Mixing apparatus

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DESCRIPTION

Mixing apparatus.

This invention relates to a mixing apparatus, and in particular to a mixing apparatus with which a food product can be mixed before consumption.

It has been proposed to provide a mixing apparatus, and more particularly a mixing apparatus in which the product of a product container equipped with a lid is mixed by a mixing apparatus within the container.

Document EP-A-1279359 presents a container lid having therein mixing means for mixing the product within a container.

The present invention is intended to provide an improved apparatus for mixing food products and is specially adapted to be cost effective and sufficient for a single use.

According to the invention, there is provided a mixing apparatus according to claim 1 and a container lid according to claim 24.

Additional characteristics of the invention become apparent in light of the following description of various embodiments given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an embodiment of a mixing apparatus including a lid that is not according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section that corresponds to that of Fig. 1 but belongs to another embodiment having a cover that is according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section corresponding to those of Figs. 1 and 2 but belongs to another embodiment that has a lid that is according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of a lid that is not according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along section plane 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5A is an enlarged detail of the section of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 and shows the mixing element removed from the lid;

Fig. 7 is a view of the cap of Fig. 4 from the opposite side, in perspective;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a lid and mixing element assembly of another embodiment, where the lid is in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8A is a section taken along the plane of section BB of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 8 from the opposite side of the assembly;

Fig. 9A is a section taken along the section plane CC of Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figs. 8-9 showing the disassembled mixing element;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a stack of assemblies of the kind shown in Figs. 8-10;

Fig. 12 is an approximation view of part of a lid;

Fig. 13 is a view that is similar to Fig. 12 but pertains to an alternative device;

Fig. 14 is an approach and perspective view of a lid with mixing means;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section of a mixing apparatus; and Fig. 16 is a vertical section of another mixing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1-3, there are shown in the same three versions of a mixing apparatus each of which comprises common elements including a container or container base 10

ES 2 315 696 T3 which is usually made (a) in the form of a paper cup which has a progressively decreasing cross section inwards towards the lower end 10A and has towards the upper end a rolled lip 10B. Instead of being made of paper, the container 10 can be made of plastic, and for example injection molded plastic.

In use, a lid 12 is mounted on the container, which has a peripheral rim turned back 13, is fitted over the lip or edge 10B and has a mixing element 14 mounted thereon which is arranged to be able to effect a rotational movement with respect to to lid 12.

Mixing element 14 is set in rotation by a drive motor 40 having a motor shaft 41 which is directed upward and is arranged to engage with mixing element 14 to drive it during the mixing operation.

In Figs. 1-3 the container 10 and the mixing element 15 that is mounted on the lid 12 are shown inverted in a position in which the product is mixed within the container. In this position, the container is inverted with the lid 12 down, and the assembly rests on an annular support element 42 that mates with the outer edge of the lid 12 under it.

The container 10 is supported and seated in a seat or support 43 of progressively decreasing cross section that conforms to the outer shape of the container 10, said seat or support extending towards the upper end of the container in such a way that the upper edge of the support 43 it is in contact with the lip 10B of the container below it.

This arrangement of the support 43, the shape seat 42 and the upper edge of the lid 12 ensures in each case that the hermetic seal between the lid and the container is maintained throughout all stages of the operation of the mixing apparatus, including when the container is inverted, and when the mixer is in operation prior to mixing, when the container is located on the support being in a vertical position or inclined towards the user.

Usually the bracket 43 is initially in a vertical or vertically inclined position with its wider end up. The container 10 is placed on the support by dropping the container with the lid mounted thereon into the support. The support is then inverted to thus adopt the position illustrated, in which the lid is located on the support 42 with the mixing element 14 located above the drive motor 40. Typically a downward clamping force F is applied to the holder 43 to hold it in its inverted position, ready for a mixing operation. The motor 40 is started, and the motor shaft 41 is in engagement with the mixing element 14 through an opening 20 that from the cover 12 is directed outwards. The rotation of the motor shaft 41 causes the mixing element 14 to make a rotational movement within the product within the container 10. This action combines the product or mixes it in another way to ensure that it is properly mixed or combined within the container.

When the mixing action has taken place for the required period of time, the clamping force F is no longer applied, the motor shaft 41 is disengaged from the mixing element 14, and the cup holder with the container in it is removed. of the support 42 and is inverted, and the glass is separated from the support 43, and the product within the container is ready to be consumed. According to what has been described so far, it is assumed that the contents of the container to be mixed therein is at the required temperature and has the necessary consistency, but, if necessary, the contents can be heated or cooled before the mixing operation. In the case of a product that has to be heated, this can be achieved by directing microwave radiation at the product contained within the package before or while it is in situ on the mixing apparatus.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 differ from each other primarily in the shape of the cover 12. Thus, in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 1 the cover 12 is generally planar, and in that respect it does not form part of the invention. The cover 12 is made with a central circular opening 11 that is defined by elements 30 that project axially downwards and are flanked by a depression 15.

