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

A small-scale, batch-wise device to simulate high-shear, short-duration emulsification of fluids from various industrial processes at elevated temperatures and pressures for the purpose of determining the quality and stability of those emulsions under different conditions and with different additives. A threaded, transparent tube capable high temperature and pressure is fitted with a threaded bearing with a shaft sealed gas tight at two points with spring-loaded, internally-facing, open rings. A socket head on the external end of the shaft held on a high-speed motor-drive rotates mixing blades on the internal end of the shaft. Process fluids and additives are added to the tube with a vaporizing liquid. The tube is sealed, heated to the process temperature under pressure, then inverted onto the motor drive, by which the blades are rotated at high-speed for a short duration. The tube is righted and the emulsion observed over time at process temperature under pressure.

Apparatus and methods for a mixing device are presented. The mixing device comprises a shaft and a plurality of blades attached to the shaft. The blades include a variable pitch angle configured to create axial fluid flow and radial fluid flow within a container. The apparatus includes a hub and a cage located at ends of the apparatus. The cage includes an open end configured to mate with a structure attached to the container. In further examples of the apparatus, the upper blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially downward direction. The lower blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially upward direction. The lower blade can create an axial flow that encounters the upper blade. A method includes locating a mixing apparatus within the container, inserting fluid within the container, rotating the mixing apparatus, and mixing the fluid.

A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.

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

A mixing head 3 which mixes a first preparative liquid formulation containing a norbornene-based monomer with a second preparative liquid formulation containing a metathesis polymerization catalyst includes a casing 4, a cap 7, and a mixing rotor 6. A plurality of protrusions 622 includes first protrusions 622a having a width in the axial direction of the mixing rotor 6 larger than that in the circumferential direction, and second protrusions 622b having a width in the axial direction of the mixing rotor 6 smaller than that in the circumferential direction. First and second protrusion rows 623a and 623b are alternately arranged, the first protrusion rows 623a being formed of the first protrusions 622a aligned at a predetermined interval, the second protrusion rows 623b being formed of the second protrusions 622b aligned at a predetermined interval.

A fluid mixing system includes a container, such as a flexible bag, bounding a compartment. A flexible drive line is disposed within the compartment, the drive line having a first end rotatably connected to a first end of the container and an opposing second end rotatably connected to a second end of the container. At least one mixing element, such as an impeller, is coupled with the flexible drive line. Rotation of the drive line facilitates rotation of the impeller within the container.

The mixing or dispersing device and assembly equipped with such a device are proposed for optimizing the processing of mixed or dispersed substances, in particular tablets and/or capsules for medicinal drugs. The mixing or dispersing device includes in a mixing chamber, a motor-driven rotor having at least one cutting projection that has at least one cutting edge. A flow-disturbing element is further provided on an inner circumferential wall of the mixing chamber that surrounds the axis of rotation. Furthermore, a deflection surface is provided between the inner circumferential wall and a bottom of the mixing chamber. The at least one flow-disturbing element is spaced from the bottom of the mixing chamber, from the at least one cutting projection and from the circular path on which the at least one cutting projection is movable about the axis of rotation.

The mixing or dispersing device and assembly equipped with such a device are proposed for optimizing the processing of mixed or dispersed substances, in particular tablets and/or capsules for medicinal drugs. The mixing or dispersing device includes in a mixing chamber, a motor-driven rotor having at least one cutting projection that has at least one cutting edge. A flow-disturbing element is further provided on an inner circumferential wall of the mixing chamber that surrounds the axis of rotation. Furthermore, a deflection surface is provided between the inner circumferential wall and a bottom of the mixing chamber. The at least one flow-disturbing element is spaced from the bottom of the mixing chamber, from the at least one cutting projection and from the circular path on which the at least one cutting projection is movable about the axis of rotation.

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