Abstract: A machine for making and dispensing liquid and/or semi-liquid food products comprises a supply tank equipped with a loading mouth through which the ingredients necessary to make the basic product are loaded, and a lid for opening and closing the loading mouth; the lid comprises a covering wall with at least two parts which are foldable relative to each other and which are joined to each other by a folding line.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products, including: a first processing container for processing a basic liquid or semi-liquid product and defining a processing chamber; a cooling cylinder mounted inside the first container; a rotary stirrer mounted inside the first container and outside the cooling cylinder; a thermal treatment system provided with at least a first exchanger associated with the cooling cylinder; a second processing container; a connecting duct designed to connect the second processing container to the first processing container to transfer the basic liquid or semi-liquid product from the second processing container to the first processing container; a dispensing device associated with the first processing container to deliver the liquid or semi-liquid product to the outside.

Abstract: A machine for simultaneously making first and second liquid or semi-liquid products includes a first stirrer operating on a first container and a second stirrer operating on a second container. A thermodynamic heat treatment system includes a circuit filled with a heat exchanger fluid, a compressor operating on the fluid, a first heat exchanger affected by the fluid to exchange heat with the first container, and a second heat exchanger affected by the fluid to exchange heat with the second container. A first device for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid allows adjustment of the thermal power exchanged by the first heat exchanger. A second device for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid allows adjustment of the thermal power exchanged by the second heat exchanger. A control unit controls the first and second devices as a function of a measured operating parameter of the machine.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system for cooling or heating at least a first container containing food products of the liquid or semi-liquid type, including a circuit employing a heat exchanger fluid, having at least: a compressor having at least one inlet for the heat exchanger fluid and one outlet for the heat exchanger fluid; a first heat exchanger connected to the outlet of the compressor; at least one first expansion element connected to an outlet of the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger which can be associated with the first container and which has an inlet connected to an outlet of the at least one first expansion element; a return duct having an inlet portion connected to an outlet of the second heat exchanger and an outlet portion connected to the inlet of the compressor.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a deformable bag for liquid or semi-liquid products to a machine for distributing the product and includes a body with an opening passing therethrough and acting as a product outlet and connected to the machine, with a thermal sensor supported so as to be positioned inside the bag, in contact with the liquid or semi-liquid product. The sensor is fixed in a second opening that is parallel or almost parallel to the product transit opening and a connecting cable comes out of the end of the body intended to remain outside the bag. The assembly formed by the bag and the connector and the machine for distributing a liquid or semi-liquid food product supplied with the bag equipped with the connector.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system for a container containing food products of the liquid and/or semi-liquid type includes a circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element, an evaporator and heat exchanger fluid. An exchanger includes a delivery duct and a return duct, the delivery duct connected on a first side to a condenser outlet to receive the fluid, and connected on the other side to the expansion element to release the fluid to the expansion element. The return duct is connected, on a first side, to a condenser inlet. A recirculation duct is connected to the second side of the delivery duct to receive the fluid, and to a second side of the return duct, opposite the first side, to release the fluid to the return duct. A further expansion element is positioned in the recirculation duct to allow the fluid circulating in the recirculation duct to expand.

Abstract: A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid products comprises, in combination: a plane element with an opening made in it; at least one container adapted to contain a basic mixture provided with an opening and inserted in the opening of the plane element; a stirrer and a refrigeration system, operatively associated with the container respectively for mixing the basic mixture and for cooling the basic mixture in such a way as to convert it into finished product; a flange which can be coupled to the plane element; means for coupling the flange to the plane element; a lid movably connected to the flange to close the opening of the container in use.

Abstract: A machine for liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a container for containing a liquid or semi-liquid food product; a thermal treatment system, equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the container for absorbing or releasing heat to the liquid or semi-liquid food product inside the container; a stirrer positioned inside the container; a dispensing device, including: a supporting element having a front wall; an outlet channel, formed in the supporting element and in fluid communication with the container; a shutter which is movable inside the channel between a closed position of the outlet channel and an open position of the outlet channel; a lever having a first end operatively connected to the shutter to allow the movement between the above-mentioned closed position of the outlet channel and the open position of the outlet channel and also having a second end configured for being gripped by a user.

Abstract: A kit for connecting to a processing container a device for feeding a liquid or semi-liquid food product, including at least: an internally hollow pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein at least one between the first and the second end includes an enlarged, external terminal portion; a receiving element provided with a hole for receiving at least the enlarged, external terminal portion at one end of the pipe and with an abutment for stopping the end of the pipe inside the hole; means for pushing and locking the enlarged, external terminal portion at the end inside the receiving hole in order to allow locking the enlarged, external terminal portion against the abutment.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products includes a thermal system using a main heat exchanger fluid, a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a pressure reducing element, all affected by circulation of the main heat exchanger fluid. A motor includes a drive shaft rotatable about a vertical axis. A production unit includes a first container with a processing chamber for making ice cream and a stirrer insertable into the first processing container. A second container includes a cavity rotatably housing the first container and which is fixed relative to a frame. Channels for circulating the main heat exchanger fluid are associated with the second container and define for the thermal system a second heat exchanger in which the main heat exchanger fluid circulates. A coupling mechanism couples the first container and drive shaft for transmission of motion from the motor to the first container.

