Impeller for food processor

Abstract

A machine (1) for homogenizing a food substance includes a container (10) delimiting a cavity (10) for containing the food substance. The machine has an impeller (30) with an impelling member (31) having a generally disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface (31, 31, 31) that is drivable in rotation about a central axial direction (30) for imparting a mechanical effect to the food substance in the container (10) to homogenize different phases in the food substance. The impelling member (31) has at least one opening (31a, 31b1, 31b2, 31b4, 31b4, 31c, 31c, 31d1, 31d2) which extends through the member (31) from the impelling surface (31, 31, 31) to an opposite surface (31.sup.IV) of the member (31).

Claims

1. A machine for homogenising a food substance, the machine comprising: a container defining a cavity; an impeller comprising an impelling member having a generally disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface that is drivable in rotation about a central axial direction of the impelling surface for imparting a mechanical effect to the food substance in the container to homogenise different phases in the food substance; the impeller further comprising a foot for spacing and stabilizing the impelling member above a bottom wall of the container; the impelling member has at least one opening, wherein the at least one opening extends through the impelling member from the impelling surface to an opposite surface of the impelling member, the opening being: defined by at least one portion that has along the at least one opening an orientation which is angled away from a direction of movement of the at least one portion when the impelling surface is driven in rotation about the central axial direction; and/or confined by a notional circular sector defined on the generally disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface and extending to the opposite surface of the impelling surface; and a module which has a housing that contains an inner chamber and that defines a seat on or in which the container is mounted, the inner chamber containing one or more electric components that include an electric motor for driving the impelling member in the container, wherein the impelling member is magnetically coupled to the electric motor.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least one opening exhibit a feature selected from the group consisting of: a generally arched shape; a generally circular shape that is located off the central axial direction; a generally oval or elliptic shape; a generally polygonal shape; extending as an individual opening from a position adjacent to the central axial direction to a position adjacent to a peripheral perimeter of the impelling member; located next to the central axial direction; located on the central axial direction; and a plurality of openings forming an openwork of two or more spaced openings.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the impelling surface extends over a predominant part of the bottom wall of the container defining the cavity.

4. The machine of claim 1, further comprising the food substance within the container.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the foot has a downwardly-oriented convex curved contact surface.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the electric motor has an output drive axis with a driver device configured to drive in the container a follower device of the impeller.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the driver device and the follower device are magnetically coupled through a sidewall and/or the bottom wall of the container, and wherein the machine has a configuration selected from the group consisting of: the driver device comprises a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding ferromagnetic element of the follower device; the follower device comprises a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding ferromagnetic element of the driver device; and the driver device comprises a magnetic field-generating element that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding magnetic field-generating element of the follower device.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the follower device extends over a predominant part of the bottom wall of the container or across a substantial part of the bottom wall of the container along a diameter thereof and wherein the driver device extends over a predominant part of a bottom part of the seat or across a substantial part of the bottom part of the seat along a diameter thereof, the magnetic field generating element and when present the ferromagnetic element being positioned at extremal or peripheral parts of the follower device and of the driver device.

9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the module and the follower device are each provided with a removal magnetic field-generating element that face each other via the bottom wall of the container.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more electric components include a generator configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field directed to the container for heating the food substance in the container.

11. The machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more electric components radiates heat within the inner chamber when electrically powered, the housing having a separation section and an outside section distinct from the separation section, the separation section and the outside section defining at least part of the chamber, the separation section separating the chamber from the seat.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the outside section forms a base or foot of the housing; and/or includes a cooling device.

13. The machine of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a joining section that joins the separation section to the outside section.

14. The machine of claim 10, wherein the chamber comprises: a first chamber containing at least one of an electric motor, a control unit and a power management unit; and a second chamber containing the generator.

15. The machine of claim 1, which includes a further food phase homogenisation device comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of: an expansion chamber; a static mixer; and a couette flow device.

16. The machine of claim 1, wherein the impelling surface has at least one part protruding or recessed in a direction parallel to the axial direction and has a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) undulated along a circular direction about the axial direction and (ii) generally upright.

17. The machine of claim 1, wherein the container is removably mounted on or in the seat; and the inner chamber has an inner sidewall that faces a sidewall of the container and an inner bottom wall that defines the seat and faces the bottom wall of the container.

