US1496611A - Mixing device - Google Patents

Description

Patented June it, 192d.

. STATES ERNEST SIEGEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MIXING DEWCE.

Application filed April 12, 1923, Serial No. 631,689. Renewed. April 9, 1924.

To all 10710272 may concern.

.Be it known that I, ERNEST Smenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mixing devices such as are commonly used in mixing various drinks at soda fountains, in which an agitator is lowered into a cup containing the substance to be mixed. In such devices as now commonly constructed the agitating parts are exposed so that flies and other insects may walk on and contaminate the same and germ laden dust floating through the air may lodge upon the same with the result that when the next mixture is agitated the germs, dust and other contamination which have previously been deposited upon the agitator will be thoroughly distributed into the substance being mixed. An object of the invention is to provide an improved mixing device which'is at all times abso lutely sanitary; in which the parts of the device which may come in contact with the substance being mixed will be entirely on closed and protected against outside containination or dust; which will not interfere with or modify the usual manipulation of the device; which may be readily applied to existing mixing devices without material modifications; and which is simple, light, durable, inconspicuous and relatively inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a mixing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is asection of the same taken sub stantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a section through the same, taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a small electric motor 1 is supported by pivots 2 from a forked bracket 3 which extends laterally from a rod 4. The rod 4 is telescopically received within an upright 5 which is carried by the base 6. The rod 4:

is adjustable vertically in the upright 5 to different extents and is provided with suitable means (not shown) by which the rod 4 may be held in different positions to which it may be adjusted vertically. This means for holding the rod 4 in different positions is well known and per se forms no part of the present invention. The motor 1 is provided with a depending spindle 7 which is rotated by the motor and preferably forms a depending extension to the armature shaft. This spindle 7 carries at its lower end a suitable agitator 8, which when immersed in a substance to be mixed, will thoroughly agitate and mix the same while being rotated by the motor.

A tubular element 9 which is preferably in the nature of a tubular rubber sleeve, is secured to a beaded flange 10 at the lower end ofthe motor casing and depends therefrom and surrounds the spindle and agitator. The rubber sleeve 9 extends to a length approximately equal tov the lower end of the agitator and is connected to a beaded flange 11 of acover 12 so that the cover will be suspended from the rubber sleeve and forms a part of the tubular protector. To prevent any likelihood of separation of the rubber sleeve 9 from the motor casing or the cover 12, one or more bands 13 may surround the sleeve and the flanges over which they extend in order to clamp the rubber sleeve firmly to these flanges. v A helical spring 1-1. having a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the rubber sleeve 9 is disposed within the sleeve between the cover and the motor casing and may, if desired, be connected at one end to the motor casing, and at the other end to the cover 12 so as to relieve the rubber sleeve of the support of the cover 12.

A pair of pins 15 extend inwardly from the depending flange 16 of the cover 12 and pass through vertical slots 17 in the up turned flange 18 of a plate 19 which extends across the lower or open end of the cover. The plate 19 is therefore free to move vertically within the cover to some extent but by reason of the engagement of the pins with the vertically extending slot. will be held against rotation relatively to the cover. The engagement of the pins in the slot 17 also serves to limit the downward movement of the plate 19. The plate 19 is provided with an aperture 20 through which the agitator 8 may be shifted when the motor and agitator are shifted downwardly in order to carry the agitator 8 into a cup 21 containing the substance to be mixed.

" Upon the upper face of the plate 19 are pair of closure plates 22, each pivoted at diametrically opposite points as at the plates being staggered laterally somewhat, relatively to one another. The plates normally close the opening 20 of the plate 19 and when rotated away from one another about their pivots 23, will uncover the opening and permitpassage therethrough of the agitator 8. Because of the staggered arrangement of the plates, each will clear the other when moving to uncover the opening 20. The pivots 23 are located near the ends of the plates. The ends of the plates adjacent the pivots have upstanding ears 2-1 which are provided with oblique slots 25 throu h which the pins 15 extend. When the p ate 19 is shifted upwardly within the cover 12 the pins 15 will, by their engagement in the oblique slots, cause a limited angular movement of the plates about their pivots 23 in directions to uncover the opening 20. hen the plate 19 moves downwardly a reverse movement of the plates will be caused by their engagement with the pins 15. In the use of the mixing device the motor is normally in its upper position and the tubular protector will entirely enclose the depending spindle and agitator and the opening 20 will be closed by the plates 22. A cup 21 containing the substance to be mixed, is placed upon the base 6, and the rod 4 is adjusted downwardly within the upright 5, so as to carry the agitator 8 into the interior of the cup. As the motor moves downwardly to carry the agitator into the cup, the plate 19 will engage the upper edge of the cup and during further downward movement of the motor, the plate 19 will be held against further downward movement and the cover 12 will continue to move downwardly. The result is that the pins 15 will, in moving downwardly with the cover, act upon the upright ears of the plates and through the oblique slots, will rotate the plates in directions to uncover the opening 20. During further downward movement of the motor, the agitator 8 will move into the interior of the cup, and the cover 12 and part-s carried thereby will rest above the upper edge of the cup and close thesame against the entrance of dust or other foreign matter. The tubular sleeve 9 and the spring will yield so as to allow the motor to con tinue its downward movement far enough to carry the agitator 8 into the cup to the desired extent. The motor may then be oper ated until the desired degree of mixture has been obtained, after which it may be elevatedin a well known manner, to elevate the agitator, the cover and the parts carried thereby out of contact with the cup. During the upward movement of the motor a reverse operation of the cover and plates will taltc place. That is, as soon as the agitator has passed through the opening 20 the cover 12 will be lifted and the pins 15 moving therewith will act through the slot-s 25 upon the closure plates to cam the plates in directions to close the opening 20. During the upward movement of the cover 12 with the motor, the pins 15 will engage with the upper ends of the slots 17 in the upturned dle and agitator 8 are entirely enclosed so that it will be impossible for insects or dust to come in contact with or contaminate the spindle and agitator. With such a device the usual mode of operation of the mixer is not interfered with or modified and no additional manual movements are necessary, the protector being automatically opened when the motor is moved into effective position and closed during the return movement. With this construction, such a protector can be applied to existing mixing devices without material changes therein and will not be unsightly or conspicuous when applied thereto.

lVhlle the invention has been described in connection with a mixing device in which the motor moves relatively to the cup in which the mixture is contained, it will be understood that the invention operates in a similar manner and is clearly applicable to the types of mixers in which the cup moves relatively to the motor, and in those types in which the spindle only is lowered into the cup. In the latter case a suitable connection may be provided between the lowering means and the protector so as to effect the necessary vertical movement of the protector with the spindle and agitator. It will also be understood that various other arrangements for protecting the spindle and agitator may be utilized, such as a plurality of interconnected telescopic sections. here the spring is used with the rubber sleeve, it will prevent collapsing of the sleeve sufficiently to become entangled with the rotating spindle. It will also be obvious that various other changes in the details and arrangements of parts herein described and illustra ted for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims:

1. In mixing devices, a support. a motor carried by the support and having a depending spindle provided with an agitator

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