Abstract: A device may include an ice etching system comprising: a multi-spindle assembly comprising: a plurality of spindles arranged in parallel and movable according to at least two coordinates, wherein each spindle is coupled to at least one cutting tool; and a spindle guidance system in electrical communication with at least one controller and the plurality of spindles, the spindle guidance system being adapted to receive instructions comprising a pattern and a configuration for the at least one cutting tool, and use the instructions to control each spindle in the multi-spindle assembly to generate, according to the pattern, one or more cutting path or one or more etching path on a portion of each of a plurality of ice ingots arranged substantially adjacent to the plurality of spindles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making clear ice are described. The system may include a housing comprising a plurality of elongate troughs. Each of the plurality of elongate troughs may have at least one flume surface wall in thermal communication with a cooling source while the housing is submerged in a fluid bath. The system may further include at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of fluid to the housing and a means for distributing the flow of fluid from the at least one fluid intake into the plurality of elongate troughs while maintaining a substantially laminar fluid flow and substantially equal fluid pressure along the plurality of elongate troughs while the housing is submerged in the fluid bath and during a freezing operation of the device.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for shaping ingots of ice. The devices may include an apparatus including at least a support frame; a mold for shaping ice ingots, and a positioning means configured to dispose a first surface of a first clamshell part against a first side surface of an elongate ice ingot and a second surface of a second clamshell part against a second side surface of the elongate ice ingot, the first side surface of the elongate ice ingot being opposite the second side surface of the elongate ice ingot, and at least one fluid inlet valve for each of the first clamshell part and the second clamshell part.

Abstract: Devices for making clear ice are described. The devices may include at least one housing containing a cooling source and a plurality of elongate troughs concentrically arranged around the cooling source and in parallel to the cooling source, at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of fluid into each of the plurality of elongate troughs, and at least one drain disposed to drain fluid from each of the plurality of elongate troughs.

Abstract: Methods and devices for planing ice are described that include at least receiving, at a planing apparatus, an elongate ice ingot, feeding the elongate ice ingot at a configurable rate through an opening in a cutterhead assembly of the planing apparatus, and planing, by the cutterhead assembly, a plurality of surfaces of the elongate ice ingot at a predefined depth as the elongate ice ingot is fed linearly through the opening of the cutterhead assembly. The planing may result in a planed ice ingot.

Abstract: Methods and devices for planing ice are described that include at least receiving, at a planing apparatus, an elongate ice ingot, feeding the elongate ice ingot at a configurable rate through an opening in a cutterhead assembly of the planing apparatus, and planing, by the cutterhead assembly, a plurality of surfaces of the elongate ice ingot at a predefined depth as the elongate ice ingot is fed linearly through the opening of the cutterhead assembly. The planing may result in a planed ice ingot.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for making clear ice. In one embodiment, a method for making clear ice includes providing a mold of any of the embodiments described herein, optionally inserting a skewer through the mold, the skewer being coupled to an item; circulating, using fluid inlet and outlet valves, a fluid in a mold cavity defined by the mold; varying overtime one or both of: a temperature of the cooling apparatus or a fluid flow rate, through the fluid inlet valve, as a percentage of max flow; and optionally retracting the skewer when the ice formation encases at least a portion of the item. The method optionally includes a period of flow reversal, such that the fluid inlet valve becomes the fluid outlet valve and the fluid outlet valve becomes the fluid inlet valve. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes releasing the ice from the mold.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for shaping ingots of ice. Devices may include a support structure, a mold for shaping ice ingots, the mold being mounted to the support structure. The devices may also include a first upper platen assembly disposed above a first lower platen assembly, a first positioning means, and at least one liquid inlet valve for each of the first upper platen assembly and the first lower platen assembly.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for making clear ice. In one embodiment, a method for making clear ice includes providing a mold of any of the embodiments described herein, optionally inserting a skewer through the mold, the skewer being coupled to an item; circulating, using fluid inlet and outlet valves, a fluid in a mold cavity defined by the mold; varying overtime one or both of: a temperature of the cooling apparatus or a fluid flow rate, through the fluid inlet valve, as a percentage of max flow; and optionally retracting the skewer when the ice formation encases at least a portion of the item. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes a period of flow reversal, such that the fluid inlet valve becomes the fluid outlet valve and the fluid outlet valve becomes the fluid inlet valve. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes releasing the ice from the mold.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for shaping ingots of ice. Devices may include a support structure, a mold for shaping ice ingots, the mold being mounted to the support structure. The devices may also include a first upper platen assembly disposed above a first lower platen assembly, a first positioning means, and at least one liquid inlet valve for each of the first upper platen assembly and the first lower platen assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making clear ice are described. The system may include a housing comprising a plurality of elongate troughs. Each of the plurality of elongate troughs may have at least one flume surface wall in thermal communication with a cooling source while the housing is submerged in a fluid bath. The system may further include at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of fluid to the housing and a means for distributing the flow of fluid from the at least one fluid intake into the plurality of elongate troughs while maintaining a substantially laminar fluid flow and substantially equal fluid pressure along the plurality of elongate troughs while the housing is submerged in the fluid bath and during a freezing operation of the device.

