Abstract: A clean in place assembly for a soft serve ice cream dispenser includes an ice cream dispenser. A clean in place system having a water tank including a heater disposed therein is attached to the ice cream dispenser. A control interface is disposed on the tank. The control interface is connected to operating circuitry of the ice cream dispenser. A nozzle of the ice cream dispenser is formed of a conductive metal material and includes a notch formed therein circumferentially about a portion of the nozzle and includes radiused surfaces that extend to portions of the nozzle that house O-rings.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a refrigeration system. A variable frequency drive is connected to the refrigeration system. A beater motor is connected to the variable frequency drive. The variable frequency drive calculates the beater motor torque and regulates the refrigeration system activation. The variable frequency drive varies a speed and/or torque of the beater motor regulating a size of ice crystals and overrun of a frozen confection product.

Abstract: A clean in place assembly for a soft serve ice cream dispenser includes an ice cream dispenser. A clean in place system having a water tank including a heater disposed therein is attached to the ice cream dispenser. A control interface is disposed on the tank. The control interface is connected to operating circuitry of the ice cream dispenser. A nozzle of the ice cream dispenser is formed of a conductive metal material and includes a notch formed therein circumferentially about a portion of the nozzle and includes radiused surfaces that extend to portions of the nozzle that house O-rings.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a refrigeration system. A variable frequency drive is connected to the refrigeration system. A beater motor is connected to the variable frequency drive. The variable frequency drive calculates the beater motor torque and regulates the refrigeration system activation. The variable frequency drive varies a speed and/or torque of the beater motor regulating a size of ice crystals and overrun of a frozen confection product.

Abstract: A clean in place assembly for a soft serve ice cream dispenser includes an ice cream dispenser. A clean in place system having a water tank including a heater disposed therein is attached to the ice cream dispenser. A control interface is disposed on the tank. The control interface is connected to operating circuitry of the ice cream dispenser. A nozzle of the ice cream dispenser is formed of a conductive metal material and includes a notch formed therein circumferentially about a portion of the nozzle and includes radiused surfaces that extend to portions of the nozzle that house O-rings.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a refrigeration system. A variable frequency drive is connected to the refrigeration system. A beater motor is connected to the variable frequency drive. The variable frequency drive calculates the beater motor torque and regulates the refrigeration system activation. The variable frequency drive varies a speed and/or torque of the beater motor regulating a size of ice crystals and overrun of a frozen confection product.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a freezer section having a base product. A dispensing section is connected to the freezer section. The dispensing section includes a mixing cylinder and a plunger movably positioned within the mixing cylinder, the mixing cylinder including at least one injection port. A flavoring section includes a plurality of flavor syrups connected to a specified injection port. A stepper motor is connected to the plunger and moves the plunger within the mixing cylinder. A control mechanism is connected with the stepper motor and syrup pump selectively moving the plunger wherein a syrup dispense rate and timing is sequenced by the control mechanism with the stepper motor driven plunger wherein mixing of the base product and flavor syrup is precisely controlled.

Abstract: An improved refrigeration compressor actuator is described for a chilled food dispensing apparatus. The actuator is connected to a temperature sensor located near or at the evaporator unit of the apparatus. The temperature of the apparatus is controlled by a compressor actuator that measures the temperature from the temperature sensor and is responsive to the rate of change in temperature per unit time.

Abstract: A soft serve dispensing machine includes a refrigerator cabinet. A door is hinged to the refrigerator cabinet. A freezer compartment is defined in the refrigerator cabinet and receives a soft serve product mix. Product pumps are linked with the soft serve product mix for moving the product to a dispensing portion of the soft serve dispensing machine. The product pumps are positioned proximate the front portion of the refrigerator cabinet and above the freezer compartment. A removable inner door panel is moveable between stored and deployed positions. In the deployed position, the door is in an open position and the inner door panel is attached to the refrigerator cabinet and defines a seal relative to the refrigerator cabinet and cold air within the freezer compartment is maintained in the freezer compartment while the product pumps are accessed.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a freezer section having a base product. A dispensing section is connected to the freezer section. The dispensing section includes a mixing cylinder and a plunger movably positioned within the mixing cylinder, the mixing cylinder including at least one injection port. A flavoring section includes a plurality of flavor syrups connected to a specified injection port. A stepper motor is connected to the plunger and moves the plunger within the mixing cylinder. A control mechanism is connected with the stepper motor and syrup pump selectively moving the plunger wherein a syrup dispense rate and timing is sequenced by the control mechanism with the stepper motor driven plunger wherein mixing of the base product and flavor syrup is precisely controlled.

Abstract: A soft serve dispensing machine includes a refrigerator cabinet. A door is hinged to the refrigerator cabinet. A freezer compartment is defined in the refrigerator cabinet and receives a soft serve product mix. Product pumps are linked with the soft serve product mix for moving the product to a dispensing portion of the soft serve dispensing machine. The product pumps are positioned proximate the front portion of the refrigerator cabinet and above the freezer compartment. A removable inner door panel is moveable between stored and deployed positions. In the deployed position, the door is in an open position and the inner door panel is attached to the refrigerator cabinet and defines a seal relative to the refrigerator cabinet and cold air within the freezer compartment is maintained in the freezer compartment while the product pumps are accessed.

