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

A package assembly (20) comprises products enclosed in a tubular packet (24) formed from a flexible wrapper (26). A line of weakness (40) encloses an opening region (42) in a side wall (28) of the packet. The opening region (42) is at least partially removed to create a dispensing opening by tearing the wrapper along the line of weakness (40). In one embodiment, the packet is opened by pressing one of the products through the opening region. In another embodiment, a sticker (150, FIG. 3) is adhered to the opening portion to provide a tab (152, FIG. 3) which can be pulled to open the packet. In a further embodiment, the packet is enclosed in a stiff outer cover (260, FIG. 5). The cover has a reclosable flap (262) bonded to the opening region so that on first opening of the flap, the packet is torn along the line of weakness.

A package assembly (20) comprises products enclosed in a tubular packet (24) formed from a flexible wrapper (26). A line of weakness (40) encloses an opening region (42) in a side wall (28) of the packet. The opening region (42) is at least partially removed to create a dispensing opening by tearing the wrapper along the line of weakness (40). In one embodiment, the packet is opened by pressing one of the products through the opening region. In another embodiment, a sticker (150, FIG. 3) is adhered to the opening portion to provide a tab (152, FIG. 3) which can be pulled to open the packet. In a further embodiment, the packet is enclosed in a stiff outer cover (260, FIG. 5). The cover has a reclosable flap (262) bonded to the opening region so that on first opening of the flap, the packet is torn along the line of weakness.

A method for making ice cream including a basic flavor in which an additional flavor of a different type is inserted includes the following steps: preparing a container for processing the basic ice cream product; cooling and stirring a basic preparation inside processing container to make a basic ice cream product; preparing a hermetically sealed capsule containing an additional flavor; opening the capsule; simultaneously transferring a portion of the basic ice cream from the processing container to the serving container and the additional flavor from the open capsule to the serving container, wherein the simultaneous transferring step comprises a step of delivering the additional flavor into a first predetermined spatial region and a step of delivering the basic ice cream into a second spatial region which contains the first spatial region, so that the additional flavor is fed into the basic ice cream in the serving container.

A method for embossing optically diffracting microstructures in a thin foil, such as used to pack at least one of the list comprising food, chocolate, chewing gum, gifts, jewellery, clothes, tobacco products, pharmaceutical products, the embossing being produced with an embossing rollers set-up comprising at least one cylindrical embossing roller and a cambered counter roller. The method comprises confining the at least one cylindrical embossing roller and the cambered counter roller in a single roller stand of relatively small outer dimensions designed to withstand a pressure for the at least one cylindrical embossing roller and the cambered counter roller; using on a surface of a first one of the at least one cylindrical embossing rollers at least one raised embossing element adapted for microstructure embossing, whereby one of the at least one raised embossing elements comprises a platform distant at a height in a range between 5 m and 30 m above a surrounding surface of the first cylindrical embossing roller adjacent to it, and a pattern engraved on top of the platform (5), whereby the pattern comprises the optically diffracting microstructures with periodicity of gratings in the range smaller than 30 gm that produce from a diffuse or directed source of light in the visible wavelength range diffraction images with high contrast and high luminosity in a defined observation angle; and adjusting the pressure for the at least one cylindrical embossing roller on the thin foil in a range less than 80 bar relative to a platform area of approximately 100 mm.sup.2.

A method for embossing optically diffracting microstructures in a thin foil, such as used to pack at least one of the list comprising food, chocolate, chewing gum, gifts, jewellery, clothes, tobacco products, pharmaceutical products, the embossing being produced with an embossing rollers set-up comprising at least one cylindrical embossing roller and a cambered counter roller. The method comprises confining the at least one cylindrical embossing roller and the cambered counter roller in a single roller stand of relatively small outer dimensions designed to withstand a pressure for the at least one cylindrical embossing roller and the cambered counter roller; using on a surface of a first one of the at least one cylindrical embossing rollers at least one raised embossing element adapted for microstructure embossing, whereby one of the at least one raised embossing elements comprises a platform distant at a height in a range between 5 m and 30 m above a surrounding surface of the first cylindrical embossing roller adjacent to it, and a pattern engraved on top of the platform (5), whereby the pattern comprises the optically diffracting microstructures with periodicity of gratings in the range smaller than 30 gm that produce from a diffuse or directed source of light in the visible wavelength range diffraction images with high contrast and high luminosity in a defined observation angle; and adjusting the pressure for the at least one cylindrical embossing roller on the thin foil in a range less than 80 bar relative to a platform area of approximately 100 mm.sup.2.

The invention relates to water-soluble granules for preparing a drinkable solution, in particular for preventing or treating symptoms associated with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, containing at least 20 per cent by weight of a concentrated extract of red wine leaves, and to a ready-to-use packaging unit comprising one or more portion sachets which contain the granules according to the invention.

The invention relates to water-soluble granules for preparing a drinkable solution, in particular for preventing or treating symptoms associated with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, containing at least 20 per cent by weight of a concentrated extract of red wine leaves, and to a ready-to-use packaging unit comprising one or more portion sachets which contain the granules according to the invention.

One variation of a serving unit includes: a base; a wall extending from the base, including a frustoconical section, and defining a central axis; a rim extending from an upper edge of the wall; a seal extending across the rim and transiently enclosing a cavity defined by the wall and the base; a beater arranged within the cavity, configured to rotate about the central axis, including blades configured to extend along the base and up a portion of the wall, and including a drive coupling coaxial with the central axis; and a dry powdered food product arranged within the cavity and including a first quantity of flavoring, a second quantity of sweetener, and a third quantity of thickener.

One variation of a serving unit includes: a base; a wall extending from the base, including a frustoconical section, and defining a central axis; a rim extending from an upper edge of the wall; a seal extending across the rim and transiently enclosing a cavity defined by the wall and the base; a beater arranged within the cavity, configured to rotate about the central axis, including blades configured to extend along the base and up a portion of the wall, and including a drive coupling coaxial with the central axis; and a dry powdered food product arranged within the cavity and including a first quantity of flavoring, a second quantity of sweetener, and a third quantity of thickener.