Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations to a container. The container may include a fluid, a particle, and/or a gas. A vibration driver attached to the container provides asymmetric oscillations. A controller connected to the vibration driver controls an amplitude, frequency, and shape of the asymmetric oscillations. An amplifier amplifies the asymmetric oscillations in response to the controller. A sensor disposed on the vibration driver provides feedback to the controller.

A mixing device suitable to mix substances or liquid or semi-liquid mixtures to increase the volume thereof, includes a hub which develops along a central axis and two mixing spokes connected to the hub, wherein each of the spokes includes an external lateral fin and two upper and lower connection segments, which connect respective upper and lower ends of the lateral fin to the hub.

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

A bowl assembly for a base driven appliance, the base driven appliance providing a primary drive coupling for the accessory assembly. The accessory assembly including: a bowl element that defines a reservoir; and a gear-box element having a secondary drive coupling and a secondary driven coupling. The bowl element defames a lower recess that removably receives the gear-box element, such that the primary drive coupling can engage the secondary driven coupling when the bowl assembly is supported by the base driven appliance. The secondary driven coupling is couplable to an accessory element that is operated within the reservoir, and such that the accessory element is operable by rotation of the primary drive coupling.

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

A method of operating a blender having a rotatable cutting blade in a food preparation chamber includes providing a sensing light assembly, generating at least one sensing light beam below the food preparation chamber, inserting a cup containing food to be blended into the food preparation chamber, generating an error signal if a foreign object crosses the sensing light beam, and preventing or stopping rotation of the cutting blade in response to the error signal.

A carbonated beverage apparatus includes a freezing cylinder for receiving a mixture, and a stirring pusher disposed inside the freezing cylinder for pushing and mixing the mixture from an inlet of the freezing cylinder to an outlet thereof in a spiral manner, wherein the mixture is removed from the inner wall of the freezing cylinder radially back into a center portion of the freezing cylinder by the stirring pusher.

An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

A carbonated beverage apparatus includes a freezing cylinder for receiving a mixture, and a stirring pusher disposed inside the freezing cylinder for pushing and mixing the mixture from an inlet of the freezing cylinder to an outlet thereof in a spiral manner, wherein the mixture is removed from the inner wall of the freezing cylinder radially back into a center portion of the freezing cylinder by the stirring pusher.

The present invention relates to a unique helical design for scraper blades (1) and a driver-disc (2) that allows for optimum performance when preparing single-serve portions (100-300 ml) of freshly-made frozen and/or chilled confections on demand directly in a packaging container. The present invention improves upon the prior art by not only shortening the time it takes (less than 180 seconds) to prepare portionable volumes of freshly made frozen/chilled confections with optimal microstructure inside a conically shaped container packaging, but also minimises cross-contamination and reduces the need for cleaning in-between portions/batches.