System for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery

Abstract

A system for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery, the system comprising a pod containing at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery, the system cooling the pod, introducing water into the pod, agitating the contents of the pod while simultaneously scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent accumulation of frozen confectionery on at least one wall of the pod, and discharging the frozen confectionery from the pod. [Selection diagram] None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Reference to Related Patent Applications Pending This application is (1) a continuation-in-part of the pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 625,690 (Attorney Docket No. 47354-0003001), filed Jun. 16, 2017, by Sigma Phase, Corp. and Mattew Fonte, as “SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SINGLE SERVING OF A FROZEN CONFECTION”, which U.S. patent application claims the benefit of (a) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 351,001 (Attorney Docket No. 47354-0003P01), filed Jun. 16, 2016, by Xciting Innovations, LLC, as “SINGLE SERVE ICE CREAM MACHINE: COMPRESSOR, VORTEX TUBE, SPRAY NOZZLE, SINGLE POD OF DRY ICE CREAM MIX”, and further this application claims the benefit of (2) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 616,742 (Attorney Docket No. 47354-0004P01), filed Jan. 12, 2018, by Sigma Phase, Corp. and Mattew Fonte, as “SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SINGLE SERVING OF A FROZEN CONFECTION”.

[0002] The contents of these three patents specified above are hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of this application.

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a system for providing frozen confections (e.g., “soft serve” or standard “hard” ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen protein shake, smoothie, etc.), and more particularly to a system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection.

Background Art

[0004] Current household ice cream makers are generally, typically, designed to produce a relatively large amount of ice cream, typically from 1.0 liter to 2.0 liters or more, in about 20 to 60 minutes. Further, most current household ice cream makers require the container (in which the ice cream is produced) to be "frozen" before making ice cream, i.e., the container must be placed in the freezer for about 4 to 8 hours before use. Thus, there is a significant delay between the time of starting to make ice cream and the time when the ice cream is finished. Further, even after the ice cream is finished, it is necessary to manually remove the ice cream from the ice cream maker, and then scoop out one serving of ice cream into another container (e.g., a bowl, a cone, etc.) for eating. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, what is needed is a new system that provides a single serving of frozen confectionery in a short time, in which the frozen confectionery is directly dispensed into a container (e.g., a bowl, a cone, etc.) for eating the frozen confectionery.

[0006] Furthermore, it is desirable that the system be capable of providing a single serving of cold beverage and / or a single serving of warm beverage. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention is a novel system for providing a single-serving frozen dessert, and includes the provision and use of a system in which the frozen dessert is directly dispensed into a container (e.g., a bowl, a cone, etc.) for eating the frozen dessert. The novel system can be installed on a kitchen countertop, is small enough to fit under a kitchen cabinet (typically up to 18 inches (about 0.46 m) in height), is powered by up to 1800 watts from a 120-volt kitchen wall outlet, and weighs 50 pounds (about 22.68 kg). The novel system can make at least 5 fluid ounces (about 147.85 milliliters) of frozen dessert in about 5 minutes or less, and can produce at least 4 servings of frozen dessert without a delay time between each production cycle.

[0008] Furthermore, the system is also capable of providing a single-serving cold beverage and / or a single-serving warm beverage.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing a single-serving ingestible substance, a nest for receiving a pod containing at least one raw material for making a single-serving ingestible substance, the nest comprising an annular recess for receiving a pod having an annular structure, a cooling unit for cooling the pod, a water feeder for introducing water into the pod and is provided.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing a single-serving ingestible substance, a pod containing at least one raw material for making a single-serving ingestible substance, a nest for receiving the pod comprising at least one internal paddle, a cooling unit for cooling the pod, a water feeder for introducing water into the pod, a rotating unit for rotating at least one internal paddle of the pod and is provided.

[0011] In another preferred form of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing a substance that can be consumed in one serving, a nest for receiving a pod containing at least one raw material for making a substance that can be consumed in one serving, a heat transfer unit for transferring heat between the pod and the nest, the heat transfer unit being capable of (i) extracting heat from the pod and (ii) supplying heat to the pod, a water supply for introducing water into the pod, and an apparatus is provided.

[0012] In another preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a frozen dessert in one serving, providing a pod containing at least one raw material for providing a frozen dessert in one serving, cooling the pod, introducing water into the pod, while rubbing at least one wall of the pod to prevent accumulation of the frozen dessert on at least one wall of the pod, simultaneously stirring the contents of the pod, discharging the frozen dessert from the pod, and a method is provided.

[0013] In another preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a pod for providing a substance that can be consumed in one serving, at least one raw material disposed within a sealed container for making a substance that can be consumed in one serving, at least one paddle disposed within the sealed container for stirring the at least one raw material, and a sealed container a pod is provided.

[0014] In still another form of the present invention, a novel system for providing a frozen dessert in one serving is disclosed.

[0015] Also, in still another form of the present invention, a novel pod for providing a frozen dessert in one serving is disclosed.

[0016] In another form of the present invention, a method for providing a single serving of ice cream, A tapered body having a small first end, a large second end, and a side wall extending therebetween, the tapered body defining an interior, A cap removably attached to the large second end of the tapered body, A scraper mixing paddle movably disposed within the interior of the tapered body, the scraper mixing paddle comprising a blade, An outlet port formed at the first end of the tapered body and communicating with the interior of the tapered body, and Raw materials for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery when cooled A pod comprising, A nest having a tapered cavity having a small first end, a large second end, and a side wall extending therebetween Providing, Inserting the pod into the second end of the tapered cavity of the nest and positioning the side wall of the tapered body of the pod substantially flush with the side wall of the tapered cavity of the nest, Cooling the nest and rotating the scraper mixing paddle to scrape the raw materials so that the raw materials become ice cream by contacting the blade of the scraper mixing paddle with the side wall of the pod, riding on the side wall, and rubbing the side wall, Opening the outlet port, Dispensing the ice cream from the pod through the outlet port A method is provided that includes.

[0017] These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers indicate like parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] The present invention is a novel system for providing a single-serving frozen confection, including the provision and use of a system in which the frozen confection is directly dispensed into a container (e.g., a bowl, a cone, etc.) for eating the frozen confection.

[0020] Furthermore, the system can also provide a single-serving cold beverage and / or a single-serving warm beverage. General system

[0021] In a preferred form of the present invention, first referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a novel system 10 for providing a single-serving frozen confection (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothie, etc.) is provided. Furthermore, the system 10 can also provide a single-serving cold beverage and / or a single-serving warm beverage.

[0022] To clarify the description, first, System 10 will be described from the perspective of providing a single serving of frozen dessert. Next, System 10 will be described from the perspective of providing a single serving of cold beverage. Then, System 10 will be described from the perspective of providing a single serving of warm beverage.

[0023] System 10 generally includes a machine 20 and a pod 30. The machine 20 is configured to receive the pod 30 containing a supply of raw materials for making a single serving of frozen dessert, cool the pod 30 (and its contents), introduce cold water and air into the pod 30, agitate the contents of the pod 30 to make the frozen dessert, and then directly discharge the frozen dessert from the pod 30 into a container (e.g., a bowl, cone, etc.) for eating the frozen dessert. Machine

[0024] The machine 20 is configured to receive the pod 30 containing a supply of raw materials for making a single serving of frozen dessert, cool the pod 30 (and its contents), introduce cold water and air into the pod 30, agitate the contents of the pod 30 to make the frozen dessert, and then directly discharge the frozen dessert from the pod 30 into a container (e.g., a bowl, cone, etc.) for eating the frozen dessert.

[0025] To achieve this purpose, the machine 20 is generally a reusable device comprising a housing 40, a nesting assembly 50, a lid assembly 60, a water supply 70, a cold water / air delivery assembly 80, a heat dissipation assembly 90, and control electronics 100.

[0026] Figures 1 to 6 show the housing 40. The housing 40 generally includes a base 110, a cover 120 attached to the base 110, and a tray 130 attached to the base 110. The cover 120 surrounds the internal components of the machine 20 and functions to support other components of the machine 20. The tray 130 functions to receive a container (e.g., a bowl) into which frozen confections are discharged and from which the frozen confections are eaten (alternatively, when eating frozen confections on a cone, the cone is held on the tray 130). Optionally, a cooling element (e.g., a thermoelectric (TEC) assembly including a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) element) can be disposed at the base of the tray 130 so that the tray 130 can "pre-cool" a container (e.g., a bowl) for holding the frozen confections.

[0027] Figures 7 to 12 show the nest assembly 50 in more detail. The nest assembly 50 receives a pod 30 containing a supply of raw materials for making a single serving of frozen confections and functions to rapidly cool the pod 30 (and its contents) in order to provide a single serving of frozen confections in particular in a short time. For this purpose, as will be described later, the nest assembly 50 and the pod 30 each have a unique configuration and a unique structure to accelerate the cooling of the pod 30.

