A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, includes, in combination: a container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products; a thermal treatment cylinder contained inside the container and having an axis that is inclined relative to the vertical; a stirrer mounted to the outside of the thermal treatment cylinder; a thermal system including a heat exchanger associated with the thermal treatment cylinder, wherein the container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products is defined by a first, inside wall and a second, outside wall, the first, inside wall and the second, outside wall forming between them a gap that is not affected by the liquid or semi-liquid products.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, includes, in combination: a container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products; a thermal treatment cylinder contained inside the container and having an axis that is inclined relative to the vertical; a stirrer mounted to the outside of the thermal treatment cylinder; a thermal system including a heat exchanger associated with the thermal treatment cylinder, wherein the container for containing liquid or semi-liquid products is defined by a first, inside wall and a second, outside wall, the first, inside wall and the second, outside wall forming between them a gap that is not affected by the liquid or semi-liquid products.

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

A machine for providing a single serving of a cold beverage or frozen confection includes a nest assembly and a lid assembly. The nest assembly defines a recess for receiving a pod containing at least one ingredient for forming a single serving of the cold beverage or frozen confection and at least one helical internal paddle. The nest assembly has a cooling unit operable to cool the nest assembly. The lid assembly includes a lid and a plunger to rotate the at least one helical internal paddle of the pod to dispense the cold beverage or frozen confection forced out of the pod by rotation of the internal paddle. The frozen confection is ejected directly into a container or cone without coming into contact with other portions of the machine.

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

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

A frozen product machine that solves problems associated with conventional home ice cream and frozen product machines by prevents loss of product in the chamber and decreases freezing time for a liquid product. A cooling chamber is cooled by a cooling element that provides variable cooling temperatures throughout the cooling chamber. A temperature gradient, progressing from lower temperatures at the bottom of the chamber, or the outlet, to higher at the top of the chamber, or inlet, create a more efficient means of cooling a frozen product. An auger, that may be shaped to match the shape of the cooling chamber may include slots that allow for controlled flow of frozen product through the chamber to promote efficient cooling. Hinged fins may rotate from open to closed within the slot to further enhance flow of frozen product through the frozen product machine.

A food recycler can include a mixing bin defining a mixing chamber having a first inlet and a first outlet. A stirrer has a stirrer drive shaft and at least one blade coupled to the stirrer drive shaft and located within the mixing chamber. An output bin defines an output chamber having a second inlet operably coupled to the first outlet and a second outlet.

An attachment for use with a food processing system is provided. The attachment includes a container body having a sidewall, a first end configured to be mounted to a food processing base, and a second end remote from the first end. The first end being open and the second end being partially closed. The attachment further includes a first agitating member including one or more blades. The first agitating member is receivable at the first end. The attachment also includes a second agitating member receivable at the second end including a fluid agitator. The fluid agitator is configured to direct a fluid to one or more regions of the container body.

An attachment for use with a food processing system is provided. The attachment includes a container body having a sidewall, a first end configured to be mounted to a food processing base, and a second end remote from the first end. The first end being open and the second end being partially closed. The attachment further includes a first agitating member including one or more blades. The first agitating member is receivable at the first end. The attachment also includes a second agitating member receivable at the second end including a fluid agitator. The fluid agitator is configured to direct a fluid to one or more regions of the container body.