Abstract: Ice cream making machine and method which automatically controls the weight of ice cream supplied to containers by increasing or decreasing the amount of overrun, depending upon whether or not the cartons in a production line are overweight or underweight with respect to a desired target weight. Correcting signals are derived at a weighing station which are proportional in time to the amount or underweight of an average group of weighed packages. Such signals are applied to structure which adjust to the amount of air being supplied to the ice cream mix.

Abstract: An ice cream making and packaging machine is provided having an automatic overrun controller for controlling the amount of air mixed with the ice cream mix prior to freezing. The overrun controller includes a mix pump and a regulator for adjusting the amount of air to be mixed with the ice cream mix in the mix pump. The ice cream making and packaging machine continuously packages predetermined quantities of ice cream in containers and includes a conveyor system for continuously carrying the containers of ice cream through a weighing station. Measuring equipment associated with the conveyor measures the relative amounts of air and ice cream mix in the containers of ice cream. Automatic controls connected to the measuring equipment adjust the regulator for the mix pump to change the amount of air mixed with the ice cream mix in response to measurements taken by the measuring equipment.