Machine for mixing and cooling batches of dry powder ingredients and water

Claim 1

A machine for mixing and cooling batches of dry powder ingredients and water comprising, a horizontal mixing cylinder open at one end, a rotary mixer in the cylinder, drive means extending through the other end of the cylinder for driving the rotary mixer, refrigerating means for cooling the walls of the cylinder, a door for closing said one end of the cylinder, and means for securing said door in a cylinder closing position, the cylinder having a dry powder ingredient inlet passage communicating with the cylinder at a location spaced from said one end, said door having a mix dispensing outlet communicating with the lower portion of the cylinder and a dispensing valve for controlling flow through the dispensing outlet, said door having a water inlet communicating with the upper portion of the cylinder and funnel means at the outside of the door and extending upwardly to a level above the cylinder, said door being formed of a transparent plastic material and having liquid level graduations thereon correlated with the volume at different levels in the cylinder, water supply means including a selectively operable water control valve mounted on the machine above the door and having a water delivery outlet at a location to deliver water to said funnel means on the door when the water control valve is opened, said means for securing the said door in a cylinder closing position including a retainer bar dimensioned to span the door and having means for securing the ends to the machine at opposite sides of the door, the retainer bar having first and second generally horizontal bar end portions interconnected adjacent the center of the door and vertically offset from each other a distance greater than the vertical height of the end portions so that when the liquid level is obscured at one side of the door by one bar end portion, the liquid level can still be viewed at the other side of the door.