US 12,376,606 B2
Providing single servings of cooled foods and drinks
Benjamin Fichera, Newburyport, MA (US)
Assigned to ColdSnap, Corp., Billerica, MA (US)
Filed by ColdSnap, Corp., Billerica, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/134,809.
Application 18/134,809 is a continuation of application No. 17/947,569, filed on Sep. 19, 2022, granted, now 11,627,747.
Application 17/947,569 is a continuation of application No. 17/845,545, filed on Jun. 21, 2022, granted, now 11,490,636.
Application 17/845,545 is a continuation of application No. 16/459,388, filed on Jul. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,470,855.
Application 16/459,388 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/104,758, filed on Aug. 17, 2018, granted, now 10,334,868.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,657, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,646, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,666, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,600, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/801,587, filed on Feb. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/758,110, filed on Nov. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0248017 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. A23G 9/28 (2006.01); A23G 9/08 (2006.01); A23G 9/22 (2006.01); B65D 85/804 (2006.01); C09K 5/04 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 41/24 (2021.01); F25B 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC A23G 9/28 (2013.01) [A23G 9/08 (2013.01); A23G 9/22 (2013.01); B65D 85/8055 (2020.05); C09K 5/042 (2013.01); F25B 13/00 (2013.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 41/24 (2021.01); F25B 47/022 (2013.01); C09K 2205/12 (2013.01); F25B 2347/02 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2501 (2013.01)] 41 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for producing a single serving of a cooled food or drink, the machine comprising:
a refrigeration system comprising:
an evaporator defining a receptacle shaped and sized to receive a pod containing ingredients to produce the single serving of the cooled food or drink, the evaporator defining a plurality of channels for refrigerant, and the evaporator being movable between (i) an open configuration in which the pod is axially insertable into the receptacle and (ii) a closed configuration in which the pod is held in a fixed position within the receptacle;
a condenser; and
a working fluid loop from the evaporator, to the condenser, and back to the evaporator, the working fluid loop comprising:
a primary path between the condenser and the evaporator;
a first expansion valve or capillary tube located along the primary path;
a secondary path between the condenser and the evaporator and running in parallel to the primary path;
a second expansion valve or capillary tube located along the secondary path; and
a control valve located along the secondary path and configured to selectively open the secondary path in addition to the primary path reducing the pressure drop between the condenser and the evaporator; and
a processor configured to control the refrigeration system to open the control valve opening the secondary path such that refrigerant flows through the primary and secondary paths and through the plurality of channels of the evaporator to precool the receptacle defined by the evaporator before the pod containing the ingredients is received in the receptacle.