Patent ID: 7520658

Claim:
A mixing machine for mixing a liquid contained in a vessel having an opening, the mixing machine comprising: a holder coupled to the mixing machine, the holder proportioned to receive a vessel; a rotatable mixing element extendable through the opening into the vessel positioned in the holder, for mixing the contents of the vessel; a motor operatively coupled to at least one of the holder and the mixing element to effect axial translation of the mixing element between first and second positions within the vessel, the mixing element positioned further from the opening when in the first position than when in the second position; a shaft; and a splash shield slidable on the shaft between first and second positions, the splash shield in the second position positionable covering the opening of the vessel and being unrestrained against sliding movement on the shaft in a direction away from the opening, the splash shield having sufficient mass to retain the vessel within the holder during relative axial movement of the mixing element and vessel from the first position to the second position when liquid is present in the vessel.