Rinseable splash shield and method of use
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for rinsing a splash shield on a mixing machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a vessel containing contents to be mixed, the vessel including an opening;
further providing a mixing machine having a holder for receiving the vessel at an access location in the mixing machine, a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, a splash shield positionable over the opening of the vessel, and a nozzle oriented towards the splash shield;
after mixing the contents of the vessel using the mixing element and with the splash shield covering the opening, separating the splash shield and the vessel; and
directing rinsing fluid onto the splash shield using the nozzle while shielding the access location from the rinsing fluid.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
The present application describes a method for rinsing a splash shield. According to the disclosed method, a vessel containing contents to be mixed is positioned in a mixing machine, and a splash shield is positioned over the opening of the vessel. After the material within the vessel is mixed by a mixing element, the splash shield is separated from the vessel and rinsed by a nozzle on the mixing machine.
In another embodiment, a vessel containing contents to be mixed is positioned in a holder on a mixing machine, and a splash shield (which may or may not be rinseable) is positioned over the opening of the vessel. The contents of the vessel are mixed using a mixing element. During and/or after mixing, opposed relative movement of the mixing element and vessel may occur, creating an upward lifting force on the vessel. The weight of the shield is sufficient to overcome this upward lifting force on the vessel and thereby causes the vessel to remain seated in the holder.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for rinsing a splash shield on a mixing machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vessel containing contents to be mixed, the vessel including an opening; further providing a mixing machine having a holder for receiving the vessel at an access location in the mixing machine, a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, a splash shield positionable over the opening of the vessel, and a nozzle oriented towards the splash shield; after mixing the contents of the vessel using the mixing element and with the splash shield covering the opening, separating the splash shield and the vessel; and directing rinsing fluid onto the splash shield using the nozzle while shielding the access location from the rinsing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. On a mixing machine for mixing a liquid contained in a vessel having an opening, the mixing machine of a type including a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, the improvement comprising:
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a rinse chamber in the mixing machine, the rinse chamber having an entrance and a door moveable to a closed position covering the entrance; a splash shield carried by the mixing machine, the splash shield positionable covering the opening of the vessel, and at least one nozzle coupled to a source of rinse fluid and oriented to direct rinse fluid onto the splash shield within the rinse chamber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. On a mixing machine of a type having a rotatable mixing element extendable into a vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, the improvement comprising:
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a splash shield carried by the mixing machine, the splash shield positionable to shield the opening of the vessel, a source of rinse fluid; at least one nozzle coupled to the source of rinse fluid and oriented to direct rinse fluid onto the splash shield; and an access location in the mixing machine, the vessel positionable at the access location in preparation for mixing of the vessel contents and retrievable from the access location following mixing; and a barrier moveably positioned to shield the access location from rinse fluid. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification