The present disclosure generally relates to dampening seals and blending apparatus and specifically to systems and methods for dampening a blending blade assembly relative to a blending jar.
Food processors and blending machines are being used now more than ever, particularly in the high-volume commercial beverage industry. People are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits, in terms of taste and quality, of well-processed beverages and other blended foods. Blended fruit smoothies and similar fruit drinks made with a food processor or blending machine are popular with all types of people, including fitness conscious and more casual consumers. Powerful blenders are also regularly used to make sauces, dips, dressings, nut butters, soups, and a variety of other foods.
Cold beverages, in particular, which have fruit (frozen or fresh) and ice ingredients to prepare, present unique challenges in beverage preparation. An appropriate blending machine will break down the ice, fruit, and other ingredients in an attempt to achieve an ideal uniform drink consistency.
In addition to the recent increase in the popularity of smoothies, food processors and blending machines are being used to produce many new and different beverages. For example, different types of coffees, shakes, dairy drinks, and the like are now commonly served at many different types of retail business locations. Consumers are demanding more diversity and variety in the beverages available at these smoothie and other retail stores. The keys to producing a high quality beverage, irrespective of the specific type of beverage, are quality ingredients and a high quality blending machine that will quickly and efficiently blend the ingredients to produce a drink with uniform consistency over a large number of duty cycles. Recent years have also seen a rise in residential ownership of high-powered blenders to allow consumers to enjoy these products at home.
One issue associated with businesses that depend on blending machines is the speed with which the beverage or drink is prepared. In the food preparation industry, time equals money. Beverages have traditionally been made by retrieving the appropriate ingredients, placing the ingredients inside a mixing container, and actuating a motor which drives a blade mounted inside the mixing container to blend the contents held within the mixing container. Each second of time wasted, even a fraction of a second of time wasted, adds up over time to significant amounts of money lost for any commercial operation. Residential users also use high speed settings to speed up production, create a smoother product, and minimize the duration of associated noise. Thus, blending blades are frequently rotated at high speeds for economic reasons as well as to improve the end user's experience.
Over time, blending at high speeds and high power levels can be abusive and even destructive to a blending jar and blade assembly. Repeated impact of the blade against frozen or other hard ingredients in the jar induces strong vibrations and resultant forces in the blade shaft, bearings, and other parts of the blade assembly. This energy must be dissipated by transmission through the jar and/or base of the blender in ways that can cause danger or damage. Accordingly, improvements to food processors and blending apparatus are needed to improve their durability, safety, and quality.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a blender configured to dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. The blender may comprise a blender base and a blending jar mounted to the blender base. The blending jar may have a seal opening. A blending blade assembly may also be included that has a blending blade configured to rotate in the blending jar, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal may prevent contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and may dampen forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. A motor may be in the blender base that is configured to drive the jar shaft to rotate the blending blade in the blending jar.
The seal opening may be positioned at a bottom end of the blending jar. A circular motion guide housing may also be included that is positioned between the circular motion guide and the jar seal. The circular motion guide housing may have an annular groove, and the jar seal may be positioned in the annular groove. The jar seal may have a plurality of protrusions extending from a surface on the jar seal.
In some embodiments, the blending blade, jar shaft, and circular motion guide are rigid relative to each other. The blending jar may have an inner surface at the seal opening and an outer surface at the seal opening, and the jar seal may extend into contact with the inner surface and the outer surface. The blending jar may have an upward surface at the seal opening and a downward surface at the seal opening, and the jar seal may extend into contact with the upward surface and the downward surface.
The jar seal may be annular and may comprise a contact surface contacting the seal opening, the contact surface comprising a groove.
The jar seal may also comprise a first jar seal and a second jar seal, the first jar seal being spaced from the second jar seal. The jar seal may include a plurality of protrusions extending from a surface on the jar seal contacting the seal opening.
The blending jar may also have an annular groove around the seal opening, with the jar seal being seated in the annular groove. In another embodiment, the blending jar comprises an upper annular groove and a lower annular groove, with the jar seal being seated in the upper and lower annular grooves.
In another case, the blending jar comprises a post with the seal opening extending through the post. The post may have a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the jar seal covers the top and bottom surfaces of the post.
Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a peripherally-dampened blending blade assembly that includes a drive shaft, a blending blade attached to an end of the drive shaft and configured to rotate with the drive shaft, a circular motion guide positioned around the drive shaft, and a flexible seal positioned around the circular motion guide. The flexible seal may comprise a dampening material and many be configured to contact a blending jar.
This blending blade assembly may further comprise a housing positioned between the circular motion guide and the flexible seal. A circular motion guide seal may be positioned between the jar shaft and the housing, with the circular motion guide seal sealing the circular motion guide. A housing may be positioned external to the flexible seal.
Other embodiments may include a method of dampening impact forces between a blending blade assembly and a blending jar. For example, one method may comprise providing a blending jar that has a bottom opening, positioning a blade assembly in the bottom opening, wherein the blade assembly includes a blade positioned within the blending jar, a jar shaft extending through the bottom opening and attached to the blade, and a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and dampening relative movement between the blade assembly as a whole and the blending jar.