[0028] More specifically, the nest assembly 50 generally includes a nest 140 having a top surface 150, a bottom surface 160, and a plurality of outer surfaces 170. In a preferred form of the present invention, the nest 140 has eight outer surfaces 170, and as a result, the nest 140 has a generally octagonal shape. Alternatively, the nest 140 can have a different number of outer surfaces 170. The nest 140 is preferably formed from a high heat transfer material such as aluminum.

[0029] The nest 140 further includes a hole 180 and a counterbore 190. The hollow cylinder 200 is disposed within the hole 180 and extends upwardly into the counterbore 190. This structure forms an annular recess 210 (i.e., a toroidal recess 210) in the upper surface 150 of the nest 140. The annular recess 210 is generally characterized by an outer wall 220 (defined by the above-mentioned counterbore 190) and an inner wall 230 (defined by the above-mentioned hollow cylinder 200). The annular recess 210 is sized to receive the pod 30 therein, as will be described later.

[0030] The nest 140 further includes a hole 232 that opens on the bottom surface 160 of the nest 140 and communicates with the interior of the annular recess 210. The outlet nozzle 233 is attached to the bottom surface 160 of the nest 140 at the hole 232 such that the outlet port 234 of the outlet nozzle 233 communicates with the interior of the annular recess 210. A pod sensor 235 is provided within the nest 140 to detect the time when the pod 30 is disposed within the annular recess 210 of the nest 140.

[0031] The nested assembly 50 further includes a plurality of thermoelectric (TEC) assemblies 240. Each TEC assembly 240 includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) element 250, a heat sink 260, and a plurality of heat pipes 270 extending between the TEC element 250 and the heat sink 260 for transferring heat from the TEC element 250 to the heat sink 260. Optionally, the plurality of TEC elements 250 can be stacked on each heat sink 260 so as to achieve a temperature difference higher than that which can be achieved with a single-stage TEC element 250. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 11, the TEC assembly 240 is positioned relative to the outer surface 170 of the nest 140 such that, depending on the direction of flow of the current supplied to the TEC element 250, the TEC element 250 sends cold or warm heat to the outer surface 170 of the nest 140, thereby sending cold or warm heat to the outer wall 220 of the annular recess 210 of the nest 140 (and thus to the pod 30 disposed in the annular recess 210 of the nest 140). It will be appreciated that when the machine 20 is used to provide frozen confections, cold heat is applied to the outer surface 170 of the nest 140 depending on the direction of flow of the current supplied to the TEC element 250.

[0032] The heat pipes 270 are preferably of the type shown in FIG. 12, i.e., the heat pipes provide a high heat transfer capacity for transferring heat from the TEC element 250 to the heat sink 260. The heat pipes 270 are further preferably connected to the heat dissipation assembly 90 for sending the heat collected by the heat pipes 270 to the heat dissipation assembly 90 for further dissipation to the environment.

[0033] The nested assembly 50 further includes a cylindrical TEC 280 for sending cold heat to the inner wall 230 of the annular recess 210 and a cylindrical TEC 290 for supplying heat to the inner wall 230 of the annular recess 210.

[0034] The lid assembly 60 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 13 and 14. The lid assembly 60 generally includes a handle 300, and the handle 300 is attached to the lid 310 such that the lid 310 moves with the handle 300. The handle 300 is pivotally attached to the cover 120 of the housing 40 via a pivot pin 320. With this configuration, the lid assembly 60 can pivot toward or away from the nest assembly 50 (see FIG. 1). A lid sensor 325 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided to detect the point in time when the lid 310 is in its closed position.

[0035] The lid assembly 60 includes a plunger 330 movably attached to the lid 310. More specifically, the plunger 330 includes a circumferential gear 340 and a longitudinal gear 350, and the lid assembly 60 includes a rotary motor 360 for driving a rotary gear 370 and a vertical motor 380 for driving a vertical gear 390. The rotary gear 370 of the rotary motor 360 engages the circumferential gear 340 of the plunger 330, and the vertical gear 390 of the vertical motor 380 engages the longitudinal gear 350 of the plunger 330. With this configuration, the rotary motor 360 can rotate the plunger 330 within the lid 310, and the vertical motor 380 can move the plunger 330 vertically within the lid 310.

[0036] The plunger 330 further includes a plurality of fingers 400 (see below) for engaging corresponding fingers (see below) on the pod 30, and a pair of hollow fangs 410, 420 (see below) that penetrate the upper portion of the pod 30 to feed additional raw material into the pod 30.

[0037] Next, referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the water supply device 70 generally includes a normal temperature water tank 430 and a cold water tank 440. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water tank 430 can hold about 2.0 liters of water, and the cold water tank 440 can hold about 0.5 liters of water. The normal temperature water tank 430 is provided with a removable cover 445 so that the normal temperature water tank 430 can be filled with water. A line (not shown) is provided for moving water from the normal temperature water tank 430 to the cold water tank 440. A water sensor 450 (FIG. 4) is provided to monitor the presence of water in the normal temperature water tank 430, and a water temperature sensor 460 (FIG. 6) is provided to monitor the temperature of the water in the cold water tank 440. To cool the water in the cold water tank 440, a plurality of TEC assemblies 470 (each preferably being the same as the above-described TEC assembly 240) are provided, that is, the TEC assembly 470 includes a TEC element 473, a heat sink 475, and a heat pipe 477. The heat pipe 477 of the TEC assembly 470 is preferably connected to the heat dissipation assembly 90 to send the heat generated by the TEC assembly 470 to the heat dissipation assembly 90.

[0038] Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 14, the cold water / air delivery assembly 80 generally includes a water pump 480 that sends cold water from the cold water tank 440 into the hollow fang 410 of the plunger 330, and an air pump 490 that sends air into the hollow fang 420 of the plunger 330. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hollow fang 410 is provided with a spray nozzle for injecting droplets of atomized water into the pod 30 (hereinafter referred to), which facilitates the production of frozen confections (hereinafter referred to). Such spray nozzles are well known in the technical field of liquid dispersion. The cold water / air delivery assembly 80 further includes various fluid lines (not shown) for transferring water from the cold water tank 440 to the hollow fang 410 of the plunger 330 and introducing air into the hollow fang 420 of the plunger 330.

[0039] The heat dissipation assembly 90 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 15 and 16. The heat dissipation assembly 90 dissipates the heat received from the heat pipe 270 of the TEC assembly 240 of the nest 140 and the heat received from the heat pipe 477 of the TEC assembly 470 of the cold water tank 440. The heat dissipation assembly 90 generally includes a plurality of heat sinks 500 that take heat from a heat pipe 510 (connected to the heat pipe 270 of the TEC assembly 240 of the nest 140 and the heat pipe 477 of the TEC assembly 470 of the cold water tank 440), a plurality of condensers 520 for receiving heat from the heat sinks 500, and a plurality of fans 530 for cooling the condensers 520.

[0040] The control electronics 100 generally includes a power supply 540 (FIG. 14), a central processing unit (CPU) 550, and a user interface 570 (FIG. 2) (e.g., a display screen, operation buttons, etc.). As shown in FIG. 17, the power supply 540 and the CPU 550 are connected to the water sensor 450, the water temperature sensor 460, the TEC assembly 470, the cylindrical TEC 280, the cylindrical TEC 290, the lid sensor 325, the pod sensor 235, the TEC assembly 240, the water pump 480, the air pump 490, the rotation motor 360, the vertical motor 380, the condenser 520, the fan 530, and the user interface 570 described above. The CPU 550 is appropriately programmed to operate the machine 20 in response to commands received from the user interface 570 as described below.

[0041] It will be understood that the machine 20 is preferably configured to operate at a maximum load of 1800 watts (generally the maximum load that a standard kitchen outlet can handle). Pod

[0042] Pod 30 contains a supply of raw materials for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothie, etc.). In a preferred form of the invention, pod 30 is provided as a single-use disposable pod. That is, a new pod 30 is used for each single serving of frozen confectionery.

[0043] As described above and as will be described below, pod 30 has a unique configuration and a unique structure for accelerating the cooling of pod 30, whereby the process of manufacturing frozen confectionery can be accelerated.

