IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0408380
(2009-03-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-8109113
(2012-02-07)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Takata, Gary L.
- Hill, Brian R.
- Khoo, Christopher K.
- Hogan, Timothy P.
- Hsing, John J.
- Ford, Sam J.
- DeGroot, Tim J.
- Miller, William A.
- Martin, James
- Peters, Christopher E.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Fluid Management Operations, LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Miller, Matthias & Hull LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus furt
An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products comprising: a rotating horizontal freeze plate comprising an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix thereon;a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate, the spreader body comprising
1. An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products comprising: a rotating horizontal freeze plate comprising an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix thereon;a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate, the spreader body comprising a spreader edge that extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate, the spreading edge comprising at least one support for supporting the spreading edge above the upper surface of the freeze plate by a gap that defines a height of the distributed chilled aerated mix;a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate, the scraper comprising a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate and is directed opposite a direction of travel of the freeze plate, the scraper further comprising a body that, with the scraper blade, forms a channel for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix, the channel extending across the portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate and being defined by the scraper blade and a curved inverted u-shaped wall that extends from the scraper blade to a distal edge disposed above the freeze platea plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scraper and the spreader body are uniformly biased against the upper surface of the freeze plate by a pre-loaded hold-down plate. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hold-down plate is connected to and extends between two vertical posts disposed on diametrically opposed sides of the freeze plate, each post being connected to a vertical cam, the vertical cams moving the posts and hold-down plate from a released position for disassembly and cleaning to a clamped position for making the scoop. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vertical cams are disposed beneath the freeze plate and are linked together by a pulley and lever system whereby both cams are moved simultaneously from the released to the clamped positions and vice versa upon the movement of the lever. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cup lifter comprises a cup holder comprising a front side and a rear side, the rear side of the cup holder being pivotally connected to a frame, the frame comprising an opening in alignment with the channel of the scraper, the front side of the cup holder being linked to a door that covers the channel when the cup lifter is in a first position, the door being slidably connected to the frame and movable to a second position above the opening and causing the cup holder to pivot upward in alignment with and covering the opening with a cup when a cup is received in the cup holder. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the door comprises a wiper element for wiping the plow when the door moves from the second to the first positions and when the plow is disposed at the opening in the frame after the plow has pushed the product into the cup. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spreader body further comprises a cleaning edge, the spreader body being pivotally connected to a rod, the spreader body being movable between a spreading position where the spreading edge engages the upper surface of the freeze plate and a cleaning position where both the cleaning edge and spreading edge engage the upper surface of the freeze plate. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the spreading edge comprises a spreader blade disposed between two rounded end supports, the spreader blade being recessed with respect to the rounded end supports wherein, in the spreading position, the spreader blade is supported above the upper surface of the freeze plate by the rounded end supports. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the spreading edge comprises a spreader blade that comprises three spaced-apart rounded supports, the spreader blade being recessed with respect to the rounded supports wherein, in the spreading position, the spreader blade is supported above the upper surface of the freeze plate by the rounded supports. 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein when the spreader body moves from the cleaning position to the spreading position, the rod moves vertically upward thereby causing the cleaning edge to pivot upward away from the freeze plate as the spreader body engages an abutment that holds the spreading edge against the upper surface of the freeze plate in the spreading and cleaning position. 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the abutment comprises at least one downwardly extending spring-biased foot. 12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the abutment comprises a resilient member. 13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein when the spreader body moves from the cleaning position to the spreading position, the rod moves vertically upward thereby causing the cleaning edge to pivot upward away from the freeze plate as the spreader body is biased downward against the upper surface of the freeze plate in the spreading and cleaning positions. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising at least a first magnet connected to the spreader body adjacent to the spreader edge and at least a second magnet having an opposite polarity to the first magnet and that is mounted above the spreader body and first magnet for biasing the spreader edge of the spreader body downward against the upper surface of the rotating freeze plate. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the freeze plate, scraper and plow are disposed within a liner, the liner comprising a drain for the release of cleaning water and debris. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a frame, the frame supporting a first insulated compartment for the storage of base material of the mix, the frame supporting a second insulated compartment for accommodating the freeze plate, scraper, spreader body and plow, the first and second insulated compartments being in communication with a first compressor for maintaining the first and second insulated compartments within a first temperature range,the freeze plate being linked to a second compressor. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a third compartment for accommodating flavorings, the third compartment in communication with the first and second compartments for maintaining the third compartment within a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range. 