Chilled product post-processing apparatus and methods

Abstract

A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing a chilled food product, the method comprising:
 providing a product in a storage container, the product having a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, the frozen portion having a granular size;   mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container;   flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus;   shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with the shearing apparatus comprises moving at least some of the frozen portion and at least some of the non-frozen portion from a first area of the storage container into a second area of the storage container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with the shearing apparatus comprises moving at least some of the frozen portion and at least some of the non-frozen portion from the storage container into a shearing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising continuously shearing the product using the shearing apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the continuous shearing is performed only in response to a request for the product. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising shearing a discrete amount of the product by the shearing apparatus in response to a request for the product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising adding an additional ingredient into the discrete amount of the product. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is at least partially frozen by moving non-frozen portions of the product into contact with a refrigerated element in the storage container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is at least partially frozen by refrigerating the storage container sufficient to freeze at least some of the non-frozen portion of the product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the product comprises substantially evenly distributing the frozen portion among the non-frozen portion of the product. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shearing apparatus at least partially rotates in a vertical plane to shear the frozen portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shearing apparatus at least partially rotates in a horizontal plane to shear the frozen portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dispensing the product after being sheared by the shearing apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . A method of processing a food product stored in a storage container, the method comprising:
 providing a storage container in fluid communication with a blending apparatus, wherein a food product stored by the storage container is dispensable from the storage container by flowing into the blending apparatus and then out of the blending apparatus through a dispenser;   receiving a request for the food product;   enabling flow of the food product into the blending apparatus;   engaging the blending apparatus, thereby shearing the food product in the blending apparatus;   enabling flow of the food product through the dispenser.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving a request for the food product comprises detecting operation of the dispenser by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein operation of the dispenser by a user engages the blending apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein shearing the food product in the blending apparatus comprises at least partially breaking down the food product into particles smaller than particles of the food product in the storage container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein enabling flow of the food product into the blending apparatus comprises operating a mixing apparatus in the storage container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein enabling flow of the food product into the blending apparatus comprises inducing flow of the food product by gravity or fluid pressure. 
     
     
         20 . A method of processing a food product, the method comprising:
 providing a storage container containing a food product and a rotor-stator assembly connected to the storage container, the rotor-stator assembly having a rotor, a stator, and an exit opening;   moving the food product into contact with a horizontal surface of the rotor;   rotating the rotor to direct the food product along the horizontal surface to a position under an angled surface of the stator;   shearing the food product between the angled surface of the stator and an angled surface of the rotor, the angled surface of the rotor being positioned radially outward relative to the horizontal surface;   advancing the food product to the exit opening of the rotor-stator assembly.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising advancing the food product between the stator and a vertical surface of the rotor before advancing the food product to the exit opening.