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

A stirring element device, in particular for mixing media with a wide range of viscosities, in particular for a polycondensation reactor, includes at least one inner stirring blade and at least one outer stirring blade which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation, wherein at least the inner stirring blade is inclined at least section-wise relative to the axis of rotation. The inner stirring blade is arranged entirely in a subregion around the axis of rotation which is equivalent to a cylinder sector with a circular sector of less than 360 as base area.

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.

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.

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

A mixing machine includes a mixing head and at least one connection means for connecting a mixing container containing material to be mixed to said mixing head for forming a closed mixing container. The mixing head, as part of a pivotable assembly, is pivotably mounted with respect to a frame such that the closed mixing container formed from the mixing head and the mixing container can be pivoted relative to the frame for performing the mixing process. The mixing head carries at least one rotationally-driven mixing tool. The mixing head comprises a head plate having a connecting flange molded thereon which is configured as an annular disc and comprises a planar contact surface. The contact surface of said connecting flange has a radial extension such that mixing containers with different connection diameters on their mixing head connection side can be connected to said mixing head. The at least one connection means is configured for gripping mixing containers which differ in the diameter of their connection sides.

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

A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.