Oscillating blender

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blender (10) that employs mixing blades (20) that are capable of producing rotational mixing action and a vertically oscillating mixing action. The invention includes mixing blades (20) which are in communication with a drive source for the production of rotational movement and the use of a waveform ramp (32) and guide (30) for the production of vertical mixing action.

Description: Background of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a food preparation apparatus, and more particularly, to a blender that employs mixing blades that are capable of producing a rotational mixing action and a vertically oscillating mixing action. An electric motor acts as the drive source and vertical oscillation is produced by a waveform ramp that raises and lowers the mixing blades. U.S. Patent Specification No. US-A-5150967 discloses a milk shake machine (cf. preamble of claim 1) in which a first motor serves to rotationally drive a mixing head and a second motor is employed to provide vertical oscillation for the mixing head. Summary of the Invention The purpose of this invention is to provide a food preparation apparatus that increases the mixing efficiency over that typically associated with blenders currently available in the marketplace. Not only does the invention impart rotational movement to the mixing blades, as with conventional devices, the invention also uses a waveform ramp to vertically oscillate the mixing blades as well. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a food preparation apparatus which is more efficient than those currently available. Another object of the present invention is to provide a food preparation apparatus which has a vertically oscillating mixing action. Another object of the present invention is to provide a food preparation apparatus which uses a waveform ramp to provide vertical oscillation. The invention, therefore, provides a mixing apparatus comprising: container for holding material to be mixed; said container attachable to a transmission; a mixing blade attachable to said transmission and disposed within said container when said container is attached to said transmission; said transmission comprising a housing, power source, drive shaft and waveform ramp; said drive shaft connecting said power source to said mixing blade and said waveform ramp, whereby said mixing blade and waveform are rotated when said drive source is activated; and said waveform ramp adapted to engage said mixing blade, whereby said mixing blade is oscillated on a vertical axis when said drive source is activated. This invention also provides a mixing apparatus comprising: a container for holding material to be mixed; said container attachable to a transmission having an attachable mixing blade that is disposed within said container when said container is attached to said transmission; said transmission comprising a housing, power source, drive shaft, waveform ramp and a guide; said drive shaft connected to said power source and said mixing blade, whereby said mixing blade is rotated during the activation of said power source; said guide connected to said power source and adapted to continuously engage said waveform ramp while being rotated by said drive source; and said engagement of said waveform ramp and said guide produces vertical oscillation, whereby said mixing blade is vertically oscillated. Brief Description Of The Drawings These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in the several views, and in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with portions removed to reveal aspects of the invention; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the transmission of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing another embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food preparation apparatus, such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists of a blender 10 having a container or pitcher 12, attachable transmission 14 having an outer housing 15, and an electric motor (not shown). Pitcher 12 is coupled to transmission housing 15 by attachment ring 16 formed on housing 15 which further includes a shaft seal 18 and may further use other seals to form a liquid barrier when pitcher 12 is attached. When assembled mixing blade 20, which is attached to first shaft 22, is located within the mixing chamber of pitcher 12. Contained within housing 15 are the components of transmission 14 which include a pressure plate spring 24, pressure plate 26, splined shaft connection 28, tracking guide 30, waveform ramp 32, second shaft 34, and speed reduction gears 36. A second shaft seal 38 again provides a barrier which separates the inner comments from the outside environment and further provides a bearing surface for the rotation of second shaft when coupled to an electric motor via motor attachment ring 42. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, transmission 14 is comprised of rotational drive system 25 that produces rotational movement which is directly linked to the speed of the electric motor. To do this, mixing blades 20 are directly connected to the motor by a series of intermediate connections. First, motor attachment ring 42 is integrally connected to second shaft 34, which is, in turn, connected to splined shaft connector 28. The drive system is then completed by connecting pressure plate 26 to connector 28 and to first shaft 22 which is used to drive mixing blades 20. To oscillate mixing blades 20 in a path parallel to drive system 25, a waveform ramp 32 having a tracking surface 48 which engages tracking guide 30 is used. Included on ramp 32 are a series of depressions 31 and elevations 33 which impart vertical movement. As ramp 32 rotates within transmission 14, guide 30 tracks along surface 48, and consequently, it is raised and lowered along a vertical axis as ramp 32 rotates. This vertical motion is then transferred to mixing blades 20 by having guide 30 push on pressure plate 26. As pressure plate 26 is lifted, it raises first shaft 22 which raises mixing blades 20. So long as guide 30 maintains contact with tracking surface 48, it may be configured in a number of ways. As shown, a waveform configuration is used. However, two posts or rollers, or other configurations which would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art may also be used. As the pressure plate 26 rises, it compresses tension spring 24 which is located between pressure plate 26 and housing 15. Compressing spring 24 will assist in the downward movement of the pressure plate and blades when guide 30 begins its descent down a depression 31 on tracking surface 48. The compressive force of spring 24 also serves to maintained the contact between guide 30 and tracking surface 48 during all phases of movement between these two components. Ramp 32 is driven by speed reduction gears 36 which are directly linked to the electric motor but at a reduced operational speed. First gear 60 is connected to second shaft 34 and engages second gear 62 which rotates around bearing shaft 64 located on housing 15. Gear 62, in turn, drives ramp 32 by engaging an inner gear ring 66 located on ramp 32. It is important that the mixing blades maintain the ability to vertically oscillate while continuing to rotate. This may be accomplished by the use of splined shaft connector 28 and pressure plate 26. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, connector 28 has a fluted outer surface 29 that is adapted to slidably fit and mate within a correspondingly fluted internal bore 37 of pressure plate 26. Thus configured, the mating fluted surfaces prevent rotational slippage but at the same time allow for vertical slidability. Thus, rotational force may be continuously applied during vertical oscillation. Since it is also unnecessary for guide 30 to rotate, as shown in Figure 2, a retaining extension 70 extends from housing 15 to secure guide 30. Guide 30 and extension 70 should be connected by configuring the components to employ a tongue and groove or some other slotted arrangement which would allow vertical slidability while preventing rotational movement. Of course, these members may be secured in other ways which those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate. Moreover, by having the housing act as a stop that prevents the rotation of guide 30, it still allows for the rotation of pressure plate 26 as was described above. Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention which does not require the use of a spring. In this embodiment, which is configured in a manner similar to that which was described above, guide 80 includes two downwardly extending posts 82 which are connected to waveform ramp 84 by the use of inwardly extending portions 86 which extend into groove 88 of waveform ramp 84. In operation, extensions 86 travel in groove 84 during the rotation of ramp 84. This causes guide 80 to be either pulled down or raised up thereby vertically oscillating the mixing blade. Figure 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention in which the guide is the rotational element and the waveform ramp remains stationary. In this embodiment, waveform ramp 90 replaces the use of the guide and is incorporated into the device as was indicated above with respect to guide 30. In this embodiment, it is guide 92 that is connected to the drive means and rotates. The vertical oscillation is then provided through the use of the waveform configuration on guide 90. These two elements may be interconnected as was described above in either the embodiment employing the use of a spring or the embodiment employing a tongue and groove type arrangement as was shown in Figure 4 and 5.

