Vita-mix Corporation

Glenn F Brasdovich

Eugene J Kozlowski

Kenneth W Bair

David J Kolar

Richard D Boozer

Robert M Ulanski

Jonathan M Katz

Fred H Mehlman

A machine () for mixing a food product in a container includes a container holder () having an axis and adapted to receive a container. An agitator () is rotated by a motor () on an axis and is positioned above the container holder (). A motor () moves the container holder () upwardly to selectively position the agitator () in the container with the axis of rotation of the agitator () being displaced from the axis of the container holder (). A motor () can rotate the container holder () on its axis while the agitator () is in the container.

Method and apparatus for making food products

A machine () for mixing food products includes a motor () which turns a hollow shaft assembly () that carries an agitator (). The agitator () has an I-beam shaped stem () with a blade () in the shape of the bowl of a spoon on one end of the stem (). A socket () is formed at the other end of the stem () and has a bottom surface (). An assembly () for releasing the agitator () from the shaft assembly () includes a solenoid () which pivots an arm () that engages a plunger (). The plunger () includes a pin () which is received in the hollow shaft assembly () and which engages the bottom surface () of the socket () of the agitator () upon activation of the solenoid () to release the agitator () from the hollow shaft assembly ().

Agitator release for a food mixer

A machine () for mixing food products includes a motor () which turns a hollow shaft assembly () that carries an agitator (). An assembly () for releasing the agitator () from the shaft assembly () includes a solenoid () which pivots an arm () that engages a plunger (). The plunger () includes a pin () which is received in the hollow shaft assembly () and which engages the agitator () upon activation of the solenoid () to release the agitator () from the hollow shaft assembly ().

A machine () for mixing food in a cup (C) includes a housing having an agitator assembly () extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be rotated by a motor to mix food in the cup (C). A switch assembly () is provided to operate the agitator assembly (). The switch assembly () includes a bracket () which pivotally carries a plate () which extends downwardly adjacent to the agitator assembly (). A switch () is carried by the bracket () and has an arm () biased toward the plate (). The plate () is biased toward the arm () by springs () to maintain the switch () in the open position. Pivoting the plate () relative to the bracket () against the bias of the springs () allows the arm () of the switch () to pivot to close the switch () allowing the agitator assembly () to rotate. Releasing the plate () allows the springs () to bias the plate () against the arm () but a pad () silences any noise created thereby, and a wall () of the bracket () stops the plate () from exerting undue pressure on the arm ().

Growing community of inventors

Olmsted Township, OH, United States of America

Glenn F Brasdovich