A dampening member may be positioned between the blending jar and the blade assembly that may dampen the relative movement between the blade assembly as a whole and the blending jar. The method may also include sealing the bottom opening. The relative movement may be induced by the blade impacting media held in the blending jar.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify a variety of preferred embodiments.
The accompanying drawings and figures illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the present description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of this disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label.
While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
The present disclosure generally relates to a blender configured to dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar, thereby minimizing and dissipating the transmission of vibrations and jolts to the jar. A blender may include a blender base, a blending jar mounted to the base, and a blending blade assembly positioned in a seal opening in the blending jar. The blending blade assembly may comprise a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and at least one jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal may prevent contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and may dampen forced induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. A motor may be in the blender base and may drive the blade via the jar shaft.
In some embodiments, the jar seal may have a plurality of protrusions or ridges that extend from its outer surface. The protrusions or ridges may help ensure a tight seal between the blending jar and the blade assembly or between the jar seal and a housing covering the jar seal.
A circular motion guide housing may be positioned between the circular motion guide and the jar seal, and the jar seal may be held in position by the housing. For example, the housing may have an annular groove in which the jar seal may be retained between the housing and the seal opening of the jar. The jar seal may also have an external groove in which the seal opening of the jar is positioned. Alternatively, the jar may comprise an annular groove around the seal opening, and the jar seal may be in the annular groove of the seal opening. In some cases, the jar may have an upper annular groove and a lower annular groove that extend around the seal opening on upper and lower surfaces of the bottom of the jar. The jar seal may be seated in the upper and lower annular grooves.
The jar seal may be configured to contact an inner surface and an outer surface of the jar at the seal opening. In some arrangements, the inner surface may be an inward- or upward-facing surface of the mixing container or jar that faces the blade, and the outer surface may be an outward- or downward-facing surface that faces away from the blade. In another case, the inner surface may be defined as a radially internal surface and the outer surface may be a radially external surface relative to the jar shaft. Thus, the inner surface of the jar at the seal opening may face radially inward and the outer surface may face radially outward. The jar seal may wrap around portions of the jar to contact the inner and outer surfaces of the jar at the seal opening, or multiple component parts of the jar seal may contact each surface individually or separately. In this manner, the surface area in contact between the seal and the bottom wall of the jar and seal opening may be increased to improve sealing. This may also increase the number of directions in which the blade assembly may be dampened relative to the jar.
Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a blending blade assembly for use in a blending apparatus or food processor. The blade assembly may comprise a drive shaft, a blending blade attached to an end of the drive shaft and configured to rotated with it, a circular motion guide positioned around the drive shaft, and a flexible seal comprising a dampening material and configured to contact a blending jar. A housing may be positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal, such as a circular motion guide housing. The housing may also be positioned around or extend around an external surface of the flexible seal. The dampening material may comprise any material with compliant properties, such that it can dampen the impact energy by elastically deforming the dampening material. Common materials for the application would be silicones, TPUs, TPEs, natural rubbers, and other mid-durometer plastics.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method of dampening impact forces between a blending blade assembly and a blending jar, including providing a blending jar with a bottom opening, positioning a blade assembly in the bottom opening, and dampening relative movement between the blade assembly as a whole and the blending jar.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to increase the lifespan and durability of a blade assembly and associated blending jar by dampening their relative movements when a blade impacts hard materials at high speeds. Thus, damage to the blade assembly or jar may be isolated from the other, and damaged components can be replaced without the entire jar and blade assembly needing replacement. Also, potentially damaging forces applied to one of the blade assembly or jar may be less likely to be transferred into the other.
The present description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Thus, it will be understood that changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add other procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments.
The figures show representative embodiments of a blending device that may implement some of the features and processes described herein.
The base 102 may be referred to as a blending base or housing of the blender 100. The base 102 may comprise a user interface 106 such as a plurality of control buttons 108 and a display 110. The base 102 may be configured to house and contain a motor 103 connected to the blade assembly of the jar 104. The base 102 may also be configured to be positioned on a flat horizontal surface to support the motor and jar 104 during blending. While in this embodiment the base 102 is shown as a blender base, in other embodiments, the base 102 may comprise additional features, such as a connection to a mixing bowl or other attachments, such as those used in a food processor or food mixer. It will be understood that base 102 is shown as a representative example of one of many different possible kinds of bases of blenders or other motorized food processing devices.
The jar 104 may be mounted to a top surface 112 of the base 102. The base 102 may have a base flange 114 configured to be inserted at least partially into a jar flange 116 of the jar 104 to ensure proper orientation and secure fit between the jar 104 and the base 102. In another embodiment, a jar flange 116 may be positioned within a base flange 114.
