APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELF-CLEANING BLENDER SYSTEM

• US 20170202397A1
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North American Robotics Corporation
• Original Assignee: North American Robotics Corporation
• Inventors: Vu, My, Pineda, Elvine, Udomphol, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,413,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0766 activated by the proper positioning of the mixing bowl
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0772 activated by the proper positioning of the cover
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0777 in which the activating element on the cover transmits a signal to a safety device in the base element via the mixing bowl removably seated on this base element, e.g. pin on the cover moves a pushrod in the bowl handle to operate safety switch in the base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4282 Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2601/16 Agitation of cleaning liquid by impeller
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/06 Mixing of food ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/14 Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/59 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/35 Mixing after turning the mixing vessel upside down
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/1452 using fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/212 of the driving system data, e.g. torque, speed or power data
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3213 at the lower side of the axis, e.g. driving the stirrer from the bottom of a receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/421 having a cup-shaped or cage-type form
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/53 characterised by the configuration of the interior, e.g. baffles for facilitating the mixing of components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/5312 : with vertical baffles mounted on the walls
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/093 : by the force of jets or sprays B08B9/0813 , B08B9/20 take precedence

Abstract

A system for processing foodstuffs includes a chamber including foodstuffs, a blade assembly, and a processor. The blade assembly includes blades configured to rotate within the chamber based on initiation of a blend cycle. The processor is configured to determine a trigger event to initiate a cleaning cycle of the blade assembly to remove foodstuffs remaining in the chamber, and execute the cleaning cycle, responsive to detecting the trigger event, by causing fluid to be injected into the chamber, causing the blades of the blade assembly to rotate for a predetermined amount of time, and cause removal of at least a portion of the fluid and the remaining foodstuffs from the chamber.

Claims

1. A method for automatically cleaning a blending apparatus, comprising:

initiating a blend cycle to cause blades of a blade assembly of the blending apparatus to rotate within a chamber including foodstuffs;

determining, by a processor, a trigger event to initiate a cleaning cycle of the blade assembly to remove foodstuffs remaining in the chamber; and

responsive to detecting the trigger event, executing the cleaning cycle, the cleaning cycle comprising

injecting fluid into the chamber;

rotating the blades of the blade assembly for a predetermined amount of time; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid and the remaining foodstuffs from the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger event is based on at least one of a predetermined number of blend cycles, a removal of a container from the blending apparatus, or a predetermined time duration having passed since a previous cleaning cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the blades of the blade assembly includes rotating the blades at half of a maximum speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting fluid into the chamber includes releasing fluid from a fluid injector toward the blade assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning cycle further comprises actuating a blade shield to move into a first position, the blade shield including a surface sized to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the blade assembly when at the first position to form a portion of the chamber.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising actuating the blade shield to move into a second, retracted position responsive to at least one of detecting insertion of a container or completion of the cleaning cycle.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising sealing the blade assembly against the blade shield.

8. A system for processing foodstuffs, comprising:

a chamber including foodstuffs;

a blade assembly including blades, the blades configured to rotate within the chamber based on initiation of a blend cycle; and

a processor configured to

determine a trigger event to initiate a cleaning cycle of the blade assembly to remove foodstuffs remaining in the chamber; and

execute, responsive to detecting the trigger event, the cleaning cycle, wherein the processor is configured to execute the cleaning cycle by

causing fluid to be injected into the chamber;

causing the blades of the blade assembly to rotate for a predetermined amount of time; and

causing removal of at least a portion of the fluid and the remaining foodstuffs from the chamber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the trigger event is based on at least one of a predetermined number of blend cycles, a removal of a container from the blending apparatus, or a predetermined time duration having passed since a previous cleaning cycle.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the blade assembly is further configured to rotate the blades at half of a maximum speed.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause a fluid injector to release the fluid toward the blade assembly.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a blade shield including a surface sized to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the blade assembly when at a first position adjacent to the blade assembly, wherein the cleaning cycle further includes causing, by the processor, the blade shield to move into the first position to form a portion of the chamber.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to actuate the blade shield to move into a second, retracted position responsive to at least one of detecting insertion of a container or completion of the cleaning cycle.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the cleaning cycle includes causing, by the processor, the blade assembly to seal against the blade shield.

15. A non-transient computer-readable medium containing instructions configured to cause a control circuit to perform a method of:

initiating a blend cycle to cause blades of a blade assembly of the blending apparatus to rotate within a chamber including foodstuffs;

determining a trigger event to initiate a cleaning cycle of the blade assembly to remove foodstuffs remaining in the chamber; and

responsive to detecting the trigger event, executing the cleaning cycle, the cleaning cycle comprising

injecting fluid into the chamber;

rotating the blades of the blade assembly for a predetermined amount of time; and

removing at least a portion of the fluid and the remaining foodstuffs from the chamber.

16. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the trigger event is based on at least one of a predetermined number of blend cycles, a removal of a container from the blending apparatus, or a predetermined time duration having passed since a previous cleaning cycle.

17. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein rotating the blades of the blade assembly includes rotating the blades at half of a maximum speed.

18. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein injecting fluid into the chamber includes releasing fluid from a fluid injector toward the blade assembly.

19. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cleaning cycle further comprises actuating a blade shield to move into a first position, the blade shield including a surface sized to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the blade assembly when at the first position to form a portion of the chamber.

20. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the blade assembly to seal against the blade shield.