Abstract: A method for making ice cream, including the following steps: a) preparing basic ingredients defining a basic mixture for ice cream; b) heating the basic mixture to cause an at least partial evaporation of the water contained in the basic ingredients, so as to make a basic mixture concentrate; c) subjecting the basic mixture concentrate to a mixing and cooling treatment comprising the steps of: c1) adding a basic liquid to the mixture concentrate, so as to dilute the mixture; c2) stirring and simultaneous thermal treatment for a predetermined period of time, to allow converting the diluted basic mixture concentrate into an ice cream type product.

Abstract: A method for making ice cream including the following steps, performed in the following order: heating the side walls of the processing container to a preset preheating temperature; placing a basic ice cream mixture in the processing chamber after the step of heating the side walls of the processing container to a preset preheating temperature; deactivating any infectious agents which may be present in the basic mixture by activating the thermal treatment system in heating mode for a predetermined time in order to pasteurize the basic mixture inside the processing chamber; keeping the basic mixture, previously subjected to the thermal treatment inside the processing chamber, for a predetermined hold time.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products of the ice cream sector including a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container and cooling the processing container; a unit for receiving and treating a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product, configured to allow the capsule to be compressed in such a way so as to deform lateral walls of the capsule and to squeeze the basic preparation out of the capsule and transfer it to the processing container; a device for injecting a dilution liquid, associated with the processing container, for injecting the dilution liquid into the processing container.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products includes a processing chamber for processing a basic mixture and including a stirrer and thermal treatment system operating in conjunction to convert the basic mixture into a liquid or semi-liquid product; an electronic drive and control unit; a dispensing device having a dispensing nozzle connected to the processing chamber to deliver the product; a support having a seat for housing a receiving container; a movement device for vertically moving the support between a vertical position away from the nozzle and a vertical position close to the nozzle; and a device for rotating the housing seat about a vertical axis. The electronic drive and control unit is operatively connected to the movement device and to the device for rotating the housing seat to drive them according to a predetermined law of motion.

Abstract: A unit for receiving and treating capsules containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product including: a housing configured to receive a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product; an unloading device adapted to trigger expulsion of the capsule from the housing. The unloading device includes an impact portion adapted to engage the capsule and a locking portion configured to lock the unloading device to the unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, having: at least one tank for containing the product to be processed and dispensed and having a discharge orifice for the product to be dispensed; at least one dispensing tap having: an external conduit having an inlet orifice which is connected, in use, to the discharge orifice of the containment tank, a product release orifice and a product recirculation orifice, a tubular duct having formed in it a first internal cavity which is provided with at least one radial opening.

Abstract: A base/additive product feeding unit for a machine for the production and/or distribution of ice cream, or other ice cream product, comprises a plurality of storage tanks for delivering predetermined quantities of base/additive products used to prepare ice cream in a batch freezing chamber provided with a stirrer and heat treatment means. The connection between the storage tanks and the batch freezing chamber is accomplished by an intake having a plurality of side inputs connected to respective storage tanks and an additional input made in a cover of the intake and connected to a further storage tank in such a way as to allow at least two storage tanks to be superposed on each other.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products with a plurality of deformable feeding containers, each feeding container connected to a processing chamber for processing the base mixture and including a stirrer and a thermal treatment device for the base mixture, operating in conjunction with one another to convert the base mixture into a liquid or semi-liquid product. The operative connection of each feeding container to the processing chamber to transfer the base mixture from the feeding container to the processing chamber is made by a network of withdrawing ducts through an interposed pneumatically actuated valve which can be activated and deactivated independently of the remaining valves and which includes a valve body with an inlet duct and an outlet duct, and with a shutter acting to selectively interrupt or allow the connection between the inlet duct and the outlet duct.

Abstract: A method for making ice cream, including preparing a machine for mixing and cooling ice cream equipped: with a processing container defining a processing chamber and provided with a mixer rotating inside the processing chamber; and a thermal treatment plant, configured for being activated, selectively and alternatively, in heating or cooling mode, respectively, for heating and cooling the processing chamber. The method further includes: inserting inside the processing chamber a basic mixture; heating the basic mixture inside the processing chamber, so as to subject the basic mixture to a pasteurization treatment; cooling the basic mixture inside the processing chamber and, at the same time, rotating the rotary mixer, to incorporate air in the basic mixture and make ice cream; extracting the ice cream from the processing chamber.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid and semi-liquid products includes a first container and first mixer for processing a basic product and a second container and second mixer for converting the basic product into a desired product. First and second heat exchangers are operatively associated respectively with the first and second containers. First and second drive units respectively drive the first and second mixers. A connecting duct allows transfer of the basic product from the first container to the second container. A separating element is associated with the duct and switchable between a separating configuration in which the transfer of basic product from the first container to the second container through the duct is prevented, and a connecting configuration in which a transfer of basic product from the first container to the second container through the duct is allowed.