[0001] This invention relates to an agitating apparatus for agitating contents contained
in a cup.
[0002] Such an agitating apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
(JP-A) No. 247494/1987. The agitating apparatus comprises a motor and an agitator
vane of a propeller type connected to an output shaft of the motor.
[0003] Recently, a wide variety of beverages are supplied by an automatic beverage dispenser.
As one of the beverages, a whipped cream beverage is prepared by pouring whipped cream
and hot water into a cup, agitating the whipped cream and the hot water to finely
whip the whipped cream, and pouring a beverage such as coffee and soda water into
a cup.
[0004] The above-mentioned agitating apparatus having the agitator vane of a propeller type
is effective in agitating a powdery beverage and hot water to dissolve the powdery
beverage into the hot water. However, this apparatus is not useful in agitating the
whipped cream and the hot water to finely whip the whipped cream.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an agitating apparatus
which can be used as a whipping apparatus for producing a whipped cream beverage.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an agitating apparatus which
is capable of effectively agitating whipped or whipping cream and hot water poured
into a cup.
[0007] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
[0008] According to this invention, there is provided an agitating apparatus for agitating
contents contained in a cup. The agitating apparatus comprises a driving unit having
an output shaft which extends along an axis and is rotated with respect to the axis
and a coil member fixed to the output shaft and comprising a helical portion helically
extending around the axis. The helical portion is placed in the cup on agitating the
contents.
[0009] In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an agitating apparatus according
to an embodiment of this invention.
[0010] Referring to Figure 1, description will be made as regards an agitating apparatus
according to an embodiment of this invention. The agitating apparatus is suitable
for producing a whipped cream beverage and will be called hereinunder a whipping apparatus.
[0011] The whipping apparatus is included in an automatic vending machine for vending the
whipped cream beverage and comprises a driving unit 1 having an output shaft 2 which
extends along an axis in a vertical direction and is rotated with respect to the axis.
More particularly, the driving unit 1 comprises an electric motor 3 and a joint member
4 in addition to the output shaft 2. The joint member 4 is engaged with a motor shaft
5 of the electric motor 3 via a first spring pin 6 in a rotation direction and with
the output shaft 2 via a second spring pin 7 in the rotation direction. Therefore,
the output shaft 2 is rotated in accordance with rotation of the motor shaft 5.
[0012] The whipping apparatus further comprises a fixing plate 11 fixed to a stationary
portion 12 included in the automatic vending machine. The electric motor 3 is fixedly
mounted on an upper portion of the fixing plate 11. The output shaft 2 is rotatably
held through a bearing 13 by a holding plate 14 fixed to a lower portion of the fixing
plate 11. An O-ring 15 is inserted between the output shaft 2 and the joint member
4. A combination of the bearing 13 and the O-ring 15 serves to prevent the output
shaft 2 from being oscillated.
[0013] The whipping apparatus further comprises a coil member 16 fixed to a lower portion
of the output shaft 2. The coil member 16 comprises a helical portion 16a helically
extending around the axis, a first end portion 16b connected to an upper end of the
helical portion 16a, and a second end portion 16c connected to a lower end of the
helical portion 16a. The helical portion 16a has a diameter gradually increased from
the upper end towards the lower end as a free end. The helical portion 16a has a clockwise
spiral direction as seen from the upper end towards the lower end. The first end portion
16b is fixed to the lower portion of the output shaft 2. The second end portion 16c
extends along a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The coil
member 16 is made of a stainless steel and/or a resin such as a polyethylene resin
or the like.
[0014] Next, the description will be directed to an operation of the whipping apparatus.
[0015] At first, hot water is poured as one of contents into a cup 21 placed on a support
table (not shown) until a predetermined level is reached. As illustrated in the figure,
the hot water has a static or first water surface W1. Then, an appropriate amount
of whipped cream is supplied as another of the contents into the cup 21.
[0016] The whipping apparatus is located at an initial position above the cup 21 and is
moved down towards the cup 21 to insert the coil member 16 into the hot water to a
lower position below the first water surface W1. In this state, the electric motor
3 is activated to rotate the coil member 16 in a counterclockwise rotating direction
as seen from the above. Following the rotation of the coil member 16, the hot water
is rotated. Due to centrifugal force, the hot water forms a dynamic or second water
surface W2 of a funnel-like shape having a flat bottom portion. In the vicinity of
the flat bottom portion of the second water surface W2, the whipped cream, the hot
water, and ambient air are agitated by a second end portion 16c of the coil member
16 being rotated. Thus, the whipped cream is very finely whipped.
