Patent Description:
This invention relates to a machine for making ice cream products, such as ice cream or gelato creams or like products, and which is equipped with a pump that allows said products to be processed by subjecting them to a pressure higher than the pressure obtainable with machines currently in use, thus appreciably improving certain product properties.

Reference will hereinafter be made to an ice cream machine which is possibly, but not necessarily, also equipped with means for subsequently dispensing the product made, without thereby limiting the scope of the invention to this specific example.

As is known, in an ice cream machine, the basic ingredients needed to make the product are placed in a mixing container and the mixture is then transferred into the processing vessel. <CIT> discloses an ice cream production dispensing system with a reservoir for the fluid product connected by a tube to a freezing cylinder. An air meter mixes air to the prod in the tube to give a predetermined fluid to air ratio. A peristaltic pump moves the mixture to the cylinder.

The processing vessel constitutes a chamber in which the product is treated and in which, for example, a stirring device is operatively located. The mixture is transferred from the container of the base ingredients to the processing vessel using a pump mounted along the path defined by a pipe extending from the bottom of the container of the base products and leading into the processing vessel.

At the stage of batching in the processing vessel, as the mixture obtained from the base ingredients freezes, a certain amount of air (or overrun) is incorporated in the product, in order to obtain a specific ice cream product. Balancing the amount of air incorporated in the product being made is an essential step in the production of a good artisan ice cream: indeed, the consistency, creaminess and texture, hence the overall quality, of the end product depend on this operation.

In the constructional configuration of prior art machines, overrun is incorporated almost entirely by the stirring device and, usually, the means used for moving the product do not allow reaching stable pressures sufficient to improve the overrun.

The aim of this invention therefore is to provide a machine for making ice cream products, such as ice cream, sorbets, gelato creams and the like, and which is configured to incorporate air in the end product in such a way as to enhance the effect of overrun, thereby optimizing product quality.

Another aim of the invention is therefore, generally speaking, to provide a machine for making ice cream, sorbets, gelato creams and the like, where the quality of the product obtained is improved by modifying the structural configuration and efficiency of the machine itself.

According to the invention, these aims are achieved by a machine for making ice cream products and comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

The features of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention by way of example.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral <NUM> denotes a machine used for the production of ice cream products, specifically ice cream, sorbets, gelato creams and the like.

For simplicity, the description below refers only to the production of ice cream, it being understood that this shall not in any way be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

In <FIG>, the machine as a whole is schematically represented showing only its outer casing <NUM> (frame <NUM>) and some of its basic parts, useful for understanding the invention, it being understood, however, that this illustration refers to an exemplary form and is in no way intended as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

According to the invention, the machine <NUM> comprises a container <NUM> for feeding the base product.

This container is preferably a flexible container.

The base product is transferred into a vessel <NUM> for processing the mixture to obtain the ice cream.

Processing the liquid or semi-liquid base products inside the vessel <NUM> allows obtaining ice cream as the finished product.

For this purpose, the vessel <NUM> is internally provided with a stirring device <NUM> that is driven by drive means <NUM> for stirring the base mixture made from the liquid or semi-liquid base products.

Looking in more detail, the drive means <NUM> comprise an electric motor whose rotor <NUM> is connected directly to the stirring device <NUM>.

Thus, the stirring device <NUM>, which is made, for example, in the form of an endless screw, a vane, or radial scraping blades, is driven in rotation by the rotor <NUM>.

It should be noted that the rotary shaft H of the motor <NUM> and that of the stirrer <NUM> are preferably connected to each other and coaxial.

It is stressed, however, that a different constructional configuration is imaginable: for example, with a common rotary shaft between the stirrer <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> of the motor or with a transmission unit (gears, for example) connecting the rotary shaft of the motor with that of the stirrer <NUM>. Continuing with the description of the machine <NUM>, a refrigerating system <NUM> is provided which is connected to a heat exchanger <NUM> associated with the vessel <NUM>.

The function of the refrigerating system <NUM> is to chill the mixture made up of the liquid or semi-liquid base products inside the vessel <NUM> while simultaneously mixing it with the stirrer <NUM>.

Preferably, the refrigerating system <NUM> is a thermodynamic system: that is to say, a system provided with a circuit for circulating a heat exchanger fluid and configured to perform a thermodynamic cycle on the heat exchanger fluid.

The refrigerating system <NUM> comprises, for example, one or more valves, a compressor which forces the refrigerant fluid to circulate in the system <NUM> and at least one pair of thermodynamic exchangers (one of which is the exchanger <NUM>). These components are not illustrated in detail.

The heat exchanger <NUM>, forming part of the system <NUM>, may comprise a pipe <NUM> that is wound (in a coil) around the outside surface of the vessel <NUM>.

