CHILLED OR FROZEN PRODUCT PREPARATION MACHINE
20180064132 ยท 2018-03-08
Inventors
Cpc classification
B01F27/95
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01F35/333
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01F35/92
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01F27/805
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A23G9/12
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A23G9/12
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
The invention relates to a stirring mechanism (90) for a machine for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising one motor, the stirring mechanism (90) comprising one or a plurality of transmission paths between an input shaft (94) rotatable at a speed .sub.in by the motor and an output shaft (98) rotatable at a speed .sub.out, the transmission paths providing different values of the ratio .sub.in/.sub.out and being selectable as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft (94). The invention further relates to a machine (100) for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising a stirring mechanism (90) as described, the stirring mechanism (90) entraining in rotation stirring means (9) to prepare the product. Even further, the invention relates to a system comprising such a machine (100) and a container (10) comprising the ingredient or ingredients for preparing the product by the rotation of the stirring means (9).
Claims
1. Stirring mechanism for a machine for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising one motor, the stirring mechanism comprising at least one transmission path between an input shaft rotatable at a speed (.sub.in) by the motor and an output shaft rotatable at a speed (.sub.out), the transmission path providing different values of the ratio (.sub.in/.sub.out) and being selectable as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft.
2. Stirring mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the transmission path comprises transmission gears arranged at different heights in the stirring mechanism.
3. Stirring mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft comprises one or a plurality of gear stages engaging with transmission gears as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft such that different ratios (.sub.in/.sub.out) can be provided depending on the product.
4. Stirring mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the transmission gears are arranged in the input shaft.
5. Stirring mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the output shaft comprises two gear stages engaging with transmission gears depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft, so two different ratios (.sub.in/.sub.out) are provided as a function of the product.
6. Stirring mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the number of gears in the transmission gears is selected so as to provide different combinations of positive and/or negative ratios (.sub.in/.sub.out) as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft.
7. Stirring mechanism according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the transmission gears comprises a gear box.
8. Stirring mechanism according to claim 1, comprising an inner gear driving the rotation of the transmission gears around the stirring mechanism axis.
9. Stirring mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the ratio (.sub.in/.sub.out) depends on the number of teeth in the inner gear and/or in the transmission gears.
10. Stirring mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the inner gear comprises different internal diameters engaging with transmission gears depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft so that different ratios (.sub.in/.sub.out) are provided.
11. Stirring mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the ratio (.sub.in/.sub.out) is negative or positive as a function of the number of gears in the transmission gear engaging with the output shaft and as a function of the positioning of the inner gear.
12. Stirring mechanism according to claim 1, configured such that it comprises a disengagement angle where the input shaft rotates while the output shaft remains static.
13. Stirring mechanism according to claim 12, comprising first and second contacting elements collaborating with the input shaft in order to define the disengagement angle.
14. Machine for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising a stirring mechanism comprising one motor, the stirring mechanism comprising at least one transmission path between an input shaft rotatable at a speed (.sub.in) by the motor and an output shaft rotatable at a speed (.sub.out), the transmission path providing different values of the ratio (.sub.in/.sub.out) and being selectable as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft, the stirring mechanism entraining in rotation a stirring member to prepare the product.
15. System comprising a machine according to claim 14 and a container comprising the ingredient or ingredients for preparing the product by the rotation of the stirring member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0037]
[0038] As schematically shown in
[0039] The preparation machine 100 further comprises a cooling unit 4 connected to a cooling element 1a that is preferably connected to or integrally formed with the receiving means 1 of the machine 100. The cooling element 1a is preferably an evaporator connected to the cooling unit 4 of the machine, preferably arranged at an inner surface of the receiving means 1. The cooling element 1a thus serves as a heat exchanger that withdraws the heat energy from the container 10 and its enclosed confectionary product. The cooling element 1a is further of a material which provides excellent heat transfer properties, such as e.g. metal. Accordingly, the heat transfer between the container 10 and the cooling element 1a is significantly enhanced.
[0040] The cooling unit 4 of the machine 100 is adapted to cool the cooling element 1a. The cooling unit 4 can comprise any refrigeration and/or circulatory heat transfer system to cool the cooling element 1a and consequently the container 10 as rapidly as possible.
[0041] The machine 100 may comprise a liquid tank 2 for holding liquid such as e.g. water and a dedicated pump. The liquid tank 2 is preferably connected to liquid dispensing means 2a for providing liquid to the container 10 when being placed within the receiving means 1 of the machine 100.
[0042] Furthermore, the machine 100 may comprise a topping tank 3 and an associated valve or pump (not shown) for providing toppings in solid or liquid form to the product prepared in the container 10. The toppings may be liquid coulis, liquid chocolat, caramel or solid products like crisps, flakes, chocolate bits. Additionally, the toppings may be liquefied by means of an additionally provided heating source such as e.g. melted chocolate.
