Point of Sale Method and Apparatus for Making and Dispensing Aerated Frozen Food Products

A method for making ice cream at a point of sale vending machine, the method comprising:

• rotating a freeze plate;
• providing a stream of chilled base;
• injecting air into the stream of chilled base to provide a stream of aerated chilled base;
• injecting one or more flavors into the stream of aerated chilled base to provide a stream of aerated mix;
• delivering the stream of aerated mix onto the rotating freeze plate;
• spreading the aerated mix onto a portion of the rotating freeze plate with a spreader body that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate to provide a layer of frozen aerated mix;
• scraping the frozen aerated mix off of the freeze plate with a scraper that comprises a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the freeze plate and is directed opposite a direction of travel of the freeze plate, the scraper further comprising a body that forms a channel that extends radially above the freeze plate;
• accumulating scraped frozen aerated mix in the channel;
• forming a rounded portion from the accumulated frozen aerated mix by extending a plow though the channel towards a cup held in place by a cup lifter and pushing the rounded portion into the cup.

A method for making ice cream at a point of sale vending machine, the method comprising:

• rotating a freeze plate;
• starting a first air compressor;
• starting first and second pumps;
• pumping a stream of chilled base with the first pump;
• injecting air into the stream of chilled base with the first air compressor to provide a stream of aerated chilled base;
• injecting at least one flavor into the stream of aerated chilled base with the second pump to provide a stream of aerated mix;
• delivering the stream of aerated mix onto the rotating freeze plate;
• while the freeze plate rotates, spreading the aerated mix onto a portion of the rotating freeze plate with a spreader body that extends radially across and above the portion of the freeze plate to provide a uniform layer of frozen aerated mix;
• while the freeze plate rotates, scraping the frozen aerated mix off of the freeze plate with a scraper that comprises a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the freeze plate and is directed opposite a direction of travel of the freeze plate, the scraper further comprising a body that forms a channel that extends radially across the freeze plate;
• accumulating scraped frozen aerated mix in the channel;
• opening a door to the channel tilting a cup into position at an end of the channel opposite along a periphery of the freeze plate for receiving accumulated scraped frozen aerated mix;
• forming a rounded scoop-like portion from the accumulated frozen aerated mix by extending a plow though the channel;
• pushing the accumulated frozen aerated mix into the cup with the plow by moving the plow at least partially out of the channel;
• tilting the cup back to an upright position.

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products comprising:

• a frame supporting first and second insulated compartments, the first insulated compartment for a storage of base material of a mix, the second insulated compartment for accommodating a rotatable freeze plate, scraper, spreader body, plow and a dispense outlet for delivering chilled aerated mix to an upper surface of the freeze plate, the first and second insulated compartments being in communication with a first compressor for maintaining the first and second insulated compartments within a first temperature range, the freeze plate being linked to a second compressor;
• the spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate, the spreader body extending radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate and being supported above the freeze plate by a fixed gap;
• a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the freeze plate, the scraper comprising 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 further comprising a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel above the scraper blade and that extends radially above the freeze plate for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix, the plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel.