EP4397401A1 - Method for mixing a food in a container, in particular in a part of a standard car; mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel (2), in particular in a part of a standard trolley, an agitator (3) for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel (2), in particular in a part of a standard trolley, and a mixer (1) are proposed, wherein a foodstuff is mixed in a vessel (2) by means of an agitator (3), wherein the agitator (3) has approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle, and the vessel (2) has a center point and the agitator (3) has a center point (8), and the vessel (2) has at least two adjacent walls (11) which are approximately at right angles to one another, in which the center point (8) of the vessel (2) and/or of the agitator (3) is moved at least intermittently on an approximate circular path (9), wherein the circular path (9) lies completely within the vessel (2), whereby in particular square vessels, such as standard trolleys, can be mixed well.

Description

State of the art

The invention is based on a method for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, according to the preamble of claim 1, an agitator for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, according to the preamble of claim 7, and a mixer, according to the preamble of claim 11.

Devices for mixing round vessels, even on an industrial scale, have long been state of the art. For example, the publication EP 0 647 402 B1 a machine for kneading dough. The disadvantage of such and similar machines is that they are designed for round containers and are not suitable for kneading and/or mixing square containers, as food residues can build up in the corners in particular.

In the meat industry, standard trolleys are mostly used, especially standard trolleys according to DIN 9797, which have a square shape so that the The contents of the standard trolleys require transfer of the meat mass, for example, which can potentially lead to unwanted contamination and loss of mass.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, an agitator for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, and a mixer which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

The invention and its advantages

The method according to the invention for mixing a foodstuff in a vessel, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, according to the features of claim 1, has the advantage that a foodstuff is mixed in a vessel by means of an agitator, the agitator having approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle, the vessel having a center point and the agitator having a center point and the vessel having at least two adjacent walls that are approximately at right angles to one another, the center point of the agitator being moved at least temporarily on an approximately circular path, the circular path lying completely within the vessel, whereby the corners of the square vessel are also taken into account during mixing. It would be conceivable for the agitator to have a shaft and a head, both of which could also be in one piece. In this regard, it would be conceivable for mixing arms to be arranged on the head of the agitator or for arms on which mixing arms are arranged. It would be conceivable for the contents of the vessel to be a foodstuff. In this regard, it would be particularly conceivable that the food is meat, in particular roast meat, pet food or convenience products.

In the context of the disclosed invention, the vessel with adjacent walls that are approximately at right angles to one another refers to vessels that are preferably open at the top, with at least three main corners in the area of the opening, where the corners can optionally also be rounded on the inside and/or outside, which means that their interior angle between the legs that are the vessel walls is between 60° and 120°. Curved walls therefore also fall under the term of the vessel with adjacent walls that are approximately at right angles to one another in the context of the present invention, provided that their curvature means that the connections between the two ends of the curved wall and the center of the wall enclose an angle of significantly greater than 120°, preferably significantly greater than 160°.

The approximate circular path or circle on which the center moves or is moved preferably has a diameter d of between 0.15 and 0.17 times the edge length a, relative to the opening, of the shortest wall (cf. Fig.4 ). Preferably, the ideal diameter d of the circle is calculated in relation to the shortest wall of the opening of the vessel a according to the formula $$d=\left(1+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}-\sqrt{2}\right)a$$

Consequently, the ideal circle diameter would be approximately 1.632 times the length a of the shortest wall of the opening of the vessel.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the agitator and/or the vessel rotates at least temporarily around its respective center. This allows for even better mixing, since any mixing arms attached to the agitator can reach even more positions. The rotation of the agitator around its center and the movement along the circular path preferably take place in opposite directions of rotation.

According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the agitator moves at least temporarily at least partially within of the vessel. It would also be conceivable for the movement of the agitator to take place completely outside the vessel, but in this case at least the mixing arms of the agitator would reach into the vessel, so that the movement of the agitator can also be felt indirectly in the vessel. It would preferably be conceivable for the agitator to be inserted into the vessel in such a way that mixing takes place as completely as possible and, if necessary, it can be prevented that the contents are pushed out or stirred.