[0044] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 18 - 20, pod 30 generally includes a base 580 in which an opening 590 is formed. An outer hollow tube 600 rises upward from the outer periphery of base 580, and an inner hollow tube 610 is disposed within the opening 590 of base 580 and rises upward from the inner periphery of base 580. With this configuration, an annular recess 620 (i.e., a toroidal recess 620) is formed between base 580, outer hollow tube 600, and inner hollow tube 610, and annular recess 620 is generally characterized by a floor portion 630 (defined by base 580), an outer wall 640 (defined by outer hollow tube 600), and an inner wall 650 (defined by inner hollow tube 610). Note that the diameter of the outer hollow tube 600 of pod 30 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the counterbore 190 of nest 140, and the diameter of the inner hollow tube 610 of pod 30 is slightly larger than the diameter of the hollow cylinder 200 of nest assembly 50. As a result, the outer hollow tube 600 of pod 30 is in close sliding contact with the outer wall 220 of nest 140, and the inner hollow tube 610 of pod 30 is in close sliding contact with the inner wall 230 of nest nest assembly 50, whereby pod 30 can be installed within the annular recess 210 of nest 140.

[0045] Preferably, the base 580 of the pod 30 includes a high heat transfer material (e.g., aluminum, molded polymer, etc.), the outer hollow tube 600 of the pod 30 includes a high heat transfer material (e.g., aluminum, molded polymer, etc.), and the inner hollow tube 610 of the pod 30 includes a high heat transfer material (e.g., aluminum, molded polymer, etc.). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base 580, the outer hollow tube 600, and the inner hollow tube 610 include a plastic / thin metal film composite material (i.e., a plastic body having an outer coating of a thin metal film). It should be understood that the plastic / thin metal film composite material can improve heat transfer, help preserve the contents of the pod 30, and at the same time provide a unique packaging appearance for the pod 30. Preferably, the base 580, the outer hollow tube 600, and the inner hollow tube 610 are substantially rigid.

[0046] Accordingly, due to the unique configuration and structure of the nest assembly 50 and the pod 30, when the pod 30 is disposed within the annular recess 210 of the nest 140, heat and cold can be efficiently applied to the outer wall 640 of the pod 30 by the outer wall 220 of the nest 140, heat and cold can be efficiently applied to the inner wall 650 of the pod 30 by the inner wall 230 of the nest assembly 50, and heat and cold can be efficiently applied to the base 580 of the pod 30 by the floor of the annular recess 210 of the nest 140. As a result, the machine 20 can rapidly cool the pod 30 (and its contents) to provide a single serving of frozen confection in a short period of time.

[0047] The pod 30 further includes a cap 660, an outer helical scraper paddle 670, an inner helical scraper paddle 680, and a bottom scraper paddle 690.

[0048] The cap 660 has an outer edge portion 700 sized slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer wall 640 of the pod 30, and the cap 660 has an inner bore 710 with a diameter slightly larger than the inner hollow tube 610 of the pod 30, such that the cap 660 can move longitudinally into and along the annular recess 620 of the pod 30 (see below). The cap 660 is preferably substantially rigid.

[0049] The cap 660 further includes fingers 720 for engaging corresponding fingers 400 of the plunger 330, whereby rotational and longitudinal movement can be imparted to the cap 660 of the pod 30 by the plunger 330, as will be described below. The cap 660 further includes two weak portions 730, 740 for being penetrated by the respective hollow fangs 410, 420 of the plunger 330, as will be described in more detail below.

[0050] The outer spiral scraper paddle 670 extends between the cap 660 and the bottom scraper paddle 690 and has an outer edge portion 750 that closely adheres and slides in contact with the outer wall 640 of the annular recess 620. The inner spiral scraper paddle 680 extends between the cap 660 and the bottom scraper paddle 690 and has an inner edge portion 760 that closely adheres and slides in contact with the inner hollow tube 610 of the pod 30. The bottom scraper paddle 690 includes an outer ring 770 that contacts the base 580 and closely adheres and slides in contact with the outer wall 640 of the annular recess 620, an inner ring 780 that contacts the base 580 and closely adheres and slides in contact with the inner hollow tube 610 of the pod 30, and a pair of struts 790 that contact the base 580 and extend between the outer ring 770 and the inner ring 780. With this configuration, the fingers 720 are used to rotatably rotate the cap 660 such that the outer spiral scraper paddle 670 rotates to rub the inner surface of the outer wall 640 of the pod 30, the inner spiral scraper paddle 680 rotates to rub the outer surface of the inner hollow tube 610, and the strut 770 rotates to rub the floor portion 630 of the base 580. It will be understood that providing the outer spiral scraper paddle 670, the inner spiral scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 is highly advantageous because the outer spiral scraper paddle 670, the inner spiral scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 can simultaneously (i) agitate the contents of the pod 30 so as to reliably make frozen confections uniformly and quickly, and (ii) prevent the accumulation of frozen confections in the base 580, the outer hollow tube 600, and the inner hollow tube 610 that could potentially impede the cooling of the contents of the pod 30.

[0051] The outer helical scraper paddle 670 and the inner helical scraper paddle 680 are longitudinally compressed by applying a longitudinal force to the cap 660, thereby moving the cap 660 into and along the annular recess 620 of the pod 30 so that the cap 660 is substantially engaged with the base 580, and are configured and assembled (see below). In a preferred form of the invention, the outer helical scraper paddle 670 and the inner helical scraper paddle 680 are made of spring steel and are substantially flattened when a longitudinal force pushes the cap 660 into the base 580 (or more precisely, when the flattened outer helical scraper paddle 670 and the flattened inner helical scraper paddle 680 are disposed between the cap and the base 580 and would slightly separate the cap 660 from the base 580, so when substantially pushed into the base 580), the outer helical scraper paddle 670 and the inner helical scraper paddle 680 are compressed into a substantially flat configuration. The bottom scraper paddle 690 may also be formed from spring steel. In another preferred form of the invention, the outer helical scraper paddle 670 and / or the inner helical scraper paddle 680 (and / or the bottom scraper paddle 690) may be made of plastic. Optionally, the outer helical scraper paddle 670 and / or the inner helical scraper paddle 680 (and / or the bottom scraper paddle 690) may include a shape memory material (nitinol).

[0052] The hole 800 passes through the base 580 and communicates with the interior of the annular recess 620. The frangible portion 810 normally closes the hole 800 but can rupture when an appropriate force is applied to allow material (e.g., frozen confection) to pass through. The outlet nozzle 820 is attached to the base 580 adjacent to the hole 800 such that the outlet port 830 of the outlet nozzle 820 communicates with the interior of the annular recess 620 when the frangible portion 810 ruptures.

[0053] Pod 30 generally has a surface area to volume ratio greater than 2:1 (preferably about 8:1). Increasing the surface area of pod 30 allows heat to be removed more rapidly from pod 30 (and its contents), and it will be understood that this increases the rate at which frozen confections are made within pod 30. Also, forming pod 30 with a toroidal structure (i.e., having both internal and external access surfaces) increases the surface area and allows heat and cold to be applied simultaneously to both the outer surface and the inner surface of pod 30, and it will be understood that this enables pod 30 and its contents to be cooled more rapidly.

[0054] By way of non - limiting example, in one preferred form of the invention, pod 30 has an outer diameter of 2.25 inches (about 5.72 cm) and a height of 3.75 inches (9.53 cm) (i.e., outer hollow tube 600 has an outer diameter of 2.25 inches (about 5.72 cm) and a height of 3.75 inches (9.53 cm)), and as a result, a surface area of 26.49 square inches (about 170.90 cm 2 ) and a volume of 14.90 cubic inches (about 244.18 cm 3 ) are obtained. Pod 30 has an inner diameter of 1.4 inches (about 3.56 cm) and a height of 3.75 inches (about 9.53 cm) (i.e., inner hollow tube 610 has an inner diameter of 1.4 inches (about 3.56 cm) and a height of 3.75 inches (about 9.53 cm)), and as a result, a surface area of 16.49 square inches (about 106.39 cm 2 ) and a volume of 5.77 cubic inches (about 94.56 cm 3 ) are obtained. As a result, a total pod surface area of 42.98 square inches (about 277.3 cm 2 ) (i.e., 26.49 square inches (about 170.90 cm 2 ) + 16.49 square inches (about 106.39 cm 2 ) = 42.98 square inches (about 277.3 cm 2 ) and a total pod volume of 9.13 cubic inches (about 149.62 cm 3 ) (i.e., 14.90 cubic inches (about 244.18 cm 3 ) - 5.77 cubic inches (about 94.56 cm3 ) = 9.13 cubic inches (about 149.62 cm 3 ), and a surface area to volume ratio of 8.47:1 is obtained.

[0055] Pod 30 contains a fresh supply of raw materials for making one serving of frozen confectionery (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothie, etc.). More specifically, pod 30 may contain a frozen confectionery mix (dry or liquid) containing, for example, sugar and powder crystals (preferably, many of which are less than 50 μm in size), and preferably contains at least 0.1% by volume of a stabilizer. The dry frozen confectionery mix preferably has at least 50% of its components (e.g., sugar and powder crystals) having a size of 50 μm or less.

