阅读说明：本技术 用于制作液体或半液体食品的机器的搅拌装置 (Stirring device for machines for making liquid or semi-liquid food products ) 是由 A·库奇 R·拉扎里尼 于 2020-01-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于制作液体或半液体食品,尤其是制作冰淇淋的机器(1),包括容器(2),所述容器(2)通过由电动机(4)驱动的搅拌装置(3)来处理液体或半液体基础的产品。该搅拌装置(3)包括外部混合结构(12),轴(16)固定到该外部混合结构(12),以便电动机(4)能够驱动其旋转。刮擦元件(15A、15B、15C)键接到轴(16),该刮擦元件将产品从处理容器(2)的内壁刮下。(Machine (1) for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, in particular ice cream, comprising a container (2), said container (2) processing a liquid or semi-liquid based product by means of stirring means (3) driven by an electric motor (4). The stirring device (3) comprises an external mixing structure (12), to which external mixing structure (12) a shaft (16) is fixed, so that the motor (4) can drive it in rotation. A scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) is keyed to the shaft (16), which scrapes the product off the inner wall of the treatment container (2).)

1. A stirring device (3) for a machine (1) for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, wherein said machine comprises a container (2) for treating a liquid or semi-liquid product, said stirring device (3) being mounted, in use, inside said container (2) to stir the liquid or semi-liquid product inside said container (2),

the stirring device (3) is characterized by comprising:

-a central mounting element (13);

-an outer mixing structure (12) rotatably mounted inside the container (2) and fixed to a central mounting element (13);

-at least one scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) having an at least partially helical shape and keyed to said central mounting element (13).

2. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the central mounting element (13) comprises a shaft (16) of which at least a portion of the cross section is prismatic, the at least one scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) being mounted to the shaft (16) by means of a prismatic coupling.

3. The stirring device according to claim 2, wherein the scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) comprises a tubular portion (17) with polygonal internal cross section, suitable for being fitted to the shaft (16) by means of a prismatic coupling, the scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) comprising a helical stretch (18A, 18B, 18C) for scraping the internal surface of the container (2).

4. A mixing device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one tubular portion (17) has at least one protrusion (19) on the edge of one end thereof and at least one recess (20) on the other end of said tubular portion (17), said recess (20) being shaped so as to couple to the protrusion (19) of the adjacent scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C).

5. Stirring device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a plurality of scraping elements (15A, 15B, 15C) having an at least partially helical shape and keyed one to the central mounting element (13) one after the other.

6. Stirring device according to the preceding claim, comprising locking and pressing means (21) acting on the outermost scraping elements (15A, 15B, 15C) keyed to said shaft (16).

7. Stirring device according to claim 6, wherein said locking and pressing means (21) comprise a flat perforated element (22) traversed by a first end of said shaft (16) and adapted to be applied externally in abutment on a first end (22A) of said external mixing structure (12) passing through a first hole (26A) made in said first end (22A), said flat perforated element (22) being coupled to a perforated disc (23) by a rod (24) passing through a lateral hole (24A) of said first end (22A) and slidably inserted in a tube (25) fixed to said perforated disc (23), said perforated disc (23) being applied externally in abutment on a second end (23A) of said external mixing structure (12) opposite to said first end (22A), the perforated disc (23) is fixed to a second end of the shaft (16) passing through a second hole (29A) made at the second end (23A) of the external mixing structure (12), while the tube (25) passes through a lateral hole (25A) of the second end (23A) itself, wherein the scraping elements (15A, 15B, 15C) are located between the first end (22A) and the second end (23A) of the external mixing structure (12).

8. Stirring device according to claim 7, characterised in that said outer mixing structure (12) is of almost ideal cylindrical shape, said first end (22A) comprising a first perforated plate (26) carrying a series of projections (27) suitable for keying a star-shaped element (28) to said shaft (16) to transmit the rotary motion of said shaft (16) to said outer mixing structure (12), said second end (23A) of said outer mixing structure (12) being a second perforated disc (29).

9. Stirring device according to claim 8, wherein said shaft (16) has at a first end thereof a shoulder ring (30) which, in the assembled configuration, tends to abut against said star-shaped element (28) and press it against said first perforated disc (26), while the second end of the shaft is provided with threaded holes which engage with screws (31) associated with said perforated disc (23) to fasten and tighten said pressing device (21) and said shaft (16).

