Abstract:
A cotton candy machine includes a floss head comprised of a floss head cap, a heated filament spinning screen, a floss head base and a rotatable retaining cap, all removable from said head without tools by manually rotating said retaining cap. A floater includes a vane, a shank and a shank end. Sockets on the upper surface of the retaining cap capture the shanks of plural floaters. The floaters are relative rigid and of selective pitch to produce sugar fiber cooling air flow, and are non-porous for enhanced cleaning. The floss head is easily manually disassembled for cleaning.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to cotton candy machines and more particularly to the floss heads of such machines and the current variety of safety and sanitary regulations regarding such machines. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In known cotton candy machines, a rotating, heated, floss head is oriented above a candy floss receiving bowl from which the candy can be applied to a paper cone, placed in a bag or otherwise collected. Sugar in granular form is dispensed into the rotating heated floss head where it is flung outwardly to a perforated, heated ring or screen, heating the sugar to a melted condition. The molten sugar flows through slots or apertures in the heated, rotating screen and is “spun” outwardly as elongated filaments, where it cools and is collected in the surrounding bowl as cotton candy floss, which can be collected and consumed. 
         [0003]    The transition of the melted sugar filaments back to a cooled cotton candy filament state within the bowl is problematical. If the melted sugar engages the bowl before it cools sufficiently, it will stick to the bowl; with the result that cleanup is difficult. 
         [0004]    If the sugar filaments are blown about too much, they can be blown over, out or above the bowl, into the area surrounding the bowl and resulting in messy waste. 
         [0005]    In an effort to control the sugar filaments, flexible leather “floaters” have been secured to the rotating floss head. These prior leather floaters are disposed or twisted at an angle which is sufficient to suck air into the bowl, drawing air into the bowl primarily from underneath the central area of the mounted bowl near the floss head. This air flow cools the hot filaments before they contact the bowl surfaces, and prevents undesirable air flow or inertia from causing the filaments to flow overboard outside the confines of the bowl. 
         [0006]    Such floaters have traditionally been made of flexible leather, pliable enough that they can be mounted to the floss head cap and twisted to a desired angle to create the air flow desired. These leather floaters, used for years, nevertheless present problems of their own. They are porous and are not generally easily treated or cleaned from a sanitizing perspective. Their performance is inconsistent depending on length, pliability, rigidity, angle and the like. Moreover, tools are required to disassemble the head components which hold the floaters so they and the head can be removed for cleaning. This takes effort and operators may not go to the trouble to remove the floaters and the head for proper cleaning. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the invention, various regulations or specifications of food preparation machines, such as cotton candy machines, which are the subject of this invention, are being increasingly and more frequently asserted by federal, state, county and municipal jurisdictions. For example, guidelines from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) are more frequently being asserted in such jurisdictions to cover cotton candy machines respecting issues of safety and sanitation. Among these are requirements to render the machines more easily cleanable, capable of being disassembled for cleaning without tools and more protective against electrical shock. 
         [0008]    It is thus desired to improve the floater function and structure in a cotton candy machine. 
         [0009]    It is also desired to improve access to improved floaters for orientation, as in pitch, and for cleaning. 
         [0010]    It is further desired to provide structure to improve floater operation in existing cotton candy machines. 
         [0011]    It is further desired to provide cotton candy machine floaters which can easily be removed and thoroughly cleaned, independently of the head. 
         [0012]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide an improved floss head for cotton candy machines rendering toolless disassembly safe and improving the candy making function. 
         [0013]    Another objective has been to provide a cotton candy machine capable of compliance with increasingly demanding guidelines and regulations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    To these ends, an improved cotton candy floss or spinner head is provided including floater apparatus for generating an improved air flow for cotton candy machines. 
         [0015]    The floaters are made in one piece of any suitable non-porous material and include, in a preferred embodiment, a vane or blade portion, an elongated shank extending therefrom, and an enlarged shank end, facilitating releasable floater mounting and pitch adjustment for the floater. 
         [0016]    While the actual rotational and bendable characteristics are somewhat similar to those of the prior leather floaters, the floaters according to the invention are rotated within a holding socket to set their effective angular disposition while the prior leather floaters were simply twisted to set their angle. The new floaters of the invention are also flexible enough to bend, without breaking, should they engage an obstruction while the head to which they are attached is rotated. 
