Rapidly cooling food and drinks
Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.
1. A machine for reducing the temperature of ingredients in a pod comprising a protrusion extending outward relative to adjacent portions of a base of the pod, the protrusion of the pod having a stem that extends between a head and a foot, the stem having a smaller cross-section than the head and the foot, the base comprising a weakened section extending around the protrusion of the pod, the machine comprising:
a refrigeration system comprising:
an evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod;
a compressor; and
a condenser; and
a dispenser configured to apply a force to the protrusion of the pod in the receptacle of the evaporator to remove the protrusion.
2. The machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor mechanically connected to the dispenser, the motor operable to rotate at least a part of the dispenser.
3. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is arranged at a floor of a pod machine interface.
4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein a cap comprises a cutting knife aligned with the stem of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from the base when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
5. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is sized and positioned to engage and lift the protrusion of the base to break the weakened section and separate the protrusion from the adjacent portions of the base when the dispenser engages the pod.
6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the pod comprises a cutting knife aligned with the stem of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from the base when the dispenser engages the pod.
7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser applies an axial force to the protrusion of the pod when a motor rotates the dispenser.
8. The machine according to claim 7 , wherein the force is between 5 pounds and 75 pounds.
9. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein a cap has a ramp adjacent an opening extending through the cap, the ramp sized and positioned to lift the protrusion and break the weakened section to separate the protrusion from the adjacent portions of the base when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the cap is mounted on the pod.
11. The machine according to claim 10 , wherein the dispenser engages the cap.
12. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises an engagement surface for mechanically engaging the pod.
13. The machine according to claim 12 , wherein the dispenser comprises a flat gear parallel the base of the pod, and teeth of the gear are the engagement surface.
14. The machine according to claim 12 , wherein the dispenser comprises a gear wheel set at an angle to the base of the pod, and teeth of the gear wheel are the engagement surface.
15. The machine according to claim 12 , wherein the dispenser comprises a worm gear in toothed engagement with a gear wheel.
16. The machine according to claim 15 , wherein the protrusion of the pod is a first d wherein the gear wheel has an annular member and second protrusions that extend from the annular member.
17. The machine according to claim 16 , wherein the second protrusions are the engagement surface of the dispenser.
18. The machine according to claim 16 , wherein the second protrusions are dowel-shaped protrusions.
19. A machine for reducing the temperature of ingredients in a pod containing the ingredients and a mixing paddle, the machine comprising:
an evaporator of a refrigeration system, the evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod;
a dispenser configured to engage with the pod in the receptacle and operable to open the pod; and
a motor mechanically connected to the dispenser, the motor mechanically connected to the dispenser to operate the dispenser to open the pod;
wherein the dispenser applies a force to a protrusion on the pod in the receptacle to open the pod.
20. The machine according to claim 19 , wherein a base of the pod includes the protrusion which extends outward relative to adjacent portions of the base.
21. The machine according to claim 20 , wherein the base of the pod comprises a weakened section extending around the protrusion.
22. The machine according to claim 20 , the protrusion has a stem that extends between a head and a foot, the stem having a smaller cross-section than the head and the foot, the base comprising a weakened section extending around the protrusion.
23. The machine according to claim 22 , wherein a cap comprises a cutting knife aligned with the stem of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from the base when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
24. The machine according to claim 22 , wherein the dispenser is sized and positioned to engage and lift the protrusion of the base to break the weakened section and separate the protrusion from the adjacent portions of the base when the dispenser engages the pod.
25. The machine according to claim 22 , wherein the pod comprises a cutting knife aligned with the stem of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from the base when the dispenser engages the pod.
26. The machine according to claim 22 , wherein a cap has a ramp adjacent an opening extending through the cap, the ramp sized and positioned to lift the protrusion and break the weakened section to separate the protrusion from the adjacent portions of the base when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
27. The machine according to claim 26 , wherein the cap is mounted on the pod.
28. The machine according to claim 26 , wherein the dispenser engages the cap.
29. A machine for reducing the temperature of ingredients in a pod containing the ingredients, the machine comprising:
an evaporator of a refrigeration system, the evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod;
a dispenser configured to engage with the pod in the receptacle and operable to open the pod; and
a motor mechanically connected to the dispenser, the motor mechanically connected to the dispenser to operate the dispenser to open the pod;
wherein the dispenser applies a force to a protrusion on the pod in the receptacle to open the pod.
30. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein the dispenser comprises an engagement surface for mechanically engaging the pod.
31. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein the dispenser is arranged at a floor of a pod machine interface.
32. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein a cap comprises a cutting knife aligned with a stem of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from a base of the protrusion when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
33. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein the dispenser is sized and positioned to engage and lift the protrusion from a base to break a weakened section around the protrusion and separate the protrusion from adjacent portions of the base when the dispenser engages the pod.
34. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein the dispenser applies an axial force to the protrusion of the pod when a motor rotates the dispenser.
35. The machine according to claim 34 , wherein the force is between 5 pounds and 75 pounds.
36. The machine according to claim 29 , wherein a cap has a ramp adjacent an opening extending through the cap, the ramp sized and positioned to lift the protrusion and break a weakened section around a base of the protrusion to separate the protrusion from adjacent portions of the base when the cap is rotated by the dispenser.
37. The machine according to claim 36 , wherein the cap is mounted on the pod.
38. The machine according to claim 36 , wherein the dispenser engages the cap.