Apparatus for conveying frozen confection comprising particulate material

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for delivering particulate material to a frozen confectionery material to provide a single serving to a consumer, the apparatus comprising: a chamber (12) for storing particulate material, and a frozen confectionery supply, the chamber having an open outlet (24), wherein the chamber is adapted to be rotatable in use such that the open outlet follows a path having both an upper region and a lower region, and is arranged to pass through the lower region a plurality of times at a non-zero speed during a single serving; the open outlet being sized to allow a portion of the stored particulate material to drop out of the chamber via the open outlet under the action of gravity each time the open outlet passes through the lower region of the path; the apparatus being further arranged to bring particulate material that has exited the chamber into contact with the frozen confectionery supply.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of patent application No. 201680078166.2 (PCT / EP2016 / 080423) filed on December 9, 2016, entitled "Apparatus for Conveying Frozen Sweets Including Particulate Material". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing frozen desserts, particularly for single servings thereof, the frozen desserts comprising granular material, particularly incorporating granular material. Background Technology

[0003] There is significant consumer demand for frozen desserts containing granular materials, especially ice cream. When these granular materials are added not just as a topping but also mixed into frozen desserts, they are also referred to as incorporations.

[0004] There are devices and machines that can dispense frozen desserts even when an ingredient has been selected by the end user.

[0005] US 4645093 discloses an apparatus for dispensing single-serving ice cream and includes a hopper for holding nuts as a topping. The hopper has a rotatable valve with two notches at the bottom, such that a half-turn dispenses a fixed amount of nuts onto the ice cream.

[0006] WO 2011 / 162796 discloses an apparatus that simultaneously delivers ice cream and granular material as single servings. The granular material can be dispensed to deposit granules via an actuated lever. A cylindrical metering device is also disclosed, wherein a portion of the cylinder rotates to deliver a fixed amount of granular material from an upper hopper position. Granular material can also be dispensed from a rotatable hopper containing baffles. A specific combination of counter-clockwise and clockwise partial rotation ensures that a fixed metered amount of granular material leaves the hopper for each single serving.

[0007] EP 1348342 discloses an apparatus for conveying single servings of ice cream containing particulate material. The particulate material is fed from above into a chamber including rotating blades, and the ice cream is fed from the side into the chamber, where they are then mixed together before being dispensed from below.

[0008] Therefore, improvements are needed in this area. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention relates to an apparatus for conveying particulate material to frozen confectionery ingredients for single-serving supply to consumers, the apparatus comprising: Chambers for storing particulate materials, and Frozen desserts available. The chamber has an open outlet, wherein the chamber is adapted to be rotatable in use such that the open outlet follows a path having both an upper region and a lower region, and is configured to pass through the lower region multiple times at a non-zero speed during a single serving; the open outlet is sized to allow a portion of the stored granular material to fall out of the chamber under gravity each time the open outlet passes through the lower region of the path; the device is also configured to allow the granular material that has left the chamber to come into contact with the frozen dessert serving.

[0010] In this way, the container passes through the lower region at a positive velocity and therefore in a specific amount of time, allowing a controlled amount of particulate material to exit the container via the open outlet. However, since the chamber can rotate so that the open outlet reaches the lower region multiple times, the amount allocated each time the open outlet passes through the lower region can be a relatively small amount of particulate material, particularly less than the amount that will ultimately be allocated in a single supply.

[0011] The objective is to ensure that the container for the granular material holds all the granular material required for at least one single-serving supply. Therefore, the container does not need to be refilled each time it rotates through the upper region of the path. Preferably, this arrangement ensures that no granular material enters the chamber as it passes through the upper region of the path.

