Patent Application
20230371753
The present disclosure relates to a food processing device and, more particularly, to a lid and blade assembly of a micro puree machine for making frozen foods and drinks.
Home use machines that are intended to make ice creams, gelatos, frozen yogurts, sorbets and the like are known in the art. Typically, a user adds a series of non-frozen ingredients to a beaker. The ingredients are then churned by a paddle while a refrigeration mechanism simultaneously freezes the ingredients. These devices have known shortcomings including, but not limited to, the amount of time and effort required by the user to complete the ice cream making process. Machines of this nature are impractical for preparing most non-dessert food products.
An alternative type of machine known to make a frozen food product is a micro-puree machine. Typically, machines of this nature spin and plunge a blade into a pre-frozen ingredient or combination of ingredients. While able to make frozen desserts like ice creams, gelatos, frozen yogurts, sorbets and the like, micro puree style machines can also prepare non-dessert types of foods such as non-dessert purees and mousses. In addition, consumers can prepare either an entire batch of ingredients or a pre-desired number of servings. However, a problem with current micro puree machines occurs when low sugar recipes result in buildup of ice around the blade. This can cause blade detection sensors to believe that the blade is installed in the device when it is not, potentially leading to product failures and misuse.
This disclosure describes a lid and blade assembly for a micro puree machine that addresses the problem of ice buildup around the blade during processing. The lid includes a central aperture for receiving a central hub of the blade. At least two cutting arms and at least two mixing arms extend radially outward from the central hub. A retaining component retains the blade within the lid during processing. Advantageously, the lid may include a recess below the retaining component for collecting slush and ice displaced by the blade during processing. Portions of the blade may also include serrated grooves for clearing slush deposits when the blade engages the lid.
Embodiments of the lid and blade assembly of this disclosure may include one or more of the following, in any suitable combination.
In some embodiments, the lid and blade assembly of this disclosure includes a blade having a central support hub including an angled ledge. The blade also includes at least one cutting member extending outward from a circumferential surface of the central support hub and an engagement surface extending at least partially around a circumference of the central support hub. The assembly also includes a lid having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least one retaining component between the upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface includes a wall defining at least one recess below the at least one retaining component. The lid further defines an aperture for coupling to the central support hub of the blade. When the central support hub is coupled to the aperture, a portion of the at least one retaining component engages the engagement surface.
In further embodiments, the at least one recess defines a volume arranged to receive a portion of processed material displaced by the central support hub. In embodiments, the central support hub includes a plurality of rails extending along opposing sides of the at least one recess. In embodiments, the angled ledge of the central support hub defines a first plurality of serrated grooves. In embodiments, an overhang of the first plurality of the serrated grooves is less than an overhang of a remainder of the angled ledge. In embodiments, the blade comprises at least two cutting arms and at least two mixing arms. In embodiments, the at least two cutting arms define a second plurality of serrated grooves.
In yet further embodiments, the central support hub defines an opening for accepting a mixing shaft of the micro puree machine. In embodiments, the engagement surface is an undercut defined by a lower surface of the angled ledge. In embodiments, the at least one retaining component is spring biased towards the aperture. In embodiments, the lid is coupleable to a beaker of the micro puree machine. In embodiments, the beaker contains one or more pre-frozen ingredients for processing by the micro puree machine. In embodiments, the blade comprises a unitary structure. In embodiments, the lid further comprises a release lever arm for engaging the at least one retaining component. In embodiments, the engagement surface extends radially outward at a 90-degree angle relative to a central axis of the central support hub.
In some embodiments, a lid of a micro puree machine of this disclosure includes an upper surface, a lower surface and at least one retaining component between the upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface includes a wall defining at least one recess below the at least one retaining component. The lid further defines an aperture for coupling to a central support hub of a blade. The at least one recess defines a volume arranged to receive a portion of processed material displaced by the central support hub. In embodiments, the at least one retaining component is spring biased towards the aperture. In embodiments, the lid is coupleable to a beaker of the micro puree machine.
In some embodiments, a blade for a micro puree machine of this disclosure includes a central support hub having an angled ledge and at least one cutting member extending outward from a circumferential surface of the central support hub. The angled ledge defines a first plurality of serrated grooves. In embodiments, an overhang of the first plurality of serrated grooves is less than an overhang of a remainder of the angled ledge. In embodiments, the at least one cutting member comprises at least two cutting arms and at least two mixing arms. The at least two cutting arms define a second plurality of serrated grooves.
A reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings will make apparent the advantages of these and other features. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description serve as an explanation only and do not restrict aspects of the disclosure as claimed.
Reference to the detailed description, combined with the following figures, will make the disclosure more fully understood, wherein:
In the following description, like components have the same reference numerals, regardless of different illustrated embodiments. To illustrate embodiments clearly and concisely, the drawings may not necessarily reflect appropriate scale and may have certain features shown in somewhat schematic form. The disclosure may describe and/or illustrate features in one embodiment, and in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments, and/or combined with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
In the specification and claims, for the purposes of describing and defining the invention, the terms “about” and “substantially” represent the inherent degree of uncertainty attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms “about” and “substantially” moreover represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. Open-ended terms, such as “comprise,” “include,” and/or plural forms of each, include the listed parts and can include additional parts not listed, while terms such as “and/or” include one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. Use of the terms “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below” and the like helps only in the clear description of the disclosure and does not limit the structure, positioning and/or operation of the feed chute assembly in any manner.
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While the disclosure particularly shows and describes preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and details may exist without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. The scope of this present application intends to cover such variations. As such, the foregoing description of embodiments of the present application does not intend to limit the full scope conveyed by the appended claims.