10. Stirring device according to claim 9, wherein said perforated disc (23) is associated with a butterfly element (32) which engages with the head of said screw (31) to tighten it in said threaded hole in said shaft (16).

11. The stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the external mixing structure (12) comprises a first extremity (22A) joined to a second extremity (23A) by one or more sections (37, 38), the external mixing structure (12) further comprising at least one scraping element (15A, 15B, 15C) interposed between the extremities and at least one helical element (33) extending around said sections (37, 38) and adapted to promote the movement and stirring of the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the container (2).

12. A machine (1) for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, comprising:

-a container (2) for handling a liquid or semi-liquid product;

-a refrigeration system (5) comprising a heat exchanger (6) associated with the container (2) for thermally treating the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the container (2);

-a stirring device (3) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, fitted to the inside of the container (2) to stir the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the container (2);

-drive means (4) connected to said stirring means (3) to allow stirring of the liquid or semi-liquid product inside said container (2); and

-dispensing means (34, 35) for dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product from the container (2).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a stirring device for machines for processing and distributing liquid or semi-liquid food products to the public, in particular for the production of water ices, ice creams, soft ice creams and the like, without loss of generality.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a blender designed to be mounted on the above-mentioned machines for making such liquid or semi-liquid food products.

Background

Machines for making and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid products, in particular ice cream, frozen dessert cream, etc., are known in the art. The above-mentioned machines are equipped with a container for treating the liquid or semi-liquid product and are generally associated with a thermal treatment system which in turn comprises at least one heat exchanger surrounding the container itself.

For the sake of simplicity, reference will be made hereinafter to an ice cream machine which may, but need not, also be equipped with means for dispensing the finished product, without therefore limiting the scope of the invention to this particular example.

It is known that in ice cream machines, the basic ingredients required for the manufacture of the product are put into a container for mixing, and the mixture is then transferred to a processing container by means of a pump device.

The present invention deals with a stirring device installed inside a processing container.

The stirring device is essential to obtain high quality products.

In prior art machines, the device comprises a rotating element provided with radial blades and mounted with its rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal extension of the treatment containers.

The agitator scrapes the inner surface of the vessel.

Obviously, each container length requires a corresponding length of stirring element.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a new design of a stirring device which is inexpensive and easy to adapt to different sizes of treatment vessels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stirring device which is easier to replace when the scraping elements are worn, thus reducing the time and costs required to bring the machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products back to full service.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a solution that allows to achieve the above mentioned objects in a simple and effective way without negatively affecting the production and maintenance costs.

Finally, the object of the present invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing liquid or semi-liquid products, which incorporates a stirring device manufactured according to the invention.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by a machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

Drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention are clearly described in the following claims with reference to the above objects and the advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

specifically, the method comprises the following steps:

figure 1 schematically shows a machine that can be used in an exemplary embodiment for making and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid products, such as ice cream for example, incorporating the objects of the present invention;

figure 2 shows an exploded view of the stirring device of the invention;

figures 3 and 4 show the stirring device of the invention when assembled, viewed from two different angles, so as to better show the two ends of the device;

figure 5 shows a central mounting element of the stirring device of the invention;

fig. 6A, 6B and 6C show some of the components of fig. 5 separated from each other;

figure 7 shows the external mixing structure of the stirring device of the invention;

figure 8 shows a scraping element associated with the external mixing structure of figure 7 by means of the central supporting structure of figure 5.

Detailed Description

With reference to fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a machine for producing liquid or semi-liquid food products, in particular ice cream, sorbet, frozen dessert cream, etc.

For the sake of simplicity, the following description relates only to the production of ice cream, it being understood that this should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the invention.

In fig. 1 the machine is schematically shown in its entirety, only its housing 11 (frame 11) and some essential parts being shown for the understanding of the invention, however it is to be understood that the illustration relates to an exemplary embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 schematically shows a stirrer.

The machine of fig. 1 also comprises a control unit 10.

The treatment of the liquid or semi-liquid based product inside the container 2 essentially constitutes a batch freezing process (stirring while cooling) which results in ice cream as the final product.