18. The machine of claim 4, wherein the food substance in the container comprises milk or a milk based substance.

19. A machine configured to froth milk or a milk-based substance, the machine comprising: a container defining a cavity, the container containing the milk or milk-based substance; an impeller comprising an impelling member having a generally disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface that is drivable in rotation about a central axial direction of the impelling surface for imparting a mechanical effect to the milk or milk-based substance in the container to homogenise different phases in the milk or milk-based substance, the impeller further comprising a foot for spacing and stabilizing the impelling member above a bottom wall of the container; the impelling member has at least one opening, wherein the at least one opening extends through the impelling member from the impelling surface to an opposite surface of the impelling member, the at least one opening being: defined by at least one portion that has along the at least one opening an orientation which is angled away from a direction of movement of the at least one portion when the impelling surface is driven in rotation about the central axial direction; and/or confined by a notional circular sector defined on the disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface and extending to the opposite surface of the impelling member; and a module which has a housing that contains an inner chamber and that defines a seat on or in which the container is mounted, the inner chamber containing one or more electric components that include an electric motor for driving the impelling member in the container, wherein the impelling member is magnetically coupled to the electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a machine having an impeller and a container according to the invention, the container being for instance mounted in a module;

(3) FIG. 1a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the central bottom part of the container of FIG. 1 when resting on the module of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the module of FIG. 1 without container;

(5) FIG. 3 is an external view of the module of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 shows an outside section of the module of FIG. 1 which outside section is configured for evacuating heat outside the module;

(7) FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate different impellers that can be placed into the container of FIG. 1 for imparting a mechanical effect to a food substance container in the container; and

(8) FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate two different configurations of the impeller resting in the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of a machine 1 for homogenising a food substance, such as frothing milk or a milk-based substance. FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate different impeller surfaces for imparting a mechanical effect to the food substance. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate different foot arrangements and magnetic arrangements of an impeller and module.

(10) Machine 1 can be a standalone machine or a machine incorporated in a food processor such as a beverage maker e.g. a coffee maker.

(11) Machine 1 has a container 10 delimiting a cavity 10 for containing the food substance.

(12) Container 10 can be mechanically and/or electrically passive.

(13) Container 10 may have a side wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 for delimiting its cavity 10.

(14) Container 10 can be generally cup-shaped or bowl-shaped or cylinder-shaped, sidewall 11 being generally upright and bottom wall 12 being generally flat or curved.

(15) Container 10 can be provided with a thermally insulating outside material 10 and/or with a handle, for seizure and optional displacement of container 10 by a human hand.

(16) Impeller 30 has an impelling member 31 with a generally disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface 31,31,31 that is drivable in rotation about a central axial direction 30 of impelling surface 31,31,31 for imparting a mechanical effect to the food substance in container 10 so as to homogenise different phases in food substance.

(17) Impelling surface 31,31,31 can have at least one part 31,31,31 protruding or recessed in a direction parallel to axial direction 30, such as a part 31,31 undulated along a circular direction about axial direction 30 or a surface with a generally upright radial protruding or recessed part 31.

(18) Impelling member 31 can have at least one opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31c,31d1,31d2, such as a bubble refiner opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31c, 31d1,31d2, e.g. operating by dividing gas bubbles contained in the food substance for instance to divide air bubbles contained in milk, which extends through the member 31 from the impelling surface 31,31,31 to an opposite surface 31.sup.IV of member 31. Opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31c,31d1,31d2 may operate by dividing gas bubbles contained in the food substance, for instance, to divide air bubbles contained in milk.

(19) Opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31c,31d1,31d2 can be delimited by at least one portion 31bx,31by,31cx,31cy,31cx,31cy that has along the opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31c,31d1,31d2 an orientation 31n which is angled away from a direction of movement 31r of portion 31bx,31by,31cx,31xy,31cx,31cy when impelling surface 31,31,31 is driven in rotation r about central axial direction 30. For instance, the orientation 31n is orthogonal to direction of movement 31r.

(20) Opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31d1,31d2 may be confined by a notional circular sector 31x,31y,31z defined on disc-shaped or conically-shaped impelling surface 31,31,31 and extend to opposite surface 31.sup.IV.

(21) Such sector 31x,31y,31z can extend over an angle in the range of 1 to 359 deg, such as 5 to 270, e.g. 15 to 180 for instance 30 to 90. Sector 31x,31y,31z is typically delimited by radii 31x,31y and an arc 31z joining radii 31x,31y.

