APPARATUS FOR MAKING FROZEN FOOD PRODUCTS

An apparatus (17) for making frozen food products, particularly ice cream or the like, in which the apparatus (17) can be interchangeable with the existing ice dispenser unit (5) in the freezer compartment (3) of a domestic refrigerator (1) provided with an automatic ice maker unit (5). The apparatus (17) includes: a housing (21) for containing the frozen food product mix; stirring means (33) disposed within the housing (21) for stirring the mix during convection heat exchange between the mix and the interior of the freezer compartment (3); a drive assembly (29) for detachably connecting the stirring means (33) to a drive motor (9), and a user operated timer assembly (31) for actuating the drive motor (9) to operate for a predetermined period of time in accordance with the desired consistency of the final product. A switch assembly (51) is preferably incorporated in the circuitry of the refrigerator (1) for direct activation by the time assembly (31) for the dual purpose of operating the drive motor (9) and placing the refrigerator compressor in continuous operation. An integral timber (117) is preferably disposed in the switch assembly circuit for causing cyclical operation of the drive motor (9) to prevent failure of that motor (9) which might otherwise occur during its continuous operation.