[0012] In a convenient configuration, the rotating chamber rotates within a fixed housing. This fixed housing blocks the open outlet but has an opening that overlaps with the open outlet as it passes through the lower region of the path. This ensures that no particulate material leaves the container until the container is in its lower region, and the overlap with the opening controls the amount of particulate material that can leave the chamber in a single pass through the lower region.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the openings in the open outlet and the fixed housing are shaped such that as the open outlet moves away from the lower region of the path and the overlapping region closes, the overlapping region is shaped to taper to provide gradual closure of the overlapping region. This tapering provides a squeezing and slicing effect, such that any particulate material trapped in the overlapping region as the size of the overlapping region decreases is broken and / or cut and / or sliced ​​by the tapering of the overlapping region.

[0014] The chamber can be rotated in a variety of different ways, but it has been found that rotating about a substantially horizontal axis, so that the path is substantially vertical and circular, provides a convenient setup as well as a mechanically easier setup.

[0015] The chamber can rotate in various directions, provided it is configured to pass through the lower region multiple times during a single serving. However, it has been found advantageous if the chamber is adapted to rotate in only one direction during a single serving. For example, the chamber can rotate only counterclockwise or only clockwise. In particular, as described below, this feature makes the motorization of rotation simpler and more convenient.

[0016] In a particularly convenient setup, the container is not integral with any other part of the equipment. This allows the container to be disassembled and replaced periodically. Therefore, end users can remove the container and add any granular material of their choice. In this way, consumers are not limited by the pouring heads present in the machine and can add whatever they want according to their preferences. Furthermore, if there is more than one end user, each end user can have their preferred granular material. Additionally, removing the container facilitates its cleaning.

[0017] In a preferred apparatus, frozen desserts are supplied by extruding them through nozzles while the chamber rotates. In this way, the continuous stream of frozen desserts can come into contact with a semi-continuous stream of granular material along its length, causing the granular material to be distributed around the surface of the extruded frozen desserts and thus distributed in a single serving.

[0018] As described above, the open outlet is configured to pass through its lower region multiple times. It has been found particularly advantageous that the open outlet is configured to pass through the lower region at least five times, preferably more than ten times, during a single serving. In this way, only a portion of the total amount of particulate material needs to leave the container during each passage through the lower region.

[0019] While the container can be rotated manually, it is more preferable that it be motorized, allowing rotation to be provided by an electric motor. This helps to provide a rapid rotation speed, which can provide multiple rotations per serving.

[0020] This type of motor can follow a fixed pre-programmed procedure. However, in a preferred embodiment, the motor is controlled and actuated by user-selectable input. In this way, the end user can control the rotation of the container and can control the conveying of granular material or other aspects. Additionally, if that is the user's preference in that case, this allows the end user to choose not to add any granular material to a single serving.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the user can optionally input an input that allows variation in the rotational speed of the chamber in use. However, in a further improvement to this embodiment, it is preferred that the rotational speed be fixed by the device to a substantially constant value when the open outlet overlaps with an opening in the housing, i.e., when the open outlet is located in its lower region. In this way, the amount of particulate material leaving the open outlet each time it passes through the lower region is unaffected by the chamber rotational speed. This allows the end user to increase or decrease the rotational speed as needed, depending on whether more or less particulate material is required for a single serving.

[0022] The devices described and defined herein are primarily intended for home use. Therefore, it is highly advantageous if the machine is not so large that it cannot be easily positioned in the user's kitchen. Thus, it is preferable that the device can be housed in a volume not exceeding 0.2m³. 3 Preferably, it is no more than 0.1m 3 The interior of the cubic container.

[0023] The frozen confectionery material of this invention is aerated. The term "aerated" means that gas can be intentionally incorporated into the product, such as by mechanical means. The gas can be any food-grade gas, such as air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide. The degree of aeration is typically defined by "expansion" (OR). In this invention, %expansion is defined by volume (measured at atmospheric pressure) as: The amount of expansion present in the product will vary depending on the desired product characteristics. In the present invention, the level of expansion is typically 0 to 150%, preferably 60 to 150%, and more preferably 60 to 100%.