In Fig. 2 the lid 12 is more complex in shape, although it still has an outer rim 13 and a central opening 11. In Fig. 2 The cap is made with a partially spherical central portion 12A in the center of which is the opening 11, and the outer edge of the spherical portion 12A is turned approximately 180 degrees to form an outer portion 12B that runs in alignment with and is closely adjacent the interior walls of container 10 toward the upper edge thereof. As illustrated, hemispherical portion 12A has a tangential portion 12C and the transition between portions 12C and 12B occurs through 12D right angle bends. Alternatively, the 12D bends can be replaced by a curvilinear transition.

It will be appreciated that the portion 12D is located below the level of the upper end of the container, and that the hemispherical portion 12A protrudes above the upper edge of the container and the portion 12A may form a transparent area through which the portion can be seen. inside of the container. It will also be noted that the area in which the mixing element 14 is put into operation, when the container is in the inverted position, as illustrated, is a partial sphere which helps to ensure that an efficient mixing operation of the product can be performed. on the packaging.

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The edge of the mouth of the container is located between the parts 12B and 13 of the lid, which together define a circumferential groove whose radially inner side runs alongside and in contact with the inner wall of the container.

The device of Fig. 3 presents another alternative form of the cap 12, which is somewhat similar to the cap 12 of Fig. 2 but in which the partially hemispherical part 12A is of reduced dimensions, such that the upper end of the part 12A is located practically at the level of the upper end of the container 10.

The device of Fig. 3 still presents an area in which the operation of the mixer 14 takes place and which has curved lower surfaces to help ensure that adequate mixing action occurs, and the lid may be made of transparent material.

The embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3 are particularly useful in ensuring a good seating of the lid 12 in the container 10 to reduce any possibility of leakage or of the lid disengaging from the container. One way of achieving this is for the portion 12B of the lid 12 to extend alongside the inner side walls of the upper end of the container, thus providing excellent sealing and seating conditions within the container. This arrangement also allows the loss of capacity of the container to be minimized, and this can be overcome by allowing the container lid portion 12A to protrude beyond the upper end of the container. The use of a cup holder 43 further assists in maintaining a seal between the rim 10B and the lid 12, as shown in the enlarged details in Figs. 1 2 and 3. The details of the construction of the mixer 14 and its corresponding lid are as described in connection with the last described embodiments. To obtain an adequate hermetic closure, the extent to which the portion 12B runs into the container can be varied. It is preferred that the axial extension of portion 12B is between two and twelve times the depth of the turned-back flange 13. That means (Fig. 14) Y = between 2X and 12X.

Referring now to Figs. 4-7, there are shown a planar lid 12 and a corresponding mixing element 14 whose like components bear the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiment. This planar cap is not part of the invention. The mixing element 14 is made in one piece and has a shaft 16 at one end of which is a flange 19 that protrudes outward. At the other end of the shaft 16 is located a set of mixing paddles 17 which run generally in a radial direction outward with respect to the geometric axis.

The shaft 16 is located inside a central opening of the cover 12, and arcuate elements 30 are formed around the opening and forming an integral part of the cover, which run in an axial direction and are circumferentially spaced from each other to thus leave recesses 31 between them. Along each edge of each element 30 an angled surface 32 is formed, and thanks to the fact that the recesses 31 and the angled surfaces 32 are provided, means are provided for admitting product from the interior of the container during mixing to the inside the small space that remains between the shaft 16 and the elements 30. By these means the outer surface of the shaft is lubricated and cooled. This may be necessary since it may happen that the mixing element 14 is rotated at high speed during a mixing operation, and the shaft 16 is of relatively large diameter to make the element 14 structurally strong. If the product being mixed is cold and if the mixing process is short-lived, such lubrication may not be necessary, although lubrication is desirable. Since the container is normally inverted during mixing, the mixing element 14 is immersed in the product, and the product reaches the outer surface of the shaft 14. Such a product provides a film of lubricant / coolant between the shaft and the element. 30.