[0017] After the whipped cream is finely whipped as mentioned above, the whipping apparatus
is moved up to the initial position apart from the cup 21. Finally, a beverage such
as coffee and soda water is poured into the cup 21 to obtain a whipped cream beverage.
[0018] In the above-mentioned apparatus, the second end portion 16c of the coil member 16
is rotated in the vicinity of the flat bottom portion of the second water surface
W2 within the cup 21. As a result, the whipped cream, the hot water, and the ambient
air are agitated in the vicinity of the flat bottom portion of the second water surface
W2. Thus, the whipped cream is finely whipped.
[0019] The second end portion 16c of the coil member 16 is generally coplanar with the flat
bottom portion of the second water surface W2 and, during the rotation, strokes the
flat bottom portion of the second water surface W2. In addition, the coil member 16
is rotated in the counterclockwise rotating direction opposite to the clockwise spiral
direction. This means that a terminal end at the second end portion 16c of the coil
member 16 is a trailing end in the rotational movement. Therefore, the coil member
16 does not so intensely disturb the hot water as an agitator vane does. Therefore,
the whipped cream and the hot water are prevented from splashing out of the cup 21.
[0020] The diameter of the helical portion 16a is gradually increased from the one end to
the other end as described above so that the second end portion 16c has a relatively
large diameter. Therefore, an increased area of the second water surface W2 is agitated
by the second end portion 16c of the coil member 16. Thus, the whipped cream can be
finely whipped in a short time.
[0021] When the whipping apparatus is incorporated in an automatic coffee dispenser or the
like, the coil member 16 as an agitator can readily be cleaned in the following manner.
Specifically, while the electric motor 3 is activated to rotate the coil member 16
in the counterclockwise rotating direction as seen from the above, wash water is poured
over the first end portion 16b of the coil member 16, i.e., an upper end portion of
the coil member 16. The wash water flows down along the coil member 16 to clean a
whole of the coil member 16. Than, the wash water is splashed and discharged from
the other end of the coil member 16. In case of the agitator vane of a propeller type,
it is impossible to clean its lower surface by pouring the wash water over the agitator
vane while it is rotated.
[0022] In the whipping apparatus, the coil member 16 is rotated in the vicinity of the water
surface within the cup 21. Therefore, the whipped cream, the hot water, and the ambient
air are mixed in the vicinity of the water surface so that the whipped cream is finely
whipped. The helical portion 16a increased in diameter from the one end towards the
other end agitates an increased area of the water surface. Thus, the whipped cream
can be finely whipped in a short time.
[0023] While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with a single
embodiment thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put
this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the helical portion
of the coil member may be formed to have a constant diameter between the one end and
the other end of the helical portion. Although the whipped cream is supplied as one
the contents into the cup in the embodiment, liquid cream or whipping cream may supplied
together with the hot water into the cup. In this event, the whipping apparatus agitates
the liquid cream and the hot water to produce the whipped cream.
1. An agitating apparatus for agitating contents contained in a cup, said agitating apparatus
comprising:
a driving unit having an output shaft which extends along an axis and is rotated with
respect to said axis; and
a coil member fixed to said output shaft and comprising a helical portion helically
extending around said axis, said helical portion being placed in said cup on agitating
said contents.
2. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coil member further comprising:
a first end portion connected to one end of said helical portion; and
a second end portion connected to another end of said helical portion, said first
end portion being fixed to said output shaft.
3. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second end portion extends
along a plane perpendicular to said axis.
4. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said helical portion has a diameter
gradually increased from the one end towards the other end of said helical portion.
5. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said helical portion has a diameter
which is constant between the one end and the other end of said helical portion.
6. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said contents include whipped
cream and hot water, said helical portion agitating said whipped cream and said hot
water in said cup to finely whip said whipped cream when said output shaft is rotated.
7. An agitating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said contents include whipping
cream and hot water, said helical portion agitating said whipping cream and said hot
water in said cup to whip said whipping cream when said output shaft is rotated.