A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, includes, in combination: a container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products; a thermal treatment cylinder contained inside the container and having an axis that is inclined relative to the vertical; a stirrer mounted to the outside of the thermal treatment cylinder; a thermal system including a heat exchanger associated with the thermal treatment cylinder, wherein the container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products is defined by a first, inside wall and a second, outside wall, the first, inside wall and the second, outside wall forming between them a gap that is not affected by the liquid or semi-liquid products.

A stirrer of a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, rotating about an axis, comprises: a first end element and a second end element; longitudinal elements extending along the axis between the first end element and second end element; scraping elements which are removably couplable to the longitudinal elements, the scraping elements having a portion that is partly helical in shape.

A frozen fluid mixing and dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible-walled package enclosing a cavity that receives a liquid that is mixed with air and chilled in the apparatus to form an associated frozen slurry therethrough.

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.

A micro puree machine including a housing, a power shaft, a bowl assembly and a platform. The power shaft extends from the housing. The bowl assembly including at least one locking bowl element. The platform includes at least one complementary locking platform element that is configured to engage the at least one locking bowl element such that rotation of the bowl assembly relative to the platform is prevented at times the bowl assembly is positioned thereon. The platform is rotatable from a first position to a second position relative to the housing such that the platform raises the bowl assembly towards the power shaft during the rotation of the bowl assembly and platform. The raising of the bowl assembly facilitates connection between the power shaft and a blade assembly that is positioned in a lid assembly on the bowl assembly.

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

A machine for providing a single serving of a cold beverage or frozen confection includes a nest assembly and a lid assembly. The nest assembly defines a recess for receiving a pod containing at least one ingredient for forming a single serving of the cold beverage or frozen confection and at least one helical internal paddle. The nest assembly has a cooling unit operable to cool the nest assembly. The lid assembly includes a lid and a plunger to rotate the at least one helical internal paddle of the pod to dispense the cold beverage or frozen confection forced out of the pod by rotation of the internal paddle. The frozen confection is ejected directly into a container or cone without coming into contact with other portions of the machine.

The process involves feeding a base aerated frozen confection having an overrun of from 20-150% from a freezer to a static mixer, feeding a viscous flavorant or other ingredient having a free oil level of at least 10% to the static mixer to combine with the base frozen confection, and mixing them in the static mixer to obtain a frozen confection including the viscous flavorant or other ingredient which is homogeneous to the eye and taste and which preferably has fewer crystalline fat structures per air bubble, which means greater stability of the air bubbles. The invention is also reflected in reduced standard deviation in product fill weight and an improved distribution of air bubbles. The invention also is directed to the frozen aerated confection.

A frozen product machine that solves problems associated with conventional home ice cream and frozen product machines by prevents loss of product in the chamber and decreases freezing time for a liquid product. A cooling chamber is cooled by a cooling element that provides variable cooling temperatures throughout the cooling chamber. A temperature gradient, progressing from lower temperatures at the bottom of the chamber, or the outlet, to higher at the top of the chamber, or inlet, create a more efficient means of cooling a frozen product. An auger, that may be shaped to match the shape of the cooling chamber may include slots that allow for controlled flow of frozen product through the chamber to promote efficient cooling. Hinged fins may rotate from open to closed within the slot to further enhance flow of frozen product through the frozen product machine.

An ice cream maker may comprise a sealed inner shell containing ice cream mixture; a sealed outer shell containing salt, ice, and the inner shell; and an insulated bag containing the sealed outer shell. Ice cream may be made by tumbling the insulated bag (containing the outer shell and inner shell) in a dryer.