Disclosed is an ice shaver including a refrigerator, a moving mechanism, a driving device, a knife assembly and a pushing member. The refrigerator includes a bearer including an ice dropping channel and a door assembly, and the knife assembly is located between the pushing member and the door assembly. The driving device drives the moving mechanism so that the moving mechanism drives the door assembly to selectively move between an unsealing position and a sealing position. When the door assembly is located at the unsealing position, the door assembly unseals the ice-dropping channel. When the door assembly is located at the sealing position, the door assembly seals the ice-dropping channel Therefore, it is possible to protect an ice cube in the refrigerator from being contaminated by the external environment.

Methods and systems for conveniently producing fresh smoothies, which can be tailored to the particular nutritional requirements and desires of the individual customer. The system is typically a semi-automatic or fully automatic system and may be in the form of a vending machine for smoothies. It allows a consumer to select ingredients and other options, and provides a freshly-made smoothie in a short amount of time. The system generally includes a user input apparatus for receiving orders and customer preferences, and then makes a smoothie to order, delivers the smoothie to the customer, and cleans the blending device.

Packaged hemp products formed from raw cannabis are provided. In one example, frozen hemp cubes or frozen hemp ice pops are provided. First, raw cannabis material is collected and blended to form hemp juice purée. Next, the hemp juice purée is poured into molds for manufacturing frozen hemp cubes or into tube-shaped containers for manufacturing frozen hemp ice pops, and the hemp juice purée is frozen. In another example, packaged hemp juice purée is formed by collecting raw cannabis material, blending the material to obtain hemp juice purée, and packaging the hemp juice purée using high pressure processing (HPP). In yet another example, hemp powder is formed by collecting raw cannabis material, drying out the raw cannabis material, and grinding the dried raw cannabis material to obtain a hemp powder. The hemp powder is packaged and provided along with instructions.

A micro puree machine including a housing, a power shaft, a bowl assembly and a platform. The power shaft extends from the housing. The bowl assembly including at least one locking bowl element. The platform includes at least one complementary locking platform element that is configured to engage the at least one locking bowl element such that rotation of the bowl assembly relative to the platform is prevented at times the bowl assembly is positioned thereon. The platform is rotatable from a first position to a second position relative to the housing such that the platform raises the bowl assembly towards the power shaft during the rotation of the bowl assembly and platform. The raising of the bowl assembly facilitates connection between the power shaft and a blade assembly that is positioned in a lid assembly on the bowl assembly.

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

A beverage nucleator system for a supercooled beverage container may include a frame for receiving a beverage container and an ultrasonic transmitter positioned therein. A convex protrusion from the ultrasonic transmitter ensures good contact and therefore good transfer of ultrasonic energy through a top surface of a closure of the beverage container, even if the beverage container is positioned within the frame at an angle to the ultrasonic transmitter. Alternatively or additionally, a packaging holder comprising a plurality of supports may be provided to ensure that the top surface of the closure is parallel with the ultrasonic transmitter.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for cooling the motor of a frozen confection machine during operation are described. A frozen confection machine has a blade assembly for shaving ice and a housing comprising an air inlet and an air outlet. The machine has a motor disposed in the housing and is attached to a drive shaft for bringing ice into contact with the blade assembly. The machine also includes a drip tray and a heat sink that is in mechanical contact with the drip tray. The machine uses a fan assembly to causes airflow to move into the housing across the heat sink and past the motor for cooling the motor. During use, the airflow cools the motor to prolong motor life and enhance performance. The heat sink may be integrated with the tray or may be a standalone heat sink. The heat sink may have fins or other structures to increase thermal transfer. The airflow may be passively created by convection or enhanced by a fan or otherwise.

Systems and methods for making blended drinks are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system is a blended drink kiosk that can include an exterior housing includes multiple segregated sections with independent thermal control. In some embodiments, the blended drink kiosk includes one or more pumps to dispense liquid ingredients in a metered fashion, a solid dispensing mechanism; a paste dispensing mechanism; a powder dispensing mechanism; and/or a blending apparatus. In some embodiments, cups are prefilled with ingredients and are transported manually or by the cup transfer apparatus to a blending apparatus. In some embodiments, the blended drink kiosk is self-cleaning.

An apparatus for generating and storing in a tank 22 a flowable slush 2 of frozen particles usable inter alia in Ice Pigging™ includes a control system 100 which is arranged to monitor an operating parameter OP of an agitator 23 in the storage tank. The control system initiates a slush comminution and separation or dewatering cycle when a control parameter CP based on the operating parameter OP reaches a threshold value CPt. The control parameter may represent a cumulative energy input to the storage tank 22. Comminution may be performed prior to separation, with the treatment cycle being terminated when a sensed rheometric parameter RP of the slush circulating in the treatment flowpath reaches a target value RPt.

The invention concerns a method for preparing a cold beverage with an apparatus (1) for mixing and storing a beverage, said apparatus comprising: —a container body (2), comprising a floor (21) and a sidewall (22) extending upwardly and longitudinally from the floor to an upper edge (221), —a removable and rotatable mixing device (23) positioned within the container body, —a motor (3) cooperating with the mixing device (23) through the floor of the container body in order to rotate the mixing device, wherein the method comprises the step of: —providing a mixing device (23), a part of said mixing device being covered with ice, —positioning said mixing device in the container body (2) in order to cooperate with the motor, —introducing at least one beverage liquid in the container body, —actuating the motor (3) to rotate the mixing device in the at least one beverage liquid.