Portable scraper-type mixer

Claim 2

A mixing apparatus for use with a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of individual scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft so that the scrapers move in paths about said axis, the improvement comprising: said scrapers having relatively wide blades; said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scraper blades to contact said bottom wall during a part of their paths of movement, whereby some of said scraper blades move away from the wall after said contact as they move about said axis.

Claim 3

A mixing apparatus for use with a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis, said scrapers being movable with respect to the shaft, said means limiting the amount of said movement.

Claim 4

A mixing apparatus for use with a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis, said scrapers being movable with respect to the shaft, said means limiting the amount of said movement.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means includes a plurality of mounting rods, one for each of said scrapers, each scraper being pivotally mounted on the respective rod, and a pair of stops for each rod and positioned to limit the pivotal movement of the respective scraper both forward and backward.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means includes a plurality of mounting rods, one for each of said scrapers, each scraper being pivotally mounted on the respective rod, each of said rods being at a different inclination with respect to the shaft axis and at a different elevation with respect to said walls.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means includes a plurality of mounting rods, one for each of said scrapers, each scraper being pivotally mounted on the respective rod, each of said rods having a fixed proximal end and a free distal end, and latch means for each rod and engaging the rod adjacent the distal end, and releasable to permit the rod to be disengaged therefrom.

Claim 8

A mixing apparatus for use wIth a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis, same means releasably holding each scraper whereby the scrapers may be removed and replaced, and including a plurality of styles of scrapers usable alternatively.

Claim 9

A mixing apparatus for use wIth a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis, same means releasably holding each scraper whereby the scrapers may be removed and replaced, and including a plurality of styles of scrapers usable alternatively.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one style of scraper includes a mount at the proximal end, a blade at the distal end, and a plate between said blade and mount; and another style of scraper includes a corresponding mount at the proximal end, a corresponding blade at the distal end, and a plurality of spaced bars connecting the blade and mount thereof.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one style of scraper includes a mount at the proximal end, a blade at the distal end, a plate between said blade and mount, a back at the mount end of the plate and upstanding with respect to the plate, and upstanding sides at the edges of the plate and connecting with said back.

Claim 12

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means comprises two curved supports secured to said shaft, said supports being substantially a uniform distance from said bottom wall as said shaft rotates, a scraper mount means for each of said scrapers, each scraper mount means pivotally connecting the respective scraper to a support for movement about a pivotal axis, said pivotal axes being at a variety of inclinations with respect to the shaft axis.

Claim 13

In a mixing apparatus for use with a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a frame, a motor mounted on said frame, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall portion whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis; a power head pivotally mounted on the frame, said shaft being connected to said power head, said head being pivotal between a first position at which said means and scrapers are in said kettle to a second position at which they are displaced therefrom; and means connecting said motor and said shaft at the power head for driving said shaft, said means including a clutch which is automatically disengaged when said power head is moved away from the first position and is engaged when the power head is moved to the first position.

Claim 14

In a mixing apparatus for use with a kettle having a bottom wall which is approximately semi-spherical about a vertical axis with an upper wall which is approximately cylindrical about said axis and a top opening about said axis into which opening the apparatus extends, said apparatus comprising a frame, a motor mounted on said frame, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of scrapers, and means attaching said scrapers to said shaft, the improvement comprising: said shaft axis being inclined at least 25* with respect to said vertical axis and positioning said scrapers to contact said bottom wall portion whereby some of said scrapers move away from the wall as they move about said axis; a power head pivotally mounted on the frame, said shaft being connected to said power head, said head being pivotal between a first position at which said means and scrapers are in said kettle to a second position at which they are displaced therefrom; and means connecting said motor and said shaft at the power head for driving said shaft, said means including a clutch which is automatically disengaged when said power head is moved away from the first position and is engaged when the power head is moved to the first position.

Claim 15

A mixing apparatus for a kettle having an open top, said apparatus comprising: a mixing head including a shaft rotatable about an axis, said axis being inclined with respect to the vertical, a plurality of scrapers and means for mounting said scrapers; a frame; a motor mounted on said frame; a power head pivotally mounted on the frame, said shaft being connected to said power head, said head being pivotal between a first position at which said means and scrapers are in said kettle to a second position at which they are displaced therefrom; and means connecting said motor and said shaft at the power head for driving said shaft, said means including a clutch which is automatically disengaged when said power head is moved away from the first position and is engaged when the power head is moved to the first position.

Claim 16

A mixing apparatus for a kettle having an open top, said apparatus comprising: a mixing head including a shaft rotatable about an axis, said axis being inclined with respect to the vertical, a plurality of scrapers and means for mounting said scrapers; a frame; a motor mounted on said frame; a power head pivotally mounted on the frame, said shaft being connected to said power head, said head being pivotal between a first position at which said means and scrapers are in said kettle to a second position at which they are displaced therefrom; and means connecting said motor and said shaft at the power head for driving said shaft, said means including a clutch which is automatically disengaged when said power head is moved away from the first position and is engaged when the power head is moved to the first position.

Claim 17

A mixing apparatus for use with a food preparation kettle having an open top and walls which define sides and a concave bottom with means for heating said walls, saId apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis which axis is inclined with respect to the vertical, the improvement comprising: a plurality of supports attached to said shaft and having portions extending adjacent said walls; a plurality of scrapers, said scrapers having blades at the distal ends thereof; means connecting said scrapers to said portions and positioning said scrapers to follow a plurality of adjacent paths about said walls as said shaft rotates said supports, said blades being movable with respect to said supports, some of said scraper blades contacting said walls as they move along some portions of their respective paths, part of the paths of movement of some of said scrapers being upwardly because of the position of the scraper with respect to the shaft and the inclination of said shaft whereby the food in the kettle has a lifting motion imparted to it.

Claim 18

A mixing apparatus for use with a food preparation kettle having an open top and walls which define sides and a concave bottom with means for heating said walls, saId apparatus comprising a power driven shaft rotatable about an axis which axis is inclined with respect to the vertical, the improvement comprising: a plurality of supports attached to said shaft and having portions extending adjacent said walls; a plurality of scrapers, said scrapers having blades at the distal ends thereof; means connecting said scrapers to said portions and positioning said scrapers to follow a plurality of adjacent paths about said walls as said shaft rotates said supports, said blades being movable with respect to said supports, some of said scraper blades contacting said walls as they move along some portions of their respective paths, part of the paths of movement of some of said scrapers being upwardly because of the position of the scraper with respect to the shaft and the inclination of said shaft whereby the food in the kettle has a lifting motion imparted to it.