Patent Publication Number: US-2010122539-A1

Title: Machine for making and dispensing food products such as ice creams, ice cream shakes and the like

Description:
This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. BO2008A000704, filed Nov. 20, 2008, which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a machine for making and dispensing food products such as ice creams, ice cream shakes and the like. 
     As is known, a machine for making and dispensing ice creams comprises a frame housing a tank for containing a basic product to be processed. The tank is connected, by a pump, to a freezing chamber containing a screw-shaped stirrer. 
     Also inside the frame, the machine is equipped with a refrigerating unit, comprising a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected to the freezing chamber. The front end of the freezing chamber is closed by a door, having a cylindrical mixing compartment made in it. 
     Inside the frame there is also an environment, preferably refrigerated, containing containers for flavoring syrups. Pipes, with pumps interposed between them, connect the flavoring syrup containers to the cylindrical mixing compartment. 
     A piston runs vertically inside the cylindrical compartment, with each outward stroke dispensing a dose of ice cream through a dispenser nozzle consisting of an opening made in a plate which closes the lower end of the cylindrical compartment. 
     In practice, for making ice cream, the screw-shaped stirrer remixes the product contained in the freezing chamber, simultaneously feeding it towards the front end. Before it is dispensed by the nozzle due to the piston thrust, the product present in the cylindrical mixing compartment is mixed with one or more flavoring syrups. 
     There are also prior art machines able to make and dispense both ice creams and ice cream shakes, which are much more liquid and creamy than ice creams. 
     A machine of said type usually differs from the machine described above due to the fact that it also comprises, in the frame, a tank for containing a diluting liquid (water or milk or a mixture of water and milk), which is also preferably refrigerated. A pipe connects the above-mentioned tank to the cylindrical mixing compartment with a pump interposed between them. 
     In this case, the product dispensed consists of ice cream or ice cream shake, depending whether or not the cylindrical mixing compartment is connected to the diluting liquid tank by suitable selecting means. 
     There are also prior art machines for making and dispensing “soft” ice cream, yogurt—ice cream, sorbets and desserts comprising one or more refrigerated upper tanks, for preserving the mixtures while standing by for their transformation into ice cream, said tanks feeding respective production or whipping and freezing cylinders by means of pumps which by pressurizing the mixtures with air generate an ice cream end product with a big increase in volume. In the front part of the machines the cylinders are closed by a door with the lever taps for dispensing the ice cream, through which a portion of soft ice cream is dispensed. 
     The machines of the first type, only able to make ice cream, and those of the second type, which can also make ice cream shakes, and those of the third “soft” type, are often equipped with tanks or containers by the side, containing additional condiments, located close by the machine. Said additional condiments are usually candied items, sweets, chocolates, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc. 
     Also close to the machine, in these cases there is a mixer, for example of the type described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,287. Basically, having obtained the dispensed product, the consumer can enhance it as desired with the above-mentioned additional condiments, then goes to the mixer and having reached it mixes what was previously added to his ice cream or ice cream shake. 
     Very often, for various reasons, the position of the mixer is far from optimum. In some cases, the mixer is positioned too far away and its presence and function are not immediately obvious to the consumer. In other cases, the mixer is correctly positioned close to the dispensing machine, but in a position which is not very ergonomic. 
     Moreover, sometimes, during the short movement from the above-mentioned tanks to the mixer, the consumer accidentally drops on the floor part of the additional condiments, with obvious problems in terms of cleaning the premises. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention has for an aim to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. 
     Accordingly, this invention achieves said aim with a machine for making and dispensing food products such as ice creams, ice cream shakes and the like, which has the characteristics described in one or more of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The technical features of the invention, in accordance with the afore-mentioned aims, are clearly indicated in the claims herein and the advantages of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment by way of example only and without limiting the scope of the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a “soft” type machine for dispensing food products such as soft ice creams, yogurt—ice cream, or sorbets and the like; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of another machine for making and dispensing food products and in particular ice creams, ice cream shakes and “soft” ice creams and the like, made in accordance with this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of another type of machine for making and dispensing ice creams, ice cream shakes and the like, made in accordance with this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view with some parts cut away to better illustrate others and some elements schematically illustrated with blocks, of the machine of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view, partly in cross-section, of a detail of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of the detail of  FIG. 3 , in a first operating configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of the detail of  FIG. 5 , in a second operating configuration; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are scaled down schematic perspective views of what is illustrated respectively in  FIG. 6  and in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are respectively a front and a rear perspective view of a detail of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , in particular a disposable spoon of a mixer integrated with the machines illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-section of a detail relative to the zone where the mixer rotary shaft is coupled with the disposable spoon; 
         FIG. 13  shows front, side and rear views of a different embodiment of the disposable spoon; and 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-section of a detail relative to the zone where the spoon of  FIG. 13  is coupled with the mixer rotary shaft. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the numeral  1  denotes as a whole a “soft” type machine for dispensing food products such as soft ice creams, yogurt—ice cream, or sorbets and the like ( FIG. 1 ), a combined machine for making “soft” ice cream and for making two different types of product respectively consisting of ice creams, and ice cream shakes ( FIG. 2 ), and a machine for making two different types of product respectively consisting of ice creams and ice cream shakes ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     The machines  1  comprises a substantially parallelepiped box-shaped frame  2  the top of which supports a tank  3  for containing a product to be processed, in the form of a liquid mixture, used as the basic component for obtaining ice creams or ice cream shakes. 
     As illustrated in particular in  FIG. 1 , the soft type machine schematically illustrated comprises a refrigerated upper tank  3 , for preserving the mixture while standing by for its transformation into ice cream. Housed at the centre of the machine, along a transversal axis A there is a production cylinder (not illustrated) equipped with a respective stirrer (not illustrated). By means of a respective pump (not illustrated), the tank  3  feeds the production or whipping and freezing cylinder. The pump pressurizes the mixture with air in the whipping and freezing cylinder so that the cylinder generates an ice cream end product with a big increase in volume. In the front part of the machine  1  the cylinder is closed by a door  54  with a lever tap  55  forming dispensing means  13 , for dispensing the ice cream, through which a portion of soft ice cream is dispensed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the machine  1  also comprises, supported by the frame  2  in a single integrated structure, a mixer  39  equipped with a disposable spoon  40  for mixing additional condiments with the product dispensed. 
     It is important to notice that the mixer  39  is positioned immediately next to, specifically to the right of, the dispensing means  13  and that the tanks  38  are positioned immediately below the dispensing means  13  and the mixer  39 . 
     According to embodiments which are not illustrated, the mixer  39  is positioned immediately to the left of the dispensing means  13 . 
     The mixer  39  comprises an electric motor and a relative electronic control section of the known type and therefore not described in detail. The spoon  40  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
     The spoon  40  has a central longitudinal axis A, is completely made of plastic and comprises, in a single body obtained by molding, a shank  41 , extending in the direction of the axis A and bearing, at a longitudinal end  42 , blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 . 
     At the opposite end to the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , the spoon  40  can be fixed coaxially and removably to the vertical rotary shaft  44  of the mixer  39 , in such a way that the consumer can subsequently use the spoon  40  as a utensil for consuming the product previously mixed. In particular, at the opposite end to the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , the shank  41  is equipped with two end jaws  45 , designed to removably engage with a free end portion  46  of the shaft  44 . 
     Other features will be described in detail in the case of the other types of machines illustrated. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the only feature which changes relative to the machine of  FIG. 1  is that this machine is a combined machine equipped with a dispenser for soft ice cream and a dispenser for normal ice cream. Again in this case the machine comprises, supported by the frame  2  in a single integrated structure, a mixer  39  equipped with a disposable spoon  40  for mixing additional condiments with the product dispensed, whose technical features are the same as those described for the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , inside the frame  2  there also extends a main processing circuit  5  designed to make the ice cream, having an infeed end  5   a  connected to the tank  3  and an outfeed end  5   b  connected to a mixing chamber  6 . 
     In particular, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the main processing circuit  5  has a freezing chamber  4 , and a refrigerating unit  7  schematically illustrated and consisting of a motor-driven compressor, a condenser and an evaporator (of the known type and therefore not described and illustrated in detail) connected to the freezing chamber  4 . 
     The freezing chamber  4  and the mixing chamber  6  together form a processing chamber  37 . 
     The freezing chamber  4  has a substantially cylindrical shape and forms a rear end  4   a  connected to the tank  3  and a front end  4   b  forming the above-mentioned outfeed end  5   b  of the main processing circuit  5 . 
     The product to be processed is fed by a gear pump  8 , positioned at the tank  3  and in communication with the latter with an intake pipe  8   a  for drawing the product from the tank  3  and sending it through a delivery pipe  8   b  to the rear end  4   a  of the freezing chamber  4 . 
     Extending inside the freezing chamber  4  there is a stirrer  9  designed to feed forward the product to be processed from the rear end  4   a  to the front end  4   b.  The stirrer  9  consists of a screw feeder  9   a  driven to rotate about its own axis by respective movement means  10  such as a gear motor unit and able to push the product towards and into a dispenser tap  11  mounted on the front end  4   b  of the freezing chamber  4 . 
     In particular, the dispenser tap  11  projects outside the frame  2  from a front wall of the frame  2  and inside forms the mixing chamber  6 . The tap  11  also comprises an outfeed pipe  12  ( FIG. 3 ) through which the ice cream or ice cream shake fed into the mixing chamber  6  is made to come out by suitable dispensing means  13  of the known type and therefore not described and illustrated in detail. 
     The dispensing means  13  comprise a mixing element  14  rotatably inserted in the mixing chamber  6  to mix the product to be processed inserted in the chamber  6  as described in more detail below. The dispensing means  13  also comprise an actuator  15  able to move in the mixing chamber  6  to open and close holes for delivery of the ice cream or ice cream shake towards the outfeed pipe  12 . 
     The actuator  15  is preferably a piston operated electronically or manually using suitable levers, which can be inserted in the mixing chamber  6 . 
     The machine  1  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  also comprises an auxiliary processing circuit  16  extending inside the box-shaped frame  2  and having an infeed end  16   a  connected to a tank  17  for containing a diluting liquid, and an outfeed end  16   b  connected to the mixing chamber  6 . 
     In particular, the auxiliary processing circuit  16  is designed to supply to the mixing chamber  6  a diluting liquid such as water or milk, for making the ice cream shake. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the auxiliary processing circuit  16  has a heating element  18  interposed between the tank  17  and the outfeed end  16   b  which is designed to heat the liquid supplied to the mixing chamber  6 . 
     Advantageously, the tank  17  may be equipped with respective heating means not illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set up to keep the diluting liquid at a predetermined temperature. 
     The auxiliary processing circuit  16  also comprises a pump  19  interposed between the heating element  18  and the outfeed end  16   b,  for feeding the liquid from the tank  17  to the mixing chamber  6 . Advantageously, the machine  1  also comprises at least one circuit  20 , also housed in the box-shaped frame  2 , for feeding a flavoring syrup. 
     It should be noticed that  FIG. 4  illustrates by way of example and therefore without limiting the scope of the invention two feed circuits  20  for respective syrups intended to give the ice cream or ice cream shake made a specific flavor. However, there may be any number of syrup feed circuits  20 , depending on the variety of flavors to be given to the products dispensed by the machine  1 . 
     Each syrup feed circuit  20  has a respective infeed end  20   a  connected to a tank  21  for containing the syrup and an outfeed end  20   b  connected to the mixing chamber  6 . The circuit  20  also comprises a syrup feed pump  22  for supplying the syrup to the mixing chamber  6  after a respective command, as described in more detail below. 
     The machine  1  also comprises means  23  for selecting the type of product, which can be switched between an ice cream dispensing condition and an ice cream shake dispensing condition. 
     As illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and, respectively, in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the selecting means  23  comprise a plate  24  connected at the outfeed pipe  12 , on which there is a first and a second nozzle  25 ,  26  each of which may be connected to the mixing chamber  6  in a corresponding dispensing condition. 
     In particular, the plate  24  is removably connected to the tap  11  below the tap, allowing dispensing of the ice cream or the ice cream shake through the nozzles  25 ,  26 . 
     In more detail, it should be noticed that at the bottom of the tap  11  there is a hollow base wall  27 , closing the mixing chamber  6  and forming the above-mentioned pipe  12 . The plate  24  has a portion  28  pivoting below the wall  27  by means of a pin  28   a  projecting from the wall  27  and adjacent to the pipe  12 . 
     In this way, the plate  24  is able to move between a first position corresponding to the ice cream dispensing condition in which the first nozzle  25  is in fluid communication with the outfeed pipe  12  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ), and a second position corresponding to the ice cream shake dispensing condition in which the second nozzle  26  is in fluid communication with the outfeed pipe  12  ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ). 
     The plate  24  also has an extended grip portion  29  projecting beyond the volumetric dimensions of the tap  11  to allow manual movement of the plate  24  between the first and the second positions. 
     The plate  24  also has a curved cavity  30  positioned on the opposite side to the grip portion  29 . Extending inside the cavity  30  there is a pin  31  projecting from the wall  27  and able to slide in the cavity  30 . 
     In this way, acting on the grip portion  29  it is possible to rotate the plate  24  about the pin  28   a  to make the cavity  30  slide on the respective pin  31 . In this situation it should be noticed that the curved cavity  30  extends in a substantially semi-circular shape, having at its centre the pin  28   a  on which the plate  24  pivots. 