According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the vessel is constructed from four walls, at least two of which are largely orthogonal to one another, and one corner of the agitator moves along a first wall of the standard carriage when the agitator or the vessel moves, and a second corner of the agitator simultaneously moves along a wall that is orthogonal to the first wall, thereby ensuring that as much of the vessel's contents as possible are mixed. In this context, it would be conceivable for the agitator to have only the rough contour of a Reuleaux triangle, consisting of three arms that are arranged according to the proportions of a Reuleaux triangle. It would also be conceivable for the agitator to have only one arm, the arrangement of which corresponds to an arm or corner of an ideal Reuleaux triangle in terms of its center, so that only its movement follows the contour of a Reuleaux triangle. In this regard, it would of course also be conceivable for the agitator to have two arms which, in terms of their arrangement towards the center, correspond to two arms or two corners of an ideal Reuleaux triangle, so that only their movement follows the contour of a Reuleaux triangle. It would also be conceivable for the circular movement of the center of the vessel or the agitator to be superimposed by a lateral movement, so that, for example, rectangular and/or polygonal vessels can also be completely mixed.

According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the container is part of a standard trolley. It would also be conceivable for the container to be a big box. It would also be conceivable for the standard trolley to have a volume of 200, 300 or 120 liters.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the standard carriage is a standard carriage according to DIN 9797.

In the context of the disclosed invention, complete can be understood to mean that at least 50% of the volume of a vessel could be achieved with adjacent walls approximately at right angles to one another, preferably more than 70% of the volume, particularly preferably more than 90% of the volume, wherein the mixing may be dependent on the number of mixing arms, their penetration depth into the vessel and the like.

The agitator according to the invention for mixing a foodstuff in a container, in particular in a part of a standard trolley, according to the features of claim 7, has the advantage over the prior art that the agitator according to the invention has approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle and is mounted in such a way that it can be moved on a circular path, which makes it possible to achieve almost complete mixing in a container with adjacent walls that are approximately at right angles to one another. The shape, which approximately follows a Reuleaux triangle, makes it possible to reach the corners of a square container.

In this context, approximately following the shape of a Reuleaux triangle means, with reference to the agitator, which could be composed of a head and a shaft, that the head of the agitator comes close to a Reuleaux triangle in its projection, whereby this also means that the contour or the envelope comes close to a Reuleaux triangle.

It would be conceivable that the agitator is driven by a shaft that is attached to the center of the agitator and is itself moved on a circular path, so that on the one hand the agitator rotates around itself or the attached shaft and at the same time the shaft moves on a circular path.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the agitator according to the invention, at least one mixing arm is arranged on the agitator. It would be conceivable for the mixing arm to be designed in the form of blades, whisks, spirals or the like.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the agitator according to the invention, at least one mixing arm is arranged rotatably on the agitator. In this regard, it would also be conceivable for the mixing arm to have a hollow shaft through which gas can flow in and out, so that air or another gas can flow in for better mixing, or the interior can be evacuated via the hollow shaft. It would also be conceivable for liquid, for example hot water, to be passed through the hollow shaft in order to simplify cleaning if necessary. It would also be conceivable for ingredients to be added through at least one mixing arm.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the agitator according to the invention, at least one mixing arm is arranged at a corner of the agitator shaped like a Reuleaux triangle, which makes it ideal for controlling the corners of the square vessel. It would also be conceivable for additional mixing arms to be arranged not only at the corners, but also in the center. In principle, it would also be conceivable for different mixing arms to be arranged, so that, for example, some of the mixing arms or even just one mixing arm moves the contents from one area to other mixing arms or another mixing arm or into its effective area.

The mixer according to the invention, according to the features of claim 11, has the advantage over the prior art that the mixer has an agitator which has a center point, the agitator having approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle, and a receiving device for at least one vessel, with at least two adjacent walls which are approximately at right angles to one another, which has a center point, and the agitator and/or the receiving device can be raised and/or lowered and the mixer is designed so that the center point of the agitator and/or the center point of the receiving device can be moved on a circular path, the circular path being completely within the vessel which allows the contents of the vessel to be mixed as thoroughly as possible.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the mixer according to the invention, the agitator is an agitator according to one of claims 7 to 10 and/or the mixer is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 6.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following description, the claims and the drawings.

drawings

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Mischers mit abgesenktem Gefäß,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Mischers, gemäß Fig. 1, mit angehobenem Gefäß,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Mischers, gemäß Fig. 1, von oben betrachtet mit einem Querschnitt in Höhe des Rührwerks und mit angehobenem Gefäß,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks in einer ersten Position in einem Gefäß,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks, gemäß Fig. 4, in einer zweiten Position in einem Gefäß,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks in einer ersten Position in einem Gefäß mit abgerundeten Ecken und gebogener Wandung,

