COMMERCIAL FROZEN FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS SANITATION

• US 20110088558A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F'Real Foods LLC (Rich Products Corporation)
• Original Assignee: F'Real Foods LLC (Rich Products Corporation)
• Inventors: Farrell, James J., Voges, Jens Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/045 of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/20 the products being mixed with gas, e.g. soft-ice
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/28 for portioning or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/044 with tools driven from the top side
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/13 Mixing of ice-cream ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/80 with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/805 wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/816 into which liquid is added and the resulting preparation is retained, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food

Abstract

A machine prepares semi frozen food products and/or beverages from pre-prepared (e.g. frozen) cups. A user chooses the desired frozen cup, inserts it into the machine, chooses how they would like it prepared from a range of thickness options, and the machine then opens a sealed chamber door and inserts the product upward into the chamber and prepares the product by blending it in the cup. Upon removal of the product and resealing of the chamber door, the cleaning mechanisms provide thorough cleaning of all food contact surfaces and the chamber interior. Automatic high temperature steam sanitation takes place in the chamber if the machine is not used for an extended period of time, thus greatly reducing or eliminating the need for manual cleansing and sanitation by an attendant and ensuring healthy food preparation at all times.

Claims

1. A food preparation apparatus, comprising:

a food preparation chamber;

a carriage comprising a cup holder;

a boring blade coupled to a drive shaft; and

a cup lid weight through which the drive shaft passes,

wherein the cup lid weight is coupled to the driveshaft so as to tilt about the driveshaft such that a greater portion of an underside of the cup lid is exposed at a first side of the driveshaft than at a second side of the driveshaft.

2. The food preparation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a water nozzle positioned to direct water towards an underside of the boring blade and cup lid weight.

3. The food preparation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to rotate the drive shaft and cup lid weight as the nozzle delivers water to the underside of the cup lid weight.

4. The food preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cup lid weight is a polymer based structure.

5. The food preparation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cup lid weight weighs about four or more pounds.

6. The food preparation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cup lid weight polymer based structure comprises unsaturated polyester.

7. The food preparation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cup lid weight is formed by a thermoset process.

8. The food preparation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cup lid weight comprises a high density filler within the polymer based structure.

9. The food preparation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the high density filler comprises barium sulfate.

10. The food preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the cup lid weight is in the range of 2.5-3.5.

11. A drink preparation apparatus, comprising:

a drink preparation chamber;

a boring blade within the chamber;

a carriage comprising a cup holder; and

a steam sanitation system,

the apparatus configured to monitor the elapsed time since a prior drink preparation and initiate steam sanitation of the chamber and boring blade if the elapsed time exceeds a sanitation time threshold.

12. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sanitation time threshold is in the range of two hours to three days, and wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically sanitize the preparation chamber and boring blade with the steam sanitation system when the elapsed time exceeds the sanitation time threshold.

13. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the steam sanitation system comprises a steam injection port at a first location physically distant from a temperature sensor at a second location.

14. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the steam injection port is located at an upper portion of the chamber and the temperature sensor is located at a lower portion of the chamber.

15. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to inject steam at the first location until the temperature measured at the second location reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold.

16. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the temperature threshold is in the range of 170 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

17. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a drain line connected to the food preparation chamber of the apparatus, the drain line being one continuous piece substantially free from crevices where waste may accumulate.

18. The drink preparation apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a motor that elevates a carriage comprising a cup holder and a cup within the cup holder into the preparation chamber such that the boring blade is within the cup in an elevated position.