Abstract: An ice cream production apparatus comprises a control unit, a freezer, a freezer outlet pump and a piping system provided from the freezer to one or more ice cream outlet nozzles downstream the freezer, can assume at least two operational modes. The first operational mode is a production mode. The second operational mode is a pre-production mode comprising the steps of freezing the ice cream in the freezer such that the ice cream obtains a pre-production viscosity value being equal to or higher than a production viscosity value, and pumping the frozen ice cream into the piping system at a pre-production outlet flow being smaller than a production outlet flow. The pre-production mode is used for cooling the piping system and the ice cream outlet nozzles before operating the ice cream production apparatus in the production mode.

Abstract: An automatic frozen food product vending machine includes a frozen food product dispensing station for dispensing at least one frozen food product, a container dispenser for storing multiple frozen food product containers and configured to automatically dispense one frozen food product container at a time, a first movable platform for supporting a dispensed frozen food product container, a topping dispensing station for dispensing at least one topping, a second movable platform for supporting the dispensed frozen food product container, a user input device configured to receive a user selection of a desired frozen food product, a user selection of a desired amount of frozen food product, and a user selection of a desired topping, and processing electronics configured to automate operation of the vending machine after the user selections are made.

Abstract: Method of controlling a container filling machine comprising a plurality of filling elements. Each of the filling elements has a flow measuring device which is used to measure the volume of filling material dispensed from its filling element. During filling, the time that a first filling element is open to dispense a predetermined volume of filling material is measured. A second filling element is then opened for essentially the measured time to thereby dispense essentially the predetermined volume of filling material into a second container. As an alternative, a time may be calculated from the measured times of a plurality of filling elements, which calculated time may be used to determine for how long another filling element is opened.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering and dispensing a liquid into packaging containers (10) has a dispenser device (22) with dispenser heads (23), which communicate via a distributor (30) with a supply container (35). A pressure sensor (32), which ascertains a pressure (P1) prevailing in the liquid, is disposed in the distributor (30). A temperature sensor (27) for detecting the temperature (T) of the liquid is also disposed in at least one line (26) that connects the distributor (30) to a metering valve (25). The sensors (27, 32), communicating with a control device (19), together with weighing devices (17,18) that also communicate with the control device (19), enable exact regulation of the weight of a set-point fill quantity (M) in packaging containers (10). By means of the special disposition of the sensors (27, 32), exact metering of the set-point fill quantity (M) and easy replacement of the supply container (35) are made possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering and introducing a liquid into packaging containers has a liquid-introducing device with liquid-introducing heads, which are connected to a supply container via a distributor. Arranged in the distributor are a pressure sensor, which determines a pressure (P1) prevailing in the liquid, and, if appropriate, a temperature sensor. The pressure and temperature are sensors connected to a control device to permit, together with two weighing devices, likewise connected to the control device, a precise weight regulation of a desired filling quantity (M) to be introduced into the packaging containers. The arrangement and design of the pressure and temperature sensors makes possible precise metering of the desired filling quantity (M) and simple exchange of the supply container.

Abstract: A filling machine including a manifold having a supply inlet and supply outlet and one or more nozzles connected to the manifold by individual time controlled valves. A circulation system is provided connecting a supply and the manifold for continuously circulating liquid through the manifold from the supply inlet to overflow the supply outlet such that the supply outlet determines the liquid level in the manifold and the head pressure at one or more nozzles. The manifold is structured to have a manifold section with a supply inlet on the manifold section and a stand pipe connected to the manifold section. The stand pipe includes the supply outlet and is vented to atmosphere. By varying the height of the stand pipe or the location of the outlet, the level within the manifold and the head pressure at the nozzles is adjusted. For sequential filling, bulk fill nozzles are controlled by a single timer and one or more fine fill nozzles are controlled by individual timers.

Abstract: A bench top volumetric container filler is provided and consists of a mechanism to pump a predetermined amount of fluid from a reservoir into a container by using a volumetric piston pump operated by a vertical pump driving cylinder.

Abstract: An automatic conveyorized volumetric container filler is provided and consists of a mechanism to pump a predetermined amount of fluid from a reservoir into containers by using volumetric piston pumps operated by a pump drive cylinder. The containers are automatically conveyed to a plurality of filling nozzles for receiving the fluid therefrom so that after the containers are filled, they can be conveyed away to be capped.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscid medium from a supply medium flow to a number of receptacles, with the system including a filling station and a distributor having an inlet for a pressurized supply medium flow and a number of outlets individually connected to a series of dispenser openings located in the filling station. A support is provided for sequentially moving consecutive groups of receptacles through the filling station to align a single receptacle of each group with the respective dispenser openings. An outlet valve arrangement is located in a path of the medium flow upstream of the dispenser openings. A valve control is operable to repeatingly open and close the outlet valve arrangement to allow concurrent medium outlet from the dispenser openings during an opening time interval corresponding to a predetermined medium volume being dispensed for a required filling of the receptacles of the respective consecutive groups.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a measured quantity of extrudate material to a plurality of continuously moving uniformly spaced receptacles on a rotating conveyor which can travel at varying speeds. The extrudate material is severed by a cutting means having a driving means which is intermittent in operation and is preferably driven by a stepping motor, thereby enabling the cutting means to have a cutting velocity independent of the feed rate of receptacles and to cleanly sever a slug of extrudate material for each receptacle for any speed at which the conveyor is operating.