Food blending apparatus

#This invention relates to food blending apparatus and to a method of blending food within a container. The invention has particular application to milk shakes but can be used with other food products which need to be blended, particularly those which need to be dispensed ready for consumption in retail premises.

#Hitherto milk shakes have been produced by manually placing ice cream, milk and flavouring into a blender jug into which a blender is inserted to produce the blended milk shake. The milk shake is then poured into a receptacle from which the customer consumes the product. The blender jug then has to be cleaned and sanitised for re-use. However, in the present fast food market there is a demand for a better system for producing milk shakes taking account of health regulations, labour costs, waste, product quality and the level of skill of the operator. Current milk shake systems provide for improved pasteurisation but such systems are more expensive and more complicated. Moreover some of such systems are limited in the flavours which can be produced.

#An object of this invention is to provide food blending apparatus and a method of food blending which overcomes problems with existing systems.

#Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of various embodiments of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a food blending container for use with food blending apparatus, the lid part of the container being shown disassembled in the upper part of FIG 1,

#FIG. 2 show s the container associated with a support and drive arranged for a blending process,

#Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIG. 1 there is shown a container for use in blending apparatus which comprises a body portion 3 consisting of a plastics vessel in the shape of a beaker having a base 3A, upwardly diverging, circular cross-section side walls 3B and an upper edge 3C of the container 3 with an outwardly directed lip. The container is nestable with other containers by location of the base through the upper opening of another container

#The container body or vessel 3 is provided with a closure member 2 constituting a lid arranged to fit over the upper end of the body 3 and to close the opening at the top of the body. The lid 2 is generally circular having an outer portion 2A which fits over the upper end 3C of the body 3 to be sealingly engaged over the opening. This may be by a clip arrangement, by heat sealing, or by any other suitable means for securing the lid 2 on the body 3.

#At the centre of the lid 2 is formed a rotatable blending element or impeller 1 sealingly carried on the lid 2 but for rotation relative thereto about the axis A of the container. The blending element 1 is retained on the lid by circular retaining portions 4 formed on the lid 2 which engage in corresponding circular grooves 4A formed in the member 1. The retaining portions 4 are formed on an upstanding, inverted L-shaped portion 4B of the lid 2 which extends around a central opening 2A formed in the lid 2. Other means may be used to obtain seals but which also permit relative rotation between the element 1 and its support.