An apparatus for the continuous ohmic thermal treatment of a fluid product includes a conduit defining a longitudinal flow path for the product to be treated extending between an inlet and an outlet. The conduit includes a first and a second heating chamber that are disposed longitudinally along an axis and arranged in sequence, with each heating chamber including a first electrode and a second electrode, separated by an electrical insulating member. The first electrode is located near the inlet or the outlet of the conduit, and the second electrode is located in an intermediate zone of the conduit. A first and a second rotor extend into the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, and are rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A support system is configured to support in the radial direction the first and second rotors at the intermediate zone of the conduit.

A device for heating and optionally cooking a food comprises a shaping tube, a filling slide which is guided in the shaping tube, a first cap associated with the filling slide, a second cap, where the two caps each have concave surfaces facing one another and defining a cavity between them, wherein the food can be fed to the cavity via the filling slide, and wherein the device is configured to heat the food by way of a heating apparatus. The device comprises an air valve at the second cap. Furthermore, a corresponding method for heating food.

A heat exchanger assembly (10) is proposed comprising: a heat exchanger (12) forming one or more electrically connected partitions (26) separating a first fluid (22) and a second fluid (24). The assembly (10) further comprises: a first electrical connector (14) and a second electrical connector (16) that are operationally connected to the partitions (26) of the heat exchanger (12) and an electrical power source (18) operationally connected to the first electrical connector (14) and the second electrical connector (16). The electrical power source (18) is configured to supply an electric current to the one or more partitions (26) of the heat exchanger (12) via the first electrical connector (14) and the second electrical connector (16).

Methods and apparatuses for thermally treating flowable materials using electromagnetic radiation, and foods and materials obtained thereby. Also provided are methods of continuous flow thermal treatment of biomaterials, apparatuses for performing the same, and products prepared using the methods and/or apparatuses.

The invention relates to a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, comprising:

at least one tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed and having a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed;

at least one dispensing tap comprising:

an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the containment tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice,

a tubular duct having formed in it a first internal cavity which is provided with at least one radial opening.

A thermal treatment apparatus includes a pair of heat exchangers and an intake that receives a main flow of filling material and a branch that diverts filling material to form a branch flow. The branch flow takes a part of the heat energy used in a primary process for use in a secondary process. It then rejoins the main flow.

A system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source, and a mixture flow path adapted to be connected to receive the output of a direct steam injector. The vacuum source is operatively connected to a vacuum port of the vacuum chamber, while a product outlet port from the vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to an arrangement for removing treated product from the vacuum chamber. The mixture flow path includes a flow path segment outside of the vacuum chamber volume and a flow path segment within the vacuum chamber volume. At least some of a surface defining the flow path segment within the vacuum chamber is in substantial thermal communication with one or more cooling structures.

A machine for producing and dispensing products such as ice cream, iced beverages or granita comprises a removable product-containing tank which is provided at its front end with a tap for dispensing the product and which, via its rear opening, sealingly houses a cooling element with a substantially horizontal axis and a motor-driven mixer element. The tank is removable from the machine by means of extraction from its operating position in a disassembly direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of the cooling element, and snap-engaging means for locking the movement of the tank are provided between the tank and its seat on the base of the machine, said means being able to be manually released by means of operation of at least one operating lever.

Methods and apparatuses for thermally treating flowable materials using electromagnetic radiation, and foods and materials obtained thereby. Also provided are methods of continuous flow thermal treatment of biomaterials, apparatuses for performing the same, and products prepared using the methods and/or apparatuses.

Heat exchange devices, including aseptic cooler devices, and systems including same are provided. Methods of using heat exchange device are also provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides heat exchangers having an open chamber configuration and including a first section containing a cooling or heating media and a second section containing a food product. The first section includes a level detecting device that is configured to maintain a level of cooling or heating media in the first section, while preventing the cooling or heating media from pressurizing the first section. The open chamber configuration provides an air break at a top portion of the first section that ensures that the cooling or heating media entering the first section is at, or close to, atmospheric pressure.