A process for filling a container with a first frozen confection material encapsulating a second confection material, the process involving the use of a filling head; the filling head comprising: a housing having a nozzle exit, a lower first material inlet, an upper second material inlet and a reciprocatable piston movable within the housing; the piston having an outer wall and upper and lower ends and an internal material flow channel connecting an upper entry in the outer wall to an exit in the lower end, the piston, housing and inlets being positioned and dimensioned such that the piston has: (1) a lower position wherein material flows from both first and second inlets are blocked by the piston outer wall; (2) a mid position wherein the piston does not block the first inlet but the second inlet is blocked by the piston outer wall; (3) an upper position wherein the first inlet is not blocked and wherein 20 the second material inlet is in communication with the internal material flow channel; the process involving allowing frozen confection material to flow out of the nozzle exit into the container as the piston moves in an upstroke from (1) a lower position to (2) a mid position and then to (3) an upper position whereupon the first and second materials are coextruded from the exit nozzle, followed by a downstroke to (2) a mid position whereupon only first material is extruded from the exit nozzle to encapsulate the previously extruded second material, and then to (1) a lower position.

A process for filling a container with a first frozen confection material encapsulating a second confection material, the process involving the use of a filling head; the filling head comprising: a housing having a nozzle exit, a lower first material inlet, an upper second material inlet and a reciprocatable piston movable within the housing; the piston having an outer wall and upper and lower ends and an internal material flow channel connecting an upper entry in the outer wall to an exit in the lower end, the piston, housing and inlets being positioned and dimensioned such that the piston has: (1) a lower position wherein material flows from both first and second inlets are blocked by the piston outer wall; (2) a mid position wherein the piston does not block the first inlet but the second inlet is blocked by the piston outer wall; (3) an upper position wherein the first inlet is not blocked and wherein 20 the second material inlet is in communication with the internal material flow channel; the process involving allowing frozen confection material to flow out of the nozzle exit into the container as the piston moves in an upstroke from (1) a lower position to (2) a mid position and then to (3) an upper position whereupon the first and second materials are coextruded from the exit nozzle, followed by a downstroke to (2) a mid position whereupon only first material is extruded from the exit nozzle to encapsulate the previously extruded second material, and then to (1) a lower position.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.

A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products for the ice cream, pastry or catering trade, including:

a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product;

a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber;

a thermal treatment system provided with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container;

a feed unit including a container containing a basic preparation for an ice cream, pastry or catering product, and a pressurized gaseous fluid injection device configured to inject the gaseous fluid into the container in such a way as to cause the basic preparation to be expelled from the container and transferred to the processing container;

a diluting liquid injection device for delivering a diluting liquid.

A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products for the ice cream, pastry or catering trade, including:

a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product;

a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber;

a thermal treatment system provided with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container;

a feed unit including a container containing a basic preparation for an ice cream, pastry or catering product, and a pressurized gaseous fluid injection device configured to inject the gaseous fluid into the container in such a way as to cause the basic preparation to be expelled from the container and transferred to the processing container;

a diluting liquid injection device for delivering a diluting liquid.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.

A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct.