US 12,349,699 B2
Automatic viscosity control system for food products dispensed from frozen beverage and soft-serve ice cream equipment
Jeffrey D. Resnick, Dallas, TX (US); and Tyler Hawker, Timnath, CO (US)
Assigned to Forte Supply LLC, Loveland, CO (US)
Filed by Forte Supply LLC, Loveland, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/846,653.
Prior Publication US 2023/0413850 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. A23G 9/22 (2006.01); A23G 9/28 (2006.01); F25B 31/00 (2006.01); F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25D 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A23G 9/228 (2013.01) [A23G 9/224 (2013.01); A23G 9/28 (2013.01); F25B 31/00 (2013.01); F25B 49/022 (2013.01); F25B 2600/0253 (2013.01); F25B 2700/11 (2013.01); F25B 2700/21 (2013.01); F25D 31/002 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic viscosity control system for food products dispensed from frozen beverage equipment and soft-serve ice cream equipment comprising:
a mixing cylinder comprising an auger, a dispense valve, a product inlet through which a food portion is injected into the mixing cylinder, and a gas inlet through which a gas portion is injected into the mixing cylinder, wherein a food product comprises the food portion and the gas portion;
an auger motor interconnected with the auger, wherein the auger is positioned inside the mixing cylinder and configured to rotate to facilitate mixing and dispensing of the food product under controlled pressure conditions;
a control system comprising a microcontroller, a memory, and a motor sensor, wherein the motor sensor is operationally related to the auger motor and configured to measure an amperage draw or torque of the auger motor as a function of the resistance encountered while rotating through the food product;
a refrigeration system comprising a compressor, wherein the refrigeration system is operationally related to the microcontroller and configured to chill the food product inside the mixing cylinder to a predetermined frozen malleable consistency;
wherein the memory is encoded with instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, perform the steps of:
maintaining, simultaneously, a food product temperature range between a predetermined low-temperature setting and a predetermined high-temperature setting, a motor performance range between a predetermined low motor performance setting and a predetermined high motor performance setting, and a food product pressure range;
injecting the food product into the mixing cylinder to maintain the food product under a controlled pressure range above atmospheric pressure, wherein the food product pressure range is maintained between a predetermined low-pressure setting and a predetermined high-pressure setting to regulate a portion-controlled dispense surge volume;
wherein maintaining the food product pressure range within the controlled range results in a surge volume that is repeatable within a predetermined variance threshold, such that the portion-controlled dispense surge volume remains within a defined variance of a target dispense amount upon initial opening of the dispense valve;
dynamically adjusting the food product pressure range via an automated control system to stabilize surge volume repeatability across multiple dispensing cycles;
starting or adjusting the speed of the compressor when the temperature of the food product exceeds a predetermined high-temperature setting or when the amperage draw or torque of the auger motor is below the predetermined high motor performance setting; and
slowing or stopping the compressor when the temperature of the food product is between the predetermined low-temperature setting and the predetermined high-temperature setting, and when the amperage draw or torque of the auger motor is between the predetermined low motor performance setting and the predetermined high motor performance setting.