Method and apparatus for producing and dispensing an aerated and/or blended food product

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• motive means for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• depositing means spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while that is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets to form a thin, at least partially solidified product body, and
• product delivery means disposed between the depositing means and the rotary surface, said delivery means including
• scraping means supported above the rotary surface and having a working edge engaging the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating to scrape the at least partially solidified product body into a ridge row, and
• removing means for removing said ridge row from the rotary surface as said food product, said removing means comprising
• a vertical forming cylinder positioned adjacent to the periphery of the rotary surface, said forming cylinder having a side window and a bottom opening;
• pushing means for pushing said ridge row into the forming cylinder through said window thereby compacting the product into a shaped solid body within the cylinder, and
• ejection means in said cylinder for pushing the shaped solid body out of said bottom opening.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• motive means for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• depositing means spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while that is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets to form a thin, at least partially solidified product body, said depositing means including
• a first supply of first product base;
• a first aeration nozzle having first and second inlet ports and an outlet port;
• a hose connecting the first supply to the first inlet port so as to deliver first product base to said first nozzle;
• means for conducting compressed gas to the second inlet port so that a first product base/gas mixture can issue from said outlet port, and
• conduit means extending from said outlet port to a location above the rotary surface so that said mixture constitutes said selected amount of liquid product and is delivered from said conduit means to the rotary surface;
• product delivery means disposed between the depositing means and the rotary surface, said delivery means including
• scraping means supported above the rotary surface and having a working edge engaging the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating to scrape the at least partially solidified product body into a ridge row, and
• removing means for removing said ridge row from the rotary surface as said food product.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a substantially horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets to form a thin, at least partially solidified product body;
• a scraper supported above the rotary surface and having a working edge engaging the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating to scrape said at least partially solidified product body into a ridge row on the rotary surface;
• a removing device for removing said ridge row from the rotary surface to form said food product, and
• a leveler spaced above the rotary surface to establish a gap therewith, said leveler being positioned ahead of the scraper so as to level the liquid product mix on said rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating to the height of said gap prior to the formation of said at least partially solidified product body.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a substantially horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets to form a thin, at least partially solidified product body;
• a scraper supported above the rotary surface and having a working edge engaging the rotary surface while said rotary surface is rotating to scrape said at least partially solidified product body into a ridge row on the rotary surface;
• a removing device for removing said ridge row from the rotary surface to form said food product;
• a vertical forming cylinder positioned adjacent to said periphery, said forming cylinder having a side window and a bottom opening, said removing device pushing the ridge row into the forming cylinder through said window thereby compacting the product into a shaped solid body within the cylinder, and
• an ejector in said cylinder for pushing the shaped solid body out of said bottom opening.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a generally horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while the rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets as an at least partially solidified product layer;
• a leveler spaced above the rotary surface to establish a gap therewith so as to level the liquid product mix on said rotary surface to the height of said gap prior to the setting thereof, and
• a scraping device supported above the rotary surface for scraping said product layer from said surface as scrapings and consolidating the scrapings at said periphery.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a generally horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while the rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets as an at least partially solidified product layer;
• a scraping device supported above the rotary surface for scraping said product layer from said surface as scrapings and consolidating the scrapings at said periphery, and
• a forming device adjacent to said periphery for receiving and compacting said scrapings to form said food product.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a generally horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while the rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets as an at least partially solidified product layer, said depositing device including
• a plurality of fluid containers positioned above said rotary surface, each container having an outlet;
• flow control means for controlling the flow of fluid through the outlets of said containers so that a determined volume of fluid from each container may be deposited selectively on said rotary surface as said liquid product mix, and
• a scraping device supported above the rotary surface for scraping said product layer from said surface as scrapings and consolidating the scrapings at said periphery.

Apparatus for dispensing a food product comprising

• a generally horizontal rotary surface having a central axis and a periphery;
• a motor for rotating the rotary surface about said axis;
• a depositing device spaced above the rotary surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the rotary surface while the rotary surface is rotating so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the rotary surface and sets as an at least partially solidified product layer, said depositing device including selectable containers having outlets;
• a scraping device supported above the rotary surface for scraping said product layer from said surface as scrapings and consolidating the scrapings at said periphery;
• a source of liquid product base, and
• a manifold connected to said outlets and said source so as to receive and mix said product base and fluid from the selected container to produce said liquid product mix.