Machine for making ice-cream and smoothies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine for making ice-cream and smoothies (1) consisting of a mid-sized machine that is used for making different flavoured ice-cream and smoothies. The machine is characterised in that it consists of a support base (2), with a control button panel and display (2.1), a cooling unit (3), a tank (4) that is filled with an aqueous means (5) AND is equipped with a front cover (9) and an upper cover (10), with their corresponding handles (9.1) and (10.1). The tank is further equipped with rotary modules (6), where bottles (7) are installed, a motor (8) and an electronic plate. The cooling unit (3) is used to cool the aqueous means (5) in a first phase which in turn transmits the cold to the food product contained in the bottles (7).

Description

[0001]DESCRIPTION OF A MACHINE FOR MAKING ICE CREAM AND MILKSHAKES TECHNICAL OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes a medium-sized machine used to make ice creams and milkshakes of different flavors. It is designed to be installed in bars, cafes, supermarkets, hotel bars and the like, with the advantage of providing a quality product with excellent flavor, ready to be consumed immediately by the customer. The milkshakes, generally known as "smoothies", are prepared and served in half-liter bottles that are placed on a wheel with a capacity for eight bottles. The ice creams are prepared and served in one-liter bottles that are placed on a similar wheel with a capacity for four bottles, with a maximum of six.The wheels are interchangeable and their maximum size is suitable for the wheel and bottle assembly to fit inside a tank of aqueous medium that gradually cools the bottles and their contents by the action of a cold group. TECHNICAL SECTOR TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS The invention presented corresponds to the Section of Current Needs of Life of the International Patent Classification (IPC), chapter of Food or Foodstuffs, concerning the manufacture of ice creams and milkshakes, affecting from the industrial point of view the manufacture and supply of machines for the production of ice creams, milkshakes and similar food products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of food, milkshakes, ice creams, slushies and similar products, have existed for a long time, with various inventions registered in the Patent Offices.The machines used in each case have been refined based on the advances known at the time, the desired final product, and the intended use, whether for large-scale industrial production or for small commercial establishments where it is advantageous to have small machines that allow customers to be served quickly and offer high-quality products. A quick search of registered inventions has revealed countless solutions that would be impossible to summarize. Almost all of them are inventions from the last century with techniques that are still in use, although there are also many more recent ones. As examples, we will cite a few below to give an idea of ​​the solutions that have been applied.However, it can be stated from now on that the solution proposed in this document refers to a novel invention in small-sized machines that allows the production of high-quality milkshakes and ice creams for immediate consumption at bars, restaurants, hotels or similar establishments. -ES-0003785 UUn ice cream maker with which one or more types of ice cream can be made. Year 1935. -ES-0135053 A1A new process for the manufacture of ice cream. Year 1934. -ES-0176577 A1New apparatus for the instant manufacture of cream ice creams, desserts and others. Year 1947. -ES-0196617 UApparatus for obtaining frozen products. Year 1971. -ES-0219071 A1New ice cream mixer. Year 1954. -ES-0276752 UAmultifunctional apparatus for the production of ice creams and similar cold products. Year 1984. -ES-0297379 A1An ice cream making machine with a rotating freezer container. Year 1964. -ES-0446871 A3Ice cream manufacturing process. Year 1976.-ES -1134432 UApparatus for making ice cream. Year 2014. -ES-2146177 A1Process for making ice cream and machine for doing so. Year 2001. -ES-2278242 T3Machine for supplying frozen drinks such as slushies, sorbets and the like. Year 2007. -ES-2929752 T3Machine for slushies, drinks or the like. Year 2022. -ES-8600674 A1Improvements to machines for preparing ice cream and drinks. Year 1984. Common to all these inventions is the use of a cooling unit and containers for the products to be cooled or frozen.As described in the following sections, the present invention has special features among which it is worth highlighting the transmission of cold in two phases and the alternative loading of the rotary machine with two types of bottles, some of half a liter for milkshakes and others of one liter for ice creams with a special structure of these bottles that open halfway their height for easy extraction of the ice cream, being equipped with agitators. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention consists of a tabletop rotary machine for obtaining milkshakes and ice creams.The machine is divided into the following main parts: - Support base - Cooling unit - Aqueous medium holding tank - Rotating module - Bottles - Drive motor - Control button panel and display The support base serves as the machine's support and is placed on the work table in such a way that the operator has easy access to the control button panel and to the access covers to the inside of the machine for refilling bottles and / or replacing the wheels. The cooling unit is any one of those currently on the market in this field, so it does not characterise the invention, although it must be capable of reaching the programmed temperatures for each product, with a maximum of around 20-25 degrees below zero. It is connected to the aqueous medium holding tank in a closed circuit. The aqueous medium holding tank is what, externally, gives shape to the machine, giving it an attractive appearance, as it must be visible to the general public.But its main function is to serve as a container for an aqueous medium in which bottles of one type or another will be submerged. By being connected to the cooling unit in a closed circuit, the aqueous medium quickly reaches the programmed working temperature. It is equipped with a front cover for installing or replacing the wheels and a top cover for loading and / or removing the bottles. The aqueous medium is a liquid with antifreeze, such as water with high concentrations of sodium chloride, which completely covers the bottles attached to the corresponding rotating module (wheel). This tank is sized to accommodate both large and small bottles; what varies is the size of the wheels.The rotating module (wheel) is the rotating element with housings designed to position the bottles so that they remain stationary during the rotating movement, in direct contact with the aqueous medium in the tank. There is a wheel conveniently sized for small bottles, and another, smaller wheel that accommodates large bottles without interfering with the tank. Both types of wheels rotate smoothly because they are equipped with needle, roller, or ball bearings. The drive motor is directly connected to the body of the corresponding wheel, generating a low-speed rotary motion. An electronic circuit ensures the wheel stops in line with the top cover of the external casing to facilitate the placement or replacement of bottles. The control buttons are installed on the front of the support base, within easy access of the operator.They are complemented by a display that provides information on temperatures, rotation speed, liquid level in the tank and other machine parameters. The following sections include figures and a description that provide an understanding of the embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Ten figures are included, which are considered sufficient for a correct interpretation of the invention. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the top (Fig. 1), front (Fig. 2) and side (Fig. 3) views of the machine of the invention, with the following elements being noted: 1. - Machine 2. - Support base 2. 1 Control button panel and display 3. - Cooling group 4. - Tank 5. - Aqueous medium 6. - Rotating module 7. - Bottle 8. - Motor9.- Front cover9.1 .- Front handle10.- Top cover10.1.- Top handle11.- Virtual perimeter envelopeFigure 4 Shows a perspective view of the insulated support base 2.2.