(22) Portions 31by,31by,31cx,31cy,31dx,31dy of member 31 that are adjacent to radii 31x,31y defining such sector 31x,31y,31z and that delimit such opening 31a,31b1,31b2, 31b4,31b4,31c,31d1,31d2 can be configured to part gas bubbles contained in the food substance when the gas bubbles extend into or through the opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c,31d1,31d2 while impelling surface 31,31,31 is driven in rotation.

(23) At least one opening 31a can have a generally arched shape, e.g. a general shape of a kidney or bean, such as a shape 31a extending around central axial direction 30.

(24) At least one opening 31b1,31b2,31b3,31b4 may have a generally circular shape, such as a circular shape that is located off central axial direction 30.

(25) At least one opening 31c,31c can have a generally oval or elliptic shape, such as a shape extending radially on member 31.

(26) At least one opening 31d1,31d2 may have a generally polygonal shape such as a shape that is located off central axial direction 30.

(27) At least one opening 31c can extend as (an) individual opening(s) from a position 31ca adjacent to central axial direction 30 to a position 31cb adjacent to a peripheral perimeter of member 31.

(28) At least one opening 31a,31b1,31b2,31b4,31b4,31c, 31d1,31d2 may be located next to the central axial direction 30.

(29) At least one opening 31c can be located on the central axial direction 30.

(30) A plurality of openings 31b1,31b2,31b3,31b4;31c, 31c;31d1,31d2 may form an openwork of two or more spaced openings 31b1,31b2,31b3,31b4;31c,31c;31d1,31d2.

(31) A plurality of openings 31b1,31b2,31b3,31b4;31c, 31c;31d1,31d2 can be angled apart about the central axial direction 30.

(32) At least one opening 31b1,31b2,31b3,31b4;31c,31c; 31d1,31d2 may be contained within and may radially extend over different juxtaposed or overlapping notional annulus 31ba_31bf,31bb_31be,31bc_31bg,31bd_31bh;31da_31dd, 31db_31dc which together extend substantially uninterruptedly over an overall notional continuous annulus 31ba_31bb;31da_31db.

(33) Impelling surface 31,31,31 can extend over a predominant part of a bottom wall 12 delimiting cavity 10. For instance, impelling surface 31,31,31 has a surface area that is greater than 75 or 85% of cavity's bottom wall 12.

(34) Impeller 30 may have, further to impelling member 31, a foot 35,38 for spacing impelling member 31 above a bottom wall 12 of container 10. For instance, foot 35,38 is spaced under impelling member 31 by a distance d in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 cm e.g. 1 to 2 cm.

(35) Foot 35,38 may include a downwardly-oriented convex curved contact surface 38, e.g. a downwardly projecting pin 38, such that impeller 30 rests on bottom wall 12 entirely via convex curved contact surface 38. Convex curved contact can be in contact with bottom wall 12 over a total surface area of typically less than 5 mm.sup.2, such as less than 4 e.g. less than 3 for instance less than 2 for example less than 0.3 mm.sup.2.

(36) For instance, contact surface 38 is made of hard polymeric material, such as hard plastic, or of food-safe stainless steel and is supported by a surface of bottom wall 12 made of ceramic material, such as PTFE, or of food-safe stainless steel e.g. AiSi 304 steel.

(37) Impeller 30 may be maintained in equilibrium on downwardly-oriented convex curved contact surface 38: as a pendulum, by having its centre of gravity G1 located vertically below contact surface 38 (FIG. 8); or as an inverted pendulum, by having its centre of gravity Gh located vertically above contact surface 38 and by being balanced by magnetic forces, e.g. by a self-adapting magnetic stabilising arrangement including for instance magnetic field-generating element 24a,36, and/or by being driven in rotation as a spinning top. See FIG. 9.

(38) Motor 24 of the embodiments schematically illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be a motor formed of a sole stator driving the follower device as a rotor or a motor with an output axis having a driving device driving the follower device.

(39) Foot 35,38 can include a device 35 for coupling to a motor 24, such as a follower device 35 for magnetic coupling to a driver device 24 of electric motor 24, such as a coupling device 35 that has a general shape of a disk or a star extending in parallel over a bottom 12 of cavity 10 and that supports a plurality of magnetic field-generating elements 24a and/or ferromagnetic elements 36.

(40) Machine 1 may include a module 20 which has a housing means 22 that contains an inner chamber 22,22a and that delimits a seat 21, such as a generally planar or cylindrical or cup-shaped seat 21. Container 10 may be mounted on or in seat 21, such as removably mounted. Chamber 22,22a can contain one or more electric components 23,24,25,26 that include an electric motor 24 for driving impelling member 31 in container 10.

