A chain link is provided with a bushing construction where a chain pin is used for connecting a plurality of chain links, where the chain pin is inserted through the bushing along an axis, where the bushing in a cross section orthogonal to the axis has a circular cross section and where a resilient sleeve is arranged around the chain pin, where the chain pin has a flat face along the axis, and the resilient sleeve has a corresponding flat face in engagement with the flat face of the pin, and where the outer periphery of the resilient sleeve, when mounted on the chain pin, has a non-circular cross section, such that a free space is provided between the outer periphery of the sleeve and the inside of the bushing.

An ice-cream making machine comprises a first production line and a second production line with an inlet pump, a mixing and chilling chamber, an outlet pump connected in series, as well as a cooling circuit in heat exchange connection with the mixing and chilling chamber, respectively, wherein an auxiliary conduit selectively connects and disconnects the outlet pump of the first production line to/from an inlet of the mixing and chilling chamber of the second production line, so as to be able to process either two flows of confectionery mass mutually independently or a single flow of confectionery mass by means of both production lines.

An ice-cream making machine comprises a first production line and a second production line with an inlet pump, a mixing and chilling chamber, an outlet pump connected in series, as well as a cooling circuit in heat exchange connection with the mixing and chilling chamber, respectively, wherein an auxiliary conduit selectively connects and disconnects the outlet pump of the first production line to/from an inlet of the mixing and chilling chamber of the second production line, so as to be able to process either two flows of confectionery mass mutually independently or a single flow of confectionery mass by means of both production lines.

The process involves feeding a base aerated frozen confection having an overrun of from 20-150% from a freezer to a static mixer, feeding a viscous flavorant or other ingredient having a free oil level of at least 10% to the static mixer to combine with the base frozen confection, and mixing them in the static mixer to obtain a frozen confection including the viscous flavorant or other ingredient which is homogeneous to the eye and taste and which preferably has fewer crystalline fat structures per air bubble, which means greater stability of the air bubbles. The invention is also reflected in reduced standard deviation in product fill weight and an improved distribution of air bubbles. The invention also is directed to the frozen is aerated confection.

The process involves feeding a base aerated frozen confection having an overrun of from 20-150% from a freezer to a static mixer, feeding a viscous flavorant or other ingredient having a free oil level of at least 10% to the static mixer to combine with the base frozen confection, and mixing them in the static mixer to obtain a frozen confection including the viscous flavorant or other ingredient which is homogeneous to the eye and taste and which preferably has fewer crystalline fat structures per air bubble, which means greater stability of the air bubbles. The invention is also reflected in reduced standard deviation in product fill weight and an improved distribution of air bubbles. The invention also is directed to the frozen is aerated confection.

A device for emulsifying liquid or solid products, in particular food products such as milk or ice cream, including a pump having at least one suction duct adapted for sucking a product to be emulsified and an emulsifying gas, and a delivery duct adapted for dispensing an emulsion obtained starting from the product to be emulsified and from the emulsifying gas, where the pump has a double worm screw arranged between the suction duct and the delivery duct, the double worm screw being adapted for emulsifying the product and the gas to obtain the emulsion and to push the product, the gas and/or the emulsion with a flow substantially parallel to the axis of the screws of the double worm screw from the suction duct to the delivery duct. Moreover, the device comprises cooling means associated with the pump in an area comprised between the suction duct and the delivery duct and adapted for cooling the product, the gas and/or the emulsion present in the area of the pump comprised between the suction duct and the delivery 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.

The equipment of the invention comprises a toroidal channel-shaped freezing tank (1) containing coolant superimposed on a circular crown-shaped rotary mold holder (7), formed by a plurality of sectors (7D) affixed to the periphery of one traction disc (8) driven by a stepper motor (12), said sectors having rectangular openings (7C) into which molds (9) engage, whose lower portions are immersed in the coolant. At the bottom of the channel there is a rigid pipe (4) provided with a plurality of holes (19) through which jets of coolant are released under pressure. The popsicle release means comprise a radially oriented niche (29) within said tank (1) and a vertically displaceable housing (40) which, in the upper position, accommodates a mold (9) and a perforated horizontal pipe (41) which releases jets of heated fluid against the mold cups (9).

An ice cream production apparatus comprises a control unit, a freezer, a freezer outlet pump and a piping system provided from the freezer to one or more ice cream outlet nozzles downstream the freezer, can assume at least two operational modes. The first operational mode is a production mode. The second operational mode is a pre-production mode comprising the steps of freezing the ice cream in the freezer such that the ice cream obtains a pre-production viscosity value being equal to or higher than a production viscosity value, and pumping the frozen ice cream into the piping system at a pre-production outlet flow being smaller than a production outlet flow. The pre-production mode is used for cooling the piping system and the ice cream outlet nozzles before operating the ice cream production apparatus in the production mode.