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US 2025/0049065 A1Published application
Frozen dispensing machine heat treatment system and method
AssigneeTaylor Commercial Foodservice, LLC
InventorsSteven M. WADLE, James J. MINARD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of performing a heat treatment cycle on a volume of product in a frozen food dispensing machine includes disconnecting a product storage portion of the machine from a freezing portion and a dispensing portion of the machine, defining a heat treatment circuit including the freezing portion and the dispensing portion of the machine, maintaining a first volume of product at the product storage portion at a product storage temperature and performing a heat treatment cycle on a second volume of product disposed in the heat treatment circuit at a heat treatment temperature greater than the product storage temperature.
Claims20
A method of performing a heat treatment cycle on a volume of product in a frozen food dispensing machine, comprising:
- disconnecting a product storage portion of the frozen food dispensing machine from a freezing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine and a dispensing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine, wherein the product storage portion is refrigerated inside a storage compartment of the frozen food dispensing machine, and wherein a product delivery line is provided that is operably connected to the freezing portion, and in normal operation of the frozen food dispensing machine the product delivery line is connected to the product storage portion;
- defining a heat treatment circuit including the freezing portion and the dispensing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine;
- maintaining, while the product storage portion of the machine is disconnected from the freezing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine and the dispensing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine, the first volume of product at a refrigerated temperature;
- connecting a recirculation line with the product delivery line in the heat treatment circuit;
- and
- performing a heat treatment cycle on a second volume of product disposed in the heat treatment circuit at a heat treatment temperature greater than the refrigerated temperature.
3 more elements
A frozen food dispensing machine comprising:
- a storage compartment that is refrigerated;
- a product storage portion having a first volume of product, the product storage portion being positioned within the storage compartment of the frozen food dispensing machine such that the first volume of product is refrigerated inside of the frozen food dispensing machine;
- a freezing portion operably connected to the product storage portion, the freezing portion comprising a freezing cylinder;
- a dispensing portion connected to the freezing portion to dispense a frozen food product;
- a recirculation line operably connected to one or more of the freezing portion or the
- dispensing portion;
- and
- a product delivery line operably connected to the freezing portion, the product delivery line selectably connectable to the product storage portion for dispensing operations of the frozen food dispensing machine or to the recirculation line to define a heat treatment circuit for periodic heat treatment of a second volume of product disposed at the heat treatment circuit, the heat treatment circuit including the freezing portion and the dispensing portion and omitting the product storage portion, wherein, while disconnected from the freezing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine and the dispensing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine, the product storage portion of the frozen food dispensing machine is maintained at a refrigerated temperature within the storage compartment of the frozen food dispensing machine.
5 more elements
A frozen food dispensing machine comprising:
- a storage compartment that is refrigerated;
- a product storage portion having a first volume of product, the product storage portion being positioned within the storage compartment of the frozen food dispensing machine such that the first volume of product is refrigerated inside of the frozen food dispensing machine;
- a freezing portion operably connected to the product storage portion, the freezing portion comprising a freezing cylinder;
- a dispensing portion connected to the freezing portion to dispense a frozen food product;
- a recirculation line operably connected to one or more of the freezing portion or the
- dispensing portion;
- a product delivery line operably connected to the freezing portion, wherein the product delivery line includes a probe for selectively connecting to a fitment of the product storage portion for dispensing operations of the frozen food dispensing machine or to the recirculation line to define a heat treatment circuit for periodic heat treatment of a second volume of product disposed at the heat treatment circuit, the heat treatment circuit including the freezing portion and the dispensing portion and omitting the product storage portion, wherein, while disconnected from the freezing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine and the dispensing portion of the frozen food dispensing machine, the product storage portion of the frozen food dispensing machine is maintained at a refrigerated temperature within the storage compartment of the frozen food dispensing machine;
- a changeover valve along the product delivery line, wherein product flows through the probe and the changeover valve during dispensing operations of the frozen food dispensing machine and during the heat treatment circuit;
- and
- a heat exchanger with a plurality of channels is wrapped at least partially around the freezing cylinder, and a conductive heater that is positioned to provide heat to the heat exchanger, wherein during operation of the heat exchanger, heat generated by the conductive heater is provided to the freezing vessel and the product disposed therein.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.