[0043] The machine 100 further comprises a stirring device 5 adapted to connect to stirring means 9. For this reason, the stirring device 5 is preferably equipped with connection means 5a designed for selectively connecting to the stirring means 9. The stirring means 9 may either be part of the machine 100 or be provided as integral part of the container 10.
[0044] The machine 100 further comprises a control unit 6 for controlling the operations of the components of the machine. The control unit 6 may further comprise sensors and container recognition means (not shown) which are arranged to interact with identification means provided on the container 10.
[0045] The topping tank 3 and the stirring device 5 are preferably mounted on a mobile structure 7 of the machine in order to allow the insertion and removal of the container 10 into and from the container receiving means 1. The mobile structure 7 is thus adapted to be moved relatively to the rest of a housing of the machine 100 from a closed position (shown in
[0046] The present invention specifically refers to a stirring device 5 in the preparation machine 100: in order to aerate and to ensure a fast heat transfer to the product in the container 10, stirring is a key factor and is done through an epicyclical movement of the stirring means 9, meaning that two rotations are used, as schematically represented in
[0049]
[0050] Because the preparation machine 100 of the invention is used for a large variety of chilled or frozen products such as ice-cream, milkshakes, sorbets, frozen yoghurt, whipped yoghurt, smoothies, cold beverages or the like, more than one ratio (.sub.1/.sub.2) needs to be provided by the stirring device 5 of the invention, as a function of the targeted product. Moreover, according to the invention, this ratio needs to be automatically provided by the preparation machine 100 (by the control device 6 in the machine 100) as a function of the product in the container 10. In order to achieve this, the invention provides a stirring device 5 configured as will be described in further detail in what follows.
[0051] The stirring device 5 of the invention comprises a stirring mechanism 90 which entrains in rotation the stirring means 9 (particularly, is able to provide the stirring means 9 with the first rotation .sub.1 and with the second rotation .sub.2) and connection means 5a that connect the stirring means 9 with the stirring mechanism 90. The quotient of (.sub.1/.sub.2) defines the ratio of the epicyclic movement of the stirring means 9. The stirring mechanism 90 of the invention comprises one motor (not shown in the Figures attached) and is able to provide with a simple configuration different ratios (.sub.1/.sub.2) of the stirring means 9.
[0052] Preferably, the stirring mechanism 90 can provide two different ratios (.sub.1/.sub.2) as a function of the rotational direction of the said stirring mechanism 90, clockwise or counter clockwise direction. The switch between the two rotational directions and, thus, between the two ratios, is done fully automatically and only one motor being required. By providing different ratios, different stirring parameters are provided and therefore different product configurations being possible, while using only one motor, which maintains the machine with a simple configuration.
[0053] The epicyclical stirring mechanism 90 of the invention, providing a direction dependent ratio, comprises as shown in
[0058] When described that the input shaft 94 is actively driven in rotation by the motor around the container axis 92 several possibilities should effectively be understood and therefore comprised within the scope of the present invention: either the motor directly acts on the input shaft 94, i.e. directly drives it, or it acts on the input shaft 94 not directly, but through a transmission path such as gears or the like.
[0059] Preferably, the output shaft 98 comprises two gears, an upper output gear 981 and a lower output gear 982, as shown in
[0060] When the input shaft 94 is rotating in clockwise direction, the functioning of the different elements in the stirring mechanism 90 is schematically represented in
[0061] When a torque is applied on the input shaft 94 by the motor, the input shaft 94 starts rotating with a rotational speed .sub.in while the output shaft holder 97 remains static, as the input shaft 94 and the output shaft holder 97 are arranged being disengaged under a certain relative angle .sub.1 between them, as shown in
[0062] Using an even number of gears (two, in the preferred embodiments shown) in the primary transmission gear 95 has the consequence that the upper output gear 981 rotates in the opposite direction compared to the input shaft 94. Furthermore, the ratio between the two is (N.sub.in/N.sub.out1), N.sub.in being the number of internal teeth of the fixed internal gear 93, and N.sub.out1 is the number of teeth of the upper output gear 981.
[0063] When the input shaft 94 is rotating in counter clockwise direction, the functioning of the different elements in the stirring mechanism 90 is schematically represented in
[0064] When a torque is applied on the input shaft 94 by the motor, the input shaft 94 starts rotating with a rotational speed .sub.in while the output shaft holder 97 remains static, as the input shaft 94 and the output shaft holder 97 are arranged being disengaged under a certain relative angle .sub.1 between them, as shown in
[0065] Using an even number of gears (two, in the preferred embodiments shown) in the secondary transmission gear 96 has the consequence that the lower output gear 982 rotates in the opposite direction compared to the input shaft 94. Furthermore, the ratio between the two is (N.sub.in/N.sub.out2), N.sub.in being the number of internal teeth of the fixed internal gear 93, and N.sub.out2 is the number of teeth of the lower output gear 982.
