A discharging structure of a smoothie maker

Abstract

This utility model relates to a discharge structure for a smoothie machine, including a refrigeration tank with a discharge port and a discharge switch device. The discharge switch device includes a switch base, a primary actuator, and a linkage. The primary actuator and the linkage are rotatably connected to the switch base. The primary actuator has a handle at its upper end and a toggle arm at its lower end. The linkage has a force arm at its upper end that is pushed inward by the toggle arm and a free arm at its lower end. A sealing piston is movably hinged to the end of the free arm via a rotating shaft. By pulling the handle and driving the linkage, the sealing piston is driven to move laterally out to open the discharge port. A torsion spring is provided on the rotating shaft, with its two ends abutting against the switch base and the force arm. The elastic potential energy of the torsion spring drives the linkage, driving the sealing piston to move laterally in to seal the discharge port. This discharge structure can improve the sealing effect of the sealing piston on the discharge port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of smoothie machines, specifically a discharge structure for a smoothie machine. Background Technology

[0002] Existing beverage machines, such as smoothie makers and ice cream machines, generally include containers for forming and storing smoothies. To facilitate user access to the stored smoothies, these containers typically have a discharge port for direct dispensing. Current methods for controlling the opening and closing of the discharge port, as illustrated in Chinese Patent Document No. 202411250924.7, disclose a plug for sealing the discharge port. This plug, driven by a base shaft and a linkage rod, rotates up and down relative to the discharge port to open or close it. However, this method can lead to uneven force on the plug, causing gaps between the lower part of the plug and the discharge port, resulting in leakage. Therefore, the stability of the sealing components on the plug is crucial. This applicant has improved and perfected the discharge structure to solve these problems for consumers. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and provide a simple and reasonable discharge structure for a smoothie machine.

[0004] A discharge structure for a smoothie machine includes a refrigeration tank. The refrigeration tank has a discharge port that communicates with the tank cavity, and the refrigeration tank is provided with a discharge switch device that is sealed to the discharge port. The discharge switch device includes a switch base, a primary actuator, and a linkage. The primary actuator and the linkage are rotatably connected to the switch base via a rotating shaft one and a rotating shaft two located in the middle, respectively.

[0005] The upper end of the first moving part is provided with a handle and the lower end is provided with a toggle arm. The upper end of the linkage part is provided with a force arm that is pushed inward by the toggle arm and the lower end is provided with a free arm. The end of the free arm is movably hinged to a sealing piston through a rotating shaft.

[0006] By pulling the handle and driving the linkage, the sealing piston is driven to move laterally out to open the discharge port. The rotating shaft is equipped with a torsion spring. The two ends of the torsion spring abut against the switch base and the force arm respectively. The elastic potential energy of the torsion spring drives the linkage to drive the sealing piston to move laterally in to block the discharge port.

[0007] The objective of this utility model can also be achieved by the following technical measures:

[0008] As a more specific embodiment, the refrigeration tank wall is provided with a discharge hood on the outside of the discharge port, and the discharge hood forms a discharge chamber that connects to the discharge port and limits the downward flow of cold drinks. The sealing piston is movably disposed in the discharge chamber.

[0009] As a further embodiment, the front wall of the discharge hood is provided with a guide port coaxially arranged corresponding to the discharge port, the sealing piston is always arranged in the guide port, and the linkage drives the sealing piston to slide horizontally back and forth in the discharge chamber relative to the discharge port.

[0010] As a further embodiment, the end of the free arm is provided with an elongated shaft hole, which is stretched along the length of the free arm. The free arm passes through the elongated shaft hole, resulting in a loose connection between the sealing piston and the free arm.

[0011] As a further embodiment, a protective cover can be detachably connected to the outside of the switch base. The upper part of the protective cover and the switch base together define an upper movable space for accommodating the toggle arm and the force-bearing arm. The lower part of the protective cover and the tank wall of the refrigeration storage tank together define a lower movable space for accommodating the free arm and the sealing piston.

[0012] As a further embodiment, the switch base includes a base body, with two rotating shaft mounting plates extending forward on the left and right sides of the base body. Rotating shaft one and rotating shaft two are fixedly connected between the two rotating shaft mounting plates. The outer sidewalls of the two rotating shaft mounting plates are provided with snap-fit ​​grooves, and the inner sidewalls of the protective cover are provided with snap-fit ​​protrusions. The protective cover is detachably connected to the switch base by snapping the protrusions into the snap-fit ​​grooves.