     It should also be noticed that the rotation of the plate  24  between the first and the second positions occurs in a respective horizontal plane in which the plate  24  lies, forming a curved path “P” on which the first and second nozzles  25 ,  26  are positioned. 
     In particular, each nozzle  25 ,  26  consists of an opening  25   a,    26   a  for the passage of the product, made between the pivoting portion  28  and the curved cavity  30 , on the path “P” which is parallel with the extension of the cavity  30 . The opening  25   a  for the passage of the product of the first nozzle  25  is larger than the opening  26   a  for the passage of the product of the second nozzle  26 , and has a substantially irregular shape forming a “star-shaped” outline suitable for giving a particular appearance to the ice cream forced out through the first nozzle  25 . In contrast, the opening  26   a  for the passage of the product of the second nozzle  26  has a circular shape, suitable for dispensing a liquid product such as an ice cream shake. 
     The selecting means  23  also comprise a control element  32  operatively connected to the circuits  5 ,  16 ,  20  and to the plate  24  for controlling the dispensing of ice cream or of ice cream shake depending on the positioning of the plate  24 . 
     In particular, the control element  32  comprises an electronic control unit  33  schematically illustrated in  FIG. 2  and operatively connected to the pump  19  of the auxiliary processing circuit  16 , the heating element  18 , the movement means  10 , the pumps  22  of the syrup feed circuits  20  and the dispensing means  13 . 
     The control element  32  also comprises a sensor  34  connected to the control unit  33  and positioned at the tap  11  for detecting the positioning of the plate  24 . Advantageously, the sensor  34  is of the magnetic type and is coupled with the plate  24  for detecting the positions of the plate  24  and consequently for sending corresponding signals to the control unit  33  through respective transmission means  35 . 
     In more detail, when the plate  24  is in the first position, the transmission means  35  send the control unit  33  a first signal S 1  for activating the stirrer  9  movement means  10 . When the plate  24  is in the second position, the transmission means  35  send the control unit  33  a second signal S 2  for activating the stirrer  9  movement means  10 , the pump  19  of the auxiliary processing circuit  16  and the heating element  18 . 
     In this way, the electronic control unit  33  controls the supply of only the product to be processed or of the product to be processed plus the diluting liquid depending on the positioning of the plate  24 . Advantageously, when the plate  24  is in the first position, only the product to be processed for making ice cream is supplied to the mixing chamber  6 . Alternatively, if the plate  24  is in the second position, both the product to be processed and the diluting liquid for making the ice cream shake are supplied to the mixing chamber  6 . 
     The control element  32  also comprises a device  36  for selecting the flavoring syrup, operatively connected to the electronic control unit  33  for enabling/disabling the pumps  22  of the syrup feed circuits  20 . 
     In particular, the selecting device  36  has a control panel (schematically illustrated) for selecting the type of syrup to be supplied to the mixing chamber  6  corresponding to a particular flavor to be given to the ice cream or the ice cream shake. 
     In this way, the products dispensed by the machine  1  may be neutral or flavored with syrups having different flavors. 
     In practice, when an ice cream is to be dispensed, the plate  24  is manually positioned in the respective first position in which the first nozzle  25  is in fluid communication with the outfeed pipe  12 . 
     The sensor  34  detects the positioning of the plate  24  and sends the signal S 1  to the electronic control unit  33  which activates the stirrer  9  movement means  10 . In this way the product contained in the tank  3  is supplied through the freezing chamber  4  into the mixing chamber  6 . Moreover, by acting on the selecting device  36  it is possible to feed a syrup into the mixing chamber  6 . In other words, after the command sent by the selecting device  36 , the control unit  33  also activates a pump  22  corresponding to the feed circuit of a predetermined syrup. 
     The mixing element  14  mixes the ice cream with the syrup in the chamber  6 , and the actuator  15  allows the ice cream to reach and pass through the outfeed pipe  12 . 
     In this situation, it should be noticed that the dispensing means  13  may be activated directly by the control unit  33  after a predetermined signal. Alternatively, the dispensing means  13  may be activated manually by the operator. 
     The ice cream passes through the outfeed pipe  12  and is forced out through the first nozzle  25 , suitable for dispensing that specific product. 
     When the ice cream shake is to be dispensed, the plate  24  is rotated to the second position in which the second nozzle  26  is in fluid communication with the outfeed pipe  12 . 
     In this situation the sensor  34  sends the second signal S 2  to activate not just the stirrer  9  movement means  10  but also the pump  19  of the auxiliary processing circuit  16 . In this way, the product to be processed contained in the tank  3  and the diluting liquid housed in the tank  17  are supplied to the mixing chamber  6 . Advantageously, the control unit  33  also activates the heating element  18  to heat the diluting liquid and obtain an ice cream shake which is much less dense than the ice cream. 
