Attachment mechanism

• US 20020181322A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Brunswick, Brian A., Donthnier, Thomas S., Schnipke, Janice J., Chen, Lilian, Yan, Gongpu
• Granted Patent: US 6,908,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/197
• 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 43/0705 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/071 Fixing of the stirrer to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/805 wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/608 Pivoted

Abstract

A mixing element for attachment to an output shaft of a mixer, the mixing element including a body having a mixing portion and a collar portion having an opening formed therein, the opening being shaped and located to receive the output shaft of a mixer therein. The mixing element further includes a retainer coupled to the body, the retainer being movable between an engaged position wherein at least part of the retainer protrudes into the opening and a disengaged position wherein the retainer does not protrude into the opening.

Claims

1. A mixing element for attachment to an output shaft of a mixer comprising:

a body having a mixing portion and a collar portion having an opening formed therein, said opening being shaped and located to receive said output shaft of a mixer therein; and

a retainer coupled to said body, said retainer being movable between an engaged position wherein at least part of said retainer protrudes into said opening and a disengaged position wherein said retainer does not protrude into said opening.

2. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said retainer is biased into said engaged position.

3. The mixing element of claim 1 further comprising a spring located between said retainer and said body, said spring biasing said retainer into said engaged position.

4. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said retainer includes a generally hemispherical tip.

5. The mixing element of claim 1 further comprising a gripping portion coupled to said retainer, said gripping portion protruding generally outwardly from said body.

6. The mixing element of claim 1 further comprising a torque transmitting surface located on said body and being shaped and located to engage a torque transmitting surface of said output shaft such that rotation of the said output shaft can be transmitted to the mixing element.

7. The mixing element of claim 6 wherein said mixing element includes a recess, and wherein said torque transmitting surface is located on a surface of said recess.

8. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said opening is a generally cylindrically-shaped opening.

9. The mixing element of claim 8 wherein said retainer is movable in a radial direction relative to said opening.

10. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said retainer is pivotable between said engaged and disengaged position.

11. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said mixing portion is an agitator shaped to mix the contents of a bowl.

12. The mixing element of claim 11 wherein said mixing portion includes a dough hook.

13. The mixing element of claim 1 wherein said collar portion includes a generally flat upper surface and a recess formed in said upper surface.

14. The mixing element of claim 13 wherein mixing element is rotatable about an central axis when said mixing element is coupled to said shaft, and wherein said recess extends generally perpendicular to said central axis.

15. The mixing element of claim 14 wherein said recess includes a first portion located on a first side of said central axis and a second portion located on an opposite side of said central axis.

16. The mixing element of claim 1 further comprising an actuator assembly shaped to be releasably coupled to said body, said actuator assembly including said retainer.

17. The mixing element of claim 16 wherein said actuator assembly includes a casing, a plunger received inside said casing, said plunger including said retainer, a spring located inside said casing to spring bias said plunger into said engaged position, and a button located adjacent to said casing and coupled to said plunger.

18. The mixing element of claim 17 wherein said body includes a threaded actuator assembly opening extending to said opening, and wherein said actuator assembly is threadedly received in said actuator assembly opening.

20. The mixer of claim 19 wherein said recess extends around an outer perimeter of said recess.

21. The mixer of claim 19 wherein said output component includes said shaft and said mixing element includes said opening.

22. The mixer of claim 19 wherein said shaft has a generally circular cross section, and wherein said opening is shaped to closely receive said shaft therein.

23. The mixer of claim 19 wherein said output component includes a torque transmitting surface shaped to engage a torque transmitting surface of said mixing element such that rotation of said output shaft can be transmitted to said mixing element.

24. The mixer of claim 23 wherein said output component includes a driving pin which includes said torque transmitting surface and wherein said mixing element includes a pin recess shaped to receive said driving pin therein, a wall of said recess including said torque transmitting surface of said mixing element being a wall of said recess.

25. The mixer of claim 21 wherein said pin recess extends generally perpendicular to a central axis of said opening.

26. The mixer of claim 19 wherein said shaft includes a tapered tip such that when said tip is inserted into said opening said tip can engage said clip and urge said clip into said disengaged position.

27. The mixer of claim 19 wherein at least one of said output component or said shaft recess includes at least one generally axially extending slot formed therein.

19. A mixer comprising:

a mixer body having a rotatable output component and a motor operatively coupled to said output component;

a mixing element shaped to be rotationally coupled to said output component, wherein one of said output component or said mixing element includes a shaft having a recess formed therein, and wherein the other of said output component or said mixing element has an opening shaped to receive said shaft therein to rotationally couple said mixing element and said output component; and

a retainer coupled to said one of said output component or said mixing element including said opening, said retainer being shaped and located such that at least part of the said retainer can be received in said recess when said shaft is received in said opening to axially couple said mixing element and said output component.

28. A method for operating a mixer comprising the steps of:

providing a mixer including a mixer body having a rotatable output shaft having a recess formed therein;

providing a mixing element having an opening and a movable retainer mounted thereon; and

sliding said shaft into the said opening such that said retainer is received in said recess to axially couple said output shaft and said mixing element.