Rapidly cooling food and drinks
AssigneeSigma Phase, Corp.
InventorsMatthew Fonte, Robert Devaney, John Heymans, Nicholas Fonte, Ian McGinty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.
Claims24
A machine for reducing the temperature of ingredients in a pod, the pod comprising a first protrusion extending outward relative to adjacent portions of a base of the pod, the first protrusion having a stem that extends between a head and a foot, the stem having a smaller cross-section than the head and the foot, the base comprising a weakened section extending around the first protrusion, the machine comprising:
- a refrigeration system comprising:
- an evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod;
- a compressor;
- and
- a condenser;
- a dispenser configured to apply a force to the first protrusion of the pod in the receptacle of the evaporator to remove the first protrusion;
- and
- a processor operable to control the dispenser,
- wherein the dispenser applies a force to the first protrusion on the pod to open the pod when the processor determines that the ingredients of the pod have been cooled by the refrigeration system.
A machine for reducing the temperature of ingredients in a pod containing the ingredients, the machine comprising:
- an evaporator of a refrigeration system operable to cool the ingredients of the pod, the evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod;
- a dispenser configured to engage with the pod in the receptacle and operable to open the pod;
- and
- a first motor mechanically connected to the dispenser to operate the dispenser to open the pod;
- and
- a second motor mechanically connected to a mixing paddle to mix the ingredients in the pod;
- and
- a processor operable to control the dispenser,
- wherein the dispenser applies a force to a protrusion on the pod to open the pod when the processor determines that the ingredients of the pod have been cooled by the refrigeration system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.