         [0017]    The floater of the invention is mounted in a floater mounting socket preferably defined in a retaining cap element releasably and yieldably mounted to the head component of a spinner or floss head. Two or more such floaters are preferably used with each retaining cap. 
         [0018]    The floater vane is adjustable, in pitch, within its socket and about the axis of its shank to provide for adjusting the vane angle of attack and the air flow produced thereby, as desired, as the floater is moved through its circular path about the axis of the heated floss head when the apparatus is operable to spin sugar filaments for the production of cotton candy. 
         [0019]    When the cotton candy machine is stopped, the retaining cap holding the floaters stops also. The various components can be removed, without tools and the floaters removed from the sockets for cleaning. 
         [0020]    Preferably the floaters are made integrally, such that the vane and shank are of an integral, one-piece synthetic material or any suitable plastic or other material not susceptible to normal operating temperatures of the cotton candy machine. In addition, the floaters are non-porous, relative to prior leather used for floaters, so they can be more efficiently cleaned. 
         [0021]    A rotatable floss head according to the invention includes the noted retaining cap supporting the floaters, a floss head cap, a floss head base and a heated screen defining a circular band captured between the floss head cap and the floss head base by virtue of the retaining cap yieldably compressing the components together. Fixed bolts extend upwardly from the floss head base through and above the floss head cap. The retaining cap is provided with keyhole slots accommodating rounded heads of the bolts such that the bolts extend through the retaining cap which is twisted with the bolt heads engaging and holding the cap. Springs secured under the cap compress the floss head cap, screen and floss head base operationally together, with retaining ramp features on top of the retaining cap moveably securing it to the rounded bolt heads against undesired release and remote removal. 
         [0022]    Sockets on the retaining cap secure the floaters so they extend radially outward of the retaining cap periphery. 
         [0023]    On stoppage of the machine, the retaining cap can be manually pressed down and rotated to a position where the bolt heads release it. The cap, floss head and screen can then be removed toollessly for cleaning, along with the floaters. Improved terminals and terminal covers are provided for the electrical terminals for the heated screen. 
         [0024]    These and other advantages and objectives will be readily appreciated from the following written description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is an elevational, cutaway view in partial cross-section for clarity and showing one embodiment of a cotton candy machine having a floss head and floaters according to the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view showing the rotatable floss head of the invention as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is an elevational view of the move detail of the encircled area “A” of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the floss head of  FIG. 2 , from the underside; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the floss head of  FIG. 2  from the top side thereof; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the retaining cap of the floss head of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5A  is an isometric view of the retaining cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5B  shows further detail of the socket structure in the encircled area of  5 B of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the retaining cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the floater vanes of  FIGS. 1-6 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the floss head cap of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a top isometric view of the floss head base of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a bottom isometric view of the floss head base of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of one of the retaining, round head bolts of  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  3  and  4 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the heated screen of FIGS.  1  and  2 - 4 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the screen and heating element of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged isometric top view of the terminal cover of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged isometric bottom view of the terminal cover of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0043]    Turning now to the drawings, attention is first directed to  FIG. 1  illustrating a cotton candy machine  10  in partial cross-section. Machine  10  has a circular floss gathering bowl  12  with side walls  14  and bottom wall  16 . Bowl  12  is mounted on a motorized base  18 , and a rotatable floss head  20 , rotatable about an axis A. Base  18  extends upwardly above the annular flat bottom wall  16  into the central area of bowl  12 . Floss head  20  includes a heated band or screen  22  having a plurality of elongated slots  23  through which heated filaments of sugar (not shown) are dispensed as head  20  is spun within bowl  12 . 
         [0044]    Rotatable with head  20  is a cone-shaped floss head cap  48 . 
         [0045]    A one-piece floater  30  according to a preferred embodiment herein is best seen in  FIG. 7 . Floater  30  includes a vane  32 , an elongated, cylindrical shank  34  extending from vane  32  and an enlarged shank end  36 . 
