JPS61249352A - Food mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an ice cream mixer, and more particularly, to an improved ice cream mixer that allows for more hygienic operation. It is something.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An ice cream mixer is a machine that can mix a portion of ice cream with additional ingredients such as fruit or candy. Typically, such machines include a conical container with an opening in the bottom and a tapered auger fitted into the container. In use, a portion of the ice cream and additional ingredients are placed in a container to accommodate an auger that moves the container upwardly. A motor rotates an auger that softens the ice cream, mixes additional ingredients into it, and forces the mixture through an opening in the bottom of the container and into a dispensing cup for sale to consumers.

The ice cream mixer described above is mounted on a sink or drain and is provided with a water spray hose so that a portion of the container and auger can be rinsed off each time after dispensing the ice cream. If the auger and cone are not cleaned, each subsequent dispense of ice cream will contain a small portion of the ice cream outside the previous dispense. This is very undesirable because it creates unsanitary conditions that consumers are not satisfied with and cannot complain about.

Mounting the ice cream mixer over the sink and utilizing a water spray hose is also preferred for wiping remaining ice cream splatter from the machine throughout the day and at the end of the day's cleaning.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Although ice cream mixers that are mounted over sinks or drains are a significant improvement over machines that are not so mounted, there are other drawbacks that have hitherto not been overcome. have. In particular, a major problem that arises with the use of water spray hoses to clean today's ice cream machines is that the water inevitably leaks into the machine's operating mechanisms (i.e., the motor and gear mechanism that drives the auger and lifts the ice cream container). Water can cause corrosion and other damage.Furthermore, water carries ice cream and debris entrained in the water into the interior of the machine, creating unhygienic conditions.This is why the cover of the machine is often removed and the internal surfaces and operating mechanisms are removed. This is very difficult and does not result in a completely clean and dry interior.Machines of the general type described above are described in U.S. Pat. Are listed.

B.) Means for Solving the Problems The ice cream mixing machine of the present invention includes an auger, a container configured to accommodate objects to be mixed by the auger, means for rotating the auger, and a container configured to accommodate the rotating auger. and a housing.
The housing is molded to form an inner portion and an outer mixing portion, with means for rotating the auger and means for placing the auger into the container being substantially disposed within the inner portion, and the auger and container forming the mixing portion. The above-mentioned problems are solved by an arrangement characterized in that the mixing part is sealed to the inner part so as to substantially prevent passage of foreign matter from the mixing part to the inner part.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an ice cream blender that operates more hygienically than the ice cream blenders used today.

Another object of the invention is to prevent water and water-entrained debris from entering the interior and operating mechanisms of the ice cream mixer, thereby causing spoilage and other damage and unsanitary conditions. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice cream mixer that prevents the occurrence of such conditions.

Another object of the invention is that the conical container and the auger used for mixing the ice cream with additional ingredients can be cleaned after each use while keeping the interior of the machine and the operating machinery free of water and debris. Our goal is to provide you with a protective ice cream blender.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice cream mixing machine in which the ice cream mixing section of the machine is covered by a waterproof structure which performs the function of trapping the rinsing water and guiding it to a sink or drain positioned below the machine. It is to provide.

In accordance with the present invention, these objects are achieved by providing a food mixer that includes a rotating auger and a container that contains the food to be mixed and, when moved, causes the rotating auger to enter the container and mix the food. Ru. Additionally, the ice cream mixer includes a shaped housing defining an inner portion and an outer mixing portion. A mechanism for rotating the auger into the vessel is positioned generally within the inner section, while the auger and vessel are positioned within the external mixing section. The mixing section is sealed to the inner section, thus substantially preventing the passage of foreign matter from the mixing section to the inner section.

(F) Embodiment Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ice cream mixer of the present invention has a side wall 12.14, a top wall and a bottom wall 16%.
18 and front and rear walls 20 and 22.

The front wall 20 has an inwardly sloping portion 20a.

20b, 20c, 20d and a recessed portion 20e are provided. The lower end of each of the sections 20a-e of the front wall 20 terminates in a pan 24 which is positioned below the machine for flow through a coaxial circular opening 28 in the bottom wall 18. (not shown). The funnel 26 preferably extends below the bottom wall 18 and a seal 28 is provided between the bottom wall 18 and the funnel 26 at the opening 28 to prevent reed water and foreign matter from entering the housing 10 at this location. do.

Sections 20a-e of the front wall form the ice cream mixing section 30 of the machine, which section is watertight except for the drain funnel 260. In particular, the water, water-entrained debris and other foreign matter within section 30 is passed downwardly along wall section 2Qa-e through funnel 26 and opening 28 into a sink or drain which is preferably positioned below the machine. flows. The housing 10 is preferably molded of plastic so that there are no seams in the mixing section 30, so that the sections 20a-e form a smooth continuous surface.

Yet again. If the housing 10 is made of molded plastic, it is desirable to include a means for accessing the housing (preferably through the rear wall 22) for periodic inspection and repair of the components contained therein. As will become clearer from the following description, the passage of water or water-entrained debris anywhere within the housing 10 is substantially prevented in the ice cream mixer of the present invention.

Disposed within the ice cream mixing section 30 of the machine is a conical container 32 with an opening 34 formed at its narrow end and an auger 36 of corresponding shape. container 3
2 is supported on a frusto-conical support 38 within the ice cream mixing section 30 of the machine. The support 38 is provided with a pair of extensions 40.42 connecting it to a pair of parallel guide frames 44.46.

As will be described in detail later, the guide frames 44 and 46 move the container 32 into the second position.
It is used to move between the lower position shown in the figures and FIG. 3 and the upper position shown in FIG. In particular, during use of the machine, the container 32, when in the lower position, contains a portion of the ice cream and at least one additional ingredient mixed therewith.
Put it in. Container 32 is then moved to an upper position by moving guide frames 44,46 while rotating auger 36 to soften the ice cream, incorporate additional ingredients into the ice cream, and force the mixture through opening 34. The mixture can then be collected into ration cups and sold to consumers.

A mechanism for rotating auger 36 and moving container 32 is positioned within housing 10 and will be described in detail below. In particular, vertically extending sleeves 48 form the four bottom corners of the machine, the ends of which are adapted to adjustably accommodate threaded counterbalance pins 49), which pins 49 are designed to support the machine. Used to balance or mount the machine on top of the foreboard over a drain or drain.

Sleeve 48 is positioned within inner portion 50 of housing 10 and serves to support and space base frame member 52 from bottom wall 18 . For example, the sleeve 48 can be threaded at each end that is received by the bottom plate 18 and the base frame member 52. Base frame member 52
supports the tray 24 of the ice cream mixing section 30 of the machine. Furthermore, the base frame member 52 supports a vertical frame member 54 that extends upwardly from the base frame member 52 and supports a guide frame and auger support combination 56.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 3, the guide frame and auger support assembly 56 extends from the inner section 50 of the machine through the wall section 20a of the ice cream mixing section e of the machine.
30 to allow guide frames 44,46 to pass from one section to the other. Combination body 56 and wall portion e20
The seal between the ice cream mixing part 3 of the machine is waterproof and therefore debris or other foreign matter entrained in the water
0 to the inner portion 50 is not possible. For example, if assembly 56 and wall portion 20a are both made of metal, wall portion 20a
a is soldered or welded to the outer surface of the assembly 56. Preferably, wall portion 20a is made of plastic and assembly 56 is made of aluminum, in which case a suitable glue or chalk compound is used. However, other conventional sealing methods may be used as long as they prevent moisture and other debris from entering the interior portion 50 of the machine.

The assembly 56 supports an auger shaft 58, the upper end of which is positioned in the inner part 5o of the machine and has a pulley 60 adapted to be rotated by an endless belt 62.
is fixed to. A motor 64 mounted on vertical frame member 54 drives belt 62 via a pulley 66 secured to its output shaft 68. Motor 64 is actuated to rotate auger 36 by moving a handle 70 positioned on the outside of housing 10 adjacent side wall 12 downwardly in a manner known in the art. In particular, moving the handle 70 downward closes a switch (not shown) to supply power to the motor 64. The inlet of the power cable in the housing 10 for powering the motor 64 is suitably sealed to prevent foreign objects from entering the interior portion 50 of the machine. Moving the handle 70 downward also moves the container 32 upward.

In particular, the handle 70 preferably extends from one end of a shaft 72 which extends from the outside of the housing 10 through the wall 12 and into the interior portion 50 of the machine. The passage through wall 12 of shaft 72 also includes a seal (not shown).
is provided to prevent foreign objects from entering the inner portion 50 of the foot machine. The end of shaft 72 opposite handle 70 is rotatably supported by vertical frame member 54 to support a pivot arm such that downward movement of handle 70 causes pivot arm 74 to rotate counterclockwise. shaft 72 of arm 74
The opposite end is rotatably attached to the lower end of a vertically extending L-arm 76 such that movement of the pivot arm 74 in a counterclockwise direction causes the L-arm 76 to move upwardly.

The end of L-shaped arm 76 opposite pivot arm 74 is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of lifting arm 78. Lifting arm 78 is pivotally mounted at one end to the uppermost portion of vertical frame member 54, so that upward movement of L-shaped arm 76 causes a limited rotational movement of lifting arm 78 in a clockwise direction. The other end of the lifting arm 78 is U
It is rotatably connected to one end of a - shaped bracket 80, the other end of which is similarly connected to a mounting rod 82. The ends of the guide rings 44,46 opposite the frustoconical container support 38 and opposite the guide ring and auger support assembly 56 are mounted within and extend from opposite sides of the mounting plate. . Yet again.

Bracket 80 can adjust the upward momentum of container 32 to ensure accurate entry of auger 36 into the container.

It will be readily appreciated that moving handle 70 downwardly causes pivot arm 74 to move counterclockwise and arm 78 to move upwardly to cause lift arm 78 to move clockwise. This involves having the bracket 80 pull the guide rings 44,46 upwards, thereby moving the container 32 in its lower position (
2 and 3) to its upper position (FIG. 1). As previously mentioned, moving one handle downward causes motor 64 to act accordingly, rotating auger 36 and moving container 12 upwardly.

As can be seen from the above description, only the guide rings 44,46 move from the ice cream mixing section 3o to the inner section 50 of the machine, and this movement is caused by the guide and auger support assembly 56 positioned at the upper end of the ice cream mixing section 30. Do it through. Moisture passes through the guide rings 44, 46 to the inner part 50.
Guide ring 44.4 of assembly 56 to prevent
A bearing that tightly fits is formed in the part where 6 passes.

It is preferred to use plastic bearings that function without the need for oil-based lubricants. These bearings prevent moisture and other foreign matter from entering the inner portion 50 and prevent lubricant from coming into contact with the container 12 or the ice cream therein. Yet again. The moisture remaining in the guide rings 44, 46 actually aids the action of the plastic.

Furthermore, an inwardly compressed seal on the turn 9 of the guide ring 44, 46 can be used in conjunction with a tight-fitting bearing. This seal also effectively prevents moisture located in the rod 44.46 as a result of the normal movement of the guide culm 44.46 during use of the machine from entering the inner part 50 of the machine. Furthermore, as assembly 56 is positioned at the top of ice cream mixing section 50, the N force prevents water from running into the assembly. During use of the ice cream mixer, a portion of the ice cream and at least one additional ingredient are placed in the container 12 in its lowered position (FIGS. 2 and 3) K6
Put it in between. Next, the tension container 32, which pulls the handle 70 downward, is moved toward the auger 36 to rotate the auger.

As the container moves toward its upper position (FIG. 1), bringing the auger 36 into contact with the ice cream and additional ingredients contained in the container, the ice cream is softened and mixed with the additional ingredients until finally released into the container 32. is forced out through the opening 34 of. The mixed ice cream is collected in a dispensing cup positioned directly below opening 34 during operation of the machine and delivered to the consumer.

After one use, at least the auger 36 and the interior of the container 32 will be coated with remaining ice cream and ingredients since they cannot be extruded completely.

Furthermore, other parts of the ice cream mixing section 30 of the machine may become contaminated by splashes and the like. At a minimum, the auger 36 and container 32 must be cleaned after each mixing operation to prevent mixing of ingredients with remaining ice cream during subsequent extrusion dispensing. This is most easily accomplished using a water spray hose (not shown) which is preferably positioned close to the machine. Water from the spray hose is directed to the auger 36, container 32 and wall section 20.
A - e can be directed directly to all other elements within the ice cream mixing section 30 that they form. wall part 2
0a-e together with the guide frame and auger support assembly 56 form a watertight ice cream mixing section 30 so that water, water-entrained debris and other foreign matter are removed from the funnel 26 during each cleaning.
Flush through and drain into a drain. Water and water-entrained debris resulting from normal cleaning operations on the ice cream mixing section 30 are thus prevented from entering the inner section 58 of the machine. As a result, the inner portion 50 and its internal operating mechanisms are protected against spoilage and other damage and unsanitary conditions caused by water, water-borne debris (including residual ice cream), and other foreign matter. protected. Furthermore, while the inner portion 50 does not need to be cleaned frequently, the ice cream mixing portion 50, auger 36, and container 32 can be easily cleaned more frequently.

(g) Effects of the Invention As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms and used for other purposes without departing from its principles. For example, the machine of the invention can be adapted to use only one of the guide frames 44,46. Furthermore, the center line of the auger is aligned with the guide frame 44.
．． It is not necessary to make it the same vertical plane as the center line of 46. Yet again. Guide frames 44,46 extend from the bottom of the machine at any angle to allow container 32 to be lifted upwardly. The guide frame 44,46 can also be driven by a motor and the water spray mechanism can form an integral part of the machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the ice cream mixer of the present invention showing the auger fully positioned within the conical container. FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the ice cream mixing machine of the present invention, with some parts omitted and other parts shown in cross section. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ice cream mixer of the present invention taken along line 3--3 in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Housing, 20a-e...Container support means. 30...Blending part, 32...Container, 36...Auger, 44.46...Means for letting the auger enter the container, 5
0...Inner part%64...Auger rotation means (5 outsiders)

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) comprising an auger, a container configured to accommodate food to be mixed by the auger, means for rotating the auger, means for placing the rotating auger in the container to mix the food in the container, and a housing; The housing is shaped to form an inner portion and an outer mixing portion, and means for rotating the auger and means for placing the auger into the container are substantially disposed within the inner portion, and the auger and the container are configured to mix. A food mixing machine, wherein the mixing section is sealed to the inner section to substantially prevent the passage of foreign objects from the mixing section to the inner section. (2) The means for rotating the auger includes a motor, the motor being positioned within the inner portion and adapted to be activated when the auger enters the container.
Section food blender. (3) The means for placing the auger into the container includes at least one guide rod adapted to support the container within the mixing section so that its movement causes the container to move. Section food blender. (4) A patent claim in which the guide rod moves within both the mixing section and the inner section, and the machine also includes sealing means for preventing foreign matter from entering the inner section due to movement of the guide rod. Food blending machines according to scope (3). (5) The food mixer of claim (4) in which the sealing means comprises a tight-fitting bearing. (6) The food mixing machine according to claim (1), wherein the mixing portion is provided with a drain for removing foreign matter. 7. The food mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the mixing portion of the housing is made of plastic molded to form a continuous surface thereon. (8) an auger, a container adapted to contain food to be mixed by the auger, means for rotating the auger, and means for moving the rotating auger into the container so as to mix the food in the container; , a housing, the housing being shaped to form an inner portion and an outer mixing portion, and means for rotating the auger and means for moving the container and placing the auger into the container are disposed within the inner portion. , further comprising means extending from the inner portion for supporting and rotating the auger within the mixing portion, and means extending from the inner portion for supporting and rotating the container within the mixing portion and for moving the container such that the auger enters the mixing portion. A food mixing machine characterized in that the portion and the means for supporting the auger and container within the mixing portion are sealed to the inner portion to substantially prevent passage of foreign matter from the mixing portion to the inner portion. (9) The means for rotating the auger includes a motor, the motor being positioned within the inner portion and adapted to be activated when the auger enters the container.
Section food blender. (10) The food mixing machine according to claim (8), wherein the mixing section is provided with a drain for removing foreign matter therefrom. 11. The food mixer of claim 8, wherein the mixing portion of the housing is made of a material that can be suitably shaped to form a continuous surface thereon. (12) An auger, a container configured to accommodate food to be mixed by the auger, means for rotating the auger, means for causing the rotating auger to enter the container to mix the food in the container, and a housing. , the housing is shaped to form an inner portion and an outer mixing portion, and means for rotating the auger and means for placing the auger into the container are disposed generally within the inner portion, and the auger and the container are configured to mix. 1. A food mixing machine, characterized in that the inner part is sealed to substantially prevent foreign objects from entering the inner part.