The shaft 16 is positioned in the opening by applying a pressure directed in the axial direction when inserting the shaft 16 into the opening, and when the flange 19 has passed through the opening it is located inside a recess. provided at the outer end of the opening in order to fix the mixing element to the lid. The outer end of element 14 is made with a depression and internal shape, as indicated at 20, to allow motor shaft 41 to enter opening 20 and be fully engaged therewith to drive mixing element 14 during a mixing operation. The fit of the shaft 41 in the opening is intended to provide a strong connection during vigorous mixing, which may include ice cream mixing.

In the device of Figs. 4-7, the outer rim 13 of the cap is made with slits 34 running in a generally axial direction from the rim 13 toward the top of the cap. Such slits 34 help to make the lid match the container thereon, the rim being able to be flexed outwardly when such engagement is made. This can be particularly important when the package is made of paper / cardboard. The adoption of this measure is also applicable when the lid is made to be attached to containers that are of slightly different sizes, since the flexibility provided by the slits allows the lid to be attached to containers of different sizes with edges of different sizes. . The slits can be about 1mm wide and can run right up to the inner edge of the rim.

Referring now to the cap assembly of Figs. 8-10, the same reference numerals are used here for components similar to those in the previous embodiments, and the cap assembly of Figs. 8-10 corresponds to that of Fig. 3. It will be appreciated that the mixing element is in this case made of two parts (see in particular Fig. 10) of which one part 14A is called the part that forms the shaft and the other part 14B is called the part provided with vanes. The part 14A that forms the shaft is made with a cylindrical part 50 that remains

ES 2 315 696 T3 located inside the opening that is made in the cover and is defined by the elements 30, which together define bearing surfaces for the mixing element 14. At one end of the cylindrical part 50 there is a flange 51 that it is located in the depression 15 that is formed around the central opening made in the lid, to thereby fix the mixing element at one end thereof.

The portion 14A has a further cylindrical portion 52 around which the padded portion 14B of the item in use is located. Between the parts 50 and 52 a part 54 is provided in which the part 14B provided with fins can be fixed once assembled.

In practice, the part 14A that forms the shaft is inserted into the opening of the lid, and then and from the opposite side of the lid the part 14B provided with blades is inserted, which has a central opening 56A inside which is introduced part 52. The paddled part 14B is then pushed over the shaft-forming part 14A to bond the two parts, and the parts are then fixed in position by fitting the inner edge of the opening 56A into a slot made in the part 54, or else a projection is provided in the part 52 over which the part 14B provided with blades passes to prevent it from coming loose.

By adopting these measures, the two parts 14A and 14B are fixedly joined as one, after having been mounted on the cover 12, and are rotatable with respect to the cover within the opening to thus allow the removal to be carried out. mixing action.

The outer side of the mixing element 14 is positioned flush with the upper surface of the lid to make the whole look elegant, and once attached, the lids and mixing elements are nestable for transport purposes. , as seen in Fig. 11. To aid in such mutual engagement, projecting stops 56 are provided against which the parts 12D of the cover are engaged.

In order to provide easy access to the product to be consumed in container 10, the lid is provided with an opening 58 that is offset towards one side of the central axis and has on the upper open side a closure element 60 that it is inserted into opening 58 and is hinged at 62 to allow closure 60 to be opened and closed according to the needs of the user.

Referring now to Fig. 11, there is shown a series of caps that are of the kind illustrated in Figs. 8-9 and have been fitted into each other after the manufacture and assembly of the mixing elements with the covers. The same reference numbers are used in relation to the same components. It will be appreciated that the parts 12D are located in the interspace that exists between the parts 12C and 12B in an adjacent cover, although the part 12D is engaged against the projecting stops 56, whereby the covers can be easily disengaged from one another. . However, it is not essential that the caps are nestable into each other.

The parts 52 of the parts that form the shafts of the mixing elements are located inside the opening made at the end of the motor shaft of the mixing element in a mutually engaging position. The flats of the paddles 17 of the mixing element 14 bear against the upper surface of the lids at 12E to help allow the lids to be snapped into and disengaged from one another.

This possibility of mutual interlocking allows the lids with the mixing elements mounted on them to be transported occupying a limited volume to the place where the lids are to be mounted on the container bases.

Referring now to Fig. 12, there is shown a detail view of part of a lid that is similar to those of Figs. 8-9 and in which a receptacle 60A is formed on the upper side of the lid in zone 12E, which hangs downwards towards the interior of the container and has openings 62 in the side walls that give access to the interior of the receptacle from within container. Towards the outer side of the receptacle 60A an opening 64 is formed which allows a receptacle 66 whose shape is such that it fits into a tight fit within the receptacle 60A, thus sealing the openings 62 and preventing leakage into the receptacle. Product exits the receptacle 60A to the outside of the package.

