11) and movable between a closed position, in which it occludes the exit aperture (22) of the bottom wall (17), and an open position, in which it leaves the opening of the exit aperture (22) free in order to allow the cream to come out of the tub (11); a mixing body (30), rotatably housed inside the tub (11) and provided with a thrust surface (31) tilted and facing towards the bottom wall (17) of the tub (11); moving means (32) mechanically connected to the mixing body (30) and operable, when the obturator (23) is in the open position, to make the mixing body (30) rotate in a first direction of rotation (R1) in which the thrust surface (31) pushes the cream to descend through the exit aperture (22) of the bottom wall (17) of the tub (11).