ADJUSTED THERMAL GENERATION FOR FOOD PROCESSING

Abstract

A machine (1) for processing a liquid food substance (10) includes: a container (2) having an outside wall (2) and In delimiting a food cavity (2) for containing the food substance (10); an impeller (20) for driving the food substance (10) in the cavity (2); a housing (3) having an outside wall and delimiting a powered cavity (3) that is adjacent the container (2) and that contains a motor (30) for driving the impeller (20) and a thermal conditioner (40) for managing heat in the food cavity (2); and a control unit (31) for controlling the impeller motor (30) and the thermal conditioner (40). The thermal conditioner (40) has different first and second sections (41,42) extending over different first and sections of the outside housing wall (3). The first and second conditioner sections (41,42) are configured to generate different levels of thermal energy per cm.sup.2. The first and second housing sections are adjacent to and extend over respective distinct first and second outside container wall sections (21,22) and/or form therewith a same first wall section and a same second wall section distinct from the same first wall section.

Claims

1. A machine for processing a liquid food substance comprising: a container having an outside wall and delimiting a food cavity for containing the liquid food substance; an impeller for driving the liquid food substance in the food cavity; a housing having an outside wall and delimiting a powered cavity that is adjacent the container and that contains a motor for driving the impeller and a thermal conditioner for generating heat in the food cavity and/or for removing heat from the food cavity; and a control unit for controlling the impeller motor and the thermal conditioner, the thermal conditioner extending over a portion of the outside housing wall or forming such a portion, the housing wall portion extending over and adjacent to the outside container wall and/or forming therewith a same wall portion, so as to be able to transmit thermal energy to or through the outside container wall, the thermal conditioner has a first section extending over a first section of the outside housing wall portion and has a second section extending over a second section of the outside housing wall portion that is distinct from the first section, the first conditioner section being configured to generate a first thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is greater than a second thermal energy per cm.sup.2 generated by the second section, the first and second housing sections being adjacent to and extending over respective distinct first and second outside container wall sections of the outside container wall and/or forming therewith a same first wall section and a same second wall section distinct from the same first wall section.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the outside container wall are so arranged that the first outside container wall section is located below the second outside container wall section.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the outside container wall are so arranged that the first outside container wall section is located closer than the second container wall section to a corner edge formed by a bottom and a sidewall of the food cavity.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the outside container wall are so arranged that when the impeller drives the liquid food substance in the food cavity that is partly filled therewith, an average minimal distance of all particles of the liquid food substance relative to the first outside container wall section being smaller than an average minimal distance of all particles of the liquid food substance relative to the second outside container wall section.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the thermal conditioner has a third section extending over a third section of the outside housing wall portion, the third conditioner section being configured to generate a third thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the second thermal energy per cm.sup.2 and being arranged so that the second section of the thermal conditioner is located between the first and third conditioner sections, the third conditioner section being adjacent to and extending over a corresponding distinct third outside container wall section of the outside container wall and/or forming therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the thermal conditioner has a third section extending over a third section of the outside housing wall portion, the third conditioner section being configured to generate a third thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the first thermal energy per cm.sup.2 and being arranged so that the first conditioner section is located between the second and third conditioner sections, the third conditioner section being adjacent to and extending over a corresponding distinct third outside container wall section of the outside container wall and/or forming therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the thermal conditioner is configured to transmit negative thermal energy to or through the external container wall, such as a resistive energy.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the thermal conditioner comprises an electric conductor that emits the thermal energy when conducting an electric current, optionally.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the thermal conditioner comprises a plurality of electric sections, at least two sections differing from one another: dimensionally and/or materially to generate and transmit different quantities of energies when conducting the same electric current; and/or by different power sources, each electric section having a dedicated power source that can deliver an electric power that is different to a power delivered by another power source of a different electric section.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the housing and the container are configured such that: the housing forms a seat, for receiving the container that has an upright extending part, the portion of the outside housing wall extending over at least part of the upright extending container part, whereby at least part of thermal conditioner is located inside the housing along the upright extending container part; and/or the container is made of one or more passive components, whereas the housing comprises all active electric components.

