Machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products and method of operating the machine

A method for making and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product, comprising the following steps:

• providing a machine comprising:
• a processing chamber for processing a basic mixture and including a stirrer and a thermal treatment system for the basic mixture, operating in conjunction with one another to convert the basic mixture into a liquid or semi-liquid product;
• a dispensing device including a dispensing nozzle connected to the processing chamber to deliver the liquid or semi-liquid product,
• a support having a housing seat for housing a receiving container;
• a movement mechanism suitable for vertically moving the support between a vertical position away from the dispensing nozzle and a vertical position close to the dispensing nozzle;
• a rotation mechanism suitable for rotating the housing seat about a vertical axis;
• wherein the movement mechanism comprises a slide, which the support is mechanically connected to, and at least one guide for vertically guiding the slide;
• wherein the movement mechanism comprises:
• a cantilevered element which is cantilevered from the slide, and a first shaft supported by the cantilevered element and connected to the support;
• a first motor connected to the first shaft and supported by the cantilevered element;
• wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a second shaft and a second motor;
• wherein the second shaft is rotatable independently of the first shaft;
• placing the basic mixture inside the processing chamber;
• setting the stirrer in rotation and simultaneously thermally treating the basic mixture inside the processing chamber to make the liquid or semi-liquid product from the basic mixture;
• preparing a receiving container in the housing seat of the support;
• dispensing the liquid or semi-liquid product through the dispensing nozzle and, at the same time, moving the support vertically and rotating the seat.