Patent Application
20100180431
This application relates generally to mixing machines and, more particularly to a mixing machine and associated bowl support arrangement.
Mixers are used to mix and blend a variety of materials, such as food product. Typically, the materials are placed in a bowl and the bowl is located below a mixer head that includes a rotatable output member with a mixer tool. Various arrangements have been used to support the bowl beneath the mixer head. In some instances, the bowl is supported using a pair of bowl mount arms that extend about the bowl.
In one aspect, a mixing machine includes a base, a head including a rotatable output member for receiving a mixer tool and a support column extending vertically from the base to the head. A bowl receiving assembly is below the head. The bowl receiving assembly is configured to move vertically along the support column and defining a bowl receiving location. A bowl lock assembly includes a moveable bowl lock member carried by the bowl receiving assembly and having an unlock position and a lock position. The bowl lock assembly is configured such that placement of the bowl lock member in the unlock position or the lock position depends on a vertical position of the bowl receiving assembly.
In another aspect, a method of mounting a bowl on a mixing machine for a mixing operation is provided. The method includes locating the bowl at a bowl receiving assembly positioned below a mixer head of the mixing machine. The bowl receiving assembly is raised vertically toward the mixer head thereby lifting the bowl. The raising step causes a bowl lock member of a bowl lock assembly to move from an unlock position into a lock position. In the lock position, the bowl lock member is located to engage a mount protrusion of the bowl. In the unlock position, the bowl lock member does not engage the mount protrusion of the bowl.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the mixing machine 10 includes a power take off 45 that extends outwardly from a front side of the head portion 16 and may take the form of a protruding hub or boss that is adapted for connection with mixer accessories such as meat grinders, slicers, etc. Internal of the power take off 45 may be a drive member that is rotated by the motor that also rotates the output member 20 via the gear system.
An exemplary mix position of a bowl 40 is shown by
The bowl 40 is mounted at the bowl receiving assembly 46 that is mounted for movement between a raised position toward the head portion 16 and a lowered position away from the head portion, the raised position being used during mixing operations and the lowered position being used for bowl installation and removal as well as for installation and removal of mixing tools on the rotatable output member 20. In this regard, curved arms 24 of the bowl receiving assembly 46 connect with a central support 50 and the support 50 rides upward and downward on a pair of spaced apart guide rails 54 on the front side of the column 18. A power lift mechanism (e.g., see screw 56 of
Shown diagrammatically by
The bowl lock assembly 60 includes the bowl lock member 62 that is carried by the bowl receiving assembly 46 and extends through an opening 64 in the central support 50 of the bowl receiving assembly. The bowl lock member 62 includes a projecting portion 66 that, in the illustrated embodiment, is pin-shaped including an end 68 that is located externally at a bowl-facing side of the opening 64 and a follower portion 74 that is in the shape of an enlarged head that extends outward from the projecting portion. A slot 76 is formed in the projecting portion 66 and extends to the end 68. The slot 76 is sized to receive a protrusion 78 extending upwardly at the support rest 72. The slot 76 has a length that allows the bowl lock member 62 to extend and retract between its lock and unlock positions and, along with the protrusion 78, prevents rotation of the bowl lock member within the opening 64.
In some embodiments, the bowl lock member 62 is biased, e.g., by spring 80 toward the unlock position. The spring 80 can be a coil spring that is wrapped about the projecting portion 66 and located between the follower portion 74 and the central support. A stop 82 (e.g., a pin, an o-ring, etc.) is provided at the end 68 of the bowl lock member 62. The stop 82 is sized to prevent retraction of the end 68 into the opening 64, for example, due to the biasing of the bowl lock member 62 toward the unlock position. In some embodiments, the stop 82 is located within a notch or opening 84 to inhibit sliding of the stop off of the end 68 of the bowl lock member 62. A bushing 86 may also be provided within the opening 64. The bushing 86 may be formed of a low friction material (e.g., Teflon) to facilitate sliding movement of the bowl lock member 62 within the opening 64.
A cam member 90 is mounted to the support portion 18. The position of the cam member is fixed (e.g., using fasteners 92) thereby providing a fixed cam surface 94 that includes a ramp portion 96 and a flat portion 98. The cam member 90 is located in the vertical travel path of the bowl lock member 62 to affect horizontal movement of the bowl lock member as the bowl receiving assembly 46 moves upward and downward, as will be described in greater detail below.
Referring still to
Referring to
Referring to
Lowering the bowl receiving assembly 46 causes the bowl lock member 62 and its follower portion 74 to descend along the cam surface 94. The bowl lock member 62 remains engaged with the cam surface 94 as it moves over the ramp portion 96 (see
While an L-shaped mount protrusion is illustrated above, various other arrangements are contemplated. For example, referring to
It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that changes and modifications are possible. Accordingly, other embodiments are contemplated and modifications and changes could be made without departing from the scope of this application.
