A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products includes a thermal system using a main heat exchanger fluid, a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a pressure reducing element, all affected by circulation of the main heat exchanger fluid. A motor includes a drive shaft rotatable about a vertical axis. A production unit includes a first container with a processing chamber for making ice cream and a stirrer insertable into the first processing container. A second container includes a cavity rotatably housing the first container and which is fixed relative to a frame. Channels for circulating the main heat exchanger fluid are associated with the second container and define for the thermal system a second heat exchanger in which the main heat exchanger fluid circulates. A coupling mechanism couples the first container and drive shaft for transmission of motion from the motor to the first container.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A nut paste preparation for food and beverages is formed by processing blanched, unroasted nuts into a nut based flour having a mean particle size between about 0.002 and 0.012 inches. The processing occurs without adding water and oil. The temperature during processing does not exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The nut based flour is sheared without adding water and oil to form a nut paste. The temperature during shearing does not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The nut paste after shearing has a mean particle size of about 1 to about 40 microns.

A food and beverage paste preparation is formed by delivering a flour derived from nuts, seeds, grain or beans into a shear mixer. The flour may have a mean particle size between about 0.002 and 0.012 inches and a moisture content between about 4 to about 6 percent. The flour is sheared without adding water for mixing to form a food and beverage paste. The temperature during shearing does not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and the food and beverage paste after shearing has a mean particle size of about 1 to about 40 microns.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A powder provisioning device is for a powder doser, in particular for a tamping pin station. The powder provisioning device comprises a powder container, which can be driven in rotation, for receiving a powder bed, and a stationarily mounted smoothing device for the powder bed. The stationarily mounted smoothing device includes a stirring unit having at least one stirrer which projects into the interior of the powder container and can be driven in rotation.

A method is provided for processing an object with the aid of a planar drive system. The planar drive system comprises at least one stator assembly, each having a plurality of coil groups for generating a stator magnetic field, a stator surface above the stator assembly, and at least one rotor comprising a plurality of magnet units for generating a rotor magnetic field. The planar drive system further comprises at least one rotational position, where the rotor is rotatable about a rotational axis perpendicular to the stator surface in the rotational position. The rotational position is determined based on a point of contact of four stator assemblies. The method comprises energizing the coil groups in such a way that the rotor moves to the rotational position, energizing the coil groups in such a way that the rotor rotates, and processing of the object with the aid of the rotor rotation.

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.

A mixing device includes a container for receiving mixing material, with an emptying opening being arranged in the bottom thereof, and a closure cover for closing the emptying opening. The mixing device includes an emptying opening that can be easily and space-savingly opened and closed. The closure cover includes two closure cover portions which can be reciprocated relative to each other between a closed position in which the two closure cover portions are in contact with each other and together form the closure cover and an opened position in which the two closure cover portions are spaced from each other so that an opening is formed between the two closure cover portions for removal of the mixing material from the container.