[0056] When manufacturing one serving of ice cream in pod 30, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pod 30 may hold about 4 - 6 ounces (about 118.28 milliliters - about 177.42 milliliters) of raw materials, and the raw materials may include about 8% fat (e.g., cream, butter, non-fat milk fat, vegetable fat, etc.), about 1% non-fat milk solids (MSNF) (e.g., skim milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder (WMP), evaporated milk, condensed milk, etc.), about 13% sucrose, about 0.5% emulsifier, and about 0.5% stabilizer.

[0057] As a further non-limiting example, when pod 30 contains 1.25 ounces (about 36.96 milliliters) of dry yogurt mix, after operation of machine 20, 5 ounces (about 147.85 milliliters) of frozen yogurt will be made in pod 30. Use of the system

[0058] Next, referring to FIG. 21, the machine 20 becomes operational by introducing water into the normal temperature water tank 430 and turning on the machine 20. The water sensor 450 confirms that there is water in the normal temperature water tank 430. Then, the machine 20 pumps the water from the normal temperature water tank 430 into the cold water tank 440 and uses the TEC assembly 470 to cool the water in the cold water tank 440. The water temperature sensor 460 monitors the temperature of the water in the cold water tank 440. Preferably, the water in the cold water tank 440 is cooled to about 1 to 3 °C. Next, the machine 20 is left in this standby state and the water in the cold water tank 440 is recooled as necessary until one serving of frozen confection (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothie, etc.) is prepared.

[0059] When preparing one serving of frozen confection, the lid assembly 60 of the machine 20 is opened and the unused pod 30 is positioned within the annular recess 210 of the nest 140. This is done so that the outlet nozzle 820 of the pod 30 is installed within the outlet nozzle 233 of the nest 140. Then, the lid assembly 60 is closed such that the fingers 400 of the plunger 330 engage the fingers 720 of the pod 30 and the hollow fangs 410, 420 of the plunger 330 penetrate two vulnerable portions 730, 740 of the pod 30. Further, the container (i.e., the container for eating the frozen confection) is placed on the tray 130 of the machine 20 with the container positioned centrally below the outlet nozzle 233 of the nest assembly 50 (alternatively, if the frozen confection is to be eaten from a cone, the cone is held above the tray 130).

[0060] When the pod sensor 235 senses the presence of the pod 30 within the annular recess 210 of the nest 140, the machine 20 cools the nest assembly 50 via the TEC assembly 240 and the cylindrical TEC 280, and in turn cools the pod 30 (and its contents) located within the annular recess 210 of the nest 140. The TEC assembly 240 cools the outer surface 170 of the nest 140 to cool the outer wall 220 of the annular recess 210, thereby cooling the hollow outer tube 600 of the pod 30, and the cylindrical TEC 280 cools the hollow cylinder 200 to cool the inner wall 230 of the annular recess 210, thereby cooling the hollow inner tube 610 of the pod 30. It should be noted that the high surface area to volume ratio of the pod 30 obtained by its toroidal shape enables faster cooling of the pod 30 (and its contents). By way of non-limiting example, the contents of the pod 30 can be cooled to a temperature of about -30°C to make ice cream within two minutes (the contents of the pod 30 turn into ice cream at a temperature of -18°C, and a lower temperature will result in faster production of ice cream). Also, it should be noted that the heat removed from the pod 30 via the TEC assembly 240 and the cylindrical TEC 280 is transferred to the heat dissipation assembly 90 for dissipation to the environment.

[0061] When the pod 30 is properly cooled, the water pump 480 pumps an appropriate amount of cold water (e.g., at least 1.25 ounces (about 36.96 milliliters) of cold water) from the cold water tank 440 into the hollow fang 410 of the plunger 330, and then through the vulnerable portion 730 of the cap 660 so that the cold water is sprayed into the interior of the pod 30 and mixed with the contents of the pod 30. In a preferred form of the invention, 4 ounces (about 118.28 milliliters) of water at 2°C is sprayed into the pod 30. At the same time, the rotary motor 360 rotates the plunger 330, thereby rotating the cap 660 of the pod 30, as a result of which the outer spiral scraper paddle 670, the inner spiral scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 rotate within the annulus 620 of the pod 30.

[0062] Note that only the cap 660, the outer helical scraper paddle 670, the inner helical scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 rotate, and the outlet nozzle 820 of the pod 30 is disposed in the outlet nozzle 233 of the nest assembly 50, so the remaining portion of the pod 30 remains stationary.

[0063] This rotational operation agitates the contents of the pod 30 to ensure uniform and rapid mixing of the contents of the pod 30. The rotational speed of the scraper paddle can vary from about 5 to about 400 RPM depending on the viscosity of the frozen confection. In a preferred form of the invention, a torque sensor is provided that adjusts the rotational speed of the scraper paddle in response to changes in the viscosity of the frozen confection within the pod 30 (e.g., the rotational speed of the scraper paddle slows as the viscosity of the frozen confection increases). Further, this rotational operation continuously rubs the wall of the pod 30 against the outer helical scraper paddle 670, the inner helical scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 to prevent accumulation of the frozen confection on the wall of the pod 30 (which can impede cooling of the contents of the pod 30). The air pump 490 feeds air into the hollow fangs 420 of the plunger 330 and then through the vulnerable portion 740 of the cap 660 so that the air flows into the interior of the pod 30 and is mixed with the contents of the pod 30. Preferably, sufficient air is fed into the pod 30 to create an overrun (i.e., air bubbles) of about 30% - 50% within the pod 30, thereby imparting the desired "creaminess" to the ice cream. When this occurs, the outer helical scraper paddle 670, the inner helical scraper paddle 680, and the bottom scraper paddle 690 continue to agitate the contents of the pod 30 to ensure uniform and rapid mixing of the contents of the pod 30 and to continuously rub the wall of the pod 30, thereby preventing accumulation of the frozen confection on the wall of the pod 30 (which can impede cooling of the contents of the pod 30).

[0064] To make a "smooth" frozen confection, it is necessary to make most of the ice crystals formed within the frozen confection less than about 50 μm. If many of the ice crystals are larger than 50 μm, or if very large ice crystals (i.e., exceeding 100 μm) are present, the frozen confection will be "coarse". System 10 is designed to produce a "creamy" frozen confection by making most of the ice crystals smaller than about 50 μm.

[0065] More specifically, to develop ice crystals with appropriate dispersion (number, size, and shape), it is necessary to control the freezing process, i.e., the "nucleation rate" versus the "crystal growth rate". System 10 performs this control by simultaneously rubbing the inner and outer surfaces of the annular recess 620 of the pod 30. Further, to generate a large number of small ice crystals, the freezing conditions within the pod 30 must be such that they promote nucleation and minimize the growth of the ice crystals. To promote ice nucleation, a very low temperature (e.g., ideally, -30 °C) is required to promote rapid nucleation. System 10 freezes the contents of the pod 30 very rapidly (e.g., within 2 minutes), thereby preventing the ice crystals from having time to "ripen" (i.e., grow). Further, once ice nuclei are formed, conditions are required to minimize the growth of the ice nuclei in order to keep the ice crystals as small as possible. To obtain the smallest possible ice crystals, it is necessary to minimize the residence time to minimize the "ripening" (i.e., growth) of the ice crystals. System 10 achieves this by using a plurality of internal scraper paddles to remove the ice crystals from the walls of the pod, which helps to produce a high throughput rate of maintaining the ice crystals small (e.g., less than 50 μm).

[0066] When the frozen confection in pod 30 is ready to be dispensed into a container (i.e., a container for eating the frozen confection) placed on tray 130 of machine 20 or onto a cone held above tray 130, vertical motor 380 moves plunger 330 vertically downward, pressing cap 660 of pod 30 downward toward base 580 of pod 30, and outer helical scraper paddle 670 and inner helical scraper paddle 680 are longitudinally compressed as cap 660 advances. This operation reduces the volume of annular recess 620. Vertical motor 380 continues to move plunger 330 vertically to reduce the volume of annular recess 620 until the force of the frozen confection in pod 30 ruptures the vulnerable portion 810 of pod 30 and the frozen confection is pushed out of outlet port 830 of pod 30, so that the frozen confection passes through outlet port 234 of nest 140 and into a container (i.e., a container for eating the frozen confection) placed on tray 130 or into a cone held above tray 130. This operation continues until cap 660 is pressed against base 580 to effectively discharge all of the frozen confection from pod 30 into the container for eating the ice cream.

[0067] Thereafter, the used pod 30 can be removed from machine 20, and when preparing another serving of frozen confection, the used pod 30 can be replaced with an unused pod 30 and the foregoing process can be repeated. Alternative approach for cooling the inner part of the nested assembly

[0068] Optionally, referring to FIG. 22, cylindrical TEC 280 can be replaced by helical coil 840, which itself is cooled by TEC element 850.

