Abstract: A product dispensing machine includes a container, a freeze circuit, a liquid circuit, a blending chamber assembly, and a dispensing assembly. The container stores a base product. The freeze circuit is constructed and arranged to extract a first portion of the base product from the container and substantially freeze the first portion into a first consistency. The liquid circuit is constructed and arranged to extract a second portion of the base product from the container. The blending chamber assembly is in fluid communication with the frozen and liquid circuits, and is constructed and arranged to blend the first and second portions into a second consistency. The dispensing assembly is in fluid communication with the blending chamber assembly, and is constructed and arranged to selectively dispense the first portion in the first consistency, and the first and second portions in the second consistency.

Abstract: A method of performing a heat treatment cycle on a volume of product in a frozen food dispensing machine includes disconnecting a product storage portion of the machine from a freezing portion and a dispensing portion of the machine, defining a heat treatment circuit including the freezing portion and the dispensing portion of the machine, maintaining a first volume of product at the product storage portion at a product storage temperature and performing a heat treatment cycle on a second volume of product disposed in the heat treatment circuit at a heat treatment temperature greater than the product storage temperature.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a grill, a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly. An electronic hardware controller is in signal communication with the at least one grill, the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly. The controller operates the first arm assembly to transfer a prepared product to the grill, and operates the second arm assembly to transfer a cooked product from the grill.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a grill, a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly. An electronic hardware controller is in signal communication with the at least one grill, the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly. The controller operates the first arm assembly to transfer a prepared product to the grill, and operates the second arm assembly to transfer a cooked product from the grill.

Abstract: A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.

Abstract: A microchannel freezing cylinder assembly is disclosed that includes an inner cylinder located within an outer cylinder. Multiple grooves are located on the exterior of the inner cylinder that form multiple microchannels when the inner cylinder is located within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder includes an inlet header and a distribution header, with multiple orifices located in a ridge between the inlet header and distribution header. The distribution header is in fluid communication with the microchannels.

Abstract: A fitting for extruding a frozen food product is provided. The fitting is adapted to produce multiple parallel streams of flowable frozen food that resembles pasta. The fitting includes a body with an open end at a first end of the body and a partially closed second end of the body opposite the first side of the body, the partially closed second end comprising a plurality of holes that extend therethrough. An inner surface of the body includes a cylindrical portion and an arcuate portion, the arcuate portion disposed proximate to the open end and the cylindrical portion disposed between the arcuate portion and the partially closed end, wherein an inner diameter along the arcuate portion is smaller than an inner diameter along the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a multi-planar heater element for use in a high-speed oven with a new tensioning system. Disclosed subject matter includes a radiative heater for use in a high-speed oven formed from two or more planar heater elements stacked closely to form an effective single element and allowing for extended life through the minimization of concentrated eddy currents in both elements. The disclosure further includes structures to install and remove various planar heating elements without any external tools.

Abstract: A grill is provided comprising: an upper platen assembly including an upper grilling plate; a lower platen assembly including a lower grilling plate opposite the upper grilling plate, the upper grilling plate being separated from the lower grilling plate by a distance; one or more actuators operably connected to at least one of the upper platen assembly and the lower platen assembly, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to adjust the distance; and a conveyor belt located between the upper grilling plate and the lower grilling plate, wherein the conveyer belt is configured to move one or more food products between the upper grilling plate and the lower grilling plate.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first tube extending along a central axis. The first tube defines a chamber that contains a first medium. A corrugated sheath of the heat exchanger is disposed radially outward from and extends circumferentially about the outer face for transferring heat through the inner tube.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a cooking surface, a leveling device, an inclinometer, and an electronic controller. The leveling device is constructed and arranged to adjust a position of the cooking surface, and the inclinometer senses the cooking surface position. The electronic controller is configured to receive a position signal from the inclinometer and output a command signal to the leveling device for position adjustment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking system having a matrix configured grilling apparatus that includes a plurality of grill modules forming a grid of grills, each grill in the plurality of grill modules being thermally isolated, having an egress for inserting and removing foodstuff, and being individually and digitally controllable, and a movable end effector that is digitally controllable and that inserts and removes foodstuff from each grill of the plurality of grill modules.

Abstract: A food product valve for a container of a food product dispensing machine includes a body and a resiliently flexible member. The body defines a flow passage extending along a centerline, and includes a circumferentially continuous face for sealing contact with the container and an end portion that defines a seat. The resiliently flexible member is sealably disposed in the seat and includes a self-sealing piercing constructed and arranged to open for communication with the flow passage upon a force directed in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.

Abstract: A microchannel freezing cylinder assembly is disclosed that includes an inner cylinder located within an outer cylinder. Multiple grooves are located on the exterior of the inner cylinder that form multiple microchannels when the inner cylinder is located within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder includes an inlet header and a distribution header, with multiple orifices located in a ridge between the inlet header and distribution header. The distribution header is in fluid communication with the microchannels.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a frozen confection includes a mixing chamber within which an ice cream and at least one flavored concentrate are mixed. A valve assembly is operable to control a flow of the mixture of ice cream into the mixing chamber. A pump provides said at least one flavored concentrate to the mixing chamber. A dispensing nozzle is arranged in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. The dispensing nozzle has a flow channel through which a mixture of the ice cream and at least one flavored concentrate is dispensed. The flow channel has a first diameter adjacent an inlet end of the dispensing nozzle and a second diameter adjacent an outlet end of the dispensing nozzle. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first tube extending along a central axis. The first tube defines a chamber that contains a first medium. A corrugated sheath of the heat exchanger is disposed radially outward from and extends circumferentially about the outer face for transferring heat through the inner tube.

Abstract: A hose fitting assembly for connecting to a food mix bag of a frozen food dispensing machine is provided. The hose fitting assembly includes a fitting body defining a hollow fitting body interior. Also included is a probe cap repeatedly matable with the fitting body and having an inner wall defining a hollow probe cap interior.