CONTROLLED HEAT MANAGEMENT FOR FOOD PROCESSOR

Abstract

A machine (1) for processing a liquid food substance (10) includes: a container (2) delimiting a food cavity (2) for containing said liquid food substance (10); an impeller (20) for driving the food substance (10) in the food cavity (2); a housing (3) delimiting a powered cavity (3) that is adjacent the container (2). The powered cavity (3) contains a motor (30) for driving the impeller (20) a heat evacuation system (35, 36, 37, 37, 37) for evacuating heat from the powered cavity (3) to a space (6) outside such machine (1), comprising a motorized ventilation arrangement (35,36); and a control unit (31). The motorized ventilation arrangement has a first ventilation device (35) driven by the impeller motor (30). Further to the first ventilation device (35) and to the impeller motor (30), the motorized ventilation arrangement comprises a second ventilation device (36) and a further motor (38) that is different to the impeller motor (30), the further motor (38) being controlled by the control unit (31) to drive the second ventilation device (36).

Claims

1. A machine for processing a liquid food substance, such as milk or a milk-based substance, comprising: a container delimiting a food cavity for containing the liquid food substance; an impeller for driving the liquid food substance in the food cavity; a housing delimiting a powered cavity, e.g. a cavity powered by the mains via an electric cord, that is adjacent the container and that contains: a motor for driving the impeller, and optionally a thermal conditioner for generating heat in the food cavity and/or for removing heat from the food cavity; and 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; a control unit for controlling the impeller motor, the motorized ventilation arrangement and, when present, the thermal conditioner, the motorized ventilation arrangement comprising a first ventilation device driven by the impeller motor, further to the first ventilation device and to the impeller motor, the motorized ventilation arrangement comprises a second ventilation device and a further motor that is different to the impeller motor, the further motor being controlled by the control unit to drive the second ventilation device, optionally the control unit being connected to a temperature sensor located in thermal communication with the flow path for a closed loop control of the second ventilation device by the control unit.

2. 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, for instance the housing forming a seat, for removably receiving the container, the housing having optionally an outer peripheral upright face that extends flush with an outer peripheral upright face of the container.

3. The machine of claim 1, 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, the further motor and, when present, by the thermal conditioner, 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.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ventilation device and the second ventilation device has one or more air circulation members that can drive air along the flow path from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein: the first ventilation device is distant to the at least one air inlet opening and/or to the at least one air outlet opening; and the second ventilation device is proximate to the at least one air inlet opening and/or to the at least one air outlet opening.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein: the first ventilation device is located in the powered cavity at a vertical level of the impeller motor or thereabove; and/or the second ventilation device is located in the powered cavity at a vertical level of the further motor or therebelow; and/or the first and/or second ventilation device may rotate about an axis that is generally vertical, horizontal or inclined.

7. The machine of claim 1, which comprises the thermal conditioner extending over a portion of an outside wall of the housing or forming such a portion, the portion extending over and adjacent to an outside wall of the container and/or forming therewith a same wall portion, so as to be able to transmit thermal energy to or through the outside container wall.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioner is configured to transmit thermal energy to or through the outside container wall, the thermal conditioner having a first section extending over a first section of the outside housing wall portion and having 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 conditioner section, the first conditioner section and the second conditioner section 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.

9. The machine of claim 8, 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; and/or 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; and/or 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.

10. The machine of claim 8, 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 conditioner section 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.

11. The machine of claim 8, 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.

12. The machine of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioner is 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, such as a resistive energy.

13. The machine of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioner comprises an electric conductor that emits the thermal energy when conducting an electric current.

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the thermal conditioner comprises a plurality of electric sections, each electric section comprising at least one electric conductor connected, directly or indirectly, to a power source via corresponding connectors, 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.

15. The machine of claim 7, 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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0088] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0089] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the invention;

[0090] 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;

[0091] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a motorized ventilation arrangement to be mounted in the powered cavity of FIG. 2; and

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a thermal conditioner illustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] A particular embodiment of a machine 1 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0094] Machine 1 is configured for processing a liquid food substance 10 such as milk or a milk-based substance.

[0095] Machine 1 includes a container 2 delimiting a food cavity 2 for containing liquid food substance 10, such as a container provided with a removable lid for covering cavity 2.

[0096] Machine 1 has an impeller 20 for driving liquid food substance 10 in food cavity 2.

[0097] Machine 1 comprises a housing 3 delimiting an electrically powered cavity 3, e.g. a cavity 3 powered by the mains via an electric cord 5, that is adjacent to container 2 and that contains: a motor 30 for driving impeller 20; and a heat evacuation system 35,36,37,37,37 for evacuating heat from powered cavity 3 to a space 6 outside machine 1. The heat evacuation system includes 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, openings 37,37 are located on a machine external bottom face 3 and/or machine external side face(s) 3.

[0098] Cavity 3 may include 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 powered cavity 3 and/or fixed to housing 3, for controlling impeller motor 30, ventilation arrangement 35,36 and, when present, thermal conditioner 40.

[0100] Motorized ventilation arrangement 35,36 has a first ventilation device 35 driven by impeller motor 30.

[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; an axle extending towards a mouth of 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] Further to first ventilation device 35 and to impeller motor 30, the motorized ventilation arrangement comprises a second ventilation device 36 and a further motor 38 that is different to impeller motor 30. Such further motor 38 is controlled by control unit 31 to drive second ventilation device 36.

[0103] For instance, control unit 31 is connected to a temperature sensor 31 located in thermal communication with powered cavity 3, e.g. with flow path 37, for a closed loop control of second ventilation device 36 by control unit 31.

[0104] Container 2 may be 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.

[0105] For instance housing 3 forms a seat, e.g. generally a nest, for removably receiving container 2.