         [0046]    Vane  32  can be flat, as shown, or may be of any suitable shape, such as any suitable air foil, profiled or twisted shape such as in an aircraft propeller. 
         [0047]    In use, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , rotation of head  20  causes floater  30  to pull air inwardly rom underneath the center area of bowl  12  into the bowl and upwardly as illustrated by flow arrows F. This cools the molten candy and retains it in the bowl. 
         [0048]    Preferably, vane  32 , shank  34  and end  36  are formed as one single, integral floater  30  of a suitable synthetic material such as a plastic material capable of operably withstanding the heat from the operation of head  20 . One particular material useful in forming such floaters is nitrite butadiene rubber (NBR) of about 70 durometer, formed by molding. 
         [0049]    Floater  30  is generally elongated about an axis B extending therethrough, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and is sufficiently rigid, such that vane  32  does not rotate about axis B with respect to shank  34  or enlarged end  36 . Further, end portion  36  may be enlarged, as shown, or of any further configuration to operably cooperate with a socket or retention structure  25  on retaining cap  26  and to retain floater  30  in socket  25  against centrifugal force. Preferably, end portion  36  is spherically shaped, having a diameter greater than a diameter of said shank  34 . It will be appreciated that shank  34  cooperates with socket  25  such that floater  30  is removably secured in the socket. 
         [0050]    Sockets  25  on retaining cap  26  can be integrally formed on or in cap  26 . The sockets  25  are of such suitable shape as to frictionally receive end  36  and/or shank  34 , and to thus hold floater  30  therein. Floaters  30  can be snapped into sockets  25  in a desired rotational orientation about axis B, or manually rotated angularly about axis B while in sockets  25  as desired. In this regard, note sockets  25  have two opposing sides  27 ,  28  having protrusions  29  extending inwardly from sides  27 ,  28  to engage and enhance frictional contact with shanks  34  ( FIG. 5B ). 
         [0051]    Sockets  25  may be any preferably integral part of retaining cap  26 , preferably spaced opposite one another at  180  degrees on cap  26 . Socket  25  can be any suitable structure to cooperate with shank  34  and end  36  to hold floaters  30  on cap  26 . Shanks  34  preferably snap-fit frictionally into socket  25 . 
         [0052]    As noted above, floaters  30  can be adjusted rotationally about axis B when within sockets  25  in order to set the relative pitch of vanes  32  as desired. 
         [0053]    Continuing now briefly with description of the components of floss head  20 , retaining cap  26  is provided with a plurality of keyhole-shaped apertures  38  having enlarged openings  39  and narrow extensions  40 . Bolts  42  ( FIG. 11 ) have reduced diameter portions  43  terminating in enlarged, rounded bolt heads  44 . Bolts  42  also have enlarged portions  45  between threaded ends  46  and reduced portions  43  as will be described. 
         [0054]    Returning to  FIGS. 2-5B , retaining cap  26  has a depending skirt  52 , of such extent as to cover at least partially a rim  49  of floss head cap  48 , such that there is preferably no visual gap between retaining cap  26  and floss head cap  48 . 
         [0055]    Further, retaining cap  26  has a plurality of bolt head engaging ramps  54  having peaks  55  thereon above upper surfaces of cap  26 . 
         [0056]    Finally, an underneath side of retaining cap  26  is provided with a plurality of springs  57 , four being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . These engage on floss head cap  48  and yieldably provide a diverging bias between retaining cap  26  and floss head cap  48  as will be described. Springs  57  are preferably formed, in an arched configuration ( FIG. 6 ), of  28  gauge stainless steel, and are riveted to retain cap  26  by two piece, press fit tubular rivets of brass with smooth heads such as cutlery-type rivets or any suitable fasteners. 
         [0057]    Turning now to floss head cap  48  of  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  8 , this cap has an upper funnel-shaped member  50  and a plurality of bores  51 . These bores  51  receive the enlarged portions  45  of bolts  42  when floss head cap  48  is assembled over bolts  42  passing therethrough. Funnel-shaped member  50  is open to receive sugar granules poured into floss head  20 . 
