A device for multi-serving capacity ice cream bar includes ice cream bar molds 12, a canister that receives the ice cream bar molds, a freezing fluid medium filled in the canister, an agitating device that agitates the freezing fluid medium by rotating the canister cover, a mold monitoring device that monitors freezing status of each mold, and a bar mold status display. A method of making a plurality of ice cream bars comprises steps of filling ingredients into a plurality of ice cream bar molds, placing the ice cream bar molds in a canister cover of a canister, in which freezing fluid medium is filled, and agitating the freezing medium by rotating the canister cover.

Methods and systems for conveniently producing fresh smoothies, which can be tailored to the particular nutritional requirements and desires of the individual customer. The system is typically a semi-automatic or fully automatic system and may be in the form of a vending machine for smoothies. It allows a consumer to select ingredients and other options, and provides a freshly-made smoothie in a short amount of time. The system generally includes a user input apparatus for receiving orders and customer preferences, and then makes a smoothie to order, delivers the smoothie to the customer, and cleans the blending, device.

A clean in place assembly for a soft serve ice cream dispenser includes an ice cream dispenser. A clean in place system having a water tank including a heater disposed therein is attached to the ice cream dispenser. A control interface is disposed on the tank. The control interface is connected to operating circuitry of the ice cream dispenser. A nozzle of the ice cream dispenser is formed of a conductive metal material and includes a notch formed therein circumferentially about a portion of the nozzle and includes radiused surfaces that extend to portions of the nozzle that house O-rings.

A frozen product dispenser provides a controller to control the rate of freezing and the temperature range of a frozen product. The controller monitors the temperature of the product as well as the torque applied to a scrapper blade. For example, the torque may be measured based on monitoring a current draw of a scrapper motor. The torque may be tracked over time to determine a rate of change in the torque. The rate of freezing may be controlled by setting a maximum rate of increase in the torque. Upon determining that the rate of increase in the monitored torque exceeds the maximum rate, a compressor for the frozen product dispenser may be turned off for a predetermined period of time and/or a hot gas bypass may be opened. A heat transfer medium may decouple thermal contact between an evaporator and the product to control the rate of freezing.

A dispensing apparatus has: a freezing cylinder; a water flowpath; a first controllable valve along the water flowpath; a syrup flowpath; and a second controllable valve along the syrup flowpath. The flowpaths merge as a water/syrup flowpath to the freezing cylinder. The first controllable valve and the second controllable valve each have: a valve body having a cartridge compartment, an inlet to the cartridge compartment, and an outlet from the cartridge compartment; and a valve cartridge. The valve cartridge has: a cartridge body mounted in the cartridge compartment; a valve element carried by the cartridge body; and a solenoid carried by the cartridge body and coupled to the valve element to drive movement of the valve element. The valve element is shiftable between a first condition permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second condition blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet.

Disclosed is a device (1) for dispensing a frozen confection (13) from a receptacle (8) having a longest dimension (L). The receptacle comprises: a first compartment (20) containing the frozen confection and having a product outlet (22); and a second compartment (21) comprising a compressed gas inlet (9) and separated from the first compartment by an at least partially moveable wall (14). The device comprises: a seat (50) for locating the receptacle (8) with the longest dimension (L) aligned in a substantially horizontal direction; and a housing (2) surrounding the receptacle when located in the seat and comprising a lid (3) above the seat and allowing loading of the receptacle onto the seat.

The present invention relates to a powdered ice maker comprising: an ice-making part provided in a cylinder shape of which the inside is empty; a rotary shaft rotating around the central axis of the ice-making part; a water spraying part provided at the rotary shaft so as to spray water at an inner wall of the ice-making part while rotating; a cutter part provided at the rotary shaft so as to cut the ice formed on the inner wall of the ice-making part while rotating; a water tray rotating at the same angular velocity as that of the rotary shaft, and provided at a lower side of the water spraying part; and an ice tray provided at a lower side of the cutter part.

A dispensing apparatus (20; 300; 400) comprises: a freezing cylinder (40); a water flowpath (526); a first controllable valve (130) along the water flowpath; a syrup flowpath (528), merging with the water flowpath and proceeding as a water/syrup flowpath (552) to the freezing cylinder; and a second controllable valve (132) along the syrup flowpath. The first controllable valve and the second controllable valve each comprise: a valve body (144; 432) having a cartridge compartment (164,166), an inlet (176) to the cartridge compartment, and an outlet (178) from the cartridge compartment; and a valve cartridge (162). The valve cartridge comprises: a cartridge body (200) mounted in the cartridge compartment; a valve element (222) carried by the cartridge body and shiftable between a first condition permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second condition blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet; and a solenoid (224) carried by the cartridge body and coupled to the valve element to drive movement of the valve element.

A method and apparatus for assembling and vending a food or drink product using a machine having a viewing window into the interior thereof. The user selects through a user interface one of a plurality of characters, then selects through the interface the ingredients to include in the product. The ingredients are dispensed into a receptacle that is moved between dispensing locations within the machine by a robotic arm. An animated sequence, soundtrack and lighting pattern is associated with each character. As the robotic arm assembles the product, the animated sequence, soundtrack and lighting for the selected character are run and shown on a display. The user is able to watch the movements of the robotic arm and the animated sequence simultaneously.

The present invention relates to a leaktight food filling deposition system providing ease of mounting/demounting, maintenance and cleaning. The present invention particularly relates to a deposition system for depositing food fluids of various temperatures, acidities, viscosities and densities onto, between and into the food products, said deposition system being individually operated, requiring no maintenance, having a high deposition capacity, optionally allowing for each nozzle to deposit different materials and comprising low weight deposition nozzles and a low weight manifold.