Fully automatic electronic milkshake mixer

• US 20020167861A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John C. Barton, Norma J. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, John C., Barton, Norma J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,585,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/142
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2043/04454 Apparatus of counter top type
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2043/04463 with a mixing unit rigidly fixed on the housing and a movable support for the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/082 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 29/83 with rotary paddles or arms, e.g. movable out of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/601 Motor control

Abstract

A fully automatic electronic milkshake mixer (10, FIG. 1) in which an operator sets scoop dial control (34, FIG. 1), based upon the number of scoops of ice-cream or related products placed in mixer cup. The mixer cup (28, FIG. 2) rotates automatically by motorized lower drive wheels (48, FIG. 1), and a top cup rim container guide/wheel assembly (54, FIG. 1) engages mixer cup upper lip (56, FIG. 2). Different sized mixer cups rotate perfectly, for faster, more complete mixing. The mixer automatically shifts from low to high speed (anti-splash feature), and turns off automatically when milkshake is done. A “ready” light (42, FIG. 1) illuminates, and a chime (68, FIG. 3) sounds—volume control and on/off being adjustable. “Manual” momentary pushbutton (32, FIG. 1) allows manual control of mixing speed and time, if desired, while cup rotates. For next milkshake, electronic mixer returns to fully automatic mode.

Claims

1. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) for mixing beverages, said automatic mixing machine comprising:

a) a support structure including a base (12, FIG.

     1) and upwardly-extending wall members (16, 18, FIG.

     1) connected to the base, wherein the wall members carry an agitator drive housing (22, FIG.

     1) positioned in spaced relationship to the base and from which rotatable agitator members (24, 26, FIG.

     1) extend toward the base for agitating beverages;

b) container supports (48, 54, FIG.

     1) carried by the support structure for supporting a beverage container (28, FIG.

     2) in a substantially upright position so that the agitator (26, FIG.

     1) extends into the container, wherein the container supports include a container drive (FIG.

     7) having at least one rotatable drive wheel (48, FIG.

     1) for engaging a container base (52, FIG.

     2) and for rotating the container about its axis during a mixing operation.

2. An automatic mixing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one drive wheel (48, FIG. 1) has a substantially hourglass shape and includes a recessed inner peripheral region (88, 90, 92, FIG. 4) within which a container base rim (52, FIG. 2) is adapted to be received.

3. An automatic mixing machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least one drive wheel (48, FIG. 1) is a unitary structure.

4. An automatic mixing machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least one drive wheel includes an outer drive element (88, FIG. 4) that has a surface that is adapted to face an inner side of a container base rim and an inner drive element (92, FIG. 4) that has a surface adapted to face an outer side of a container base rim, and wherein the outer and inner drive elements are spaced from each other by a spacer element (90, FIG. 4).

5. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 4, wherein the spacer element (90, FIG. 4) has an outer diameter that is smaller than that of each of the outer drive element (88, FIG. 4) and the inner drive element (92, FIG. 4).

6. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 4, wherein the drive element surfaces are inclined at an acute angle to an axis about which the drive elements rotate.

7. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 4, wherein the drive element surfaces face each other.

8. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including a pair of rotatable, laterally-spaced drive wheels (48, FIG. 1) that are supported from wall members (16, 18, FIG. 1), wherein the drive wheels each contact the container base (52, FIG. 2).

9. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including a container drive motor (74, FIGS. 3 and 74, FIG. 7) operatively connected with the at least one drive wheel (48, FIG. 1) for positively rotating the drive wheel.

10. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including a container upper rim guide member (54, FIGS. 1 and 54, FIG. 9).

11. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 10, wherein the upper rim guide member (54, FIG. 1) includes at least one guide wheel (58, FIGS. 1 and 58, FIG. 9) for engaging an upper rim (56, FIG. 2) of a container.

12. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one guide wheel (58, FIGS. 9 and 58, FIG. 10) has a substantially hourglass shape and includes a recessed inner annular region within which a container upper rim (56, FIG. 2) is adapted to be received.

13. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one guide wheel (58, FIG. 1) is a unitary structure.

14. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one guide wheel (58, FIG. 10) includes an outer guide element (162, FIG. 10) that has a guide surface that is adapted to face an inner side of a container upper rim (56, FIG. 2) and an inner guide element (162, FIG. 10) that has a guide surface adapted to face an outer side of a container upper rim (56, FIG. 2).

15. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 14, wherein the guide surfaces are inclined at an acute angle relative to an axis about which the at least one guide wheel (58, FIG. 9) rotates.

16. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 15, wherein the guide surfaces face each other.

17. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 10, including a pair of laterally-spaced guide wheels (58, FIG. 9) that are rotatably carried and are supported from the upper rim guide member (54, FIG. 9), wherein each guide wheel contacts the container upper rim (56, FIG. 2) at angularly-spaced positions.

18. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 17, wherein the guide wheels (58, FIG. 9) are rotatably carried on respective axes that are angularly disposed relative to each other.

19. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including a selector (34, FIG. 1) for manually providing user input information upon which agitator operating speeds and agitator operating times are based.

20. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 19, wherein the user input information corresponds with a predetermined volume of semi-solid material to be mixed with a liquid material within the container (28, FIG. 2) during a mixing operation.

21. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including at least one indicator for providing a signal indicative of the completion of a mixing operation.

22. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 21, wherein the signal is a visual signal provided by an indicator light (42, FIG.

23. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 21, wherein the signal is an audible signal provided by a sound source (68, FIG. 3).

24. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 23, wherein the sound source is a chime (68, FIG. 3).

25. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 21, including two indicators (42, FIGS. 1 and 68, FIG. 3) for providing respective visual and audible signals.

26. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 1, including means for automatically controlling agitator operating speed and operating time based upon an operator-provided volume of semi-solid material to be mixed with a liquid within the container (28, FIG. 2) during a mixing operation.

27. An automatic mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 26, including means for manually overriding the means for automatically controlling the agitator (26, FIG. 1) to enable selection by an operator of agitator operating speeds and operating times.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the mixing container (28, FIG. 2) continuously rotates to achieve faster, more complete mixing.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29, wherein the mixing container (28, FIG. 2) is rotated by a motorized drive system (FIG. 7).

31. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the agitator motor operating speed shifts automatically to avoid splashing of ingredients out of the mixing container (28, FIG. 2).

32. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the speed shifts from lower to higher speed as the mixing progresses, avoiding initial splashing while still achieving fast uniform mixing of ingredients.

33. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the user sets a dial control (34, FIG. 1) corresponding to the amount of semi-solid material placed into the mixing container (28, FIG. 2).

34. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) automatically turns off at the properly thick mixture consistency.

35. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the completion indicator signals alert an operator with a visual indicator light (42, FIG. 1), and an audible chime (68, FIG. 3).

36. A method in accordance with claim 35, wherein an on off switch (46, FIG. 3) and volume control (44, FIG. 3) allow user total control over the audible chime completion indicator (68, FIG. 3).

37. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein during a manual override mixing cycle, the mixing container (28, FIG. 2) still continuously rotates.

38. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein after a manual override mixing operation, an automatic return to automated mode for the next mixing cycle prevents an operator from forgetting to change back to an automatic setting.

40. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 39, including means to quickly mix the ingredients put in the mixer container to a properly thick, uniform consistency.

41. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 39, including means whereby the user selectable control (34, FIG. 1) is set according to the amount of semi-solid, frozen material placed into the mixture in the mixer container (28, FIG. 2).

42. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 41, wherein the frozen material to be mixed consists substantially of a mixture of ice-cream milkshake and related products.

43. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 41, wherein the user selectable control is a scoop dial (34, FIG. 1) corresponding to the number of ice-cream scoops contained in different sized milkshakes.

44. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 43, including means whereby the scoop dial control (34, FIG. 1) can be set to compensate for larger or smaller scoop sizes placed in the mixing container (28, FIG. 2) as per curved line demarcations (40, FIG. 1) adjacent to the scoop numbers on the scoop dial scale (36, FIG. 1).

45. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 43, including means whereby the user selectable scoop dial setting (34, FIG. 1) controls automated mixing speeds and mixing times.

46. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) in accordance with claim 39, including means whereby at the end of an automated mixing cycle, the fully automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1) turns itself off.

28. A method for mixing a beverage in a container (28, FIG. 2) carried on a mixing machine (10, FIG. 1) having an agitator (26, FIG. 1), said method comprising the steps of:

a) continuously rotating the mixing container (28, FIG.

     2);

b) automatically shifting agitator motor operating speeds;

c) turning the mixing machine (10, FIG.

     1) off at mixing cycle completion as per a user input control (34, FIG.

     1);

d) alerting an operator of completion with one or more indicator signals;

e) overriding automatic operation with a manual selector (32, FIG.

     1), at operator discretion, allowing manual control over agitator operating speeds and mixing times; and

f) returning automatically to fully automated operation for next mixing cycle.

39. An automatic mixer (10, FIG. 1), said automatic mixer incorporating a user selectable setting (34, FIG. 1) for controlling mixing results of a beverage placed in the mixer container (28, FIG. 2).