         [0058]    Turning now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , screen  22  is provided with angled slots  23  extending therethrough; a tubular heating element  58  wound thereon as shown, with inwardly extending ends  58   a ,  58   b  for connection to electric terminals on floss head base  60  ( FIGS. 4 ,  9  and  10 ). Any suitable heating element may be used, such as, for example only, a ribbon heating element. A counterweight  61  is attached to screen  22  to balance it against vibration as it rotates. Other screen configurations can be used. 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , floss base head  60  is provided with bosses  62 , extending integrally through floss base head  60  (see  FIG. 10 ) to receive threaded ends  46  of bolts  42 . Floss base head has a circular step  63  for positioning the lower circular edge  24  of screen  22  when assembled together. Floss head cap  48  has a similar step  65  ( FIGS. 3 and 8 ) for positioning circular upper edge  24   a  of screen  22  when assembled thereto. 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  14  and  15 , floss head  20  further includes a terminal cover or block  70 . Block  70  has two depending legs  71 ,  72 , each having a terminal engaging projection  73 ,  74  and a bridge portion  75  having a bore  76  therethrough. In use, block  70  is pressed down toward floss head base  60  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ) such that screw  77 , extending up from that base is received in bore  76 . When block  70  is pressed over terminals such as at  78  in  FIG. 4 , it is held thereon by a thumbnut  79  ( FIG. 3 ). Wires or cables (not shown in  FIG. 12 ) extend from ends of heater  58  to the terminals which are covered by block  70 . With this construction, the terminals, such as at  78  (typically two provided) are covered and protected by block  70 . However, by unscrewing thumbnut  79 , the block  70  can be removed for cleaning it and base  60 . 
         [0061]    Accordingly, when assembled, floss head base  60  is a part of the rotary floss head  20  assembled to a depending boss  82  outfitted with electrical slip rings for electrically connecting a power source to terminals  78  when head  20  is rotated for heating heater  58  and screen  22  and in a conventional manner. Block  70  is assembled over terminals  78  connected to ends  58   a ,  58   b  of heater  58 . Screen  22  is placed on floss head base  60 , with bolts  42  extending up from base  60 . Floss head cap  48  is mounted over screen  22  with bolts  42  extending upwardly through cap  48 . 
         [0062]    Enlarged portions  45  of bolts  42  extend up through bores  51  in cap  48  with a sliding fit of such tolerance to maintain cap  48  against rotation with respect to floss head base  60 . Retaining cap  26  is pressed down onto cap  48 , against the bias of springs  57  with heads  44  extending through enlarged portions  39  of apertures  38 . Cap  48  is then pressed down to clear bolt heads  44  and turned counterclockwise (as viewed in  FIG. 5 ), such that the undersides of heads  44  ridge up ramps  54  and over peaks  55  on cap  48  ( FIGS. 5 ,  5 A). The cap  26  is released with bolt heads  44  now captured by the backside of peaks  55  from ramps  54 . Bias exerted by springs  51  thus retains the base head  60 , cap  48 , screen  22  and cap and retaining cap  26  together during rotation of head  20  to spin heated filaments of cotton candy outwardly into bowl  12 . 
         [0063]    Air flow F ( FIG. 1 ) created by floaters  30  and vanes  32  thereof produces sufficient control of the hot filaments within bowl  12  so they can be easily collected or packaged. 
         [0064]    For cleaning, machine  10  is shut down, electrical power is disconnected, and the components are cooled. Retaining cap  26  is then pressed down, rotated clockwise against bias of springs  57  (contacting floss head cap  48 ), and enlarged apertures  39  aligned with bolt heads  44  so retaining cap  26  can be lifted off head  20 . 
         [0065]    Floaters  30  can be separated from sockets  25  prior to or after removal of cap  26  for cleaning. 
         [0066]    Floss head cap  48  and screen  22  are lifted for cleaning. 
         [0067]    Thumbnut  79  is unscrewed and block  70 , together with screen  22  heater  58  and electrical cables can be removed for cleaning, providing access to floss head base  60  for its cleaning. 
         [0068]    Assembly is performed in reverse order. Cap  26 , floss head cap  48 , floss head base  60  and block  70  are all made of any suitable heat resistant, electrically insulative material of any suitable material. 
         [0069]    These and other modifications and advantages will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention, and applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appended hereto.