Container 66 may contain any additive that must be added to the product during mixing, but in particular additives that, when in contact with the products inside the container, react with the product to create a desired effect. In one combination the container 66 contains a material that upon contact with the product will carbonate the contents of the container. Such carbonation will begin when the product contained in the container reaches the openings 62 and enters the container 66. The reaction between the content and the carbonation material will produce a carbonation action, and this will take place when the container is inverted and when mixed content.

Referring now to Fig. 13, there is presented a device serving a similar purpose to that of Fig. 12, and the same references are used for similar components. The device of Fig. 13 differs primarily in that, instead of the container 66 that hermetically closes the opening 64, the equivalent container 67 of carbonation product is located in a receptacle 60A that is provided with a closing element 68 that hermetically closes the opening 64 at the end top of receptacle 60A.

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The closure 68 pivots toward the side flange 13 of the lid to be moved around the pivot between an open state, as illustrated, and a closed state in which the closure 68 has been made to pivot into the open position. closure over opening 64.

The container 67 of this embodiment may be made in the form of a liquid-permeable bag which will be made such that upon contact with the contents of the container the carbonation material will be activated to release carbon dioxide into the mass of the product. .

During the use of the assembly formed by the container and the lid, various means may be used to ensure that said elements are firmly held together to prevent leakage and ensure the integrity of the assembly.

Mounting the lid on the container as described is intended to ensure this.

Furthermore, instead of having to rely on the operator, the filling site, or the dispensing site if filling takes place there, a clamping mechanism can be provided for assembly with which, after having placed the lid on the container a pressure plate or other clamp is applied between the ends of the container and the lid until a predetermined pressure has been reached and this pressure is no longer applied. The whole can then be inverted, and the product is ready to be mixed.

After mounting the lid on the container, these components can be joined by heat sealing or otherwise.

Referring now to Fig. 14, in which similar components are given the same reference numerals as in previous embodiments, an alternative form of cap 12 and corresponding mixing means are shown therein. Cap 12 is similar to that shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 9 and has an outer flange 13 that fits over the outer edge of the end of a container and an inner portion 12b that runs towards the inside of the container in contact with or very close to the inner wall of the container towards its outer edge, the part 13 and the part 12B defining between them a circumferential groove inside which the mouth of the container is located.

As described above, the container lid has a portion 12A, 12E that is outwardly convex and is attached to portion 12B through a backward portion 12D.

In the center of the outwardly convex portion 12A, 12E an opening O is provided inside which bipartite mixing means 14 will be located. The part 14A that forms the axis of the mixing means 14 has at one end a connection means for connecting the mixing means to the motor shaft 41, and has a shaft 16 that with its outer surface 50 is located in an opening 56A made in the part 14B constituting the mixing element itself.

The mixing means is mounted on the cover 12 by passing the shaft-forming part 14A through the opening O and through the opening 56A of the part 14B. Surface 50 may be provided with a projection mating with the outer end of aperture 56A, or pieces 14A and 14B may be welded together after assembly. The surface 50 mates with the surfaces of the opening O to define a bearing surface that is relatively small in diameter to reduce the possibility of overheating of the bearing surfaces.

An opening 58 is also formed in the part 12E of the lid 12, which is provided as an access opening to allow access to the contents of the container after mixing, for example by means of a straw.

To be placed over the opening 58 during mixing, a removable closure or label 58A is provided which is adhesively applied to the lid and can be peeled off from the lid when necessary.

Referring now to Fig. 15, there is shown an alternative system for supporting a container 10 and lid 12 assembly during a mixing operation. The joined container 10 and lid 12 are placed in an inverted position on a support 42 of the housing of a drive motor, as described above.

Located above the assembly in the mixing position is a clamping system 75 that includes an alternative element 77 for actuating the container that runs at the lower end of an actuator 78 which is in turn actuated by an actuator motor 80 to move upward. and downward in the sense of approaching and moving away from the container.

The clamp assembly is mounted on a rigid mounting bracket 82 such that it can effect relative movement with respect to it through a compression spring 84, the assembly being movably supported by a support pin 86. Movement of the assembly toward mounting bracket 82 occurs against resistance from compression spring 84, and there is also provided a switch 88 that detects movement of the actuator relative to bracket 82 against the action of spring 84.