For this purpose, the container 2 is internally provided with stirring means 3, which stirring means 3 are driven by drive means 4 to stir a mixture consisting of a liquid or semi-liquid based product. Looking in more detail, the drive means 4 comprise an electric motor, the rotor of which is directly connected to the stirring means 3.

Therefore, the stirring device 3 is rotated by the rotor of the motor 4.

In the example embodiment shown, the rotation axis of the motor and the rotation axis of the stirring device 3 are connected to each other and coaxial: however, different configurations between the motor and the stirring device 3 are also conceivable.

Continuing with the description of machine 1, a refrigeration system 5 is provided, which refrigeration system 5 is connected to a heat exchanger 6 associated with treatment vessel 2.

The function of the refrigeration system is to cool the mixture consisting of the liquid or semi-liquid based product inside the container 2 until it freezes, while at the same time stirring it.

The refrigeration system includes, for example, another heat exchanger 40, one or more valves 8, and a compressor 9, the compressor 9 circulating a refrigerant fluid through the system 5. The above components are schematically and roughly shown.

The refrigeration system 5 may also include a sensor 7, the sensor 7 configured to detect a parameter (e.g., temperature or pressure) of the heat exchange fluid. The sensor 7 is preferably connected to a control unit 10.

The heat exchanger 6 to which the system 5 is connected may consist of a pipe wound around the outer surface of the container 2 and connected to the refrigeration system 5.

The refrigeration system 5 comprises a heat exchange fluid

The finished product may be dispensed for consumption by a dispensing device 34, 35 comprising a dispenser 34, which dispenser 34 allows a measured amount of ice cream to be taken out by operating the lever 35.

All controlled by a control unit 10, which control unit 10 coordinates the operation of the drive means 4, i.e. the motor, to determine the direction of rotation and the different operating speeds of the beater 3.

According to the invention, the stirring device 3 of the machine 1 comprises an external mixing structure 12, which external mixing structure 12 is rotatably mounted inside the container 2 by means of a central mounting element 13.

The central mounting element 13 is rotatably connected to the rear wall 36 of the processing container 2.

The outer mixing structure 12 is fixed to a central mounting element 13.

A portion of the mounting element 13 remaining outside the rear wall 36 is connected directly or indirectly to the rotor of the motor 4, thus allowing to drive the stirring means 3.

Looking in more detail, the central mounting structure 13 comprises a shaft 16 (fig. 2 and 5), which shaft 16 has a prismatic cross section over most of its length or even only over some of its sections (fig. 6B).

A first end of the shaft 16, which in this non-limiting example is the end of the portion remaining outside the container 2, passes through a first hole 26A on the first end 22A of the outer mixing structure 12.

The first end 22A of the outer mixing structure 12 includes a first perforated plate 26 with a series of protrusions 27.

A star member 28 (fig. 6C) is keyed to the shaft 16.

The star-shaped element 28 engages with the projection 27 so as to transmit the rotary motion imparted by the electric motor 4 to the shaft 16 of the external mixing structure 12.

On the other hand, a second end of shaft 16, opposite to the first end, passes through a second hole 29A made on second end 23A of outer mixing structure 12 (fig. 2 and 3).

The second end 23A of the outer mixing structure 12 comprises a second perforated plate 29, which second perforated plate 29 is joined to the first perforated plate 26 by one or more sections 37, 38 (fig. 7), which sections 37, 38 may be circular in cross-section if desired.

At least one helical element 33 extends around the sections 37, 38, which is adapted to promote the movement and agitation of the liquid or semi-liquid product inside the container 2 when the external mixing structure 12 is rotated.

Thus, the outer mixing structure 12 has an almost ideal cylindrical shape.

Then, the shaft 16 is inserted in the following manner: the second end of the shaft 16 is passed through the star-shaped element 28 constrained in rotation, through the first hole 26A of the first perforated plate 26 and then through the second hole 29A of the second perforated plate 29, until the shoulder ring 30 fixed to the shaft pushes the star-shaped element 28 against the first perforated plate 26, thereby engaging the radial arms of the star-shaped element 28 with the projections 27 of the first perforated plate 26.

The second end of shaft 16 is then secured to a second perforated plate 29, as described in more detail below.

When the shaft 16 is inserted into the first hole 26A of the first perforated plate 26 and the second hole 29A of the second perforated plate 29, the scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C are keyed to the shaft 16 and therefore remain positioned between the first perforated plate 26 and the second perforated plate 29.

The scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C are detachably connected to the shaft 16 by means of prismatic couplings with their prismatic cross section.

It should be noted that in the exemplary embodiment described herein, there are three scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C, but any different number of scraping elements, for example two or four, is possible depending on the length of the container 2 and thus of the stirring device 3.

As is clearly shown in fig. 2 and 8, each scraping element 15A, 15B, 15C has an at least partially helical shape and comprises a tubular portion 17, the polygonal internal cross section of which tubular portion 17 matches the prismatic cross section of shaft 16.

The above-mentioned shape matching allows to connect the scraping elements to the shaft 16 through a prismatic coupling, so as to create rotational constraint between them.

The helical stretches 18A, 18B, 18C are fixed to the tubular portion 17 (integral with the tubular portion 17), the helical stretches 18A, 18B, 18C being designed to scrape the inner surface of the container 2.

As can be clearly inferred from the drawings, each tubular portion 17 has at least one protrusion 19 at the edge of one extremity (end) and at least one recess 20 at the other extremity (end) of the tubular portion 17.

The cross-section and position of the recess 20 match the cross-section and position of the protrusion 19 located along the edge of the respective tip of the adjacent scraping element 15A, 15B, 15C.

Thus, the protrusion 19 of the tubular portion 17 is intended to be tightly inserted into the recess of the adjacent tubular portion 17, thereby connecting the former to the latter.

In this way, a single solid structure is created between the tubular portions 17 aligned along the axis 16, and thus between the scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C.

In order to lock and compress the scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C along the shaft 16, locking and compressing means 21, shown in fig. 2 and 6A, are provided to act from opposite sides of the opposite ends of the outermost scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C keyed to the shaft 16.

Looking in more detail, the locking and pressing device 21 comprises a flat perforating element 22 joined to a perforating disc 23 by a rod 24, the rod 24 being slidably inserted in a tube 25, the tube 25 being fixed to the perforating disc 23 (fig. 6A).

The first end of the shaft 16 is passed through the hole of the flat element 22 and the rod 24 is inserted into the first end 22A, i.e. the side hole 24A of the first perforated plate 26, at the same time as the shaft 16 is inserted into the first hole 26A of the first perforated plate 26.

At the opposite end, the tube 25 is inserted into the second end 23A, i.e. the side hole 25A of the second perforated plate 29, thereby sliding the tube 25 on the rod 24.

When the shoulder ring 30 is externally abutted against the star-shaped element 28 on the first end 22A of the outer mixing structure 12 and the perforated disc 23 is abutted against the second end 23A, i.e. against the second perforated plate 29, the perforated disc 23 is fastened to the second end of the shaft 16 passing through the second hole 29A by means of a screw means 31, the screw 31 passing through the hole of the perforated disc 23 and engaging with a threaded hole (not shown) formed at the second end of the shaft 16, thereby fixing and fastening the locking and pressing means 21 and the shaft 16 itself.

The scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C remain located between the first end 22A and the second end 23A of the outer mixing structure 12, are rotatably constrained to each other and to the shaft 16.

For tightening the screw 31, a butterfly element 32 is provided, which butterfly element 32 is associated with the perforated disc 23 and engages the head of the screw 31.

After tightening the screw 31, a single assembly is formed with the external mixing structure 12, the shaft 16 passing through it, the scraping elements 15A, 15B, 15C and the locking and pressing device 21.

Firstly, the assembly is easy to adapt to different sizes of processing containers, since the parts thereof which are subjected to the most wear, i.e. the scraping elements 15A, 15B and 15C, have a modular structure.

It is therefore also possible to install the scraping elements in different numbers and in different combinations, depending on the length of the treatment vessel and thus of the stirring device.

This results in lower production costs.

Furthermore, the problem of wear of the scraping parts can be solved more easily, since if necessary, a single worn scraping part can be replaced:

it is sufficient to remove the tightened screw, pull the outer hybrid structure from the shaft, remove the element or elements to be replaced, and then install the replacement element or elements.

This possibility constitutes a major advantage since it considerably reduces the time and costs required to bring the machines for making liquid or semi-liquid products back to full service.

The technical scheme is simple, effective and intelligent, and does not cause negative influence on production and maintenance cost.