System and method for the preparation of cooled edible products

Abstract

Provided is a novel system, machines and consumables, and method for preparation of cooled edible products from their ingredients, for example, in a portioned amount constituting a defined number of servings which may be 1, 2, 3, etc. are provided. One example of such an edible product is ice cream.

1 .- 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A pod for the preparation of a cooled edible product in an appliance configured to utilize said pod, the pod comprising:
 a pod body that contains ingredients to be processed by the appliance to produce the cooled edible product therefrom, the pod containing said ingredients in an amount for the preparation of one serving of the cooled edible product, the pod body having an opening;   a rupturable closure sealing the opening, and configured to be ruptured when the pod is introduced into said appliance to permit at least a majority of ingredients contained in the pod to be introduced therethrough into the appliance; and   processing data carrying by at least a portion of an external surface of the pod body or the rupturable closure, said processing data being configured for acquisition by a data reader of the appliance to thereby operate the appliance, and being indicative of all process parameters and steps for processing the ingredients into said cooled edible product by the appliance, said process parameters and steps being specific for the ingredients and the cooled edible product produced therefrom.   
     
     
         72 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein said process parameters correspond to the amount of ingredients in the pod. 
     
     
         73 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein said processing data comprises an authentication code. 
     
     
         74 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein said process data comprises operation instructions to the appliance to ensure proper emptying of the cooled edible product from the appliance after processing said ingredients into said cooled edible product. 
     
     
         75 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein said processing data comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:
 mixing time of the ingredients during processing in the appliance,   quantity an additional ingredient to be added from an additional ingredients source,   introduction time of an additional ingredient to be added from an additional ingredients source,   aeration time of the ingredients during processing in the appliance,   amount of gas introduced into the ingredients during processing in the appliance,   cooling time of the ingredients during processing in the appliance,   revolution velocity of a dasher in a mixing and cooling chamber of the appliance during processing,   temperature reduction rate of the ingredients in a mixing and cooling chamber of the appliance during processing,   pressure within a mixing and cooling chamber of the appliance during processing of the ingredients,   diameter of an outlet of the appliance through which said cooled edible product is dispensed from the appliance, and   rate of dispensing of said cooled edible product from the appliance.   
     
     
         76 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein the pod body is configured for removal from the appliance after emptying of the ingredients therefrom, and has a volume suitable to receive said one serving of the cooled edible product dispensed from the appliance after removal of the pod body from the appliance. 
     
     
         77 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein said data is encoded into at least one form selected from the group consisting of: a barcode, an RFID tag, a graphic pattern, a magnetic strip, and a pattern of bulges. 
     
     
         78 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein the ingredients are in liquid form. 
     
     
         79 . The pod of  claim 71 , wherein the ingredients are in dry form, configured for dilution by or mixing with at least one liquid. 
     
     
         80 . A pod assembly comprising:
 a pod according to  claim 71 , and   a removable cap configured to accommodate at least a portion of the pod, the removable cap having a volume suitable for receiving said one serving of the cooled edible product dispensed from the appliance and produced from the ingredients in the pod.