Modular blender with improved water heating and light beam detection

US10898031B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• fReal! Foods, LLC · US

Inventors

• Steven T. Connell · Oakland, US
• John Diemer · Montvale, US
• Kathleen Scheible · San Francisco, US
• Kurt J. Ahmann · Seattle, US
• Patrick M. Goebel · San Francisco, US
• Shek Fai Lau · Foster City, US
• Curtis Tom · San Mateo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 2016
• Grant date: Jan 26, 2021
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01F2101/13
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.