[0024] Frozen dessert ingredients refer to desserts made by freezing a pasteurized mixture of ingredients such as water, fat, sweeteners, proteins (usually milk proteins), and optionally other ingredients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, colorings, and flavorings. Frozen dessert ingredients can be aerated. Frozen dessert ingredients include ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, cereals, shaved ice, etc. Preferably, frozen dessert ingredients are ice cream.

[0025] The granular material may include discrete blocks of edible material, such as commercially available sweets, candies, carbonated candies, chocolates, fruits (e.g., fresh, dried, frozen, or candied), frozen liquids, nuts, seeds, biscuits, cakes, cookies, toffee, cereals, gummies, nougat, jelly, marshmallows, etc. Preferably, the size of the granular material is 1 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 2 to 9 mm, and most preferably 5 to 8 mm. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the device according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A close-up perspective view of the container being removed from the device shown.

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A close-up perspective view of the container holding the granular material in the device shown.

[0029] Figure 4 It is a perspective view of the internal structure of the area surrounding the rotating container of the equipment.

[0030] Figure 5 It is a single supply allocated during use. Figure 1 A perspective view of the device shown. Detailed Implementation

[0031] See attached image. Figure 1 A device 10 according to the invention is shown, which is suitable for conveying frozen desserts such as ice cream and related particulate materials added during the conveying of frozen desserts. The device is sized to be suitable for use in a user's home.

[0032] The device includes a frozen confectionery source (not shown) and a container 12 for holding a source of particulate material.

[0033] The device has a handle 14, the downward movement of which actuates the conveying of frozen confectionery out of outlet 16. The handle also includes a gripper 18, which has a button 20 at its end. Pressing the button 20 actuates the conveying of particulate material onto the flow surface of the frozen confectionery material.

[0034] Figure 2 A close-up view of container 12, filled with granular material 22, is shown, completely removed from device 10, demonstrating that it is not integrally formed with the device and can be completely removed by grasping the side of the container and pulling it by hand. An open outlet 24 can be seen at the uppermost end of the container.

[0035] Container 12 has been removed by the end user and is filled with particulate material 22 on the outside of the device.

[0036] As can be seen, the open outlet is large and occupies the entire end of the container. This facilitates the addition of granular materials by the end user.

[0037] A rotatable housing 26 is also shown, which can rotate within a fixed housing 28. The rotatable housing 26 has two recessed areas 27 to allow the user's fingers to be placed and to remove the container from the fixed housing 28 when gripping the container.

[0038] When container 12 is placed inside the rotatable housing 26 and the fixed housing 28, the open outlet 24 is open due to the presence of the rotatable housing 26 and the fixed housing 28. Figure 2 The indicated orientation is blocked.

[0039] like Figure 3 As seen, container 12 can be rotated by being mounted within a rotatable housing 26. The rotatable housing 26 is mounted so as to rotate within a fixed housing 28. The rotation of the rotatable housing is controlled by a motor (not shown) housed within the device body.

[0040] Therefore, in use, the container 12 rotates, and thus the open outlet 24 follows a vertically circular path. The container is also shown in inclined positions 12a and 12b; however, in both positions, the open outlet 24 remains covered due to the presence of the rotatable housing 26 and the fixed housing 28. However, the fixed housing contains an opening (not shown) in its lower region, such that when the open outlet 24 of the container 12 passes through the lower region of the rotation range, there is an overlap between the open outlet 24 and the opening in the fixed housing.

[0041] As the container continues to rotate, the overlap area initially increases until it reaches its maximum when the container is completely vertically inverted. As the container continues to rotate, the overlap begins to decrease until the open outlet 24 is once again completely blocked by the fixed housing 28.

[0042] Figure 4 The internal structure of the device within the area of ​​container 12 is shown. The enclosed casing has been removed to facilitate visualization of the internal structure. The fixed housing 28 is clearly shown, within which the rotatable housing 26 is rotatably mounted.

