The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and devices for producing a shaved ice or snow cone products and providing toppings thereto. The system may comprise an ice shaving or snow cone machine, a mobile edifice, and a topping dispenser attached to the mobile edifice.

An edible composition, particularly an edible transport system, comprising an edible substance and a cross-linked matrix encapsulating the edible substance, the cross-linked matrix comprising (1) at least one edible polymer and edible particles or (2) a plurality of edible polymers.

An ice-cream vending machine with an insulated and refrigerated bottom half housing containing stacks of pre-portioned ice-cream supported by a plurality of circular platforms and a top half housing containing radially deposed topping storage bins, a topping retrieval mechanism, a centrally located stacked cup storage tube and a centrally located cup holding platform. The topping retrieval mechanism with a topping receiving cup is attached to a horizontally disposed telescoping arm The telescoping arm engages a radially disposed drive mechanism that allows the topping receiving cup to access a selected bin and deliver the topping to a portion of ice-cream. The ice-cream portions are retrieved one at a time from the refrigerated bottom half housing and delivered via an ice-cream delivery mechanism to a centrally located ice-cream cup.

A process for producing a food product comprises the following process steps: a) introducing ice cream into a cup, so that the ice cream occupies a lower region of the cup, b) introducing a specified quantity of liquid coolant into a metering container, c) after completion of process steps a) and b), introducing the coolant from the metering container into the cup, so that the coolant cools a top side of the ice cream in the cup, and d) after completion of process step c), introducing an at least partially melted garnishing substance into the cup, so that a solid garnishing layer composed of the garnishing substance is formed on the top side of the ice cream as a result of hardening of the garnishing substance.

A flavor station assembly can be employed to dispense snow cone flavors or other types of flavoring syrups or liquids. The flavor station assembly can include one or more saucer assemblies where each saucer assembly is configured to dispense a number of flavors. Each saucer assembly can be coupled to a support assembly that is configured to pivot thereby enabling the saucer assemblies to be positioned in a desired location relative to the structure to which the support assembly is mounted.

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.

A flavor station assembly can be employed to dispense snow cone flavors or other types of flavoring syrups or liquids. The flavor station assembly can include one or more saucer assemblies where each saucer assembly is configured to dispense a number of flavors. Each saucer assembly can be coupled to a support assembly that is configured to pivot thereby enabling the saucer assemblies to be positioned in a desired location relative to the structure to which the support assembly is mounted.

The disclosure extends to systems and devices for a liquid dispensing device. The device may include a dispenser framework having a plurality of spouts mounted thereto, wherein the plurality of spouts are configured to dispense a liquid. The dispenser framework may be configured to be mounted such that the dispenser can swing between a closed position and an open position. The device may include a plurality of topping reservoirs corresponding to the plurality of spouts in fluid communication with the plurality of spouts. At least two of the plurality of spouts may be fluidically connected to each other to form a spout group. The topping reservoir may be in fluid communication with the spout group via a tube that connects to the spout group.

The present invention relates to an application assembly for applying coating onto confectionary products comprising a housing (5) comprising a product coating void (6) for receiving the confectionery product (9) to be coated, at least one receptacle (8), the receptacle being adapted to receive coating material and comprising a supply hole or holes (11) through which coating material may flow from the housing (5) and into the coating void (6) where it becomes transferred onto the product, and wherein each receptacle comprises one or more applicator members (10) to transfer 16 coating material onto the confectionery product and wherein the supply hole or holes (11) are formed within said receptacles, and wherein the one or more applicator member comprises a cavity (14) to allow accumulated coating material to be collected and stored when a product remains static in the product void. The invention also relates to a method for applying a partial coating to a confection products.

A flavor station assembly can be employed to dispense snow cone flavors or other types of flavoring syrups or liquids. The flavor station assembly can include one or more saucer assemblies where each saucer assembly is configured to dispense a number of flavors. Each saucer assembly can be coupled to a support assembly that is configured to pivot thereby enabling the saucer assemblies to be positioned in a desired location relative to the structure to which the support assembly is mounted.