Heater/mixer for manufacturing a flavored product

An apparatus for heating a flavored coating and mixing the heated flavored coating with an edible substrate is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a frame adapted to support a kettle, the kettle for containing the flavored coating and the substrate to be mixed, a first heater box operative as a heat source, and a second heater box operative as a heat source. The first heater box is removably secured to the frame to permit removal of the first heater box and substitution therefore with the second heater box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heater/mixer (hereinafter “mixer”) for heating a flavored coating, such as caramel or a caramel mixture, and mixing the heated flavored coating with an edible substrate, such as popcorn, to coat the substrate with the heated coating, to manufacture a flavored product, such as caramel corn.

BACKGROUND

Heater/mixers for manufacturing flavored products are well known in the art. However such mixers typically have a heater box permanently attached to a frame. The heater box typically is either of a first type having a gas burner to produce a flame to produce the heat or of a second type having an electric heating element, such as infra-red, to produce the heat. This can lead to various problems, such as in the manufacture of the heater/mixer, or when one desires to substitute a gas burner heated heater box for an electrically heated heater box, or vice versa, on an existing heater mixer.

For example it is difficult if not impossible to convert an electrically heated mixer to a gas flame heated mixer, such as when the mixer is being moved to a site which has only gas, or vice versa. It also requires manufacturers of mixers to manufacture, and stock, both electrically heated and gas flame heated mixers.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a mixer with interchangeable electric and gas heating modules.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to any particular form described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to include all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

An apparatus, generally designated10and also referred to as a heater/mixer, is illustrated inFIG. 1. The heater/mixer10heats a flavored coating, such as caramel, and mixes the heated caramel with an edible substrate12, such as popcorn. For purposes of this description, caramel as a flavored coating will be described, but other coatings, well known in the art, may be used.

Heater/mixers are generally well known in the art.

The heater/mixer10includes such conventional items as a kettle14for containing the caramel and the popcorn12to be mixed.

The heater mixer10further includes a frame18, a lever mechanism20for tipping the kettle14, such as to empty the kettle14when the heating and mixing is complete. The heater mixer10further includes a conventional motor (not shown) actuated beater22.

Conventional heater/mixers include heater boxes, generally permanently secured to the frame, which may be either heated by a gas burner24(FIG. 2) or an electric heating element25(FIG. 4), such as an infrared heating element.

In accordance with the present invention, the heater/mixer10may include either a removable heater box, which may be a removable gas-fired heater box26a(seeFIGS. 1-2) or a removable, electrically heated heater box26b(FIG. 4).

The removable heater box permits interchangability between the types of heater boxes26a,26b. The removable heater box also permits simplified replacement of one type of heater box (26aor26b) with a heater box (26aor26b) of the same type.

Either type of the heater boxes26a,26b, is removably attached to the frame18by a releasable securing device28, such as one or more bolts30.

Each of the types of heater boxes26a,26b, is generally conventional, but for their removable attachment to the frame18.

Referring in particular toFIGS. 1-2, gas is provided to the gas fired burner24via a gas supply35, which may be removably connected to a source of as (not shown). The gas supply35may include a shut-off valve36, a gas filter37(for European CE compliance), a conventional pressure regulator38and a pressure gauge40.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the gas supply continues into the gas heater box26a, through a conventional gas control module42, to the gas burner24. The gas control module42performs such conventional functions as igniting pilot burners, confirming the pilot burners have been ignited and subsequently turning on the gas to the main, burners of the gas burner24. The control module42may also regulate the gas burner24to regulate the temperature of the gas heater box26a.

Removal of the gas heater box26amay include removal of the gas supply35.

The gas heater box26amay also include a wiring harness46extending from the control module42to a control panel34, which may be located inside of the frame18. The wiring harness may include a an electrical disconnect48to permit disconnection of the gas heater box26afrom the frame18.

The gas heater box26amay include a cover44and an annular ring45. The gas burner24fits into the ring45, and the ring45concentrates the heat from the gas burner24towards the kettle14.

The heater/mixer10having the electric heater box26bwith the electric heating element26bis illustrated inFIG. 4. Elements of the heater/mixer10having the electric heater box26hcommon to those of the heater/mixer10having the gas heater box26ahave retained the same reference numbers.

The heater/mixer10having the electric heater box26bincludes an electrical wiring harness46which has a first end end46aadapted to be connected to an electrical power supply (not shown) and a second end46bwhich connects to the electric heating element26b. Between the first end46aand the second end46h, travels to the control panel34, and into the electric heater box26b, where it attaches to the electric heating element25. The wiring harness46includes an electrical disconnect48, to permit removal of the electric heater box26from the frame18. The wiring harness46provides both control and power to the electrical heater box.

The electric heater box may include a conventional temperature sensor not shown) to permit regulation of the temperature of the electric heater box26bby the control panel34.

As discussed above, the electric heater box26bis removably attached to the frame18by a releasable securing device28, such as one or more of the bolts30a.

Preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.