Additional features of the jar 104 may be viewed with reference to
A blade 128 may be positioned at a lower end 130 of the jar 104. The blade 128 may be configured to rotate generally horizontally in the lower end 130 of the jar 104 due to rotation of a jar shaft 132 (L e., drive shaft) that is configured to connect to a motor shaft 134 (see
The blade 128 and jar shaft 132 may be parts of a blade assembly 138 positioned in a seal opening 140 at the lower end 130 of the jar 104. The blade assembly 138 is shown in detail in
The blade 128 may have a central opening 160 configured to receive the drive shaft 132 as shown in
As shown in
The bearing 142 is a circular motion guide that may be a sealed bearing configured to provide smooth rotation for the jar shaft 132 relative to the jar 104 or relative to the jar seals 144, 146. Other types of circular motion guides may be used as well, such as, for example, bushings or braces. As shown in
The upper and lower housings 152, 154 may engage the upper and lower shaft seals 148, 150 and the bearing 142. The upper and lower housings 152, 154 may comprise a rigid material, such as a metal or hard plastic material to withstand impacts of media flowing in the jar 104 and to shield the blade assembly 138 from damage, particularly at the upper and lower shaft seals 148, 150 and at the first and second jar seals 144, 146 since these seals 144, 146, 148, 150 may typically comprise a resilient material that is less durable than the housings 152, 154.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the housings 152, 154 may completely cover the external surfaces of the first and second jar seals 144, 146 that would be exposed when the jar seals 144, 146 are in position around the seal opening 140. In other cases, the housings 152, 154 may partially cover the external surfaces of the first and second jar seals 144, 146, as shown in
The housings 152, 154 are made in two pieces in the embodiment of
The upper post 192 may improve the sealing ability of the blade assembly 138 by requiring fluids that happen to penetrate the seal groove 174 to have to also move upward along the external walls 188, 190 (where additional sealing from internal surface 184 and ridges 186 is provided) before getting through the upper jar seal 144 to the bearing 142 or to the lower jar seal 146. In conjunction with the laterally-facing surfaces 172 of the upper housing 152, the upper post 192 also helps to provide a slope to guide material and fluids in the mixing container 115 away from the blade assembly 138 and the seal opening 140 area in general. The lower post 194 may perform these functions when the jar 104 is upside down.
In at least one embodiment, the upper and lower posts 192, 194 may be collectively referred to as a post that extends through the bottom wall 118. This collective post may comprise a top surface (e.g., surface 190 of upper post 192) and a bottom surface (e.g., surface 190 of lower post 194). The jar seals 144, 146 may cover these top and bottom surfaces 190. In some embodiments, a single jar seal extends around and covers the top and bottom surfaces 190. See, e.g.,
Another benefit of the sideways “T” cross-sectional shape formed by the posts 192, 194 and the bottom wall 118 is that the jar seals 144, 146 may extend around and dampen movement of the blade assembly 138 relative to the bottom wall 118 in every direction, namely laterally left and right, vertically up and down, and rotationally (i.e., with the blade assembly 138 tilting toward the sidewalls 116 of the jar 104). In each direction or mode of motion, at least one portion of the jar seal 144, 146 remains between the blade assembly 138 and the bottom wall 118 or posts 192, 194 so that there is no mode without dampening.
In
The upper and lower housings 252-A, 254-A in this embodiment contact the seal opening 240 as well. By positioning the upper and lower housings 252-A, 254-A between the jar seals 244-A, 246-A and the bottom wall 218-A, relative motion between the blade assembly 200-A and the bottom wall 218-A may cause less wear on the surfaces of the jar seals 244-A, 246-A that are protected by the upper and lower housings 252-A, 254-A. The jar seals 244-A, 246-A may still, however, contact the seal opening 240 between the housings 252-A, 254-A to provide a seal against penetration of fluids or other materials through the seal opening 240.
The embodiment of
In
The external housings 296 of the bearings 242 of
In the embodiments of
The embodiments of
The embodiments of
An additional aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of dampening impact forces between a blending blade assembly and a blending jar. The method may include providing a blending jar that has a bottom opening and positioning a blade assembly in the bottom opening. The bottom opening may be a seal opening and the blade assembly may be a blade assembly discussed elsewhere herein. The blade assembly may comprise a blade positioned in the blending jar, such as, for example, in the mixing container 115, a jar shaft extending through the bottom opening and attached to the blade, and a bearing or other circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft.
The method may further include dampening relative movement between the blade assembly as a whole and the blending jar, such as, for example, by positioning a dampening member between the bottom opening and the blade assembly. The method may also include sealing the bottom opening, such as by using a dampening member to seal the bottom opening by positioning the dampening member between the blade assembly and the bottom opening. Relative movement between the blade assembly and the jar may be induced by many things, such as, for example, rotation of the blade, impacts of media in the jar against the blade assembly, or vibration of a motor engaging the jar shaft. Implementation of such methods may extend the lifespan and general durability of a blending jar and blade assembly.
Various inventions have been described herein with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples. However, they will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions disclosed herein, in that those inventions set forth in the claims below are intended to cover all variations and modifications of the inventions disclosed without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The terms “including:” and “having” come as used in the specification and claims shall have the same meaning as the term “comprising.”