Point of sale method and apparatus for making and dispensing aerated frozen food products

摘要

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, a base that has been sufficiently aerated, and at least one flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate. The scraper blade is directed opposite the direction of rotation of the freeze plate. The scraper further includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel above the scraper blade that extends radially above the freeze plate for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup-lifter mechanism disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.

主权项

1. An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products comprising:
a rotating horizontal freeze plate comprising an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix thereon; a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate, the scraper forming a channel for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix; a plow for pushing the mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup-holder disposed at an end of the channel; the scraper being biased against the upper surface of the freeze plate by a hold-down plate when the hold-down plate is in a clamped position; wherein the hold-down plate is coupled to and extends between two vertical posts disposed on diametrically opposed sides of the freeze plate, each post being coupled to a lever, the lever moving the posts and hold-down plate from a released position where the hold-down plate and scraper can be removed for cleaning to the clamped position for fabricating scraped, frozen and aerated mix.