Apparatus and process for preparing frozen confectionery products

1. A filling head apparatus for producing frozen confectionery products, the filling head ( 1 ) comprising:

a tubular housing ( 3 ) which surrounds and is coaxial with a piston ( 10 )

the tubular housing ( 3 ) comprising first and second chambers, the first chamber ( 5 ) having two or more inlets ( 6 ) and an outlet ( 12 ) the second chamber ( 7 ) having an inlet ( 8 ) and opening onto the inside of the tubular housing ( 3 )

the piston having a longitudinal passage ( 20 ) which has an exit opening ( 22 ) at the lower end of the piston ( 10 ) and a plurality of entry openings ( 24 ) into the circumferential surface of the piston;

a first chamber supplier for supplying a frozen confection to the inlets ( 6 ) of the first chamber;

and

a second chamber supplier for supplying a filling to the inlet ( 8 ) second chamber;

wherein the piston ( 10 ) is longitudinally movable within the tubular housing between a closed position and an open position, such that when the piston is in the closed position it closes the outlet of the first chamber and when the piston is in the open position the entry openings communicate with the second chamber.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the entry openings are positioned such that when the piston is moved within the tubular housing to open the valve, the outlet is opened before the entry openings are in communication with the second chamber.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the piston has at least three entry openings.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the piston is free to rotate within the tubular housing.

5. A process for producing frozen confectionery products, the process comprising:

providing an apparatus for producing frozen confectionery products, including a filling head comprising

a tubular housing which surrounds and is coaxial with a piston, the tubular housing comprising first and second chambers, the first chamber having two or more inlets and an outlet, the second chamber having an inlet and opening onto the inside of the housing;

the piston having a longitudinal passage which has an exit opening at a lower end of the piston and a plurality of entry openings into the circumferential surface of the piston;

a first inlet supplier for supplying a frozen confection to the inlets of the first chamber; and

a second inlet supplier for supplying a filling to the inlet of the second chamber;

wherein the piston is longitudinally movable within the housing between a closed position and an open position, such that when the piston is closed position it closes the outlet of the first chamber and when the piston is in the open position the entry openings communicate with the second chamber;

supplying a frozen confection to the inlets of the first chamber;

supplying a filling to the inlet of the second chamber;

moving the piston longitudinally within the housing from the closed position to an open position so that the outlet of the first chamber is opened and so that the entry openings communicate with the second chamber thereby allowing the filling to pass through the longitudinal passage in the piston and into the first chamber; and

dispensing the frozen confection and filling from the outlet of the first chamber into a receptacle.

6. The process according to claim 5 wherein the filling constitutes at least 20 a of the products.

7. The process according to claim 5 wherein the ing comprises solid inclusions of from 1 to 10 mm in size.

8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the filling comprises a liquid having solid inclusions suspended within it.

9. The process according to claim 5 wherein the frozen confection is ice cream.

10. The process according to claim 5 wherein the receptacle is an edible cone.

11. The process according to claim 5 wherein the frozen confection which is supplied to the inlets of the first chamber contains inclusions.