     The mixing element  14  then mixes the product to be processed with the diluting liquid and with any syrup present to make the ice cream shake which is forced out of the second nozzle  26 . 
     Advantageously, it should be noticed that the machine  1  allows the dispensing of ice cream and ice cream shake by adapting the dispensing nozzle according to the specific product. 
     The ice cream is forced out through the first nozzle  25  which has a larger opening and an irregular outline to give the ice cream an attractive shape. In contrast, the ice cream shake is forced out of the second nozzle  26  which is much smaller and has a circular outline to keep the flow of shake compact and avoid any turbulence in the flow. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , like the machines  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the machine  1  comprises, again supported by the frame  2  in a single integrated structure, a plurality of tanks  38  which can be used for containing additional condiments, in particular candied items, sweets, chocolates, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc., and a mixer  39  equipped with a disposable spoon  40  for mixing the additional condiments with the product dispensed. 
     Again in this case the mixer  39  is positioned immediately next to, specifically to the right of, the dispensing means  13  and the tanks  38  are positioned immediately below the dispensing means  13  and the mixer  39 . 
     According to alternative embodiments not illustrated, the mixer  39  is positioned immediately to the left of the dispensing means  13 , or the tanks  38  are positioned immediately below only the dispensing means  13 , or the tanks  38  are positioned immediately below only the mixer  39 . 
     The mixer  39  comprises an electric motor and a relative electronic control section of the known type and therefore not described in detail. The spoon  40  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 12 . 
     The spoon  40 , already described above, comprises the shank  41  which, at the opposite end to the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , has two end jaws  45 , designed to removably engage with a free end portion  46  of the shaft  44 . 
     More precisely, the jaws  45  are formed by two respective rectangular flat walls  47 , extending in the direction of the axis A, which are opposite and parallel with one another, each having at its free end a tooth  48 , transversal to the axis A, for engaging with a transversal annular groove  49  in the above-mentioned free end portion  46  of the shaft  44  ( FIG. 12 ). 
     The walls  47  are positioned parallel with a spoon  40  plane of symmetry, passing through the axis A. 
     As  FIG. 11  more clearly shows, the spoon  40  comprises two longitudinal projections or ribs  50  projecting transversally from the shank  41  and from the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , at a right angle towards the back of the spoon  40 , at least partly following its contour. More precisely, each rib  50  extends in the form of a wing both along a respective side  51  of the shank  41  and, continuously, along a respective side  52  of the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , and simultaneously acts as a stiffening element for the spoon  40  and as an active element, that is to say as a blade, in the mixing action. 
     The projections  50  give the shank  41 , at an end portion of it adjacent to the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , a channel shape, having a C-shaped cross-section. 
     According to alternative embodiments of the spoon  40 , not illustrated, each longitudinal rib  50  extends only along the respective side  51 , or only along the respective side  52 . 
     According to another alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the spoon  40  has a single rib  50 , positioned like one of the two ribs  50  described above, or centrally in a symmetrical position along the above-mentioned spoon  40  plane of symmetry. 
     According to the alternative embodiment  40 ′ illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43  are asymmetrical relative to any plane passing through the axis A, since it is designed for use as a scoop exclusively with the right hand. Obviously, according to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the above-mentioned asymmetry may be used for left-handed people. 
     Moreover, in the alternative embodiment  40 ′, the projections  50  are only relative to the shank  41  and the latter has a conical shape, with the projections  50  converging with one another towards the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 . In particular, at the opposite end to the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43 , the shank  41  has a substantially conical wall  53 , designed to removably engage, in a snap-on fashion, with a substantially conical free end portion  46 ′ of the mixer  39  rotary shaft  44 . 
     Obviously, the spoon  40  or  40 ′ described above guarantees satisfactory mixing of the products with very low shaft speeds of rotation, thus avoiding problems linked to operator safety and to breaking the bonds in the product which give it a whipped consistency. 
     Moreover, according to an embodiment not illustrated, the shank  41  and the blade-shaped mixing and scooping means  43  may be made as a solid body. 
     The invention described above fulfils the preset aims. The position and function of the mixer  39  are immediately obvious to the consumer. The consumer has easy access to the mixer  39  without having to move from the position in which he drew out the product and added condiments to it, thus minimizing the possibility of dropping the additional condiments on the floor. 
     Moreover, the machine  1  as a whole is compact and functional. 
     The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.