An air inlet arrangement for an ice cream machine or yogurt machine includes an air-solution tube supported in a solution container which is adapted for storing a predetermined volume of solution at a predetermined fluid elevation, and an air nozzle. The air-solution tube has an elongated structure defining a top end, a bottom end, and a process channel between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the air-solution tube has a height greater than the fluid elevation of the solution container, wherein a volume of the air-solution tube is such that the air-solution tube is arranged to contain 80 g or less of the solution.

A method for making ice cream, including preparing a machine for mixing and cooling ice cream equipped: with a processing container defining a processing chamber and provided with a mixer rotating inside the processing chamber; and a thermal treatment plant, configured for being activated, selectively and alternatively, in heating or cooling mode, respectively, for heating and cooling the processing chamber. The method further includes: inserting inside the processing chamber a basic mixture; heating the basic mixture inside the processing chamber, so as to subject the basic mixture to a pasteurization treatment; cooling the basic mixture inside the processing chamber and, at the same time, rotating the rotary mixer, to incorporate air in the basic mixture and make ice cream; extracting the ice cream from the processing chamber.

A method for making ice cream, including preparing a machine for mixing and cooling ice cream equipped: with a processing container defining a processing chamber and provided with a mixer rotating inside the processing chamber; and a thermal treatment plant, configured for being activated, selectively and alternatively, in heating or cooling mode, respectively, for heating and cooling the processing chamber. The method further includes: inserting inside the processing chamber a basic mixture; heating the basic mixture inside the processing chamber, so as to subject the basic mixture to a pasteurization treatment; cooling the basic mixture inside the processing chamber and, at the same time, rotating the rotary mixer, to incorporate air in the basic mixture and make ice cream; extracting the ice cream from the processing chamber.

The invention relates to apparatus and method of making a frozen confectionary product such as ice cream or sorbet in which a confectionary mix is churned in a vessel whilst a liquid gas such as liquid nitrogen is added. Existing churning apparatus moves a stirrer through the ice cream mix in an epicyclical motion. This tends to splash liquid nitrogen so that it evaporates without contributing to the freezing of the ice cream. In the improved mixing method, the stirrer is repeatedly drawn against the inside wall(s) of the vessel. This reduces splashing of the liquid nitrogen. The drawing action also removes build up of frozen confectionary product on both the stirrer and the vessel walls and allows unfrozen confectionary mix to move to the edges of the vessel and be preferentially frozen.

The invention relates to apparatus and method of making a frozen confectionary product such as ice cream or sorbet in which a confectionary mix is churned in a vessel whilst a liquid gas such as liquid nitrogen is added. Existing churning apparatus moves a stirrer through the ice cream mix in an epicyclical motion. This tends to splash liquid nitrogen so that it evaporates without contributing to the freezing of the ice cream. In the improved mixing method, the stirrer is repeatedly drawn against the inside wall(s) of the vessel. This reduces splashing of the liquid nitrogen. The drawing action also removes build up of frozen confectionary product on both the stirrer and the vessel walls and allows unfrozen confectionary mix to move to the edges of the vessel and be preferentially frozen.

A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products of the ice cream sector comprises: a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container and cooling the processing container; a unit for receiving and treating a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product, configured to allow the capsule to be compressed in such a way so as to deform lateral walls of the capsule and to squeeze the basic preparation out of the capsule and transfer it to the processing container.

A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products of the ice cream sector comprises: a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container and cooling the processing container; a unit for receiving and treating a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product, configured to allow the capsule to be compressed in such a way so as to deform lateral walls of the capsule and to squeeze the basic preparation out of the capsule and transfer it to the processing container.

An apparatus (300) for aerating a food product, (200, 300) comprising a housing (10) with an inlet (100) for the food product and an outlet for the aerated food product, and, within the housing (10), first and second pairs (210, 220, 240) of a rotor and a stator each having complementary toothed rims orientated in opposition in the axial direction, and a gas injector (1) for injecting, at an upstream position relative to the first pair (210, 220) of a rotor and a stator, a gas in the food product to be aerated, wherein a further inlet (310) is provided for injecting, at a position between a pair (210, 220) and an adjacent pair (240) of a rotor and a stator, an additional composition to be mixed with the food product.

An apparatus (300) for aerating a food product, (200, 300) comprising a housing (10) with an inlet (100) for the food product and an outlet for the aerated food product, and, within the housing (10), first and second pairs (210, 220, 240) of a rotor and a stator each having complementary toothed rims orientated in opposition in the axial direction, and a gas injector (1) for injecting, at an upstream position relative to the first pair (210, 220) of a rotor and a stator, a gas in the food product to be aerated, wherein a further inlet (310) is provided for injecting, at a position between a pair (210, 220) and an adjacent pair (240) of a rotor and a stator, an additional composition to be mixed with the food product.

A pump assembly includes a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm extending across a chamber to define a gas chamber on a first side of the diaphragm and a mixture receiving chamber on a second, opposite side of the diaphragm. A shaft extends through the diaphragm and moves therewith between a default position and an extended position. The mixture receiving chamber is configured to receive liquid mixture via a mixture inlet and pass mixture to a pressure chamber via a mixture outlet. The gas chamber has an inlet port receiving gas of a desired pressure and an outlet port. The shaft seals between the inlet port and the outlet port until the diaphragm and shaft are in the extended position at which time gas in the gas chamber passes from the gas chamber to the pressure chamber. The pressure chamber has a pressure outlet configured to deliver a pressurized liquid mixture and gas to a freezing chamber. Each stroke of the diaphragm causes pressurized liquid mixture and gas to be passed into the pressure chamber and to the pressure outlet.