(41) Electric components 23,24,25,26 may include at least one of a control unit 25 and a power management unit 26.

(42) Electric components 23,24,25,26 can include one or more generators 23 for heating and/or cooling the food substance in container 10, such as a generator 23 that is controlled by a control unit 25 according to a processing program of the food substance. For instance, the program is designed for driving impeller 30 with or without heating or cooling via generator 23.

(43) Electric motor 24 can have an output drive axis 24 with a driver device 24 configured to drive in container 10 a follower device 35 of impeller 30. For instance, driver device 24 and follower device 25 are configured to rotate about a central axial direction 30.

(44) Driver device 24 and follower device 35 may be magnetically coupled through a sidewall 11 and/or bottom wall 12 of container 10.

(45) Driver device 24 may include a magnetic field-generating element 24a that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding ferromagnetic element 36 of follower device 35.

(46) Follower device 24 can include a magnetic field-generating element 36 that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding ferromagnetic element 24a of driver device 35.

(47) Driver device 24 may include a magnetic field-generating element 24a that is arranged to be magnetically coupled to a corresponding magnetic field-generating element 36 of follower device 35.

(48) For instance, elements 24a,36 face each other along a coupling axis 30 that is generally parallel to a rotation axis 30 of follower device 25.

(49) The magnetic field-generating element can comprise an electromagnet element or a permanent magnet element, e.g. made of at least one of iron, nickel, cobalt, rare earth metals, e.g. lanthanide, and alloys and oxides containing such metals as well as polymers (e.g. plastics) carrying such elements and components.

(50) The ferromagnetic element may be made of at least one of Co, Fe, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, FeOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, NiOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, MgOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2Fe.sub.14B, Mn, Bi, Ni, MnSb, MnOFe.sub.2O.sub.3, Y.sub.3Fe.sub.5O.sub.12, CrO.sub.2, MnAs, Gd, Dy, EuO, Cu.sub.2MnAl, Cu.sub.2MnIn, Cu.sub.2MnSn, Ni.sub.2MnAl, Ni.sub.2MnIn, Ni.sub.2MnSn, Ni.sub.2MnSb, Ni.sub.2MnGa, Co.sub.2MnAl, Co.sub.2MnSi, Co.sub.2MnGa, Co.sub.2MnGe, SmCo.sub.5, Sm.sub.2Co.sub.17, Pd.sub.2MnAl, Pd.sub.2MnIn, Pd.sub.2MnSn, Pd.sub.2MnSb, Co.sub.2FeSi, Fe.sub.3Si, Fe.sub.2VAl, Mn.sub.2VGa and Co.sub.2FeGe.

(51) Driver device 24 can face directly sidewall 11 and/or bottom wall 12 of container 10. Driver device 24 can face indirectly sidewall 11 and/or bottom wall 12 of container 10 via a housing inner sidewall and/or inner bottom wall 22 delimiting seat 21, such as separation section 22.

(52) Follower device 35 may extend over a predominant part of bottom wall 12 of container 10 or across a substantial part of bottom wall 12 along a diameter thereof.

(53) Follower device 35 may extend: over a predominant part of bottom wall 12 of container 10, follower device 35 extending typically over at least 75 or 85% of a surface area of bottom wall 12; or across a substantial part of bottom wall 12 along a diameter thereof, follower device 35 extending typically over at least 75 or 85% of a diameter of the bottom wall.

(54) Driver device 24 may extend over a predominant part of bottom part of seat 21 or across a substantial part of the bottom part of seat 21 along a diameter thereof.

(55) Driver device 24 can extend: over a predominant part of a bottom part of seat 21, driver device 24 extending typically over at least 75 or 85% of a surface area of the bottom part; or across a substantial part of the bottom part of seat 21 along a diameter thereof, driver device 24 extending typically over at least 75 or 85% of a diameter of the bottom part.

(56) Magnetic field generating element(s) 24a,36 and, when present ferromagnetic element(s) 24a,36, may be positioned at extremal or peripheral parts of follower device 35 and of driver device 24.

(57) Module 20 and follower device 35 can each be provided with a removal magnetic field-generating element 24,37, such as removal elements 24,37 that face each other via bottom wall 12 of container 10 and optionally via housing means 22. Removal elements 24,37 can be mounted in a mutually repulsive orientation to facilitate a separation of follower device 35 from driver device 24.

