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A house appliance for making soft serve ice cream comprises a motor driven auger in a housing. The auger, which has spiral land, is contained in a work chamber having longitudinal grooves or longitudinal ribs upon which the lands ride. Recirculation and mixing of ingredients produces a smooth, soft

A house appliance for making soft serve ice cream comprises a motor driven auger in a housing. The auger, which has spiral land, is contained in a work chamber having longitudinal grooves or longitudinal ribs upon which the lands ride. Recirculation and mixing of ingredients produces a smooth, soft serve product.

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1. A processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients for use in the home, said processing appliance comprising:a base, a hopper, a nozzle, an auger, and a plunger;said base including a hopper support connector, an auger connector having an axis about which said auger connector rot

1. A processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients for use in the home, said processing appliance comprising:a base, a hopper, a nozzle, an auger, and a plunger;said base including a hopper support connector, an auger connector having an axis about which said auger connector rotates, and a motor driveably engaging said auger connector and providing rotational output;said hopper having a receiving portion and a processing portion, said receiving portion including at least one wall having an inside surface defining a receiving passage, said receiving passage having a first end and a second end, said processing portion including a generally semicircular wall having an inside surface defining a processing passage having an axis and extending generally transverse said receiving passage, said processing passage extending between a pair of spaced apart end walls, one of said end walls being cooperable with said hopper support connector of said base and said hopper being supported thereon such that said auger connector and said processing passage are coaxial, the other of said end walls having a nozzle support connector, at said first end of said receiving passage said at least one wall having a receiving opening, and at said second end of said receiving passage said at least one wall defining a process opening into said processing passage;said nozzle includes a generally frustoconical wall having an inside surface defining a nozzle passage, said nozzle passage having an axis and extending between a connection end and an output end, said connection end being cooperable with said nozzle support connector of said hopper and said nozzle being supported thereon such that said nozzle passage and said processing passage are coaxial, said output end having an output orifice generally coaxial with said nozzle passage;said auger having an axis and being generally coaxially positioned at least partially within said processing and nozzle passages, said auger having a connection portion and a processing portion, said connection portion being adapted to driveably engage said auger connector of said base and receive rotational output from it, said processing portion having an outside profile corresponding to said processing and nozzle passages and being defined by a plurality of lands of a given lead, spirally extending along said axis of said auger, each of said plurality of lands being separated by a spirally extending groove, each of the said grooves having a root radially inwardly displaced from said lands of said auger;said plunger having a piston portion and a handle portion; and,said piston portion being peripherally defined by at least one wall extending generally longitudinally with and corresponding to said receiving passage of said hopper, at least one wall of said piston portion extending between a top and bottom surface, said bottom surface adapted to urge said ice cream and other ingredients into engagement with said auger. 2. The processing appliance of claim 1, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 3. The processing appliance of claim 1, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 4. The processing appliance of claim 1, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 5. The processing appliance of claim 4, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 6. The processing appliance of claim 5, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 7. The processing appliance of claim 1, wherein said lead of said plurality of lands is variable along said auger. 8. The processing appliance of claim 7, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 9. The processing appliance of claim 7, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 10. The processing appliance of claim 7, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 11. The processing appliance of claim 10, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 12. The processing appliance of claim 11, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 13. The processing appliance of claim 3, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 14. The processing appliance of claim 3, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 15. The processing appliance of claim 14, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 16. The processing appliance of claim 7, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 17. The processing appliance of claim 7, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 18. The processing appliance of claim 17, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 19. The processing appliance of claim 18, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 20. A processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients adapted for use in the home, said processing appliance comprising:a base including an auger interface adapted to provide rotational output and a hopper support;a hopper supported on said base at said hopper support, said hopper including a receiving passage and a processing passage, said receiving passage terminating at and opening into said processing passage, and said processing passage being defined by an inside surface;a nozzle supported on said hopper and having a nozzle passage defined by an inside surface, said inside surface of said nozzle passage being generally conical and terminating at an output orifice;an auger driveably supported at said auger interface, said inside surfaces of said processing passage and said nozzle passage forming a work chamber, said auger being at least partially encapsulated within said work chamber, and said auger having an outside profile cooperable with said inside surfaces forming said chamber; and,a plunger having a handle portion and a piston portion extending from said handle portion, said piston portion being cooperable with said receiving passage of said hopper and having a processing surface adapted to urge said ice cream and other ingredients into engagement with said auger. 