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein communication between the first and second compartments is provided by a first baffled conduit, communication between the second and third compartments is provided by a second baffle conduit, and communication between the first and third compartments is provided by a third baffled conduit. 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the frame further supports a fourth compartment for housing electronic components, the third compartment comprising a vent for releasing heat. 20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second compartment further accommodates a desiccant canister for humidity and frost reduction. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second compartment is connected to a blower by a one-way valve permitting air from the blow to enter the second compartment from the blower, the second compartment further comprises an outer window that isolates the second compartment and maintains the second compartment at a pressure greater than one atmosphere during the making of the scoop of frozen, scraped aerated mix. 22. An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products comprising: a frame supporting first and second insulated compartments, the first insulated compartment for a storage of base material of a mix, the second insulated compartment for accommodating a rotatable freeze plate, scraper, spreader body, plow and a dispense outlet for delivering chilled aerated mix to an upper surface of the freeze plate, the first and second insulated compartments being in communication with a first compressor for maintaining the first and second insulated compartments within a first temperature range, the freeze plate being linked to a second compressor;the spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate, the spreader body comprising a spreader edge that extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate and being supported above the freeze plate by a fixed gap;a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the freeze plate, the scraper comprising a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate, the scraper further comprising a body that, with the scraper blade, forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel above the scraper blade and that extends radially across and above the freeze plate for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix, the plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a third compartment for accommodating flavorings, the third compartment in communication with the first and second compartments for maintaining the third compartment within a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein communication between the first and second compartments is provided by a first baffled conduit, communication between the second and third compartments is provided by a second baffled conduit, and communication between the first and third compartments is provided by a third baffled conduit. 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the frame further supports a fourth compartment for housing electronic components, the third compartment comprising a vent for releasing heat. 26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the scraper and the spreader body are uniformly biased against the upper surface of the freeze plate by a pre-loaded hold-down plate. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the hold-down plate is connected to and extends between two vertical posts disposed on diametrically opposed sides of the freeze plate, each post being connected to a vertical cam, the vertical cams moving the posts and hold-down plate from a released position for disassembly and cleaning to a clamped position for making the scoop. 28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the vertical cams are disposed beneath the freeze plate and are linked together by a pulley and lever system whereby both cams are moved simultaneously from the released to the clamped positions and vice versa upon the movement of the lever. 29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the cup lifter comprises a cup holder comprising a front side and a rear side, the rear side of the cup holder being pivotally connected to a frame, the frame comprising an opening in alignment with the channel of the scraper, the front side of the cup holder being linked to a door that covers the channel when the cup lifter is in a first position, the door being slidably connected to the frame and movable to a second position above the opening and causing the cup holder to pivot upward in alignment with and covering the opening with a cup when a cup is received in the cup holder. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the door comprises a wiper element for wiping the plow when the door moves from the second to the first positions and when the plow is disposed at the opening in the frame after the plow has pushed the product into the cup. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the door has a lower edge for dislodging scraped frozen aerated mix from the plow as the door is lowered. 32. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the spreader body comprises a spreading edge and a cleaning edge, the spreader body being pivotally connected to a rod, the spreader body being movable between a spreading position where the spreading edge engages the upper surface of the freeze plate and a cleaning position where both the cleaning edge and spreading edge engage the upper surface of the freeze plate. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the spreading edge comprises a rounded spreader blade and a plurality of rounded supports, the spreader blade being recessed with respect to the rounded supports wherein, in the spreading position, the spreader blade is supported a fixed distance above the upper edge of the freeze plate by the rounded supports. 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein when the spreader body moves from the cleaning position to the spreading position, the rod moves vertically upward thereby causing the cleaning edge to pivot upward away from the freeze plate as the spreader body remains biased against the upper surface of the freeze plate in the spreading and cleaning positions. 35. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the freeze plate, scraper and plow are disposed within a liner, the liner comprising a drain for the release of cleaning water and debris. 36. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the second compartment further accommodates a desiccant canister for humidity and frost reduction, and wherein the second compartment is connected to a blower by a one-way valve permitting air from the blow to enter the second compartment from the blower, the second compartment further comprises an outer window that isolates the second compartment and maintains the second compartment at a pressure greater than one atmosphere during the making of the scoop of frozen, scraped aerated mix.
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