[0069] Alternatively, optionally, referring to FIG. 23, TEC assembly 240 can be attached to bottom surface 160 of nest 140 so as to be able to cool hollow cylinder 200 of nest 140 (and the bottom surface of nest 140). Provision of cold beverages using the system

[0070] System 10 can further be used to provide a single serving of a cold beverage. By way of non-limiting example, pod 30 can include a supply of raw materials for making, among other things, cold tea (which may also be referred to as "iced tea"), cold coffee (which may also be referred to as "iced coffee"), cold soda, cold beer, etc. In such cases, pod 30 can include a dry or liquid iced tea mix, a dry or liquid iced coffee mix, a dry or liquid soda mix, or a dry or liquid beer mix, etc.

[0071] When system 10 is used to provide a single serving of a cold beverage, pod 30 containing a supply of raw materials for making the cold beverage is inserted into nest assembly 50. Thereafter, nest assembly 50 is used to cool pod 30, and cold water is fed from cold water tank 440 into pod 30 where it is combined with the raw materials contained within pod 30 and mixed by outer helical scraper paddle 670, inner helical scraper paddle 680, and bottom scraper paddle 690. When mixing is complete, vertical motor 380 is activated and the cold beverage is discharged into the holding container.

[0072] It will be understood that when manufacturing a cold beverage, air may or may not be fed into pod 30 (e.g., air is not fed into pod 30 when making cold tea or cold coffee, but air may be fed into pod 30 when making cold soda or cold beer).

[0073] It will further be understood that outer helical scraper paddle 670, inner helical scraper paddle 680, and bottom scraper paddle 690 can be omitted from pod 30 as needed when manufacturing a cold beverage. Provision of warm beverages using the system

[0074] System 10 can further be used to provide a cup of warm beverage. By way of non-limiting example, pod 30 can contain a supply of raw materials for making a warm beverage, such as, for example, hot chocolate, hot coffee, etc. In such a case, pod 30 can contain a dry mix made of raw materials that will result in the desired beverage when mixed with hot water, such as, for example, hot chocolate powder, instant coffee mix, etc.

[0075] When system 10 is used to provide a cup of warm beverage, pod 30 containing a supply of raw materials for making the warm beverage is inserted into nest assembly 50. Thereafter, nest assembly 50 is used to heat pod 30, and ambient water is fed from ambient water tank 430 into pod 30 where it is combined with the raw materials contained within pod 30 and mixed by outer helical scraper paddle 670, inner helical scraper paddle 680, and bottom scraper paddle 690. TEC assembly 240 can be used to supply heat to the outer surface of nest 140 by simply reversing the direction of the current flow supplied to TEC element 250, and it should be noted that cylindrical TEC 290 can be used to supply heat to the inner column of nest 140 and thereby heat the contents of pod 30. Further, if desired, the ambient water within ambient water tank 430 can be heated prior to injection into pod 30 via a resistive heater positioned, for example, in a line between ambient water tank 430 and the hollow fang 410 of plunger 330. It will be understood that air is generally not fed into pod 30 when manufacturing a warm beverage.

[0076] Often, for example, in the case of coffee or tea, it may be desirable to "extract" a warm beverage by passing water through a supply of granular raw material. For this purpose, referring to FIGS. 24-27, pod 30 may be provided with a filter 860 containing a supply of granular raw material (e.g., ground coffee beans, tea leaves, etc.) for extraction. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 24-27, filter 860 is disposed adjacent to cap 660. For example, filter 860 is fixed to cap 660, and outer helical scraper paddle 670, inner helical scraper paddle 680, and bottom scraper paddle 690 are omitted from pod 30. Further, when plunger 330 crushes cap 660 toward base 580, filter 860 preferably further crushes, and as a result, compresses the granular raw material contained within filter 860 so that fluid can be extruded from filter 860 in a manner similar to, for example, a so-called "French press" coffee maker. It should be noted that filter 860 is configured to maintain its structural integrity during crushing so that the granular contents of filter 860 are not discharged from pod 30. Cabinet configuration

[0077] Here, referring to FIG. 28, optionally, machine 20 may be attached to cabinet 870, and cabinet 870 is placed on legs 880. In this configuration, cabinet 870 may include an additional cooling device (e.g., additional heat pipes, condensers, and fans, or a conventional refrigeration unit, etc.) for removing heat from heat dissipation assembly 90. Cabinet 870 may further be configured to accommodate unused pods 30 and / or containers for holding frozen treats (e.g., bowls and cones), containers for holding cold beverages (e.g., cups), and containers for holding warm beverages (e.g., cups). Cooling of the pod by the refrigeration coil

[0078] In another form of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 29 to 31, the nest assembly 50 may be replaced by an alternative nest assembly 50A comprising a toroidal nest 140A characterized by an outer wall 220A and an inner wall 230A. The toroid is formed from a high heat transfer material (e.g., aluminum). Further, the TEC assembly 240 is replaced by a refrigeration coil 240A connected to a heat dissipation assembly 90A, and the heat dissipation assembly 90A includes a compressor for driving the refrigeration coil 240A.

[0079] With this configuration, it will be understood that the nest assembly 50A (and thus the pod 30 disposed within the nest assembly 50A) can be cooled via a conventional refrigeration system. This configuration can be advantageous as it can rapidly cool the pod 30 to -40°C, exceeding the thermal performance of the TEC element 250. Alternative structures of the nest and the pod

[0080] In the above disclosure, the nest assemblies 50 and 50A include an internal cooling element (e.g., the hollow cylinder 200 including the TEC 280) and an external cooling element (e.g., the TEC assembly 240), and the pod 30 includes an inner opening (i.e., the lumen of the inner hollow tube 610) for receiving the internal cooling element of the nest assemblies 50, 50A. However, if desired, the internal cooling element may be omitted from the nest assemblies 50, 50A, in which case the inner opening of the pod 30 may also be omitted. Compressor cooler with a fixed cap pod

[0081] Next, referring to FIGS. 32 to 35, FIGS. 35A, FIGS. 35B, and FIGS. 35C, another novel system 900 for providing a single serving of frozen confectionery, such as ice cream (soft serve or hard ice cream), frozen yogurt, frozen protein shake, smoothie, etc. is shown. For the purposes of the present invention, a single serving of frozen confectionery can be considered to be from about 2 fluid ounces to about 8 fluid ounces (about 59.14 milliliters to about 236.56 milliliters).

[0082] Furthermore, the system 900 is also capable of providing a cold beverage for one serving and / or a warm beverage for one serving.

[0083] The system 900 may include two nests 915. In this case, one nest 915 receives a frozen confection pod of 5 to 8 ounces (about 147.85 milliliters to about 236.56 milliliters), and the other adjacent nest 915, which may be of a smaller size, is configured to receive a coffee pod (e.g., a K-cup pod) or a cold beverage pod (e.g., an iced tea pod). In this form of the invention, water (hot water or cold water) is guided to the appropriate nest 915 to make the desired cold confection or the desired warm or cold beverage. See, for example, FIG. 35A showing two nests 915 for producing the desired cold confection or the desired warm or cold beverage (note that the configuration of the system 900 may vary slightly depending on whether a single nest or two nests are provided). Preferably, a pod detector (not shown) is provided within each nest 915 to identify which nest has received which type of pod (e.g., frozen confection, hot coffee, iced tea, etc.), so that the machine sends the appropriate cold water or hot water to the appropriate nest.

[0084] In a preferred form of the invention, the system 900 generally includes a machine 905 and a pod 910. The machine 905 is configured to receive, in particular, a pod 910 containing a supply of raw materials for making a frozen confection for one serving, cool the pod 910 (and its contents), introduce cold water and air into the pod 910 (as required, see below), agitate the contents of the pod 910 to make a frozen confection, and then directly discharge 3 to 8 ounces (about 88.71 to about 236.56 milliliters) of the frozen confection from the pod 910 into a container for eating the frozen confection (e.g., a pre-chilled bowl, a room-temperature bowl, a cone, etc.).

[0085] In one aspect of the present invention, system 900 can make frozen confections without introducing water and / or air into pod 910 (see below). Machine 905

[0086] Machine 905 is generally similar to machine 20 described above, except that machine 905 cools pod 910 using a compressor and water supply 70 may be omitted depending on the situation (see below). More specifically, machine 905 includes a nest 915 for receiving pod 910, a coolant unit 920 for cooling nest 915, and a refrigeration unit 925 for cooling coolant unit 920. Machine 905 has a weight of less than 50 pounds (22.68 kg) and is configured to manufacture and dispense a single serving of frozen confection or hot or cold beverage in an amount of about 1 quart (0.946 liters) or less within 5 minutes. The frozen confection will have an overrun (i.e., air content) of 10 - 60% per serving. It should be understood that the amount of overrun varies depending on the particular product made within pod 910.