21. The processing appliance of claim 20, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 22. The processing appliance of claim 20, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 23. The processing appliance of claim 20, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage of said hopper includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 24. The processing appliance of clai m 23, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 25. The processing appliance of claim 24, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 26. The processing appliance of claim 20, wherein said auger has a length and includes a plurality of lands having a lead, said lead varying along said length of said auger. 27. The processing appliance of claim 26, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 28. The processing appliance of claim 26, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 29. The processing appliance of claim 26, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage of said hopper includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 30. The processing appliance of claim 29, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 31. The processing appliance of claim 30, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 32. A work chamber for a processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients adapted for use in the home, said work chamber comprising:a hopper having a receiving portion and a processing portion, said receiving portion including at least one wall having an inside surface defining a receiving passage, said receiving passage extending between a first and a second end, said processing portion including at least one wall having an inside surface defining a processing passage having an axis and extending generally transverse said receiving passage, at said first end of said receiving passage said at least one wall forming a receiving opening providing access to said receiving passage, at said second end of said receiving passage said at least one wall being support on said at least one wall of said processing portion and forming an opening between said receiving and processing passages, said at least one wall of said processing portion terminating at a pair of spaced apart end walls;a nozzle including at least one frustoconical wall having an inside surface defining a nozzle passage having an axis, said frustoconical wall extending between a first end and a second end, at said first end said frustoconical wall terminates at an end wall cooperable with one of said end walls of said processing passage such that said nozzle is coaxially supported on said hopper adjacent one of said end walls, said second end including a nozzle orifice in fluid communication with said nozzle passage; and,a rotatable auger generally coaxially positioned at least partially within said processing and nozzle passages, said auger including a plurality of spirally, axially extending lands having a lead, said lands defining an outside profile of said auger, and said outside profile being cooperable with said inside surface of said processing passage and said nozzle passage. 33. The work chamber of claim 32, wherein said lead of said auger is variable along said auger axis. 34. The work chamber of claim 32, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage and nozzle passage each includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 35. The work chamber of claim 34, wherein said lead of said auger is variable along said auger axis. 36. A processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients for use in the home, said processing appliance comprising:a base, a hopper, a nozzle, an auger, and a plunger assembly; said base including a hopper support connector, an auger connector having an axis about which said auger connector rotates, and a motor driveably engaging said auger connector and providing rotational output;said hopper having a receiving portion and a processing portion, said receiving portio n including at least one wall having an inside surface defining a receiving passage, said receiving passage having a first end and a second end, said processing portion including a generally semicircular wall having an inside surface defining a processing passage having an axis and extending generally transverse said receiving passage, said processing passage extending between a pair of spaced apart end walls, one of said end walls being cooperable with said hopper support connector of said base and said hopper being supported thereon such that said auger connector and said processing passage are coaxial, the other of said end walls having a nozzle support connector, at said first end of said receiving passage said at least one wall having a fill opening, and at said second end of said receiving passage said at least one wall defining a process opening into said processing passage;said nozzle includes a generally frustoconical wall having an inside surface defining a nozzle passage, said nozzle passage having an axis and extending between a connection end and an output end, said connection end being cooperable with said nozzle support connector of said hopper and said nozzle being supported thereon such that said nozzle passage and said processing passage are coaxial, said output end having an output orifice generally coaxial with said nozzle passage, said output orifice having an elbow connected to it;said auger having an axis and being generally coaxially positioned at least partially within said processing and nozzle passages, said auger having a connection portion and a processing portion, said connection portion being adapted to driveably engage said auger connector of said base and receive rotational output, said processing portion having an outside profile corresponding to said processing and nozzle passages and being defined by a plurality of lands of a given lead, spirally extending along said axis of said auger, each of said plurality of lands being separated by a spirally extending groove, each of said grooves having a root radially inwardly displaced from said lands of said auger; and,said plunger assembly having a shaft portion, a piston portion, an axle, a handle adapted to rotate about said axle, a pinion gear, a rack gear adapted to engage said pinion gear, a hopper cover through which extends said shaft portion and said rack gear, a disengagement cam adapted to disengage said pinion gear from said rack gear, an engagement cam adapted to engage said pinion gear to said rack gear, and a one-way shaft clutch adapted to allow rotation of said pinion gear in one direction only, said piston portion being peripherally defined by at least one wall extending generally longitudinally with and corresponding to said receiving passage of said hopper and at least one wall of said piston portion extending between a top and a bottom surface, said bottom surface adapted to urge said ice cream and other ingredients into engagement with said auger. 