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks, gemäß Fig. 6, in einer zweiten Position in einem Gefäß mit abgerundeten Ecken und gebogener Wandung,

Fig. 8

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks mit Armen in einer ersten Position in einem Gefäß,

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks mit Armen, gemäß Fig. 8, in einer zweiten Position in einem Gefäß,

Fig. 10

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Rührwerks für ein rechteckiges Gefäß,

Fig. 11

eine schematische Darstellung eines alternativen erfindungsgemäßen Mischers mit einer Aufnahmevorrichtung und

Fig. 12

eine schematische Darstellung des alternativen erfindungsgemäßen Mischers, gemäß Fig. 11, von oben betrachtet mit einem Querschnitt in Höhe des Rührwerks und mit abgesenktem Rührwerk.

Preferred embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. They show

Fig.1

a schematic representation of a mixer according to the invention with lowered vessel,

Fig.2

a schematic representation of a mixer according to the invention, according to Fig.1 , with raised vessel,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a mixer according to the invention, according to Fig.1 , viewed from above with a cross-section at the height of the agitator and with the vessel raised,

Fig.4

a schematic representation of an agitator according to the invention in a first position in a vessel,

Fig.5

a schematic representation of the agitator according to the invention, according to Fig.4 , in a second position in a vessel,

Fig.6

a schematic representation of an agitator according to the invention in a first position in a vessel with rounded corners and curved walls,

Fig.7

a schematic representation of the agitator according to the invention, according to Fig.6 , in a second position in a vessel with rounded corners and curved walls,

Fig.8

a schematic representation of an agitator according to the invention with arms in a first position in a vessel,

Fig.9

a schematic representation of the agitator according to the invention with arms, according to Fig.8 , in a second position in a vessel,

Fig.10

a schematic representation of an agitator according to the invention for a rectangular vessel,

Fig. 11

a schematic representation of an alternative mixer according to the invention with a receiving device and

Fig. 12

a schematic representation of the alternative mixer according to the invention, according to Fig. 11 , viewed from above with a cross-section at the height of the agitator and with the agitator lowered.

Description of the embodiments

Fig.1 shows a schematic representation of a mixer 1 according to the invention with a lowered vessel 2. The mixer 1 has an agitator 3 on which several mixing arms 4 are arranged. The agitator 3 can itself be rotated and also independently of each other and also of the agitator, the mixing arms 4. The vessel 2 can be lifted via a lifting mechanism 5 so that the agitator 3, or its mixing arms 4, can reach into the vessel 2.

Fig.2 shows a schematic representation of a mixer 1 according to the invention, according to Fig.1 , with raised vessel 2.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a mixer 1 according to the invention, according to Fig.1 , viewed from above with a cross-section at the level of the agitator 3 and with the vessel 2 raised. In the embodiment shown, the agitator 3 consists of a shaft 6 and a head 7 which has the shape of a Reuleaux triangle and to which three mixing arms 4 are attached. The center point 8 of the agitator 3 and thus the agitator 3 are moved on a circular path 9. The agitator 3 also rotates around its shaft 6 so that by combining the two movements the mixing arms 4 can also reach into the corners of the vessel 2. The mixing arms 4 move independently of the movement of the agitator 3. The movement of the agitator 3 in the form of a rotation around the center point 8 and the movement of the center point 8 along the circular path 9 preferably have a speed ratio of approximately 1:3 so that a full rotation around the center point 8 of the agitator 3 corresponds to three revolutions of the center point 8 on the circular path 9.

Fig.4 shows a schematic representation of an agitator 3 according to the invention in a first position in a vessel 2, and Fig.5 shows a schematic representation of the agitator 3 according to the invention, according to Fig.4 , in a second position. The vessel 2 has four (main) corners 10 and four walls 11, two of which are orthogonal to each other.

Fig.6 shows a schematic representation of an agitator 3 according to the invention in a first position and Fig.7 shows a schematic representation of the agitator 3 according to the invention, according to Fig.6 , in a second position, both positions being shown in an alternative vessel 2 with rounded corners 10 and three straight walls 11 and one curved wall (above).