Abstract: To defrost one barrel of a two barrel FCB dispenser, a refrigeration system defrosts the one barrel, while neither defrosting nor chilling the other barrel, for either a selected time or until a frozen beverage is drawn from the other barrel, whichever occurs first. Once the selected time or beverage draw occurs, the refrigeration system chills the other barrel until beverage within it is properly frozen, while neither defrosting nor chilling the one barrel. Once beverage in the other barrel is properly frozen, the refrigeration system resumes defrosting the one barrel, whereupon the foregoing cycle is repeated until defrost of the one barrel is complete, at which point the refrigeration system chills the one barrel to refreeze product in it. The arrangement keeps beverage in the other barrel properly frozen during defrosting of the one barrel.

Abstract: An improved refrigeration compressor actuator is described for a chilled food dispensing apparatus. The actuator is connected to a temperature sensor located near or at the evaporator unit of the apparatus. The temperature of the apparatus is controlled by a compressor actuator that measures the temperature from the temperature sensor and is responsive to the rate of change in temperature per unit time.

Abstract: To defrost one barrel of a two barrel FCB dispenser, a refrigeration system defrosts the one barrel, while neither defrosting nor chilling the other barrel, for either a selected time or until a frozen beverage is drawn from the other barrel, whichever occurs first. Once the selected time or beverage draw occurs, the refrigeration system chills the other barrel until beverage within it is properly frozen, while neither defrosting nor chilling the one barrel. Once beverage in the other barrel is properly frozen, the refrigeration system resumes defrosting the one barrel, whereupon the foregoing cycle is repeated until defrost of the one barrel is complete, at which point the refrigeration system chills the one barrel to refreeze product in it. The arrangement keeps beverage in the other barrel properly frozen during defrosting of the one barrel.

Abstract: To defrost one barrel of a two barrel FCB dispenser, a refrigeration system defrosts the one barrel, while neither defrosting nor chilling the other barrel, for either a selected time or until a frozen beverage is drawn from the other barrel, whichever occurs first. Once the selected time or beverage draw occurs, the refrigeration system chills the other barrel until beverage within it is properly frozen, while neither defrosting nor chilling the one barrel. Once beverage in the other barrel is properly frozen, the refrigeration system resumes defrosting the one barrel, whereupon the foregoing cycle is repeated until defrost of the one barrel is complete, at which point the refrigeration system chills the one barrel to refreeze product in it. The arrangement keeps beverage in the other barrel properly frozen during defrosting of the one barrel.

Abstract: A frozen product dispenser is characterized by at least two product freeze barrels for receiving product therein and for freezing the product for dispensing, and a refrigeration system for chilling the at least two barrels. The refrigeration system has at least two evaporators for and heat transfer coupled to each barrel, separate and controllable expansion valves each having an outlet coupled to an inlet to an inlet to an associated one of the evaporators, at least two compressors having outlets coupled to inlets to the expansion valves and inlets coupled to outlets from the evaporators, and at least one condenser in fluid circuit between outlets from the compressors and inlets to the expansion valves.

Abstract: A recovery system for a frozen product dispenser accommodates automatic recovery and continued operation of the dispenser in response to the output torque of a beater bar and scraper assembly drive motor exceeding a selected upper limit due to transient conditions. A controller monitors the output torque of the drive motor and, upon sensing an output torque in excess of the selected upper limit, shuts off the drive motor and operates a refrigeration system to defrost a freeze barrel within which the beater bar and scraper assembly is rotated, for a time sufficient to defrost product in the barrel. The controller then turns on the drive motor, operates the refrigeration system to refreeze product in the barrel and continues to monitor the output torque of the drive motor. The foregoing operation is repeated several times, if and as necessary, before a system error is generated.

Abstract: A system for mixing beverage components in a predetermined ratio is characterized by a housing having a mixing chamber therein, first and second inlets to the chamber and an outlet from the chamber. A first beverage component is flowed through the first inlet to the mixing chamber and a second beverage component is flowed through the second inlet to the chamber for mixing of the components in the chamber and exit of the mixture from the chamber through the chamber outlet. The pressure of the second beverage component in the second inlet is sensed upstream from the chamber and the flow of at least one of the first and second beverage components to the chamber is controlled in accordance with the sensed pressure to deliver to the mixing chamber a predetermined ratio of the first and second beverage components.

Abstract: A frozen product dispenser is characterized by at least two product freeze barrels for receiving product therein and for freezing the product for dispensing, and a refrigeration system for chilling the at least two barrels. The refrigeration system has at least two evaporators for and heat transfer coupled to each barrel, separate and controllable expansion valves each having an outlet coupled to an inlet to an inlet to an associated one of the evaporators, at least two compressors having outlets coupled to inlets to the expansion valves and inlets coupled to outlets from the evaporators, and at least one condenser in fluid circuit between outlets from the compressors and inlets to the expansion valves.

Abstract: An adaptive defrost control for a frozen product machine implements an algorithm that utilizes various operating parameters of the machine to adaptively adjust the time interval between successive defrost cycles in a manner such that defrost cycles occur only on an as-needed basis. The adaptive defrost control minimizes the time during which the machine is in a defrost cycle, thereby maximizing the uptime of the machine during which frozen product can be prepared.