The system <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM> which, in particular, coordinates the operation of the drive means <NUM> - that is, of the motor - to start it and determine its direction of rotation and different operating speeds.

To transfer the mixture, the feed container <NUM> is connected to the vessel <NUM> by a duct <NUM>, along which a peristaltic pump <NUM> is operatively located to move the mixture fed into the duct <NUM> (arrow I, <FIG>) in order to transfer it from the container <NUM> to the vessel <NUM>.

According to the invention, the peristaltic pump <NUM> is located at a flexible portion <NUM> of the duct <NUM> and comprises a rotary device <NUM> which applies pressure on the flexible portion <NUM> of the duct <NUM>.

The pressure action of the rotary device <NUM> is applied on the flexible portion <NUM> by thrust elements <NUM> which comprise, for example, a series of rollers <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>).

For supporting the rollers <NUM>, the rotary device comprises a pair of juxtaposed discs <NUM>, <NUM> and the rollers <NUM> are rotatably mounted along the circumference of the discs <NUM>, <NUM> and, more specifically, are mounted between the two discs by means of pins <NUM>.

The discs are positioned in such a way that their rotary motion causes the rollers <NUM> to roll along the flexible portion <NUM> of the duct <NUM>.

To allow the rollers <NUM> to apply pressure on the flexible portion <NUM>, an opposing element <NUM> is provided.

Preferably, the opposing element <NUM> is mounted movably relative to the frame of the machine <NUM>: that is to say, it can move relative to the frame <NUM> so as to be able to vary its position relative to the rotary device <NUM>.

To allow applying an effective and prolonged pressure action, the opposing element <NUM> extends along a (circular) arc whose radius is such as to surround the discs <NUM>, <NUM> at least partly, while the flexible portion <NUM> remains interposed between the discs (the rollers) and the arc segment <NUM>.

That way, the rotation of the discs <NUM>, <NUM> in the direction R causes the rollers <NUM> to squeeze the flexible portion <NUM>, thereby pushing the mixture inside it in the direction concordant with the direction of rotation R of the discs <NUM>, <NUM>.

The pressure that this system can apply on the base mixture being transferred to the vessel <NUM> is particularly high, much higher than the pressure obtainable with the traditional devices used for transferring the mixture from the feed container <NUM> to the batching vessel <NUM>.

The pressure can be as high as <NUM> bar or <NUM>,<NUM> MPa. For example, a pressure on the mixture passing through the flexible portion (<NUM>) has a value between <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM> MPa.

To allow easy adjustment of the pressure, the opposing element <NUM> is mounted rotatably (connected by a hinge) at one end <NUM> of it.

At its other end <NUM>, an elastic element keeps the opposing element <NUM> pressed against the rotary device <NUM>.

According to the invention, the machine <NUM> comprises an adjustment system <NUM> for adjusting the pressure with which the opposing element <NUM> is pressed against the rotary device <NUM>, and thus, for providing a setting which keeps a predetermined pressure on the flexible portion <NUM>, hence on the mixture contained therein.

The adjustment system <NUM> comprises a movable element <NUM>, fixed to, or integral with, the opposing element <NUM>, and movement means <NUM> for moving the movable element <NUM> so as to adjust the position of the opposing element <NUM>.

According to another embodiment useful for understanding the invention, the movement means <NUM> comprise guide means <NUM> for guiding the movable element <NUM> and an actuator <NUM> operating on the movable element <NUM> to impart movement thereto. Preferably, the actuator <NUM> is connected to a machine control unit <NUM> which drives and controls the actuator <NUM> to adjust the position of the movable element <NUM>.

Preferably, the actuator <NUM> is an electromechanical actuator.

In an embodiment useful for understanding the invention, the movable element <NUM> and the movement means <NUM> for moving the movable element <NUM> are defined by a piston and cylinder assembly (as shown in <FIG>).

Preferably, the piston and cylinder assembly is electronically or pneumatically actuated.

Preferably, the piston and cylinder assembly is controlled by the drive and control unit <NUM>.

According to the invention and as illustrated in <FIG>, the adjustment system <NUM> is of a type operated by a screw <NUM> and comprises a spring <NUM> to adjust the pressure with which the opposing element <NUM> is pressed against the rotary device <NUM>.

The elastic reaction of the spring <NUM> provides a setting which keeps a predetermined pressure on the flexible portion <NUM>, hence on the mixture contained therein.

The spring <NUM> defines the aforementioned elastic element.

The compliance and elastic reaction of the spring <NUM> create a self-adjustment system that allows keeping a preset pressure on the flexible portion <NUM>, hence on the mixture contained therein.