- Cable management channel Figure 5 Shows a schematic view of a small bottle (1 / 2 liter) for milkshakes 7.1. - Small bottle Figure 6 Shows a schematic view of a large bottle (1 liter) for ice cream 7.2. - Large bottle 7.2.1. - Threaded area Figure 7 Shows a schematic perspective view of a bottle-holding wheel. The placement of a bottle on top is suggested. 6.1. - Rotation axis 6.2. - Bearing block 6.3. - Bottle-holding crown 6.4. - Insertion and immobilization mouth Figure 8 Shows a wheel loaded with eight small bottles Figure 9 Shows a wheel loaded with four large bottles Figure 10 Represents the same arrangement of the large bottles as in (Fig.9) which includes the agitators and the gears that rotate said agitators. An area has been enlarged to better see the detail of the toothed wheels and rack. 12. - Fins 13. - Agitator shaft 14. - Gear wheel 15.- Zipper DETAILED EXPLANATION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Ice cream and milkshake making machine (1) (Figs. 1 to 10) consisting of a medium-sized machine used to make ice cream and milkshakes of different flavors and designed to be installed in bars, cafes, supermarkets, hotel bars and the like. In one embodiment conceived by its inventor, it comprises a support base (2) for the firm coupling of all the elements of the machine (1). It is a flat plate with confining edges in the front part of which the control and display button panel (2.1) is incorporated, which is within comfortable reach of the operator for easy handling. Internally it has cable passage channels (2.2) for electrical interconnections. The cooling group (3), the tank (4) and the motor (8) are located on the support base (2).As for the cold group (3), it is one of the conventional groups existing in the market and therefore does not characterize this invention. Logically, the inventor chooses one of those that reach temperatures of up to 20 degrees below zero necessary for the preparation of ice creams. The tank (4) allows two objectives to be achieved. On the one hand, from the point of view of its external appearance, it is a piece of furniture with a refined finish, with an attractive appearance and coloring, which are part of the furniture of hotel bars, supermarkets, cafes, bars or similar establishments. On the other hand, it fulfills the objective of being the watertight container tank for the aqueous medium that we will mention below. For access to the elements inside it has a front cover (9) and an upper cover (10), both with their corresponding front handle (9.1) and upper handle (10.1).A rotating module (6) is installed inside, driven by a motor (8), with a bottle-holder crown (6.3) equipped with several insertion and immobilization mouths (6.4), where a series of bottles (7) are coupled in a simple but firm manner and filled with the food product in question in each case, whether they are milkshakes, small bottles (7.1) of half a liter or ice creams, large bottles (7.2) of one liter. It has been represented in (Fig. 7) where the placement of a bottle from the top is hinted at. The rotating module (6), with its corresponding bottles, forms norias whose virtual perimeter envelope (11) (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10), never interferes with the tank, either with rotating modules for small bottles (7.1) or with rotating modules for large bottles (7.2). The tank (4) is filled with the chosen aqueous medium (5).The most common is water with antifreeze such as sodium chloride or alcohol, but in some cases it is possible to choose to fill it with a syrup or similar. This aqueous medium (5) completely fills the tank (4) so ​​that both the bottles (7) and the rotating module (6) are submerged in said medium. The machine (1) of the invention has a closed circuit hydraulic connection that interconnects the cold group (3) with the aqueous medium (5) existing in the tank (4) so ​​the final result is that the cold is transmitted, in two stages, to the food product that fills the bottles. In a first step, the aqueous medium (5) is cooled and in a second step, the cold is transmitted to the contents of the bottles (7). The operating temperature is programmed according to the bottles introduced. It is of the order of minus 6 degrees for milkshakes, small bottles (7.1) and at least 15 degrees below zero for ice creams, large bottles (7.2).Regarding the bottles, they are of two types, as indicated previously. Both have an identical neck configuration, which fits into the bottle-holder ring (6.3) equipped with several insertion and locking openings (6.4) (Fig. 7); each bottle is inserted by applying light pressure, remaining held with sufficient force so that it does not come loose as a result of the movement of the rotating module (6). Extraction is carried out in the same way, being necessary to pull the bottle to release it. The approximate shape of the bottles has been schematized in (Figs. 5 and 6) with the important peculiarity that the large one-liter bottle (7.2) is formed by two bodies that are joined by a threaded area (7.2.1) halfway along its height. The reason for this is that, since it is intended for obtaining a frozen product, it would be practically impossible to extract said product through the neck.Another important feature of the large bottles (7.2), which allows the production of ice cream in the best conditions, is that they are equipped with an agitation group consisting of several special fins (12), integral with the agitator shaft (13) that passes through the corresponding cap, guided by a bearing, and finished off by a toothed wheel (14), as shown in (Fig.10) where it can be seen that each toothed wheel (14) meshes with a circular rack (15), that is, closed on itself. This rack (15) is fixed, not rotating with the rotating module (6). In this way, when said rotating module (6) rotates with the set of bottles (7.2), the rotation of the toothed wheels (14), of its corresponding agitator shaft (13) and fins (12) also occurs, homogenizing the ice cream well. Like the small bottles (7.1) for shakes that do not require this removal, it is possible to mount up to eight units in each rotating module (6) as shown in (Fig.8). On the other hand, for large bottles (7.2) (Fig.9), it is only possible to mount four units or, at most, six units although, in this case the necks are very close together making it more complicated to install the stirring groups. In (Fig.7) a rotating module (6) has been schematized where its rotation axis (6.1), the bottle holder crown (6.3) with its introduction and immobilization mouths (6.4) and the bearing block (6.2) where the bearings are mounted are distinguished, which can be ball, needle, roller or even bronze. The rotation axis (6.1) is connected to the motor (8), either directly or through a reduction group, achieving a rotation speed of the rotating module of the order of two or three turns per minute.As indicated at the beginning, the tank (4) has two covers, a front one (9) used for the introduction or extraction of the rotating module (6) and an upper one (10) used for the introduction and extraction of the bottles. It is evident that to open the front cover, secured with screws, wing nuts or similar and practicable by means of the front handle (9.1), it is necessary to previously empty the aqueous medium (5). As for the upper cover (10), with manual hermetic closure with upper handle (10.1), it can be removed at any time although the machine (1) of the invention has an electronic board and optical and / or mechanical detectors that not only stop the rotation of the motor (8) when removing said cover, but also guarantee its stop when the axis of any bottle is in a vertical position. In this way, the process of introducing or extracting bottles is optimized, avoiding possible interferences with the upper mouth of the tank (4).It is not considered necessary to expand the scope of this description to enable a person skilled in the art to understand the scope and advantages derived from the invention, as well as to develop and implement its object. However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to an embodiment preferred by the inventor and may be subject to modifications provided this does not affect or alter the basis of the invention in any way. That is, the terms in which this description of the invention has been presented should always be taken broadly and not restrictively.