[0013] As a further embodiment, the force-bearing arm has a semi-open box-shaped structure, including a front wall and two side walls, with the second rotating shaft passing through the side walls; the torsion spring has two sets of torsion spring bodies sleeved on the second rotating shaft, with the two ends of the torsion spring abutting against the switch base and the front wall respectively; the side walls are provided with protective inclined surfaces that limit the maximum swing angle of the linkage, and the protective inclined surfaces abut against the switch base.

[0014] As a further embodiment, the sealing piston includes a connector and an elastic sealing sleeve with several sealing lips. The front side of the connector is provided with a cylindrical plug, and the elastic sealing sleeve is fitted onto the cylindrical plug for limiting. The elastic sealing sleeve is used to seal the discharge port when the sealing piston slides horizontally.

[0015] As a further embodiment, the sealing piston includes a connector and an elastic sealing sleeve with several sealing lips. The free arm is hinged to the connector, and a cylindrical plug that can be inserted into the discharge port is provided on the front side of the connector. The elastic sealing sleeve is fitted onto the cylindrical plug and seals between the discharge port and the cylindrical plug.

[0016] The actuating arm includes an actuating plate and several reinforcing ribs spaced apart and connected to the back side of the actuating plate. The bottom end of the actuating plate is provided with an arc-shaped contact surface, and the surface of the force-bearing arm is provided with a concave arc groove that mates with the arc-shaped contact surface.

[0017] As a further embodiment, the refrigeration storage tank includes a tank body and an evaporation module. A discharge port is provided on one side of the tank body near the bottom, and the other side of the tank body is open and forms an installation port. The evaporation module is inserted into the inner cavity of the tank body through the installation port.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0019] The present invention relates to a discharge structure for a smoothie machine. In this discharge structure, the sealing piston is driven by the first moving part and the linkage part to convert into lateral movement, so that the sealing piston and the discharge port are coaxially set. It can be straight out or straight in relative to the discharge port, so that the sealing part of the sealing piston can be evenly stressed and sealed at the discharge port, avoiding leakage at the discharge port and improving the stability of the discharge structure.

[0020] In addition, the first moving part and the linkage part adopt a lever-type transmission, which can change the direction and magnitude of the force, making it easier for users to operate. Moreover, the movement amplitude is small during the force transmission process, which can reduce the longitudinal and transverse volume of the discharge switch device and keep the smoothie machine compact. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the smoothie machine in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the discharge switch device in this utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge hood structure in this utility model.

[0024] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the discharge switch device in this utility model.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the discharge switch device and the protective cover in this utility model.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the linkage structure in this utility model.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the toggle arm structure in this utility model.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the refrigeration storage tank in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] See Figures 1 to 7 As shown, a material discharge structure of a smoothie machine includes a refrigeration tank 1, a material discharge port 101 communicating with the tank cavity on the refrigeration tank 1, and a material discharge switch device 2 on the refrigeration tank 1 that is sealed to the material discharge port 101. The material discharge switch device 2 includes a switch base 3, a primary actuator 4 and a linkage 5. The primary actuator 4 and the linkage 5 are rotatably connected to the switch base 3 by a rotating shaft 7 and a rotating shaft 8 located in the middle, respectively.

[0031] The upper end of the first moving part 4 is provided with a handle 41 and the lower end is provided with a toggle arm 42. The upper end of the linkage part 5 is provided with a force arm 51 that is pushed inward by the toggle arm 42 and the lower end is provided with a free arm 52. The end of the free arm 52 is movably hinged to a sealing piston 10 through a rotating shaft 9.

[0032] By pulling the handle 41 and driving the linkage 5, the sealing piston 10 is driven to move laterally out to open the discharge port 101. The rotating shaft 8 is equipped with a torsion spring 11. The two ends of the torsion spring 11 abut against the switch base 3 and the force arm 51 respectively. The elastic potential energy of the torsion spring 11 drives the linkage 5 to drive the sealing piston 10 to move laterally in to block the discharge port 101. The torsion spring 11 is automatically reset to ensure that after the user releases the handle 41, the previously stored elastic potential energy can automatically cause the sealing piston 10 to reset, maintaining the blockage of the discharge port 101.

[0033] The purpose of the above-mentioned discharge structure of the slush machine is to convert the sealing piston into a lateral movement by using the drive of the first moving part 4 and the linkage part 5, so that the sealing piston 10 and the discharge port 101 are coaxially set, and can be straight out or straight in relative to the discharge port 101. This allows the sealing part of the sealing piston 10 to be evenly sealed at the discharge port 101 by the force, avoiding leakage at the discharge port and improving the stability of the discharge structure.

[0034] The refrigeration storage tank 1 has an integrally injection-molded discharge cover 12 on the outside of the discharge port 101. The discharge cover 12 forms a discharge chamber 121 inside, which communicates with the discharge port 101 and limits the downward flow of cold drinks. The sealing piston 10 is movably disposed in the discharge chamber 121.

