GB2116444A

GB2116444A - Mobile kneading and mixing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2116444A
Application number: GB08306020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kate Kemper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-17
Filing date: 1983-03-04
Publication date: 1983-09-28
Also published as: DE3209687A1; IT1198569B; NL8300728A; GB2116444B; GB8306020D0; DE3209687C2; IT8309369A0; BE896121A

Abstract

A mixing machine has a bowl 11 rotatable in either directions about an axis 15 at different speeds, and a kneading tool 13 operable at various speeds and extending into the bowl offset from the bowl axis. A deflector 12 extends into the bowl 11 down to the base thereof and disposed between the kneading tool and the bowl axis. A cover hood 4 moveable axially of the bowl and formed with apertures through which a drive spindle of the kneading tool and a shaft of the defector extend is provided above the bowl to rest by its own weight, on the bowl edge. The part of the hood to the side of the defector distant from the kneading tool is formed as a hinged lid 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mobile kneading and mixing machine The invention concerns a mobile kneading and mixing machines of the kind having a bowl rotatable in either two directions about an axis and at different speeds, a kneading tool operable at different speeds and extending into the bowl offset from the bowl axis and a deflector which is disposed to extend into the bowl down to the base thereof and to lie between the kneading tool and the bowl axis.

A machine of this kind is disclosed, for instance, in Published German Patent Specification 1 298 466.

To protect an operator against accident and to ensure that an operator cannot inadvertantly put a hand into the bowl or trough an upwardly hinged grid, lattic or the like; disposed above the bowl is usually provided connected to a machine casing.

This grid co-operates with contact switches to ensure that rotation of the kneading tool ceases immediately the grid opens. As the grid has a relatively large mesh and there is usually a gap of some 30 to 40cm between the edge of the grid and the edge of the bowl, pieces of dough may be thrown out of the bowl when the kneading tool is running fast especially if the trough is full. It is therefore the usual practice not to operate such a machine with the bowl full which leads to a reduction of the overall efficiency of using such a machine.

Another problem is that flour dust is thrown up, by the kneading tool in the mixing phase, which dust passes through the grid into the bakery and is a general nuisance.

There is therefore a need not only for accident prevention but also for provision of means reducing the passage of flour dust out of the bowl and into the bakery.

In kneading machines with a stationary bowl or trough and a centrally acting kneading tool, it is known to provide a cover with a protective edge extending over and engaging around the top edge of the bowl.

An aim of the invention is to provide a covering and/or safety lid or hood for a mobile kneading and mixing machine with a rotatable bowl, an offset kneading tool and a deflector.

According to the invention there is provided a mobile kneading and mixing machine having a bowl rotatable in either of two directions about an axis and at different speeds, a kneading tool operable at different speeds and extending into the bowl offset from the bowl axis, a deflector which is disposed to extend into the bowl down to the base thereof and to lie between the kneading tool and the bowl axis and a cover hood movable axially of the bowl disposed above the bowl and resting on the edge of the bowl, the hood being formed with apertures through which the drive spindle of the kneading tool and the shaft of the deflector extend.

With advantage a centering pin is supported on an upright of the machine to extend parallel to the bowl axis, the pin being engageabie, with provision for axial movement, in a bore in the hood.

Preferably the edge of the hood resting on the edge of the bowl is of a low-friction material, desireably a low-friction plastics material.

Advantageously, to facilitate bowl filling and emptying, the part of the hood spaced on the side of the deflector distant from the kneading tool is a moveable lid. The lid is preferably connected to the hood by a hinge and, preferably a permanent magnet carried on the casing of the machine is operable to detain the lid in an open position.

A magnetic detector switch operating in response to the movement of the lid may then be disposed in that part of the hood adjacent the lid, to cause the machine to stop when the lid opens and to resume operation when the lid closes.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a mobile kneading and mixing machine embodying the invention and, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view on the line A-B of Fig. 1.

The machine is shown to include a bowl 11 in to which a kneading tool comprising a dough hook 13 and a drive spindle 2 extends. Spindle 2 is coupled by an appropriate transmission-to a drive (not shown), as shaft 3 of a deflector 12 is rigidly connected to a casing 10 of a machine upright so as to run parallel to spindle 2. Bowl 11 is driveable to rotate about its axis 15 by its own motor to which it is coupled by a gearbox and transmission (none of which are shown). The machine is mobile.