(58) Removal elements 24,37 may face each other along an axis 30 that is collinear with or generally parallel to central axial direction 30, removal elements 24,37 comprising for instance a pair removal elements 24,37 facing each other along an axis 30 that is collinear with central axial direction 30.

(59) Removal elements 24,37 can generate together such a repulsive force that separating follower device 35 from driver device 24 when magnetically coupled requires a maximum force that is less than 15 N, such as less than 10 N, e.g. less than 5 N. This maximum force results from the difference between the (greater) overall coupling force and the (smaller) overall removal force.

(60) The magnetic removal force itself (generated by the removal elements) can be in the range of 2 to 40 such, as 4 to 30, e.g. 8 to 15 N.

(61) Module 20 and follower device 35 can be provided with a plurality of pairs of such removal magnetic field-generating elements that are mounted in mutually repulsive orientation, optionally mounted about the central axial direction.

(62) Removal element 24 of module 20 can be located in or on: driver device 24 and/or housing means 22.

(63) Generator 23 can be configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field directed to the container 10 for heating the food substance in container 10.

(64) Generator 23 can be configured to induce an electric heating current in an inductively heatable component 11 of such machine 1. Inductively heatable component 11 may have a surface 11 for radiating heat into cavity 10. Component 11 may be located in the cavity or may form a wall 11 of container 10. Component surface 11 can delimit cavity 10. Generator 23 may include at least one induction coil, such as an induction coil located adjacent to separation section 22.

(65) Generator 23 can be configured to emit microwaves for generating heating microwaves directly in the food substance in container 10.

(66) At least one of components 23,24,25,26 may radiate heat within chamber 22,22a when electrically powered, such as heat generated by an electric resistance of component 23,24,25,26. Housing means 22 can have a separation section 22 and an outside section 22 distinct from separation section 22. Separation section 22 and outside section 22 may delimit at least part of chamber 22,22a. Separation section 22 can separate chamber 22,22a from seat 21. Separation section 22 may surround at least partly seat 21. Separation section 22 can form for instance an upright wall surrounding seat 21 and/or a trough or platform delimiting a bottom of seat 21. Outside section 22 can be separated from seat 21 by chamber 22,22a. Separation section 22 and outside section 22 may have such respective thermal conductivities as to promote an evacuation of heat radiated within the chamber 22,22a outside module 20 via outside section 22 rather than into container 10 via separation section 22. For instance, separation and the outside sections 22,22 are such that the ratio of heat evacuated via outside section 22 over heat evacuated via separation section 22 is of more than 2 such as at least 4 e.g. at least 9.

(67) Outside section 22 may form a base or foot of housing means 22.

(68) Housing means 22 can include a lateral section 22.sup.IV extending laterally down along an edge of outside section 22, such as a lateral section 22.sup.IV having one or more through openings 22v for passing heat evacuated via outside section 22 from under outside section 22 to laterally outside housing means 22.

(69) Housing means 22 may include a lateral section 22.sup.IV extending to above an edge of outside section 22. Outside section 22 can have one or more evacuation channels for passing heat evacuated via outside section 22 underneath lateral section 22.sup.IV to outside housing means 22.

(70) Outside section 22 can include a cooling device such as at least one of a radiator, a dissipator, e.g. a ventilator, and a heat sink. For instance, the cooling device comprises a plurality of protrusions 221 and recesses 222 forming a surface for thermal exchange between chamber 22,22a and outside such machine 1.

(71) Housing means 22 can have a joining section 22.sup.IV that joins separation section 22 to outside section 22, such as a joining section forming an outer sidewall of housing means 22.

(72) Chamber 22,22a may include a first chamber 22 containing at least one of an electric motor 24, a control unit 25 and a power management unit 26, such as a base chamber 22 or a chamber 22 below the seat 21.

(73) Chamber 22,22a can include a second chamber 22a containing generator 23, such as an upper chamber 22a e.g. a chamber formed around seat 21.

(74) First and second chambers 22,22a may be separated by a partition section 22v of housing means 22.

(75) Second chamber 22a can be adjacent to seat 21 via housing means 21. First chamber 22 can be distant to seat 21 or adjacent thereto via housing means 22.

(76) Machine 1 may include a further food phase homogenisation device that comprises at least one of: an expansion chamber such as a venturi chamber; a static mixer; and a couette flow device.

(77) Such food phase homogenisation device may be located at an outlet of the container. Such food phase homogenisation device can operate with steam and/or air in combination with said food substance e.g. milk.