Abstract: A device for producing an elongate ingot of clear ice comprises a housing comprising at least one flume surface wall that defines at least one elongate trough; at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of liquid into the at least one elongate trough; at least one drain disposed to drain liquid from at least one elongate trough; wherein the at least a portion of the at least one flume surface wall is in thermal communication with a cooling source; and wherein the at least one fluid intake and the at least one drain are adapted to provide a constant flow of fluid to the at least one elongate trough during a freezing operation of the device. The cooling source can be an internal cooling cavity.

Abstract: Methods and devices for planing ice are described that include at least receiving, at a planing apparatus, an elongate ice ingot, feeding the elongate ice ingot at a configurable rate through an opening in a cutterhead assembly of the planing apparatus, and planing, by the cutterhead assembly, a plurality of surfaces of the elongate ice ingot at a predefined depth as the elongate ice ingot is fed linearly through the opening of the cutterhead assembly. The planing may result in a planed ice ingot.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for shaping ingots of ice. Devices may include a support structure, a mold for shaping ice ingots, the mold being mounted to the support structure. The devices may also include a first upper platen assembly disposed above a first lower platen assembly, a first positioning means, and at least one liquid inlet valve for each of the first upper platen assembly and the first lower platen assembly.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for making clear ice. In one embodiment, a method for making clear ice includes providing a mold of any of the embodiments described herein, optionally inserting a skewer through the mold, the skewer being coupled to an item; circulating, using fluid inlet and outlet valves, a fluid in a mold cavity defined by the mold; varying overtime one or both of: a temperature of the cooling apparatus or a fluid flow rate, through the fluid inlet valve, as a percentage of max flow; and optionally retracting the skewer when the ice formation encases at least a portion of the item. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes a period of flow reversal, such that the fluid inlet valve becomes the fluid outlet valve and the fluid outlet valve becomes the fluid inlet valve. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes releasing the ice from the mold.

Abstract: A device for producing an elongate ingot of clear ice comprises a housing comprising at least one flume surface wall that defines at least one elongate trough; at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of liquid into the at least one elongate trough; at least one drain disposed to drain liquid from at least one elongate trough; wherein the at least a portion of the at least one flume surface wall is in thermal communication with a cooling source; and wherein the at least one fluid intake and the at least one drain are adapted to provide a substantially constant flow of fluid to the at least one elongate trough during a freezing operation of the device. The cooling source can be an internal cooling cavity.

Abstract: A device for producing an elongate ingot of clear ice comprises a housing comprising at least one flume surface wall that defines at least one elongate trough; at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of liquid into the at least one elongate trough; at least one drain disposed to drain liquid from at least one elongate trough; wherein the at least a portion of the at least one flume surface wall is in thermal communication with a cooling source; and wherein the at least one fluid intake and the at least one drain are adapted to provide a substantially constant flow of fluid to the at least one elongate trough during a freezing operation of the device. The cooling source can be an internal cooling cavity.

Abstract: A corner reinforcement gusset with a radial or other shaped cutout at an internal corner of the gusset. The cutout can alleviate the stresses at that corner and reduce failure. The gusset can therefore better reinforce an enclosure or other object to maintain the structural stability of the object better than prior art gussets.

Abstract: A system for cooking and forming an edible food container includes include a bottom housing and a top housing. The bottom housing comprises a press receiver defining at least one press receptacle and the top housing comprises a press defining at least one press protrusion. The system further includes a heating element incorporated into at least one of the top housing and the bottom housing. The system also includes a frame, with the top housing being moveable relative to the bottom housing via engagement with the frame.

Abstract: A corner reinforcement gusset with a radial or other shaped cutout at an internal corner of the gusset. The cutout can alleviate the stresses at that corner and reduce failure. The gusset can therefore better reinforce an enclosure or other object to maintain the structural stability of the object better than prior art gussets.