[0043] An opening 30 in the fixed housing 28 is also shown. As the rotatable housing 26 rotates within the fixed housing 28, the container 12 also rotates until the container moves to a nearly completely inverted position, as shown. Figure 4 As shown. At this point, there is an overlap between the open outlet 24 and the opening 30. Due to the overlap, the stored particulate material 22 can fall out of the container through the open outlet 24 and the opening 30.

[0044] As from Figure 4As can be seen, the opening 30 has a gradually tapering configuration, which allows the degree of overlap to gradually change as the open outlet passes through the lower region of its path. Furthermore, this configuration provides a slicing effect, making it easier to slice or crush any particulate material trapped in the closing overlapping region as it closes.

[0045] Figure 5 An image of a device 10 in use, which delivers a single serving 40 to a consumer, is shown.

[0046] In use, the end user grips handle 18 and pulls it to begin dispensing a frozen dessert, such as ice cream, from outlet 16. Simultaneously, the end user presses button 20, which actuates a motor (not shown) that drives container 12 to rotate. Button 20 includes a progressive sensor that detects the amount of pressure applied. The more button 20 is pressed, the faster the container rotates.

[0047] Each time the open outlet 24 of container 12 passes the lowest rotation point, a portion of the particulate material is deposited and falls out of outlet 16 and comes into contact with frozen desserts such as ice cream.

[0048] Furthermore, the device is programmed such that the rotational speed is constant when the open outlet 24 is in its lowest position, and there is overlap between the open outlet 24 and the opening in the fixed housing 28. This is independent of the degree to which the button 20 is pressed.

[0049] Therefore, the amount of granular material dispensed is roughly proportional to the number of revolutions in the chamber. In turn, the number of revolutions in the chamber is determined by the end user pressing a button more than 20 times. In this way, the end user can dispense a single serving of frozen dessert with as little (or even none) or as much granular material as desired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying particulate material to frozen confectionery ingredients for single-serving consumption to consumers, the apparatus comprising: Fixed housing; A rotatable housing that can rotate within the fixed housing; The source for storing the particulate material and the container for filling the particulate material on the outside of the device, wherein the container is rotatable by being radially centered in the rotatable housing and can be completely removed by grasping the side of the container and pulling it by hand, and the rotatable housing has two recessed areas on either radial side of the container to allow the user's fingers to be placed and the container to be removed from the fixed housing when the container is grasped. The container has an open outlet, wherein the container is adapted to be rotatable in use such that the open outlet follows a path having an upper region and a lower region, and is configured to pass through the lower region multiple times at a non-zero speed during a single serving, such that a controlled amount of particulate material can exit the container via the open outlet, wherein the container is adapted to rotate only in a counterclockwise direction or only in a clockwise direction during a single serving. The size of the open outlet is designed to allow a portion of the stored particulate material to fall out of the container under gravity each time it passes through the lower region of the path. The device is configured to provide the frozen dessert supply by extruding it through a nozzle while the container is rotating, such that the particulate material that has already left the container via the open outlet comes into contact with the extruded frozen dessert supply.

2. The device according to claim 1, configured such that no particulate material enters the container when passing through the upper region of the path.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein, The rotating container rotates within the fixed housing, which blocks the open outlet but has an opening that overlaps with the open outlet as the open outlet passes through the lower region of the path.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein, The opening in the open outlet and the opening in the fixed housing are shaped such that the lower region and the overlapping region close as the open outlet moves away from the path, and the overlapping region is shaped to gradually taper, providing gradual closure of the overlapping region.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The container rotates about a generally horizontal axis, and the path is therefore a generally vertical circle.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The container is not integrally formed with any other component of the device.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the open outlet is configured to allow the lower region to pass through at least 5 times during a single supply.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The rotation of the container is provided by an electric motor.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein, The electric motor can be actuated by user-selectable input.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the user-selectable input allows the rotational speed of the container to vary during use.

11. The device of claim 10, which is adapted to fix the rotational speed at a substantially constant value when the open outlet overlaps with the opening in the fixed housing.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1-4, which can be assembled in a volume not exceeding 0.2 m³. 3 Inside the cubic container.

Images