Above bowl 11 is a hood 4 having apertures through which spindle 2 and shaft 3 may extend as shown. Hood 4 rests by its own weight on the edge 14 of bowl 1 1. The edge 18 of hood 4 is of a low-friction material, a low-friction plastics material being preferred. A centering pin 1 is carried by the casing 10 to extend parallel to bowl axis 1 5 and this pin engages in a bore 1 6 in the hood 4. The bore 1 6 and the apertures receiving spindle 2 and shaft 3 are sufficiently large not to interfere with hood 4 resting by its own weight on edge 14 of bowl 11.The hood edge 18 rubs against bowl edge 14 when the machine is in operation and bowl 11 rotates.Consequently hood 4 evens out any unevennesses which become noticeable, especially when bowl 11 rotates and a dustproof seal, particularly in the vicinity of the kneading tool 13, is provided when the machine operates.

The front part of hood 4 is in the form of a hinged lid 5 adapted to pivot up towards the front 19 of casing 10 about a hinge 6. A permanent magnet 9 is carried on the front 19 of casing 10 and acts to retain lid 5 in an open'position as shown. A magnetic detector switch 8 operates in response to opening and closing movements of lid 5 and is disposed in that part of hood 4 adjacent lid 5. The switch 8 is coupled by an electrical cable 20 to circuitry (not shown) in the machine which operates in response to the switch condition such that when lid 5 moves to open switch 8 operates to stop the drive two the dough hook and moves the bowl 1 When the lid 5 moves to close, switch-8 starts the drive to the dough hook and bowl 11.

The preset speeds of the hook and bowl may rapidly be restored, conveniently by running through an initial low-speed step.

In an embodiment not shown lid 5 may be large enough to completely close bowl 11 when the machine is in operation. Another variation provides that the lid 5 may have another upwardly hinged lid part serving to cover, (while the machine is in operation) that part of the trough 11 which is shown to be open in Fig. 1. This latter part may, however, remain open in operation as there is no risk of an operator coming into the operating zone of the dough hook 13.

Consequently further material may be passed to bowl 11, and the kneading process may be observed whilstthe machine operates.

These variations help to ensure complete closure of the trough 11 and, therefore, complete dust prevention.

The invention leads to the maximumisation of use, and therefore filling, of bowl 11, for-even when tool 13 runs fast no bits of dough can be thown from the bowl 11 over its front edge 17.

Any dust evolved during mixing cannot pass out of the bowl 1 so that no dust nuisance arises.

A rubbing ring seal 7 of a wear-resistant plastics material ensures satisfactory sealing and the low-friction feature ensures little wear.

The rubbing ring type hood now proposed may be fitted to existing machines allowing existing facilities to be advantageously modified.

Claims

1. A mobile kneading and mixing machine having a bowl rotatable in either of two directions about an axis and at different speeds, a kneading tool operable at different speeds and extending into the bowl offset from the bowl axis, to extend into the bowl down to the base thereof and to lie between the kneading tool and the bowl axis a cover hood movable axially of the bowl disposed above the bowl and resting on the edge of the bowl, the hood being formed with apertures through which the drive spindle of the kneading tool and the shaft of the deflector extend.

2. A machine according to claim 1 , wherein a centering pin is supported-on an upright of the machine to extend parallel to the bowl axis, the pin being engageable, with provision for axial movement, in a bore in the hood.

3 A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the edge of the hood resting on the edge of the bowl is of a low-friction material.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the hood resting on the edge of the bowl is of a low-friction plastics material.

5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein that part of the hood spaced to the side of the deflector distantfrom the kneading tool comprises a moveable lid.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the moveable lid is connected to the hood by a hinge and a permanent magnet is provided on the casing of the machine to retain the lid in an open position.

7. A machine according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the magnet detector switch is provided to operate in response to movement of said lid, the switch being disposed in that part of the hood adjacent the lid.

8. A machine according to any one of claims 5, 6 and 7,wherein the moveable lid supports a cover part hinged thereto.

9. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the hood is sufficiently large to completely close the bowl.

10. A mobile kneading and mixing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.