Claims: A mixing apparatus (10) comprising: container (12) for holding material to be mixed; said container (12) attachable to a transmission (14); a mixing blade (20) attachable to said transmission (14) and disposed within said container (12) when said container (12) is attached to said transmission (14); said transmission (14) comprising a housing (15), power source and drive shaft (22); said drive shaft (22) connecting said power source to said mixing blade (20) whereby said mixing blade (20) is rotated when said drive source is activated; and means (33) for oscillating said mixing blade (20) on a vertical axis; characterised-in-that said oscillating means comprises a waveform ramp (32, 84) adapted to engage said mixing blade (20), whereby said mixing blade (20) is oscillated on a vertical axis when said drive source is activated. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second drive shaft (34) and guide (30, 80) ; said guide (30, 80) continuously engages said waveform ramp (32) during the operation of said drive source and is adapted to continuously engage said mixing blade (20), whereby said mixing blade (20) is oscillated along a vertical axis during the operation of said drive source; and said second drive shaft (34) adapted to connect said drive shaft (22) with said mixing blade (20), said second drive shaft (34) independently disposed within said guide, whereby said mixing blade (20) may be rotated and oscillated along a vertical axis at independent rates of speed. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2 further including speed reduction gears (36) connecting said waveform ramp (32) to said power source, whereby said mixing blade (20) isoscillated along a vertical axis at a rate that is independent of said rotation of said mixing blade (20). A mixing apparatus (10) comprising: a container (12) for holding material to be mixed; said container (12) attachable to a transmission (14) having an attachable mixing blade (20) that is disposed within said container (12) when said container (12) is attached to said transmission (14); said transmission (14) comprising a housing (15), power source and drive shaft (34); said drive shaft (34) connected to said power source and said mixing blade (20), whereby said mixing blade (20) is rotated during the activation of said power source; and means (33) for oscillating said mixing blade (20) on a vertical axis; characterised in that said oscillating means (33) comprises a waveform ramp (90) and a guide (92); said guide (92) connected to said power source and adapted to continuously engage said waveform ramp (90) while being rotated by said drive source; and said engagement of said waveform ramp (90) and said guide (92) produces vertical oscillation, whereby said mixing blade (20) is vertically oscillated. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a second drive shaft (34) that is disposed within said waveform ramp (90) and is adapted to connect said mixing blade (20) with said drive shaft (34), whereby said rotation of said mixing blade (20) is independent of said vertical oscillation of said mixing blade (20). An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further including speed reduction gears (36) connecting said guide (92) to said power source, whereby said guide (92) is rotated at a slower rate than said mixing blade.

Inventors: THUMA MICHAEL C, THUMA, MICHAEL C.
Applicants: 24TH & DEAN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47J43
IPC codes: B01F11, B02C18, A47J43, B01F7