# US 2017/0280744 A1 · Machine and method for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280744 A1 - Document ID: US20170280744A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/606,735 - Filed: 2017-05-26 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-24 - Assignees: Ali S.P.A.—Carpigiani Group - Applicants: ALI S.p.A. - CARPIGIANI GROUP - Inventors: Andrea COCCHI; Roberto LAZZARINI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280744A1 ## CPC - A23G 9/14: Continuous production ({A23G9/06} , A23G9/20 takes precedence) - A23G 9/16: the products being within a cooled chamber, e.g. drum - A23G 9/163: {with intermittent operation} - A23G 9/166: {Feeding arrangements} - A23G 9/22: Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups - A23G 9/28: for portioning or dispensing - A23G 9/281: {at the discharge end of freezing chambers} - A23G 9/305: {Sterilisation of the edible materials} - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF ## Abstract A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products and which includes at least a cylinder for containing and processing basic products, means for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder and a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder which is able to mix the basic products during their processing; the machine also includes a supply duct for supplying the products into the cylinder, a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder and means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which are able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine for making and dispensing at least one chosen from liquid, semi-liquid and semi-solid food products, comprising: a container of basic products; a cylinder for containing and processing the basic products into at least one chosen from liquid, semi-liquid and semi-solid food products; a system for heating and cooling the cylinder wrapped around at least part of the cylinder; a mixer unit positioned inside the cylinder for mixing the basic products during the processing of the basic products; a supply duct for supplying the basic products into the cylinder; a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder; means for recirculating the products contained in the containment and processing cylinder which is able to withdraw the products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and to return them into the cylinder through the supply duct. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is a removable container for feeding the basic products, including a product infeed channel and a product outfeed channel, said infeed channel being operationally connected, in use, to the dispensing duct and said outfeed channel being operationally connected, in use, to the supply duct for allowing recirculation between the cylinder and said removable container through said infeed channel, outfeed channel, dispensing duct and supply duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine according to claim 2, comprising: a memory configured to save a piece of information relating to an opening time of the removable container; and a control unit for said memory configured and programmed to detect when said removable container is connected to the cylinder and to update the piece of information relating to the opening time when said removable container is connected to the cylinder for a first time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The machine according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to provide an indication if an open interval of the removable container, calculated starting from the opening time saved in the memory, is greater than a preset value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine according to claim 4, comprising an indication unit, connected to the control unit for providing an indication if an open interval of the removable container, calculated starting from the opening time saved in the memory, is greater than a preset value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The machine according to claim 3, wherein the control unit comprises a sensor for detecting when said removable container is connected to the cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The machine according to claim 3, wherein the control unit comprises a level sensor for detecting a level of product in the removable container and for establishing, based on the level detected, when said removable container is connected to the cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The machine according to claim 3, comprising a connector for connecting said removable container to the cylinder, and wherein the control unit comprises a sensor, associated with said connector or with the removable container, for detecting a connection of the removable container to said connector corresponding to a condition of connection of said removable container to the cylinder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, and further comprising: a dispensing tap for withdrawing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products from the cylinder; the infeed section being connected to the dispensing tap for withdrawing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products from the cylinder; the delivery section being connected to the supply duct for returning the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products into the cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the recirculation means comprise a pump having an infeed section and a delivery section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein the infeed section is connected to the dispensing duct and the delivery section is connected to the supply duct. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The machine according to claim 9, wherein the infeed section is connected to the dispensing duct through the dispensing outlet of the dispensing tap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The machine according to claim 11, and further comprising a duct connecting the infeed section of the pump to the dispensing duct. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The machine according to claim 10, wherein it comprises at least a container of the basic products and a duct for sucking in the basic products to be introduced into the containment and processing cylinder; the infeed section of the pump being connectable alternately to the suction duct and to the dispensing duct of the containment cylinder. ### Claim 15 A method for making and dispensing at least one chosen from liquid, semi-liquid and semi-solid food products, comprising: providing a container of basic products; providing a cylinder for containing and processing the basic products into at least one chosen from liquid, semi-liquid and semi-solid food products; providing a system for heating and cooling the cylinder, wrapped around at least part of the cylinder; providing a mixer positioned inside the cylinder for mixing the basic products during the processing; providing a supply duct for supplying the basic products into the cylinder; providing a dispensing duct for withdrawing the food products from the cylinder; recirculating at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products by withdrawing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products from the cylinder through the dispensing duct and returning the at least one chosen from the basic products and the foods products into the cylinder through the supply duct. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, and further comprising: providing a dispensing tap connected to the dispensing duct; wherein the recirculating the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products includes withdrawing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products from the cylinder through the dispensing tap and returning the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products into the cylinder through the supply duct. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, and further comprising: pasteurizing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products; and wherein the recirculating the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products is performed simultaneously with the pasteurizing the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the recirculating the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products is performed continuously. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein it comprises a step of preparing a pump having an infeed section and a delivery section and a step of disconnecting the infeed section of the pump from the container of the basic products and connecting the infeed section of the pump to the dispensing duct using at least one connecting duct. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, and further comprising connecting the infeed section to the dispensing tap using at least one connecting duct. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, comprising: providing that the container is a removable container that includes an infeed channel and an outfeed channel; connecting the infeed channel of the removable container to the dispensing duct and connecting said outfeed channel of the removable container to the supply duct for allowing recirculation between said cylinder and said removable container; recirculating the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products between the cylinder and said removable container through the dispensing duct, the supply duct, the infeed channel and the outfeed channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the recirculating the at least one chosen from the basic products and the food products between the cylinder and the removable container is performed continuously, for a preset time interval. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, and further comprising connecting the infeed section to one of either the dispensing duct or the outfeed channel of the removable container and connecting the delivery section to one of either the supply duct or the infeed channel of the removable container, to allow circulation between the containment cylinder and said removable container through at least one chosen from said dispensing duct and the outfeed channel and the at least one chosen from the supply duct and the outfeed channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, comprising: saving a piece of time information indicating when the removable container was opened; comparing said saved piece of time information with a preset value, to indicate if a time interval since opening is greater than the preset value. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, and further comprising detecting, using a sensor, connection of the removable container to the cylinder.