The clamp 7 is arranged to contact the narrow end of the container 10 to press it into position during mixing and in the form of the central portion 77A, which is configured to match the

ES 2 315 696 T3 cross section of the container to be contacted. A security ring 88A runs around the central area 77A, which is made in the form of an annular ring that is movable with respect to the element 77 against the spring means 77B. Movement of ring 88A against the spring means is sensed by a switch 79 which when actuated causes movement of actuator 78 and actuator motor 80 to cease. This arrangement ensures that obstacles between element 77 and the container, such as an operator's fingers, are detected to cause the operation of the clamping system to cease.

In operation of the clamp assembly of Fig. 15 after a container and lid assembly has been placed on support 42, the actuator motor is activated to cause the clamp 77 to move downward to contact the end of the container. A predetermined pressure is applied to the end of the container so as to cause a clamping action between the support 42 and the clamping element 77 and between the lid 12 and the container.

10. This ensures that the joint of the container with the lid is adequately established, and that support is sufficient during the mixing operation. Due to the way the clamping system is supported at its upper end, a predetermined pressure exerted on the container is detected through movement with respect to the support 82, which is detected by the switch 88 and is independent of the size of the container, whereby the container can have an axial dimension such as indicated at points P1 or P2 or at any intermediate points. Regardless of the size of the container, as soon as the predetermined clamping pressure has been reached the clamping operation is completed and there is no further movement of the clamping element.

It will be appreciated that the mixing apparatus can be programmed to operate according to the size of the container being used and the contents of the container, which may require different mixing times. As described, the mixing apparatus detects the container size, which can also determine the duration of the mixing. However, the operator can additionally adjust the duration of the mix using the operator controls.

Referring now to Fig. 16, there is shown a mixing apparatus in which the same reference numerals are again given to components that are similar to those of the previous embodiments. The apparatus shown in Fig. 16 includes a container 10 and a lid 12 and a mixing means 14 which are in combination with each other and are similar in shape to those shown in Fig. 3 and other figures. of the drawings.

The containers with the corresponding lids mounted on them are inverted for a mixing operation, thus being placed in the position illustrated, and such inversion can be done manually or by placing the containers 10 on a support 43 whose shape matches the external shape. of the container 10.

The support 43 can be rotatable about the geometric axis AA to move from a vertical position in which the container is located within the support to an inverted position in which the mixing means 14 are brought into engagement with the drive motor 40 to be thus actuated to effect a mixing operation.

Container 10 is generally made of rigid paper or cardboard covered with shape with an overlapping portion running the length of the container. This constructive form can lead to possible leakage problems between the lid and the inner wall of the container where the overlap occurs.

In order to mitigate any potential leakage, a clamping system is envisaged whereby inwardly directed clamping forces are applied to the outer surface of the container next to the lid to help seal the inner surface of the container against the part of the lid. cover that is directed inwards and is located against said inner surface.

In the illustrated device, the tightening is achieved by providing an air chamber 90 that runs around the outside of the container 10 towards its wide end and has a radially inner flexible wall 92 that is arranged to make contact with the outer wall of the container. such that, as chamber 90 admits compressed gas, it causes wall 92 to protrude radially inward against the wall of the container. Said wall of the air chamber exerts a compression against the wall of the container in order to seal the latter against the lid and thereby establish a hermetic seal against any leakage.

To help the sealing action to be exerted, a circular support element 94 can be inserted into the lid through the circumferential opening directed towards the outside which runs around the portion 12C of the lid. Thus, as the compressed gas acts on the wall 92 to cause it to expand inwardly against the container wall, the support element 94 acts as a support to resist such movement and thus serve to aid the creation of a hermetic seal.

The compressed gas that goes to chamber 90 is supplied by a suitable compressor through an inlet tube 96, and tube 96 and chamber 90 are incorporated into support 43, said support being directed downwards to keep the assembly applied to base 42 during mixing, as shown by arrows F.

The chamber 90 is inflated or charged with gas at the beginning of the inverting action of the container, and once the mixing is finished, the tube is deflated so that the container with its contents that has been mixed can be removed from the support 43.

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The air going to chamber 90 can be conducted through tube 98 from an inlet 99 that is located along axis A so that air can be conducted before and during mixing and while the mixing is being rotated. medium.

Instead of using the system in which a ring is inflated as shown in Fig. 16, a mechanical clamping system can be used whereby a metal ring (not shown) at chamber position 90 runs around the container and is moved radially inward and outward to tighten the container.

Typically, squeezing around the container will be necessary before the container is inverted, during mixing, and until the container is back in the upright position.

References cited in description

This list of references cited by the applicant is provided only as information for the reader and is not part of the European patent document. Although great care has been taken in compiling the references, the possibility of errors or omissions cannot be excluded, and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • EP 1279359 A [0003]