[0087] More specifically, nest 915 includes a body 930 defining a tapered (preferably frustoconical) recess 935 for receiving a corresponding tapered (preferably frustoconical) pod 910, and an internal chamber 940 for cooling recess 935 of nest 915. Nest 915 further includes an inlet 945 leading to internal chamber 940 and an outlet 950 leading from internal chamber 940.

[0088] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tapered recess 935 of the nest 915 includes a small first end 951, a large second end 952, and a tapered side wall 953 extending between the small first end 951 and the large second end 952. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tapered recess 935 is frustoconical. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tapered side wall 953 of the recess 935 has a taper gradient of about 5 degrees or more. In one embodiment of the present invention, the small first end 951 can be closed. In another embodiment of the present invention, the small first end 951 can be partially open. In another embodiment of the present invention, the small first end 951 can be completely open. For example, refer to FIGS. 35B and 35C which show additional configurations of the nest 915 (and further show additional configurations of the pod 910).

[0089] It should be understood that if the small first end 951 of the nest 915 is either partially open or completely open, it may be possible to fit the pod 910 more precisely within the nest 915. More specifically, with the bottom of the nest 915 being partially or completely open, the pod 910 fits into the nest 915 without "falling out from the bottom", and thus the walls of the nest and the walls of the pod fit more precisely, as a result of which the pod can be cooled more efficiently.

[0090] The coolant unit 920 includes a reservoir 955 for containing a supply of coolant, a circulation motor 960, a line 965 connecting the reservoir 955 to the circulation motor 960, a line 970 connecting the circulation motor 960 to the inlet 945 of the nest 915, and a line 975 connecting the outlet 950 of the nest 915 to the reservoir 955. With this configuration, the coolant contained within the reservoir 955 can be circulated through the internal chamber 940 of the nest 915 to cool the pod 910 received within the recess 935 of the nest 915.

[0091] The refrigeration unit 925 comprises a refrigeration cycle including a compressor 980, a condenser 985, an expansion valve (not shown) disposed downstream of the condenser, and an evaporator (not shown but which may be an immersion coil in the coolant tank) disposed in the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920. Thereby, the compressor 980 can pass refrigerant through the refrigeration cycle to cool the coolant disposed in the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920.

[0092] With this configuration, the refrigeration unit 925 can be used to cool the coolant unit 920, and the coolant unit 920 can be used to cool the pod 910 disposed in the nest 915. By selecting an appropriate coolant for the coolant unit 920 and providing a reservoir 955 of an appropriate size, sufficient "cold heat" can be stored in the coolant unit 920, and as a result, it should be noted that frozen confections for a plurality of batches can be continuously manufactured with substantially no delay time. Eutectic solution

[0093] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one container holding a eutectic solution is disposed adjacent to the pod seat of the nest 915. This eutectic solution is used to store "cold heat" in the nest. More specifically, the coolant unit 920 is used to cool the eutectic solution to its freezing point, and then the eutectic solution absorbs heat from the pod 910, thereby manufacturing a frozen confection.

[0094] More specifically, while the system 900 is in an idle state (i.e., before manufacturing frozen confections), the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925 is turned on. The compressor 980 circulates a refrigerant (e.g., Freon (such as R134A, R - 407C, R - 404A, R - 410A, etc.), (Norflurane) Norflurane) during the refrigeration cycle to cool the coolant in the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920. Thereafter, the coolant in the reservoir 955 cools the eutectic solution contained in at least one container within the nest 915 to a temperature between 0°C and - 114°C. When the eutectic solution surrounding the nest 915 is cooled to a temperature between 0°C and - 114°C, the system 900 automatically turns off the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925. In fact, it should be noted that the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925 does not need to be operated while the system 900 is making frozen confections because the already - cooled coolant in the coolant unit 920 and / or the eutectic solution in at least one container within the nest are used to cool the pod 910 within the nest 915. Of course, the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925 may be operated during the time when the system 900 is making frozen confections if necessary.

[0095] Since the cooled eutectic solution warms up slowly, it will be understood that the cold heat lost from the eutectic solution by removing heat from the pod 910 is restored by heat exchange. Thus, while rapidly and continuously making frozen confections in multiple pods, the temperature of the nest 915 can be maintained between - 40°C and 0°C. As the eutectic solution warms up, the circulation motor 960 of the coolant unit 920 continues to send the coolant to the nest to help maintain the cooling load of the eutectic solution container. Further, the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925 automatically turns back on and sends the refrigerant into the coolant unit 920 (which is re - cooling the eutectic solution).

[0096] During the cooling of the pod and / or during the use of the machine 905, frost may accumulate inside the nest 915. By applying heat to the surface of the nest 915, the frost on the surface of the nest 915 is removed. This instantaneous heat can be in the form of warm air, induction coil heat, resistive heat, etc.

[0097] It should be understood that the eutectic solution contains a phase change material. In this regard, it should also be understood that a phase change material (PCM) is a composition that stores and releases thermal energy during the processes of heating and cooling. Phase change materials typically release a large amount of energy (in the form of latent heat) during cooling, but absorb an equal amount of energy from the surrounding environment during heating. In this way, phase change materials enable the storage of thermal energy, i.e., warm or cold heat is stored for a period and used at a later time.

[0098] It should be understood that a simple, inexpensive and effective phase change material is water / ice. Unfortunately, water / ice has a freezing point of 0 °C (+32 。 F), so water / ice is excluded from most energy storage applications. However, many alternative phase change materials have been identified and developed that are similar to water / ice but become cold and warm at temperatures ranging from cryogenic to several hundred °C. When salt is added to water, the salt lowers the freezing point of the water. Adding a greater amount of salt generally further lowers the freezing point temperature, but these solutions do not freeze cleanly at an exact temperature and tend to form a slush. However, when a specific salt at a specific concentration is added to water, the resulting solution freezes cleanly at a certain temperature, melts, and releases and stores a large amount of energy at that time. This temperature is called the eutectic point and the composition is called the eutectic solution. This is represented by the simplified graph in Figure 36. The curve of the graph in Figure 36 shows the freezing curve. Looking from the left of the curve, the composition is 100% water and the freezing point is 0 °C (+32 。F). As salt is added, the freezing point of the salt / water mixture decreases. When freezing occurs in this section of the graph, only pure water freezes from the solution and the salt remains in the solution. If a greater amount of salt is added, the freezing point further decreases until it reaches the eutectic point at the lowest freezing point on the curve. Some PCMs are gels. PCMs can be made from sodium polyacrylate, a salt hydrate, or paraffin, which is a high molecular weight hydrocarbon having a waxy viscosity at room temperature. Paraffin is composed of straight-chain hydrocarbons and vegetable PCMs. The following is a list of sub-zero eutectic PCM solutions having phase changes in the range of 0 °C to -114 °C.

Table 1

Table 2

[0099] If desired, a conventional reciprocating compressor (e.g., a Tecumseh TC1413U-DS7C compressor) can be used for the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925. Alternatively, a rotary compressor (e.g., rotary compressors made by Aspen Systems, Samsung, and Rigid) can be used for the compressor 980 of the refrigeration unit 925. Alternatively, a Danfoss direct current compressor R290, 12 - 24V having an evaporation temperature in the range of -40 °C to 10 °C can be used. Piping for the refrigeration cycle

[0100] As described above, the refrigeration unit 925 circulates the refrigerant from the compressor 980 through a condenser 985, an expansion valve (not shown) located downstream of the condenser, and an evaporator (not shown) located in the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920. In one form of the present invention, conventional refrigeration piping is used to transfer the refrigerant between the various components of the refrigeration unit 925. In another form of the present invention, referring to FIG. 37, coaxial refrigeration pipes can be used to transfer the refrigerant between the various components of the refrigeration unit 925, thereby enhancing the refrigeration efficiency. One preferred configuration for cooling the pod disposed within the nest

[0101] In a preferred form of the present invention in which the nest 915 is cooled using the eutectic solution contained in one or more containers of the nest 915, both the coolant unit 920 and the eutectic solution container(s) can store "cold heat" to enhance the efficiency of the system 900. More specifically, the compressor 980 passes refrigerant through the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920 to cool the coolant in the reservoir 955, thereby storing "cold heat" in the reservoir 955. The coolant in the reservoir 955 is then sent by the circulation motor 960 of the coolant unit 920 to the eutectic solution container(s) in the nest 915 to cool the eutectic solution, thereby storing additional "cold heat" in the nest. See FIG. 37A. In this way, there is sufficient "cold heat" stored in the system to enable the cooling of multiple pods without waiting for the refrigeration unit 925 to cool multiple batches of frozen confections, so that multiple batches of frozen confections can be made continuously. Further, the compressor 980 does not need to be constantly operating to make multiple batches of frozen confections. Direct expansion refrigeration of the nest 915

