Agitation blade, agitation apparatus, beverage preparation apparatus, and agitation portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029221-B2
Application number	US-201414909202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2014
Priority date	Aug 5, 2013
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

An agitation blade for agitating a liquid includes a cylindrical core having a central axis of rotation and a plurality of blade portions provided on a side of a first surface of a rotation portion, and the plurality of blade portions are provided to surround the central axis of rotation and provided to be rotated with respect to a center of rotation of the central axis of rotation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agitation blade for agitating a liquid, comprising:
a rotation portion having a central axis of rotation;
a plurality of blade portions provided on a side of a first surface of the rotation portion; and
a plurality of paddle surfaces provided on a side of a second surface opposite to the first surface of the rotation portion, wherein
the plurality of blade portions surround the central axis of rotation and are in rotation symmetry with respect to a center of rotation of the central axis of rotation,
the plurality of paddle surfaces extend radially from an outer circumferential surface of the central axis of rotation,
the plurality of blade portions and the plurality of paddle surfaces are different in shape from each other,
the plurality of paddle surfaces are lesser in number than the plurality of blade portions, and
the plurality of blade portions and the plurality of paddle surfaces are not superimposed on each other in a vertical direction.

2. The agitation blade according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of blade portions has inclination spreading outward with respect to the rotation portion.

3. An agitation apparatus used for agitation of a liquid, comprising:
the agitation blade according to claim 1 ;
an agitation tank accommodating the agitation blade; and
a drive mechanism for rotating the agitation blade, and
a contactless rotation transmission mechanism transmitting rotational force of the drive mechanism to the agitation blade without contact being provided between the agitation blade and the drive mechanism.

4. The agitation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the contactless rotation transmission mechanism rotates the agitation blade by generating magnetic coupling between the agitation blade and the drive mechanism and transmitting rotational force on a side of the drive mechanism to a magnet on a side of the blade.

5. An agitation apparatus used for agitation of a liquid, comprising:
the agitation blade according to claim 1 ;
an agitation tank accommodating the agitation blade; and
a drive mechanism for rotating the agitation blade,
the agitation tank being provided with a rectifying wall provided to surround the agitation blade, for rectifying a flow of the liquid formed as a result of rotation of the agitation blade, together with an inner wall of the agitation tank.

6. A beverage preparation apparatus for preparing beverages with powders, comprising:
a milling machine for obtaining the powders by grating an object to be grated;
a tank for storing a liquid;
a heater portion heating the liquid in the tank and supplying the liquid; and
an agitation apparatus supplied with the powders obtained by the milling machine and the liquid, for mixing the powders and the liquid,
the agitation apparatus according to claim 3 , being employed as the agitation apparatus.

7. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the agitation apparatus cools the liquid heated and supplied by the heater portion through rotation of an agitation blade stored inside.

8. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the agitation apparatus has a cooling apparatus and cools the liquid heated and supplied by the heater portion.

9. The agitation blade according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of paddle surfaces includes a first paddle surface and a second paddle surface different in shape from each other, and
any of the first paddle surface and the second paddle surface is provided with a magnet.

10. The agitation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
a rotation support mechanism supporting a portion of contact of the agitation blade with the agitation tank by point contact during rotation of the agitation blade being provided between the agitation blade and the agitation tank.

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Shima Hidekazu
• Misumi Masaru
• Sawada Takeshi

Classifications

• A47J31/44 Primary

  Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) · CPC title

• A47J31/462

  with an intermediate liquid storage tank · CPC title

• A47J31/40 Primary

  Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea · CPC title

• A47J43/0722

  Mixing, whipping or cutting tools · CPC title

• A47J31/42

  Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee {(coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08)} · CPC title