Chilled product dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for refrigerating and dispensing soft serve food products from one or more containers of product maintained at temperatures, respectively, appropriate for the products. The containers comprise flexible and impermeable bags having heat sink structures contained therein and the apparatus includes respective container receptacles and a refrigeration system having cooling sections located adjacent the respective receptacles wherein the cooling sections are aligned with the heat sink structures of the containers when the containers are seated within the receptacles. Adjustable refrigerant controls are provided for controlling the flow of refrigerant to the respective cooling sections and a monitoring system, including pneumatic and electric control circuits, provides signals corresponding to the volume of space in a container receptacle external of the flexible bag to detect the existence of an empty or nearly empty container. The monitoring system includes a comparison and logic circuit as well as signal generators for indicating that a product container is empty. The refrigerant system is also operable in a defrosting mode for raising the temperatures of the products in the respective containers and for deicing the containers and receptacles.