[0106] Housing 3 may have an outer peripheral upright face 3 that extends flush with an outer peripheral upright face 2 of container 2.

[0107] 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 the air outlet opening(s) 37 rather than via food cavity 2, such as heat generated in powered cavity 3 by at least one of the impeller motor 30, control unit 31, further motor 38 and, when present, by thermal conditioner 40. For instance, heat evacuation system is configured so that a ratio of the heat evacuated by air outlet opening(s) 37 over heat evacuated by food cavity 2 is greater than 2.5, such as greater than 5, for example greater than 10, e.g. greater than 30.

[0108] At least one of first ventilation device 35 and second ventilation device 36 may have one or more air circulation members that can drive air along flow path 37 from inlet opening 37 to outlet opening 37.

[0109] The air circulation member(s) may have a shape of a wing, blade or vane.

[0110] The air circulation member(s) can have a generally arched or curved shape, such as the general shape of an angular section of a cylindrical, conical, spherical, elliptoidal or helicoidal shape.

[0111] The air circulation member(s) may have 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.

[0112] The air circulation member(s) can have 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. For instance, the air circulation members are generally evenly distributed along the loop.

[0113] The air circulation member(s) may have 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 can be driven by corresponding motor 30,38 in powered cavity 3 about centrally located axis 30, between centrally located axis 30 and sidewall(s) 3, such as at a distance from the centrally located axis 30 in the range of to of the spacing from centrally located axis 30 to sidewall(s) 3 at the level of the air circulation member, e.g. at a distance in the range of to of such spacing.

[0114] At least one of impeller motor 30 and 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) being mounted on the axle. For instance, the air circulation member(s) and corresponding motor 30,38 are configured to rotate 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.

[0115] First ventilation device 35 may be distant to at least one inlet opening 37 and/or to at least one air outlet opening 37. Second ventilation device 36 may be proximate to at least one air inlet opening 37 and/or to at least one air outlet opening 37.

[0116] First ventilation device 35 can be located in powered cavity 3 at a vertical level of impeller motor or thereabove. Second ventilation device 36 may be located in powered cavity 3 at a vertical level of the further motor 38 or therebelow.

[0117] First and/or second ventilation device 35,36 may rotate about a generally vertical axis 30.

[0118] The first and/or second ventilation device may rotate about a generally horizontal or inclined axis.

[0119] Thermal conditioner 40, when present, may extend over a portion 3 of an outside wall of housing 3 or may form such a portion 3. Portion 3 can extend over and be adjacent to an outside wall 2 of container 2 and/or can form therewith a same wall portion, so as to be able to transmit thermal energy to or through the outside container wall 2.

[0120] Thermal conditioner 40 may be configured to transmit thermal energy to or through the outside container wall 2, thermal conditioner 40 having a first section 41 extending over a first section of outside housing wall portion 3 and having 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 may be 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 conditioner section 42, the first conditioner section and second conditioner section being adjacent to and extending over respective distinct first and second outside container wall sections 21,22 of outside container wall 2 and/or forming therewith a same first wall section and a same second wall section distinct from said same first wall section.

[0121] 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; and/or first outside container wall section 21 may be located closer than second container wall section 22 to a corner edge 23 formed by a bottom and a sidewall of food cavity 2.

[0122] 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 can be smaller than an average minimal distance of all particles of liquid food substance 10 relative to second outside container wall section 22.

[0123] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when impeller rotates to drive liquid food substance 10 in food cavity 2, a kind of vortex may formed with a surface 11 of substance 10 that raises towards container wall 2 from a bottom at a level 14 in cavity 2. Hence, above level 14 there is less liquid food substance 10 than below level 14 to absorb or release thermal energy from or to the container's wall and thus thermal conditioner can be adjusted to take into account the different thermal requirements of liquid food substance 10 depending on the distribution of substance 10 in cavity 3. In the illustrated example, first section 41 can be configured to generate more (positive or negative) thermal energy than second section 42.

[0124] 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 second thermal energy per cm.sup.2 and being arranged so that the second conditioner section is located between the first and third conditioner sections. The third conditioner section may be adjacent to and may extend over a corresponding distinct third outside container wall section and/or may form therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections. 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 and being 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 extend over a corresponding distinct fourth outside container wall section and/or may form therewith a same fourth wall section distinct from the first, second and third wall sections.

[0125] 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 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 can form therewith a same third wall section distinct from the first and second wall sections. 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 second or the third thermal energy per cm.sup.2 and being 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 may form therewith a same fourth wall section distinct from the first, second and third wall sections.

[0126] Thermal conditioner 40 may 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.

[0127] Thermal conditioner 40 can include an electric conductor 41,42,45,46,47 that emits the thermal energy when conducting an electric current.

[0128] The produced thermal energy can be a resistive thermal energy or an inductive thermal energy or a Pelletier thermal energy.

[0129] Thermal conditioner 40 may include an electrically inert holder 43 that holds the electric conductor.

[0130] Thermal conditioner 40 can comprise a plurality of electric sections 41,42, such as first and second sections 41,42 and optionally third section and possibly fourth section. Each electric section may include at least one electric conductor connected, directly or indirectly, to a power source via corresponding connectors 45,47;46,47, at least two sections 41,42 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 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.

[0131] Thermal conditioner 40 may have an electric wire, e.g. a copper wire or an aluminum wire, of a generally constant section and material as said electric conductor(s). Each electric section 41,42 can 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 may be 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.

[0132] Housing 3 and container 2 may 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 extending over at least part of the upright extending container part, whereby at least part thermal conditioner 40 is located inside housing 3 along the upright extending container part.

[0133] Container 2 may be made of one or more passive components, e.g. a passive resistor and/or a passive heat permeable material, whereas housing 3 comprises all active electric components.