A device (1) for detecting the bacterial charge in a liquid or semi-liquid food product comprises a main containment body (2), an analysis chamber (3), located inside the containment body (2) and designed to contain a certain quantity of product to be examined, one or more heating means (4) designed to heat the product inside the analysis chamber (3), at least one temperature sensor (5) designed to monitor the temperature of the product inside the analysis chamber (3) and sensor means (6) designed to detect the impedance in the product inside the analysis chamber (3). The analysis chamber (3) has an elongate shape and extends along a principal axis (3a), while the one or more heating means (4) are symmetrical about a plane at right angles to the principal axis (3a).

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.

Described is a machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, including a first container for processing a liquid or semi-liquid base product defining a processing chamber and a stirrer for mixing the product of the first processing container. The machine also includes a plurality of detection devices designed to detect a quantity or an operating parameter of said machine and to generate a signal representative of the quantity or of the operating parameter. The machine includes a processing and control unit configured to receive the representative signals and to derive an operating condition of the machine based on the signals. The machine also includes a user interface connected to the processing and control unit and comprising a single control operable by an operator to selectively perform power on and power off of the machine.

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

A cooling control device comprises a compressor, a condenser, a material reservoir evaporator, a freezing cylinder refrigeration inlet conduit, and a freezing cylinder refrigeration outlet conduit. An outlet end of the condenser is connected to a condenser outlet pipe. The condenser outlet pipe is in communication with three branch pipes, which are a freezing cylinder refrigeration pipe, a material reservoir pre-cooling pipe and a material reservoir freshness-preserving pipe arranged in parallel. The freezing cylinder refrigeration pipe is in communication with the freezing cylinder refrigeration inlet conduit. The material reservoir pre-cooling pipe and the material reservoir freshness-preserving pipe are in communication with an inlet end of the material reservoir evaporator. An outlet end of the material reservoir evaporator and the freezing cylinder refrigeration outlet conduit are respectively in communication with the compressor. The cooling control device can separate a pre-cooling mode and a freshness-preserving mode for a material reservoir.

A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products is provided with a frame, a product processing unit and a control unit for driving the processing unit; the processing unit is in turn provided with a first vessel which is set in rotation about its central axis by a brushless gear motor and which defines inside it a product processing chamber, a stirrer provided with a spatula mounted inside the processing chamber, and a movement unit for moving the stirrer; the movement unit for moving the stirrer imparts to the spatula, through two distinct linear actuators, a first movement, towards and away from the bottom of the first vessel, and a second movement, independent of the first, towards and away from the inside wall of the first vessel.

An improved interactive frozen confectionery vending machine with two alternate freezer enclosures storing a variety of ice creams in cups is presented. The vending machine further comprises a toppings dispensing and a control system enclosures. A programmable control system enables a customer to select one ice cream cup at a time of a flavor of his or her choide and customize the selected ice cream with a choice of automatically dispensed hard or soft toppings via a gear motor operated arm and flexible liquid topping delivery tubes. A Wi-Fi enabled payment system and an ice cream and topping selection are implemented via a touch screen. The vending machine interior is accessible by pre-authorized personnel only.

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.

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