11. The machine of claim 1, wherein the container is removable from the housing for dispensing the liquid food substance from the cavity and assemblable to the housing for processing the liquid food substance in the cavity.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein the housing contains a heat evacuation system for evacuating heat from the powered cavity to a space outside such machine, comprising a motorized ventilation arrangement and at least one flow path extending in the powered cavity from at least one air inlet opening in the housing to at least one air outlet opening in the housing, the control unit controlling the motorized ventilation arrangement.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the motorized ventilation arrangement comprising a ventilation device.

14. The machine of claim 12, wherein the motorized ventilation arrangement comprises a ventilation device, e.g. a fan, and a further motor that is different to the impeller motor, the further motor being controlled by the control unit to drive the ventilation device.

15. The machine of claim 12, wherein the heat evacuation system is configured so that heat generated in the powered cavity and not destined to the food cavity is evacuated predominantly via the air outlet opening(s) rather than via the food cavity, such as heat generated in the powered cavity by at least one of the impeller motor, the control unit, thermal conditioner and, when present, the further motor, the heat evacuation system being for instance configured so that a ratio of the heat evacuated by air outlet opening(s) over the heat evacuated by the food cavity is greater than 2.5.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0090] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the invention;

[0091] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1 showing a container with a food cavity assembled to a housing with a powered cavity;

[0092] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a motorized ventilation arrangement to be mounted in the powered cavity of FIG. 2; and

[0093] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a thermal conditioner illustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] A particular embodiment of a machine 1 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0095] Machine 1 is configured for processing a liquid food substance 10 such as milk or a milk-based substance.

[0096] Machine 1 includes a container 2 having an outside wall 2 and delimiting a food cavity 2 for containing liquid food substance 10, such as a container provided with a removable lid for covering cavity 2.

[0097] Machine 1 has an impeller 20 for driving liquid food substance 10 in food cavity 2.

[0098] Machine 1 comprises a housing 3 having an outside wall and delimiting an electrically powered cavity 3, e.g. a cavity 3 powered by the mains via an electric cord 5, that is adjacent container 2 and that contains a motor 30 for driving impeller 20 and a thermal conditioner 40 for generating heat in food cavity 2 and/or for removing heat from food cavity 2.

[0099] Machine 1 includes a control unit 31, e.g. a unit 31 in the powered cavity 3 and/or fixed to housing 3, for controlling impeller motor 30 and thermal conditioner 40.

[0100] Thermal conditioner 40 extends over a portion 3 of outside housing wall or forms such a portion 3, housing wall portion 3 extending over and adjacent to outside container wall 2 and/or forming therewith a same wall portion, so as to be able to transmit thermal energy to or through outside container wall 2.

[0101] Impeller 20 can have at least one of: a surface for imparting a mechanical effect to liquid food substance 10 in container cavity 2, such as for mixing liquid food substance 10 with another fluid, e.g. air; a foot for being coupled to impeller motor 30, e.g. via magnetic elements in the foot; and an axle extending towards a mouth of the container 2 when impeller 20 is driven by impeller motor 30, e.g. an axle that is seizable by a user for removing impeller 20 from container 2.

[0102] Thermal conditioner 40 has a first section 41 extending over a first section of outside housing wall portion 3 and has a second section 42 extending over a second section of outside housing wall portion 3 that is distinct from the first section. First conditioner section 41 is configured to generate a first thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is greater than a second thermal energy per cm.sup.2 generated by second section 42. The first housing section and the second housing section are adjacent to and extend over respective distinct first and second outside container wall sections 21,22 of outside container wall 2 and/or form therewith a same first wall section and a same second wall section distinct from such same first wall section.

[0103] For instance, sections 41,42 of thermal conditioner 40 are generally configured and located such that outside container wall section 21 which during processing is closer to a greater amount of liquid food substance is exposed to a greater amount of heat generated by thermal conditioner 40 via the corresponding conditioner section 41 and that container wall section 22 which is closer to a smaller amount of liquid food substance is exposed to a smaller amount of heat generated by the thermal conditioner 40 via corresponding section 42.

[0104] First and second sections 21,22 of outside container wall 2 can be so arranged that first outside container wall section 21 is located below second outside container wall section 22.

[0105] First and second sections 21,22 of outside container wall 2 may be so arranged that first outside container wall section 21 is located closer than second container wall section 22 to a corner edge 23 formed by a bottom and a sidewall of food cavity 2.