37. The processing appliance of claim 36, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 38. The processing appliance of claim 36, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 39. The processing appliance of claim 36, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 40. The processing appliance of claim 39, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 41. The processing appliance of claim 40, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 42. The processing appliance of claim 36, wherein said lead of sa id plurality of lands is variable along said auger. 43. The processing appliance of claim 42, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 44. The processing appliance of claim 42, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 45. The processing appliance of claim 42, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 46. The processing appliance of claim 45, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 47. The processing appliance of claim 46, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 48. The processing appliance of claim 38, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 49. The processing appliance of claim 48, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 50. The processing appliance of claim 49, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 51. The processing appliance of claim 42, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 52. The processing appliance of claim 42, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 53. The processing appliance of claim 52, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 54. The processing appliance of claim 53, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 55. A processing appliance for softening ice cream and other ingredients for use in the home, said processing appliance comprising:a base, a hopper, a nozzle, an auger, and a plunger assembly;said base including a hopper support connector, an auger connector having an axis about which said auger connector rotates, and a motor driveably engaging said auger connector and providing rotational output;said hopper having a receiving portion and a processing portion, said receiving portion including at least one wall having an inside surface defining a receiving passage, said receiving passage having a first end and a second end, said processing portion including a generally semicircular wall having an inside surface defining a processing passage having an axis and extending generally transverse said receiving passage, said processing passage extending between a pair of spaced apart end walls, one of said end walls being cooperable with said hopper support connector of said base and said hopper being supported thereon such that said auger connector and said processing passage are coaxial, the other of said end walls having a nozzle support connector, at said first end of said receiving passage said at least one wall having a fill opening, and at said second end of said receiving passage said at least one wall defining a process opening into said processing passage;said nozzle includes a generally frustoconical wall having an inside surface defining a nozzle passage, said nozzle passage having an axis and extending between a connection end and an output end, said connection end being cooperable with said nozzle support connector of said hopper and said nozzle being supported thereon such that said nozzle passage and said processing pass age are coaxial, said output end having an output orifice;said auger having an axis and being generally coaxially positioned at least partially within said processing and nozzle passages, said auger having a connection portion and a processing portion, said connection portion being adapted to driveably engage said auger connector of said base and receive rotational output, said processing portion having an outside profile corresponding to said processing and nozzle passages and being defined by a plurality of lands of a given lead, spirally extending along said axis of said auger, each of said plurality of lands being separated by a spirally extending groove, each of said grooves having a root radially inwardly displaced from said lands of said auger; and,said plunger assembly having a piston, a rod, a hopper cover, a linear array of teeth on said rod, an axle, a lever adapted to rotate about said axle, a spring-loaded pawl adapted to engage said linear teeth, a hopper cover through which extends said rod, a clip adapted to disengage said pawl from said teeth, said piston portion being peripherally defined by at least one wall extending generally longitudinally with and corresponding to said receiving passage of said hopper and at least one wall of said piston portion extending between a top and a bottom surface, said bottom surface adapted to urge said ice cream and other ingredients into engagement with said auger. 56. The processing appliance of claim 55, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 57. The processing appliance of claim 55, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 58. The processing appliance of claim 55, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 59. The processing appliance of claim 58, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 60. The processing appliance of claim 59, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 61. The processing appliance of claim 55, wherein said lead of said plurality of lands is variable along said auger. 62. The processing appliance of claim 61, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 63. The processing appliance of claim 61, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 64. The processing appliance of claim 61, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 65. The processing appliance of claim 64, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 66. The processing appliance of claim 65, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis. 67. The processing appliance of claim 57, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 68. The processing appliance of claim 67, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 69. The processing appliance of claim 68, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 70. The processing appliance of claim 61, wherein s aid inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 71. The processing appliance of claim 61, wherein said inside surface of said processing passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 72. The processing appliance of claim 71, wherein said inside surface of said nozzle passage includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along said auger axis. 73. The processing appliance of claim 72, wherein said processing surface of said piston portion of said plunger assembly includes a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally in the direction said auger axis.