[0102] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration unit 925 is used to cool the coolant in the reservoir 955 of the coolant unit 920, and the coolant unit 920 cools the nest 915 (or the eutectic solution contained in one or more containers of the nest 915), thereby being used to cool the pod 910 disposed within the nest 915. However, if necessary, a direct expansion system may be used to cool the nest 915. The direct expansion system eliminates the use of a secondary coolant loop (i.e., the coolant loop of the coolant unit 920) and directly cools the nest 915 via a cooling plate using the refrigerant of the refrigeration unit 925. The cooling plate can be customized to generate a very high heat flux operating at a temperature sufficiently lower than the ambient. In the cooling plate of the direct expansion system, the refrigerant from the refrigeration unit 925 undergoes an isothermal phase change and strict temperature control is performed across the entire cooling plate. As shown in FIG. 38, the direct expansion system consists of the four basic components of a vapor compression refrigeration system, namely, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. In the direct expansion system, the evaporator directly absorbs heat from the nest 915. Since a secondary coolant loop is not required (i.e., the coolant unit 920 is eliminated), only a minimum number of components are required in the direct expansion system. A fan is not required to circulate the cold heat, nor is a pump required to circulate the coolant, which can simplify the structure of the system and improve the efficiency of the system. Another preferred configuration for cooling the pod disposed within the nest

[0103] In another preferred form of the present invention, at least one container for holding the eutectic solution is disposed adjacent to the pod seat of the nest 915. The refrigeration unit 925 is used to directly cool the eutectic solution to its freezing point. In this form of the present invention, the coolant unit 920 is excluded. The compressor 980 passes the refrigerant directly to the nest 915 to cool the eutectic solution in the container(s) adjacent to the pod seat of the nest 915, thereby storing the "cold heat" within the nest. See FIG. 38A. In this way, there is sufficient "cold heat" stored within the nest to enable the cooling of multiple pods without waiting for the refrigeration unit 925 to cool multiple batches of frozen confections, so that multiple batches of frozen confections can be made continuously. Further, the compressor 980 does not need to be constantly operating to make multiple batches of frozen confections. Pod 910

[0104] The pod 910 generally is similar to the above-described pod 30, except that the pod 910 has a cap that is non-removably fixed in place and is sealed shut. In a preferred form of the present invention, the pod 910 is provided as a single-use disposable pod, i.e., a new pod is used for each serving of frozen confection (or hot or cold beverage). However, if desired, the pod 910 may be provided as a reusable pod for multiple uses, i.e., it is to be understood that the pod may be reused (after being filled with fresh raw materials) to provide additional servings of frozen confection (or hot or cold beverage). If the pod 910 is reusable, the cap of the pod is selectively removable from the remainder of the pod.

[0105] The pod 910 is provided with an internal scraper paddle made of plastic, which is configured to discharge the frozen confection from the bottom of the pod by reversing the direction of the internal scraper paddle. The internal scraper paddle can be made by injection molding or 3D printing.

[0106] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 35, 35B, 39 to 42, 42A, and 42B, the pod 910 generally includes a canister 990, an internal scraper paddle assembly 995, and a cap 1000.

[0107] The canister 990 is tapered (preferably frustoconical) and includes a floor portion 1005 and side walls 1010 that stand upright therefrom. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tapered canister 990 includes a small floor portion 1005, a large cap 1000, and tapered side walls 1010 that extend between the small floor portion 1005 and the large cap 1000. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tapered canister 990 is frustoconical. The taper gradient of the canister 990 matches the taper gradient of the nest 915, and as a result, the pod 910 fits snugly within the nest 915, which facilitates excellent heat transfer between the pod and the nest.

[0108] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tapered side walls 1010 have a taper gradient of about 5 degrees or more.

[0109] The canister 990 has an opening 1015 at its base. Adjacent to the opening 1015, a nozzle 1020 is formed. A sliding gate 1025 selectively opens and closes the opening 1015, as will be described later. A stop portion 1030 is formed on the floor portion 1005 to limit the movement of the sliding gate 1025.

[0110] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tapered side walls 1010 have a uniform thickness along their length.

[0111] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tapered side walls 1010 have a thickness that varies along their length. More specifically, the tapered side walls 1010 can be thinner adjacent to the small floor portion 1005 and thicker adjacent to the large cap 1000, so that the raw material of the pod freezes more rapidly when adjacent to the small floor portion 1005 than when adjacent to the large cap 1000.

[0112] It should be understood that providing the tapered sidewall 1010 on the canister 990 is important for achieving sufficient surface contact between the pod 910 and the nest 915 (i.e., between the tapered sidewall 1010 of the pod 910 and the tapered sidewall 953 of the nest 915). Tightly fitting the pod 910 and the nest 915 together is important for proper heat transfer from the nest 915 to the pod 910 in order to efficiently freeze the contents of the pod 910. Also, it should be understood that providing the tapered sidewall 1010 on the canister 990 converges the contents of the pod so that the contents of the pod move towards the opening 1015 of the canister 990 of the pod 910. Specifically, when the pod 910 is used to make frozen confections, the tapered sidewall 1010 converges the frozen confections as they freeze towards the opening 1015 and the outlet nozzle 1020.

[0113] The canister 990 preferably comprises a thin sidewall formed from a material having a high heat transfer capacity, such as thin metal, thin plastic, etc. The canister 990 preferably has a thickness of 50 to 500 microns in order to provide a high heat transfer rate between the nest 915 and the pod 910. The canister 990 is further preferably somewhat deformable so that the canister 990 has the ability to expand to some extent with respect to the nest 915, thereby ensuring high heat transfer between the pod and the nest.

[0114] The internal scraper paddle assembly 995 comprises a plurality of scraper blades 1035 having a substantially helical structure. In one form of the invention, the scraper blade 1035 may have a rubber squeegee at the end of the blade to fit snugly against the inner wall of the pod 910 and scrape the inner wall of the pod 910. Preferably, the opening 1040 is formed in the scraper blade 1035. The internal scraper blade assembly 995 further comprises an upwardly projecting stem 1045 that can rotate at a speed of 10 to 400 RPM.

[0115] The cap 1000 is fixed to the canister 990 (i.e., attached in a non-removable manner). The cap 1000 includes an opening 1050 for allowing a fluid (e.g., liquid or air) to enter the interior of the canister 990, and an opening 1055 for allowing the upwardly protruding stem 1045 to protrude from the interior of the canister 990.

[0116] The cap 1000 and the floor portion 1005 can be made of a heat-insulating material or can be coated with a heat-insulating material, such as aerogel.

[0117] Before use, the opening 1015 of the floor portion 1005 and the opening 1050 of the cap 1000 are closed with a rupturable membrane.

[0118] With the above-described configuration, when the upwardly protruding stem 1045 is rotated in the first (counterclockwise) direction, the sliding gate 1025 is biased towards its closed configuration and the contents of the pod 910 are pushed upwards towards the cap 1000. When the upwardly protruding stem 1045 is rotated in the opposite (clockwise) direction and rotated at a speed in the range of 10 to 400 RPM, the sliding gate 1025 is biased towards its open configuration and the contents of the pod 910 are pushed downwards relative to the floor portion 1005 of the canister 990. At this time, the rupturable membrane covering the opening 1015 of the floor portion 1005 is ruptured, and the contents of the pod 910 are discharged through the opening 1015 and then through the nozzle 1020.

[0119] In another form of the present invention, the nozzle 1020, the sliding gate 1025, and the stop 1030 may be omitted, and the opening 1015 may be closed by a removable seal 1060 (FIG. 42A). In this form of the present invention, when the internal scraper paddle assembly 995 is rotated in one direction, the contents of the pod are pushed down (via the plurality of scraper blades 1035) until the agitated contents hit the floor 1005, and then the openings 1040 of the plurality of scraper blades 1035 facilitate the rise of the contents of the pod, causing the contents to move upward inside the pod (see FIG. 42B). Also, the contents of the pod are pushed in a radially outward direction during mixing, which helps apply a radially outward force to the tapered sidewall 953 of the nest 915, which helps fix the tapered sidewall 1010 of the pod 910 to the tapered sidewall 953 of the nest 915, improving heat transfer between the pod and the nest. Note that when discharging the contents of the pod, the removable seal 1060 is removed and the contents of the pod are discharged through the opening 1015. Note that in this form of the present invention, it is not necessary to reverse the direction of the rotating scraper blade 1035 when discharging frozen confections from the pod.