[0106] First and second sections 21,22 of outside container wall 2 may be so arranged that when impeller 20 drives liquid food substance 10 in food cavity 2 that is partly filled therewith, an average minimal distance of all particles of liquid food substance 10 relative to first outside container wall section 21 is smaller than an average minimal distance of all particles of liquid food substance 10 relative to second outside container wall section 22.

[0107] The thermal conditioner can have a third section extending over a third section of the outside housing wall portion, the third conditioner section being configured to generate a third thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the second thermal energy per cm.sup.2. The third section may be arranged so that the second section of the thermal conditioner is located between the first and third conditioner sections. The third conditioner section can be adjacent to and extend over a corresponding distinct third outside container wall section of the outside container wall and/or form therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections.

[0108] For instance, the thermal conditioner has a fourth section extending over a fourth section of the outside housing wall portion, the fourth conditioner section being configured to generate a fourth thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the third thermal energy per cm.sup.2. The fourth section can be arranged so that the third conditioner section is located between the second and fourth conditioner sections. The fourth conditioner section may be adjacent to and extending over a corresponding distinct fourth outside container wall section of the outside container wall and/or forming therewith a same fourth wall section distinct from the first, second and third wall sections.

[0109] The thermal conditioner may have a third section extending over a third section of the outside housing wall portion, the third conditioner section being configured to generate a third thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the first thermal energy per cm.sup.2 and being arranged so that the first conditioner section is located between the second and third conditioner sections. The third conditioner section can be adjacent to and extend over a corresponding distinct third outside container wall section and/or form therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections.

[0110] The thermal conditioner can have a fourth section extending over a fourth section of the outside housing wall portion, the fourth section being configured to generate a fourth thermal energy per cm.sup.2 that is smaller than the second or the third thermal energy per cm.sup.2. The fourth section can be arranged so that either the second or the third conditioner section is located between the firth and fourth conditioner sections. The fourth conditioner section may be adjacent to and extend over a corresponding distinct fourth outside container wall section and/or form therewith a same fourth wall section distinct from the first, second and third wall sections.

[0111] The thermal conditioner 40 can be configured to transmit negative thermal energy, such as a cooling energy absorbing heat e.g. heat absorbed by a heat pump and/or a Peltier arrangement, or positive thermal energy, such as a heating energy emitting heat e.g. heat generated using a resistive heating circuit and/or an inductive heating circuit, to or through the external container wall 2, such as a resistive energy.

[0112] Thermal conditioner 40 may include an electric conductor 41,42,45,46,47 that emits the thermal energy when conducting an electric current.

[0113] Thermal conditioner 40 may have an electrically inert holder 43 that holds the electric conductor.

[0114] The produced thermal energy can be a resistive thermal energy or an inductive thermal energy or a Pelletier thermal energy.

[0115] Thermal conditioner 40 can include a plurality of electric sections 41,42, such as such first and second sections 41,42 and optionally, when present, the above third section and possibly the above fourth section. Each electric section can include at least one electric conductor connected, directly or indirectly, to a power source via corresponding connectors 45,47;46,47.

[0116] At least two electric sections 41,42 may differ from one another: dimensionally and/or materially to generate and transmit different quantities of energies when conducting the same electric current; and/or by different power sources 45,46, each electric section 41,42 having a dedicated power source that can deliver an electric power that is different to a power delivered by another power source of a different electric section 42,41.

[0117] For instance, thermal conditioner 40 has an electric wire of a generally constant section and material as such electric conductor(s). Each electric section 41,42 may have a wire portion of a given length in which the length of one section 41 is different to the length of another section 42, the sections being in a serial or a parallel electric arrangement and connected, directly or indirectly, via connectors 45,47;46,47 to one or more power sources.

[0118] Housing 3 and container 2 can be configured such that housing 3 forms a seat, e.g. a nest, for receiving container 2 that has an upright extending part. Portion 3 of the outside housing wall may extend over at least part of the upright extending container part, whereby at least part of thermal conditioner 40 is located inside housing 3 along the upright extending container part.

[0119] Housing 3 and container 2 may be be configured such that container 2 is made of one or more passive components, e.g. a passive resistor and/or a passive heat permeable material, whereas housing 3 may include all active electric components.