Claims

1. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes (1), consisting of a medium-sized machine used to make ice cream and milkshakes of different flavors, characterized in that it consists of a support base (2) with control buttons and display (2.1), a cooling group (3), a tank (4) that is filled with an aqueous medium (5) provided with a front cover (9) and an upper cover (10), with its corresponding handles (9.1) and (10.1), rotating modules (6), where bottles (7) are installed, a motor (8) and an electronic board (not shown) the cooling group (3) serving to cool in a first phase the aqueous medium (5) which, in turn, transmits the cold to the food product contained in the bottles (7).

2. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first claim, characterized in that the aqueous medium (5) that fills the tank (4) is water with sodium chloride. 3.- Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first claim, characterized in that the aqueous medium (5) that fills the tank (4) is water with alcohol.

4. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first claim, characterized in that it mounts a rotating module (6) equipped with eight half-liter bottles (7.1).

5. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first claim, characterized in that it mounts a rotating module (6) equipped with four one-liter bottles (7.2).

6. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first and fifth claims, characterized in that the one-liter bottles (7.2) have the body divided into two parts that are joined by means of a thread.

7. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first and fifth claims, characterized in that each bottle (7.2) of one litre is provided with an agitation group with fins (12), a rotation shaft (13) and a toothed wheel (14) that meshes with a rack (15) integral with the tank (4).

8. - Machine for making ice cream and milkshakes, according to the first claim, characterised in that the cold group (3) reaches temperatures of up to twenty degrees below zero.

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