At the point where the vessel <NUM> is positioned, the casing <NUM> may be fitted with a dispenser <NUM> which allows withdrawing a measured quantity of ice cream by operating a lever <NUM>.

Instead of the dispenser <NUM>, a conveyor or a duct (not illustrated in the drawings) may be provided to transfer the finished product from the vessel <NUM> to other devices or appliances for further processing the product - for example, for packaging it.

Advantageously, the machine <NUM> described herein allows processing the base mixture with a higher pressure than machines provided with traditional means for moving the mixture.

That is because the pump <NUM> made as described herein is capable of working at higher pressures than devices traditionally used for the same purpose.

Feeding the mixture in at a higher pressure allows incorporating more air in the ice cream, thus improving overrun.

Moreover, this higher pressure can be adjusted in a wide range thanks to the adjustment system by which the opposing spring presses the flexible portion against the rollers <NUM> (mounted on the rotary discs <NUM>, <NUM>).

Thus, the pump <NUM> may be adjusted in a particularly simple and precise manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, acting on the screw <NUM> to move the opposing spring in the direction indicated by the arrow A increases the pressure on the flexible portion <NUM> because the flexible portion is confined within a smaller space between the rollers <NUM> and the opposing element <NUM>. As a result, the rollers <NUM> produce a higher compression pressure on the base mixture.

Instead, acting on the screw <NUM> to move the opposing element in the direction indicated by the arrow D decreases the pressure on the flexible portion <NUM> because the flexible portion <NUM> has more space available for it and the pressure on the mixture thus decreases.

The position of the opposing element <NUM> is varied by placing the opposing element <NUM> at any of a plurality of positions so as to be able to adjust the pushing force on the flexible portion <NUM> (and consequently the base product feed pressure).

All of this is reflected in the optimization of the batching cycle and in the improved quality of the finished product.

According to the instant invention, the adjustment system <NUM> is configured for adjusting a position of the opposing element <NUM> with respect to the rotary device <NUM>, whereby a pressure, exerted by the rotary device <NUM> on the flexible portion <NUM> and on the mixture contained therein is adjustable, in use, as a function of the opposing element <NUM> position.

In other words, in use of the peristaltic pump <NUM>, the exerted pressure on the flexible portion <NUM> can be adjusted adaptively by the movement of the opposing element <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A machine (<NUM>) for making ice cream products, comprising:
- a container (<NUM>) adapted to contain a mixture of basic ingredients to be used for making the ice cream products;
- a vessel (<NUM>) for processing the mixture from the container (<NUM>) to obtain the finished liquid or semi-liquid products;
- a stirring device (<NUM>) mounted inside the vessel (<NUM>) and driven by drive means (<NUM>) to stir the mixture made up of the liquid or semi-liquid basic ingredients;
- a refrigerating system (<NUM>) comprising at least one heat exchanger (<NUM>) associated with the vessel (<NUM>) to cool the mixture inside the vessel (<NUM>);
- a duct (<NUM>) connecting the container (<NUM>) to the vessel (<NUM>);
- a peristaltic pump (<NUM>) configured to move the mixture in the duct (<NUM>);
at least one control unit (<NUM>) adapted to control the operation of the drive means (<NUM>) and of the peristaltic pump (<NUM>), the peristaltic pump (<NUM>) being situated at a flexible portion (<NUM>) of the duct (<NUM>) and comprising a rotary device (<NUM>) and an opposing element (<NUM>) confronting the rotary device (<NUM>), the flexible portion (<NUM>) being interposed between the rotary device (<NUM>) and the opposing element (<NUM>) so that the rotary device (<NUM>) and the opposing element (<NUM>) operate on it, the machine (<NUM>) being characterized in that it comprises an adjustment system (<NUM>) configured for adjusting a position of the opposing element (<NUM>) into a plurality of desired positions with respect to the rotary device (<NUM>), whereby, by varying the positions of the opposing element (<NUM>), a pressure, exerted by the rotary device (<NUM>) on the flexible portion (<NUM>) and on the mixture contained therein is adjustable as a function of said opposing element (<NUM>) position, wherein the adjustment system (<NUM>) comprises a movable element (<NUM>), fixed to, or integral with, the opposing element (<NUM>), and movement means (<NUM>) for moving the movable element (<NUM>) so as to adjust the position of the opposing element (<NUM>), wherein the adjustment system (<NUM>) is a screw adjustment system (<NUM>) and comprises a spring (<NUM>) to adjust the pressure with which the opposing element (<NUM>) is pressed against the rotary device (<NUM>), the elastic reaction of the spring (<NUM>) providing a setting which keeps a predetermined pressure on the flexible portion (<NUM>), hence on the mixture contained therein.