A device for the processing of liquids and/or solids comprises a disposable layer adapted to shield a working surface from coming into contact with, and being fouled by, the processed liquids and/or solids, and apparatus suitable to apply a negative pressure in a gap between said disposable layer and said working surface, thereby causing said disposable layer to adhere to said working surface.

The invention refers to a mixing and foaming device (300) for mixing a powder food or beverage product with a fluid and further foaming said mixture, the device (300) comprising a mixing, pumping and foaming unit (102), an air entry (30) and a fluid inlet (21); the mixing, pumping and foaming unit (102) comprising a pumping element (110) whose rotation allows both powder and fluid to enter a foaming chamber (121) of the mixing, pumping and foaming unit (102), where a foaming element (120) rotates relatively within the foaming chamber (121), subjecting the mixture of fluid, powder and optionally air to a certain level of shear stress which allows this mixture to mix and/or to foam. The invention further refers to a method for providing foam from a food or beverage product powder using such a device (300).

Pumping and foaming device (100) comprising a pumping and foaming unit (102) rotatable around a shaft (130) by driving means (104), the pumping and foaming unit (102) comprising a pumping element (110) whose rotation pumps both air and fluid and mixes them; the pumping and foaming unit (102) further comprising a foaming element (120) whose relative rotation in a foaming chamber (121) drives the mixture of air and fluid coming from the pumping element (110) under a certain level of shear stress which allows this mixture to be foamed.

A milk frother includes a frother including a first chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet, a third inlet, and a first outlet. A steam coupling head is received in the first inlet of the frother. An air input guiding tube protrudes outwards from a location of the second inlet and includes a second chamber. An output device is coupled with the first outlet. An adjusting rod is pivotably connected to the air input guiding tube. A pad is disposed on a bottom face of the second chamber and includes a fourth inlet aligned with the second inlet. An adjusting valve is disposed in the second chamber, includes a spherical face abutting the pad, and is operatively coupled with the adjusting rod. A portion of the spherical face sealingly abuts a surface of the pad. The spherical face includes an air inlet groove having decreasing widths.

A blade assembly for a blending system is shown and described. The blade assembly may include apertures formed through a body. The body may include paddles extending from the body. The blade assembly may be rotated to force a fluid through the apertures. The fluid may be frothed by the apertures.

A device for generating milk froth, including a pump for conveying milk from a reservoir, an air intake, and at least one back-pressure element, with the back-pressure element being arranged upstream in reference to the pump and the air intake upstream in reference to the back-pressure element. The back-pressure element is embodied as a mixing element, which has in the direction of flow a cross-sectional area that the flow passes through that is not reducing, with the cross-sectional area that the flow passes through at the input side being at least equivalent to the cross-section of the connecting pipeline arranged between the pump and the mixing element. A method for generating milk froth as well as the use of a helical mixer for the generation of milk froth are also provided.

A method for producing a mixture of oil and fluid food product includes placing a funnel into a pressure tank such that a stem of the funnel extends at least halfway down into the pressure tank. The pressure tank is flushed with nitrogen. Oil flows into the pressure tank through the funnel. A flow of nitrogen into the pressure tank is maintained through a side inlet of the pressure tank. Oil is dispensed from a pressure tank into the transfer line flowing a flow of fluid food product from a batch tank. The dispensed oil is dispersed into the flow of fluid food product in a inline shear mixer creating oil-in-fluid food product droplets. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets flow to the batch tank with the flow of fluid food product. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets are distributed in a volume of fluid food product in the batch tank.

A stator operable to generate a rotating magnetic field for an electrical rotating machine, the stator comprising at least one circuit board with electrically conductive portions formed thereon, the electrically conductive portions connected with a multiphase configuration, wherein a phase comprises: on a first face of the circuit board(s) electrically conductive portions arranged as a plurality of elements, an element comprising a radially extending radial portion having: connected at a proximal end thereof a proximal portion, the proximal portion extending therefrom with a directional component in a first angular direction; and connected at a distal end thereof a distal portion, the distal portion extending therefrom with a directional component in a second opposed angular direction, whereby proximal and distal are defined relative the centre of rotation of the magnetic field and said angular direction is defined about said centre of rotation; and on a second face of the circuit board(s) electrically conductive portions comprising corresponding elements, whereby the proximal portion extends with a directional component in the second opposed angular direction and the distal portion extends with a directional component in the first angular direction.

An apparatus for distributing oil into fluid food product includes a batch tank, a transfer line, a pressure tank, a funnel, an oil dispenser, an inline shear mixer, and a flow line. The batch tank holds a volume of fluid food product. The transfer line is in fluid connection with the batch tank. The pressure tank holds a volume of oil. The funnel is disposed through a top opening in the pressure tank and dispenses oil into the pressure tank. A stem portion of the funnel extends at least halfway into an interior of the pressure tank. The funnel includes at least one vent. The oil dispenser dispenses oil from the pressure tank into a flow of fluid food product from the batch tank. The inline shear mixer mixes the fluid food product and the oil. The flow line flows the fluid food product-and-oil mixture to the batch tank.

A device for the convenient frothing or mixing or agitating of milk or other liquids is disclosed. The unit may take many forms, but common to nearly all is that the user simply pours or dispenses the liquid from the devices vessel or holding area, and as the fluid flows to the devices exit spout, the fluid is frothed, thus providing a Pour to Froth experience.