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

A device is provided for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture. The device includes a first sub-unit, a second sub-unit, and a cooling unit. The first cup holder has a cavity configured for releasably receiving a cup in which the frozen food product is to be prepared from the liquid mixture, and a first stirring unit associated with the first cup holder. The second sub-unit has a second cup holder with a cavity configured for releasably receiving a cup in which the frozen food product is to be prepared from the liquid mixture, and a second stirring unit associated with the second cup holder. The cooling unit is configured for cooling the cavity of the first and/or second cup holder during an operational phase of respectively the first and/or second sub-unit.

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

A method and assembly for preparing a drink based on frozen food comprises storing frozen food in various containers in the form of first granular materials and under deep- freeze conditions, crushing a portion of at least one of the first granular materials into a second granular material, and placing the second granular material into a cup. A first liquid is added to the cup at a temperature of at least 50° C. The cup, filled with the foods and possibly the first liquid, is closed, and the content of the cup is ground into a homogeneous mass. Lastly, the cup is opened and served.

The apparatus (300) comprising a cooling unit (310) containing a coolant, a product conduit (330), a cooling conduit (331), a coolant supply conduit (317), a coolant return conduit (318), a coolant bypass conduit (320), a coolant pump (319), one or more valves (321, 322), and a controller. The controller being arranged and configured to operate the apparatus in at least a primary mode and in a secondary mode. In the primary mode coolant is circulated around a primary cooling circuit comprising the cooling unit (310), the coolant supply conduit (317), the cooling conduit (331) and the coolant return conduit (318). In the secondary mode coolant is circulated around a secondary cooling circuit comprising the coolant supply conduit (317), the cooling conduit (331), the coolant return conduit (318) and the coolant unit bypass conduit (320), wherein the secondary cooling circuit does not comprise the cooling unit (310).

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.

The present disclosure provides an improved system and method that includes a food dispensing machine for dispensing a base food product through a dispensing valve and adding ingredients and other additives, such as flavors and the like, to the base food product when the product is dispensed from a product chamber. Apparatuses and methods for maintaining a consistent mix of the base product in the freezing chamber are disclosed as are processes for calibrating desired proportions of ingredients.

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

A self-serve kiosk system comprising a controller interfacing an order configuration interface and a scoop subsystem comprising a robotic arm having a scoop mechanism at a distal end thereof. The scoop mechanism has a coplanar rim about the interior and the controller controls the robotic arm in a particular manner to position the scoop mechanism in relation to an ice cream container in accordance with an order received via the order configuration interface, to lower the scoop mechanism into the ice cream container and to stroke until the coplanar rim hits flat against an opposing inner side wall surface of the container thereby entrapping a fixed volume of ice cream between the opposing inner side wall surface and the interior of the scoop so that a fixed volume of ice cream can be extracted from the ice cream container for dispensing.

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