[0066]
[0067] In the present invention, the stirring means 9 rotate around the container axis 92 under a rotational speed .sub.in provided by the motor to the input shaft 94, typically known as gyration. Furthermore, the stirring means 9 also rotate in spin around its axis (stirring means axis 91) under a rotational speed .sub.out.
[0068] The references used for the rotational directions are the standard ones, i.e., positive for counter clockwise rotational direction and negative for clockwise rotational direction.
[0069] When using an even number of gears in the primary transmission gear 95 and/or in the secondary transmission gear 96 (depending on the direction of rotation of .sub.in) the ratio obtained is negative, meaning that the output rotation .sub.out of the output shaft 98 occurs in the opposite direction to the input rotation .sub.in introduced by the motor to the input shaft 94. This is represented in
[0070] However, an uneven or odd number of gears for the primary transmission gear 95 and/or for the secondary transmission gear 96 can be used as well, so as to obtain a positive ratio (.sub.out/.sub.in), meaning that the output rotation .sub.out of the output shaft 98 occurs in the same direction to the input rotation .sub.in introduced by the motor to the input shaft 94. This is shown for example in
[0071] However, what has been said before represents an embodiment as shown for example in
[0072] Moreover, by using an even or an odd number of gears in one of the primary transmission gear 95 and/or on the secondary transmission gear 96, all sorts of combinations are possible, so the ratio obtained can be positive or negative, designed independently from the input rotational direction .sub.in introduced by the motor to the input shaft 94, as represented for example in
[0073] Taking for example the graph represented in
[0074] Different combinations are also possible as shown in
[0075]
[0076] In the examples presented above as preferred embodiments of the invention, the different ratios (.sub.out/.sub.in) in value are obtained by modifying the number of teeth in the upper output gear 981 (N.sub.out1) and in the lower output gear 982 (N.sub.out2), these upper and lower output gears configuring two different stages in the output shaft 98. However, there other embodiments of the output shaft 98 are also possible, in order to simplify it and use only one stage in it, while still obtaining different ratios, this being achieved by making the difference of ratio at other locations: [0077] in the primary and/or secondary transmission gears 95, 96 using a known transmission gearbox:
[0079] The main principle of the invention is to provide a stirring mechanism 90 that comprises a plurality of transmission paths, these transmission paths being selected as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft 94. By transmission path, according to the present invention, it should be understood the transmission or movement path followed by the gears that are engaged or meshed which starts or departs from the input shaft 94 and ends output shaft 98, i.e. from .sub.in provided by the motor to .sub.out provided in the output shaft 98. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide diverse transmission paths which give a certain ratio (.sub.out/.sub.in) that is chosen as a function of the chilled or frozen product prepared by the machine of the invention, this ratio (.sub.out/.sub.in) being further determined by the direction of rotation of the input shaft 94.
[0080] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, different transmission paths can be selected as different transmission gears are arranged at different heights in the input shaft 94, further ratio selections being possible also depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft 94.
[0081] The Figures attached and the references used indicate straight gears; however, any other kind of gears can be used and will also fall within the scope of the present invention, such as helical, double helical, spiral, hypoid, conical, or the like.
[0082] As explained previously, some of the main advantages of the preparation machine of the invention are: [0083] still using a simple mechanism, the possibility of changing ratio is provided; [0084] the machine also provides the possibility of adapting the rotational output direction by using an even or odd number of transmission gears.
[0085] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.
REFERENCES
[0086] 100 Machine
[0087] 1 Container receiving means
[0088] 4 Cooling unit
[0089] 1a Cooling element
[0090] 2 Liquid tank
[0091] 2a Dispensing means
[0092] 3 Topping tank
[0093] 5 Stirring device
[0094] 90 Stirring mechanism
[0095] 5a Connection means
[0096] 6 Control unit
[0097] 7 Mobile structure
[0098] 9 Stirring means
[0099] .sub.1 Rotation of stirring means around own axis
[0100] .sub.2 Rotation of stirring means around container axis
[0101] 91 Stirring means axis
[0102] 92 Container axis
[0103] 21 Fixed external gear (P. Art)
[0104] 22 Inner gear (P. Art)
[0105] 23 Output gear (P. Art)
[0106] 93 Fixed internal gear
[0107] 931 Upper inner gear diameter
[0108] 932 Lower inner gear diameter
[0109] 94 Input shaft
[0110] 95 Primary transmission gear
[0111] 96 Secondary transmission gear
[0112] 97 Output shaft holder
[0113] 98 Output shaft
[0114] 981 Upper output gear
[0115] 982 Lower output gear
[0116] .sub.1 Disengaging angle between output shaft holder and input shaft
[0117] 101 First contacting element
[0118] 102 Second contacting element
[0119] .sub.in Rotation of input shaft
[0120] .sub.out Rotation of output shaft
[0121] N.sub.in Number of teeth of fixed internal gear
[0122] N.sub.out1 Number of teeth of upper output gear
[0123] N.sub.out2 Number of teeth of lower output gear
[0124] 10 Preparation container