[0120] In a preferred form of the present invention, the pod 910 may include a plurality of compartments or regions for containing different contents, i.e., it may contain powdered ice cream in one region and cream or milk or water in a second region. When the lid of the machine 905 is closed, the separation membrane between the regions is perforated or ruptured to allow the various contents to be mixed. Tight fit between the pod 910 and the nest 915

[0121] In fact, it has been found that closely fitting the pod 910 and the nest 915 facilitates rapid heat transfer between the pod 910 and the nest 915, resulting in the more rapid production of a single serving of frozen confection. Such a close fit can be achieved in various ways.

[0122] While not limited, by way of example, pod 910 may include threads (not shown) on the outer surface of canister 990, and nest 915 may include corresponding threads (not shown) on the surface of recess 935 of nest 915, such that pod 910 may be screwed in close contact with nest 915.

[0123] While not limited, as a further example, frustoconical canister 990 of pod 910 may have a gradient, and frustoconical recess 935 of nest 915 may have a corresponding gradient, such that when the lid assembly of machine 905 is closed, pod 910 is lowered downward to fit closely with nest 915.

[0124] While not limited, as yet another example, pod 910 may be configured to expand slightly to bring itself closer to recess 935 of nest 915 when a force is applied to the upper end of pod 910.

[0125] Alternatively, a pressurized fluid (e.g., air, CO2, or nitrogen) may be injected into pod 910 to expand the side wall of canister 990 of pod 910 to bring it closer to recess 935 of nest 915.

[0126] While not limited, as a further example, recess 935 of nest 915 may include a flexible bladder 1065 (FIG. 43) for receiving canister 990 of pod 910, such that the flexible bladder fits closely with pod 910 disposed within nest 915.

[0127] While not limited, as a further example, recess 935 of nest 915 may include a magnetic material for receiving ferrous alloy (i.e., steel) canister 990 of pod 910 such that pod 910 is magnetically drawn into nest 915 to fit closely with pod 910 disposed within nest 915. Contents of the pod 910

[0128] The contents of pod 910 may be the same as the contents of pod 30 described above.

[0129] Also, if desired, pod 910 can encapsulate a conventional yogurt product (e.g., gel-like yogurt), so it should also be understood that the novel system 900 can then make frozen yogurt for dispensing into a container (e.g., bowl, cone, etc.).

[0130] Furthermore, if desired, pod 910 can contain liquid raw materials for making a desired frozen confection when cooled and agitated. In this form of the invention, it may not be necessary to feed any additional raw materials into the pod to make the desired frozen confection.

[0131] In addition to the above, if desired, referring to FIG. 44, "bubble beads" (e.g., encapsulants surrounding CO2 or N2) can be included in the raw materials placed within pod 910. This encapsulant is selected such that when water is added inside pod 910, the encapsulant dissolves and releases CO2 or N2, creating "foamability" in the frozen confection.

[0132] Pod 910 can also be expected to essentially contain the contents necessary to make a frozen protein shake, such as whey protein powder, casein protein powder, pea protein powder, soy protein powder, etc., and any powder that makes a frozen protein shake when mixed with and cooled by water.

[0133] In a preferred form of the invention for manufacturing a frozen protein shake, the contents of pod 910 can be as follows. 3 - 10% milk fat (e.g., cream, plastic cream, butter), anhydrous milk fat / butter oil, fats and oils without milk components (e.g., palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and other safe and suitable vegetable oils), 9 to 15% non-fat milk solids (MSNF), such as condensed milk (sweetened condensed milk / evaporated milk), sweetened condensed milk, powdered milk, or whole sweet cream buttermilk, condensed or dried whey, condensed or dried milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate or isolate, reconstituted milk protein or prepared milk protein, sodium caseinate, 4 to 14% sugar and corn syrup sweetening ingredients, up to 0.5% stabilizer or thickener, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (cellulose gum), guar gum, locust bean gum, sodium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan, carrageenan, modified starch, microcrystalline cellulose (cellulose gel), gelatin, calcium sulfate, propylene glycol monostearate, or other monoester, etc., Up to 0.5% emulsifier, such as monoglyceride and diglyceride, distilled monoglyceride (saturated or unsaturated), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (60) or monooleate (80), etc., and 5 to 60 g of protein in the form of whey, casein, pea, soy and / or combinations of said proteins.

[0134] In a 3 - 8 ounce (about 88.71 - about 236.56 ml) frozen protein shake, ideally, there would be more than 10 g of protein and less than 200 calories.

[0135] Further examples of pod raw materials may include the following soft cream powder, powdered yogurt, powdered shake mix, liquid slush mix, powdered coffee base mix, powdered smoothie mix, powdered or liquid low-sweet neutral base, and premium neutral base materials are listed below.

Table 3

[0136] In another form of the present invention, when making one serving of soft cream, the water supply 70 can be replaced by a cooler (not shown). The cooler can receive a container (e.g., a plastic bottle or a plastic bag) that holds from about 1.0 liter to about 3.0 liters of liquid soft cream mix. In this form of the present invention, the pod 910 is used to make one serving of soft cream by receiving the liquid soft cream mix and agitating the one-serving soft cream mix while cooling it.

[0137] It should be understood that by injecting the liquid soft cream mix into the pod 910, there is no need to subsequently inject a fluid (i.e., air or liquid) into the pod to make the frozen confection (i.e., soft cream). When the pod 910 is properly cooled, the rotation of the internal paddle assembly 995 creates one serving of soft cream within the pod 910.

[0138] Furthermore, in this form of the present invention, a separate water storage tank (not shown) can be provided that can pump from about 0.5 ounces to about 1.0 ounce (about 14.79 milliliters to about 29.57 milliliters) of water into the tube connecting the container (e.g., a plastic bottle or a plastic bag) to the pod to flush out the remaining liquid soft cream mix before the next one-serving soft cream is prepared using the novel system 900. Modifications of the preferred embodiments

[0139] It should be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps, and component configurations described and illustrated herein to explain the nature of the present invention can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for providing a single serving of frozen dessert, the system comprising: A pod for providing the single serving of frozen dessert, the pod including at least one raw material and a plurality of scraper blades defining an opening extending therethrough, the plurality of scraper blades having a helical structure; A direct expansion refrigeration system having an evaporator defining a nest sized to receive the pod, the direct expansion refrigeration system being operable to cool the pod disposed within the nest; A motor operable to rotate the plurality of scraper blades of the pod disposed within the nest while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod, whereby the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while rubbing at least one wall of the pod to prevent accumulation of the frozen dessert on at least one wall of the pod, and rotation of the plurality of scraper blades while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod drives the contents of the pod downward until the agitated contents hit the floor of the pod, after which the contents move upward within the pod; A system comprising.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein rotation of the plurality of scraper blades while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod also drives the contents of the pod radially outward and helps to seat the pod within the nest.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pod comprises a body having a floor defining an opening closed by a seal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein rotation of the plurality of scraper blades after the seal is opened discharges the frozen dessert from the pod.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the motor rotates the plurality of scraper blades in the same direction during cooling of the pod and during discharging of the frozen confection from the pod.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the direct expansion refrigeration system comprises a refrigerant within the sidewall of the nest.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the plurality of scraper blades facilitate upward movement above the contents of the pod.

8. A method for providing a single serving of frozen confection, the method comprising: providing a pod for providing the single serving of frozen confection, the pod including at least one raw material and a paddle assembly having a plurality of scraper blades defining an opening extending through the plurality of scraper blades, the plurality of scraper blades having a helical structure; inserting the pod into a nest defined by an evaporator of a direct expansion refrigeration system; operating the direct expansion refrigeration system to cool the pod disposed within the nest; rotating a plurality of scraper blades of the paddle assembly of the pod disposed within the nest while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod, whereby the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while rubbing at least one wall of the pod to prevent accumulation of the frozen confection on at least one wall of the pod, and rotation of the paddle assembly while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod drives the contents of the pod downward until the agitated contents hit the floor of the pod, after which the contents move upward within the pod; comprising.

9. The rotation of the paddle assembly while the direct expansion refrigeration system cools the pod also drives the contents of the pod radially outward and helps to seat the pod against the nest, the method of claim 8.

10. The pod comprises a body having a cap and a floor defining an opening closed by a seal, the method of claim 8.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising releasing the seal such that rotation of the paddle assembly ejects the frozen confection from the pod.

12. The paddle assembly rotates in the same direction during cooling of the pod and during ejection of the frozen confection from the pod, the method of claim 11.

13. The direct expansion refrigeration system comprises refrigerant within the sidewalls of the nest, the method of claim 8.

14. The openings of the plurality of scraper blades facilitate upward movement above the contents of the pod, the method of claim 8.

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