[0120] Container 2 can be made removable from housing 3 for dispensing liquid food substance 10 from cavity 2 and assemblable to housing 3 for processing liquid food substance 10 in cavity 2. For instance, housing 3 forms a seat, e.g. generally a nest, for removably receiving container 2. Housing 3 may have an outer peripheral upright face 3 that extends flush with an outer peripheral upright face 2 of container 2.

[0121] Housing 3 may contain a heat evacuation system 35,36,37,37,37 for evacuating heat from powered cavity 3 to a space 6 outside such machine 1.

[0122] The system may include a motorized ventilation arrangement 35,36 and at least one flow path 37 extending in powered cavity 3 from at least one air inlet opening 37 in housing 3 to at least one air outlet opening 37 in housing 3. For instance, th openings 37,37 are located on a machine external bottom face 3 and/or machine external side face(s) 3. Control unit 31 may control motorized ventilation arrangement 35,36.

[0123] The motorized ventilation arrangement may include a ventilation device 35, e.g. a fan, driven by impeller motor 30.

[0124] The motorized ventilation arrangement may include a ventilation device 36, e.g. a fan, and a further motor 38 that is different to impeller motor 30, further motor 38 being controlled by control unit 31 to drive ventilation device 36. For instance, control unit 31 is connected to a temperature sensor 31 located in thermal communication with flow path 37 for a closed loop control of second ventilation device 36 by control unit 31.

[0125] The or one or more ventilation device(s) 35,36 can have one or more air circulation members that can drive air along flow path 37 from inlet opening 37 to outlet opening 37. The member(s) may have at least one of: [0126] a shape of a wing, blade or vane; [0127] a generally arched or curved shape, such as the general shape of an angular section of a cylindrical, conical, spherical, elliptoidal or helicoidal shape; [0128] a generally straight shape formed of a single planar section or a plurality of angled planar sections, optionally at least one planar section, e.g. all planar sections, having a (non-zero) angle relative to a direction of motion of the circulation member; [0129] a plurality of companion air circulation members mounted all together in a loop, e.g. in a circle, such as on a ring or a disc, about a rotation axis, optionally the air circulation members being generally evenly distributed along the loop; and [0130] a configuration in which powered cavity 3 has a generally centrally located axis 30 and peripheral sidewall(s) 3, the one or more air circulation members being driven by corresponding motor 30,38 in powered cavity 3 about centrally located axis 30, between the centrally located axis (30) and the sidewall(s) (3), such as at a distance from the centrally located axis (30) in the range of to of the spacing from the centrally located axis (30) to the sidewall(s) (3) at the level of the air circulation member, e.g. at a distance in the range of to of such spacing.

[0131] Typically, the air circulation members are arranged to form a fan driven by corresponding motor 30,38.

[0132] At least one of impeller motor 30 and, when present, further motor 38 may drive an axle, such as a motor's output shaft or an axle driven thereby. One or more of the air circulation member(s) can be mounted on the axle, the air circulation member(s) and the corresponding motor 30,38 rotating for instance at a same rotational speed or at different rotational speeds via a transmission such as via a gear transmission e.g. a toothed gear transmission.

[0133] Heat evacuation system 35,36,37,37,37 can be configured so that heat generated in powered cavity 3 and not destined to food cavity 2 is evacuated predominantly via air outlet opening(s) 37 rather than via food cavity 2. For instance, such heat is generated in the powered cavity 3 by at least one of impeller motor 30, control unit 31, thermal conditioner 40 and, when present, further motor 38. The heat evacuation system can be configured so that a ratio of the heat evacuated by air outlet opening(s) 37 over the heat evacuated by the food cavity 2 is greater than 2.5, such as greater than 5, for example greater than 10, e.g. greater than 30.

[0134] Ventilation device 35, when driven by impeller motor 30, can be distant to at least one air inlet opening 37 and/or to at least one air outlet opening 37.

[0135] Ventilation device 36, when driven by further motor 38, can be proximate to at least one air inlet opening 37 and/or to at least one air outlet opening 37.

[0136] Ventilation device 35, when driven by impeller motor 30, can be located in the powered cavity 3 at a vertical level of impeller motor 30 or thereabove.

[0137] Ventilation device 36, when driven by further motor 38, can be located in powered cavity 3 at a vertical level of further motor 38 or therebelow.

[0138] First and/or second ventilation device 35,36 may rotate about a generally vertical axis 30.

[0139] The first and/or second ventilation device may rotate about a generally horizontal or inclined axis.