Stirrer assembly for automated cooking machine
OwnerDon M. Wonginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stirrer assembly (2), finding particular utility for use with an automatic cooking machine, includes a drive assembly (4) having first and second drivers and a drive housing (16). A dual axis spatula (6) is mounted to the drive housing for intermittent or intermittent and reversing rotation about a first, generally horizontal axis (8). The reversing motion helps to release jams. The drive housing is coupled to and driven by the second driver so the drive housing and the spatula therewith rotate about a second, generally vertical axis (10). The spatula thus has both a sweeping and a turning or flipping action. An obstruction element (12) can be positioned beneath the spatula to operate in conjunction with the spatula to aid proper manipulation of the food within the cooking container.
Claims28
A stirrer assembly, for use with a food preparation container, comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising first and second drivers and a drive housing;
- a multi-motion spatula, mounted to the drive housing for movement about a first, generally horizontal axis;
- the spatula operably coupled to and driven by the first driver so to rotate about the first axis;
- the drive housing operably coupled to and driven by the second driver so the drive housing and the spatula therewith rotate about a second axis, the second axis oriented transversely to the first axis, so that the spatula has both sweeping and turning actions;
- and
- an obstruction element positioned beneath the spatula which operates in conjunction with the spatula to aid proper manipulation of food in a cooking container.
A stirrer assembly, for use with a food preparation container, comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising first and second drivers and a drive housing;
- a multi-motion spatula, mounted to the drive housing and operably coupled to the first driver for alternating rotation in first and second rotary directions about a first, generally horizontal axis;
- and
- the drive housing operably coupled to and driven by the second driver so the drive housing and the spatula therewith intermittently rotate about a second, generally vertical axis so that the spatula has both sweeping and turning actions.
A stirrer assembly, for use with a cooking container, comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising first and second drivers and a drive housing;
- the drive assembly further comprising:
- a first geneva driver driving a first geneva wheel, said first geneva wheel intermittently driving said first driver during a first drive cycle;
- and
- a second geneva driver driving a second geneva wheel, said second geneva wheel intermittently driving said second driver during a second drive cycle;
- a multi-motion spatula, mounted to the drive housing and operably coupled to the first driver for alternating rotation in first and second rotary directions about a first, generally horizontal axis;
- the drive housing operably coupled to and driven by the second driver so the drive housing and the spatula therewith intermittently rotate about a second, generally vertical axis so that the spatula has both sweeping and turning actions;
- and
- an obstruction element positioned beneath the spatula, the obstruction element being operably coupled to and driven by the first driver for movement about the second axis so that a difference in rotation speeds of the obstruction element and the spatula about the second axis causes one of the obstruction element and the spatula to pass the other of the obstruction element and the spatula to aid proper manipulation of food in a cooking container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.