Fig.8 shows a schematic representation of an agitator 3 according to the invention with arms 12 in a first position in a vessel 2 and Fig.9 shows a schematic representation of the agitator 3 according to the invention with arms 12, according to Fig.8 , in a second position in a vessel 2. The arms 12 point to the corners of a Reuleaux triangle and their proportions correspond to the conditions in a Reuleaux triangle. The envelope of the arms 12 corresponds approximately to a Reuleaux triangle.

Fig.10 shows a schematic representation of an agitator 3 according to the invention for a rectangular vessel 2. In order to be able to control all corners and thus mix a rectangular vessel 2, the movement on the circular path 9 must be combined with a translatory movement, so that a new path 13 is created on which the center point 8 moves. The speed of the rotation around the center point 8 and the movement along the path 13 must be adapted according to the different aspect ratios.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic representation of an alternative mixer 1 according to the invention with a receiving device 14. The receiving device 14 can receive a vessel 2, for example a standard trolley, and rotate it around its center 8, which preferably corresponds to the center 8 of the vessel 2. The vessel 2 is moved by the receiving device 14 along a circular path 9 so that the center 8 follows the circular path 9. The agitator 3 remains fixed so that, contrary to the previously described embodiment, the relative movement between the agitator 3 and the vessel 2 is carried out by the vessel 2.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of the alternative mixer 1 according to the invention, according to Fig. 11 , viewed from above with a cross-section at the level of the agitator 3 and with the agitator 3 lowered. A second position of the vessel 15 is shown in dashed lines.

All features presented here can be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another.

Reference number list

1

mixer

2

vessel

3

Agitator

4

Mixing arm

5

Hoist

6

Agitator shaft

7

Head of the agitator

8th

Center of the agitator

9

Circular orbit

10

Corner

11

Wall

12

poor

13

Circular path combined with a translational movement

14

Holder for a vessel

15

Vessel after partial rotation of the base

Claims (12)

Method for mixing a foodstuff in a container (2), in particular in a part of a standard trolley, - by means of an agitator (3), the agitator (3) having approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle, wherein the vessel (2) has a center point and the agitator (3) has a center point (8) and the vessel (2) has at least two adjacent walls (11) approximately at right angles to one another, characterized, that the center point (8) of the agitator (3) is moved at least temporarily on a circular path (9), wherein the circular path (9) lies completely within the vessel (2). Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the agitator (3) and/or the vessel (2) rotate at least temporarily around their respective center point (8). Method according to claim 1 or claim 2,
characterized,
that the agitator (3) moves at least partially within the vessel (2) at least at times. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the vessel (2) is constructed from four walls (11), at least two of which are largely orthogonal to one another, and one corner of the agitator (3) moves along a first wall (11) of the vessel (2) during the movement of the agitator (3) or the vessel (2) and a second corner (10) of the agitator (3) simultaneously moves along a wall (11) which is orthogonal to the first wall (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the container (2) is part of a standard trolley. Method according to claim 5,
characterized,
that the standard trolley is a standard trolley according to DIN 9797. Stirrer (3) for mixing a foodstuff in a container (2), in particular in a part of a standard trolley,
characterized,
that the agitator (3) has approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle and is mounted in such a way that it can move on a circular path. Agitator (3) according to claim 7,
characterized,
that at least one mixing arm (4) is arranged on the agitator (3). Agitator (3) according to claim 8,
characterized,
that at least one mixing arm (4) is rotatably arranged on the agitator (3). Agitator (3) according to claim 8 or claim 9,
characterized,
that at least one mixing arm (4) is arranged at a corner of the agitator (3) shaped like a Reuleaux triangle. Mixer (1), - with an agitator (3) having a centre point (8), the agitator (3) having approximately the shape of a Reuleaux triangle, - with a receiving device (14) for at least one vessel (2) which has a centre point (8), the vessel (2) having at least two adjacent walls (11) which are approximately at right angles to one another, characterized,
that the agitator (3) and/or the receiving device (14) can be raised and/or lowered and the mixer (1) is designed such that the center (8) of the agitator (3) and/or the center (8) of the receiving device can be moved on a circular path (9), wherein the circular path (9) lies completely within the vessel (2). Mixer (1) according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the agitator (3) is an agitator (3) according to one of claims 7 to 10 and/or the mixer (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 6.

Images