MACHINE WITH INTEGRATED DISPLAY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND DISPENSING OF ICE CREAM OR THE LIKE

• US 20150107274A1
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ugolini SPA (Delta Finanziaria SpA)
• Original Assignee: Ugolini SPA (Delta Finanziaria SpA)
• Inventors: Ugolini, Marco Corrado
• Application Number:
  US14/514,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/62
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/12 using means for stirring the contents in a non-moving container
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/224 Agitators or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/228 Arrangement and mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/281 at the discharge end of freezing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/00 Other cooling or freezing apparatus

Abstract

A machine (10) for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like comprises a tub (11) cooled by a refrigerating circuit (12) and a motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates inside the tub. The tub is provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16) and comprises a control system (21), a sensor (23) for rotation of the mixer and an interface panel (22) which are connected to the control system (21) so that, when rotation of the mixer (13) is detected by means of the sensor (23), the control system (21) shows on the interface panel (22) an animated image (28) representing said rotation.

Claims

1. Machine (10) for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like, comprising a tub (11) cooled by a refrigerating circuit (12) and a motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates inside the tub, the tub also being provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16), characterized in that it comprises a control system (21), a sensor (23) for rotation of the mixer and an interface panel (22) which are connected to the control system (21) so that, when rotation of the mixer (13) is detected by means of the sensor (23), the control system (21) shows on the interface panel (22) an animated image (28) representing said rotation.

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the animated image (28) consists of arrows rotating in a circular manner.

3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a second image (29) representing operating states of the machine is shown inside the animated image (28).

4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the operating states shown are selected at least from a product preparation state and product ready state, each with its own second image.

5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the preparation state comprises in turn an initial preparation state and/or intermediate state and product nearly ready state, each with its own second image.

6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the initial preparation state and/or intermediate state and product nearly ready state are differentiated also by means of different colours of the said second image.

7. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface panel comprises, together or alternately, display zones chosen from a zone for displaying state icons, a zone for displaying alphanumerical information, and a central zone for displaying said animated image.

8. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface panel comprises a touch screen.

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the interface panel further comprises a zone for displaying operating commands of the machine which can be selected by means of the touch screen.

10. Method for providing a user with information about the internal operation of machine for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like, comprising a tub (11) cooled by a refrigerating circuit (12) and a motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates inside the tub, the tub also being provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16), and an electronic control system (21), the method comprising the supplying of information to the electronic control system (21) by a sensor (23) and, when rotation of the mixer (13) is detected by mean of the sensor (23), displaying by the electronic control system (21) of an animated image (28) representing said rotation on an interface panel of the machine.