Apparatus and method for comminuting frozen food items

A comminution apparatus for comminuting a block of frozen food into a spoonable serving of smooth-textured, frozen food comprising;

• an electric motor having a drive shaft extending from the motor;
• a rotor for comminuting a block of frozen food, the rotor comprising a cylindrical body with a plurality of rows of teeth extending incrementally from the surface of the cylindrical body, the rotor being coaxially mounted on the drive shaft;
• a housing for the rotor releasably secured to the motor, the housing including a chamber enclosing a substantial portion of the rotor, the housing including a feed port for introducing a block of frozen food into the chamber into contact with the rotor and a spout for extrusion of frozen food comminuted by the rotor;
• a plunger for forcing the block of frozen food through the feed port and against the rotor;
• a lever arm pivotally connected to the plunger for imparting additional leverage against the plunger;
• and
• safety switch means for controlling electrical energy to the electric motor, the safety switch means including contact means actuated by the lever arm at a preselected position relative to the feed port.

A method for producing a frozen puree having a spoonable consistency by comminuting a block of frozen food into the frozen puree and extruding the frozen puree comprising:

• selecting an edible food product from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, plant extracts, and artificially flavored liquids;
• freezing said edible food product into a frozen block of frozen, edible food product;
• packaging said frozen block;
• shipping and storing said frozen block in said frozen state;
• and
• introducing said frozen block into a comminution apparatus to produce a frozen puree of edible food product having a spoonable consistency, said comminution apparatus comprising an electric motor having a drive shaft, a rotor being removably mounted to the drive shaft, the rotor including a cylindrical body and a plurality of rows of teeth extending an incremental distance from the surface of the rotor, the cylindrical body being mounted coaxially on the drive shaft, a housing enclosing the rotor, the housing including a chamber for enclosing the rotor and a feed port for introducing the block of frozen food into the chamber into contact with the rotor thereby producing the frozen puree, the chamber including a spout for directing the frozen puree from the chamber, a lever arm is removably engaged to the motor in contact relationship with a safety switch so that movement of the lever arm beyond a preselected position actuates the safety switch to energize the motor, and a plunger is pivotally mounted to the lever arm for forcing the block of frozen food through the feed port into comminution contact with the rotor upon downward movement of the lever arm.