[0035] In this embodiment, the discharge port 101 is laterally opened on the tank wall of the refrigeration storage tank 1, which helps to cooperate coaxially with the sealing piston 10. The discharge cover 12 is set with its bottom open, which can change the flow direction of the cold drink, making it convenient for users to receive the cold drink. Moreover, the discharge cover 12 covers the discharge port 101, which can prevent the cold drink from splashing in all directions after colliding with the sealing piston 10, which can reduce the cleaning area and reduce the cleaning burden.

[0036] The front wall of the discharge hood 12 is provided with a guide port 122 coaxially arranged with respect to the discharge port 101. The sealing piston 10 is always arranged in the guide port 122. The linkage 5 drives the sealing piston 10 to slide horizontally back and forth in the discharge chamber 121 relative to the discharge port 101. The sealing piston 10 slides in the guide port 122, which on the one hand can be supported by the discharge hood 12, and on the other hand can play a guiding role, which can ensure that the sealing piston 10 maintains horizontal movement.

[0037] The end of the free arm 52 is provided with an elongated shaft hole 521. The elongated shaft hole 521 is stretched along the length of the free arm 52. The free arm 52 passes through the elongated shaft hole 521, resulting in a loose connection between the sealing piston 10 and the free arm 52. When the swinging motion of the free arm 52 is converted into the lateral movement of the sealing piston 10, the connection point of the free arm 52 will not always be on the axis of the sealing piston 10. Therefore, the force direction can be converted by loosening the connection, making the force transmission smoother and without resistance.

[0038] A protective cover 13 is detachably connected to the outside of the switch base 3. The upper part of the protective cover 13 and the switch base 3 enclose and define an upper movable space A for accommodating the toggle arm 42 and the force arm 51. The lower part of the protective cover 13 and the tank wall of the refrigeration storage tank 1 enclose and define a lower movable space B for accommodating the free arm 52 and the sealing piston 10. The protective cover 13 can prevent foreign objects or food residues from falling into the discharge switch device 2, causing damage such as jamming of the discharge switch device 2.

[0039] In addition, the bottom of the protective cover 13 is provided with a cover bottom opening 132, which is connected to the discharge chamber 121.

[0040] The switch base 3 includes a base body 31, and two rotating shaft mounting plates 32 extend forward from the left and right sides of the base body 31. The rotating shaft 7 and the rotating shaft 8 are fixedly connected between the two rotating shaft mounting plates 32. The outer sidewalls of the two rotating shaft mounting plates 32 are provided with snap-fit ​​grooves 33, and the inner sidewalls of the protective cover 13 are provided with snap-fit ​​protrusions 131. The protective cover 13 is detachably connected to the switch base 3 by snapping the protrusions 131 with the snap-fit ​​grooves 33.

[0041] The snap-fit ​​design makes it easy to install and remove the protective cover 13, allowing users to regularly remove the protective cover 13 to clean or maintain the discharge switch device 2.

[0042] The force-bearing arm 51 has a semi-open box structure, including a front wall 511 and two side walls 512. The rotating shaft 8 passes through the two side walls 512. The torsion spring 11 has two sets of torsion spring bodies 111 sleeved on the rotating shaft 8. The two ends of the torsion spring 11 abut against the switch base 3 and the front wall 511 respectively. The two sets of torsion spring bodies 111 can provide sufficient force for the linkage 5 to reset.

[0043] The two side walls 512 are provided with protective inclined surfaces 513 that limit the maximum swing angle of the linkage 5. The protective inclined surfaces 513 abut against the switch base 3. The cooperation between the protective inclined surfaces 513 and the switch base 3 is to prevent the linkage 5 from swinging too much, which would eventually cause the sealing piston 10 to move out of the discharge hood 12 by too much distance. Since the sealing piston 10 and the free arm 52 are hinged, the sealing piston 10 will naturally droop after it loses support and guidance after it leaves the discharge hood 12, which would damage the discharge switch device 2.

[0044] The sealing piston 10 includes a connector 1001 and an elastic sealing sleeve 1002 with several sealing lips. The free arm 52 is hinged to the connector 1001. The front side of the connector 1001 is provided with a cylindrical plug 1003 that can be inserted into the discharge port 101. The elastic sealing sleeve 1002 is sleeved on the cylindrical plug 1003. The end of the cylindrical plug 1003 extends a limiting protrusion 1004, which is used to limit the elastic sealing sleeve 1002 between the limiting protrusion 1004 and the connector 1001 after it is sleeved.

[0045] When the sealing piston 10 moves laterally in, the elastic sealing sleeve 1002 seals between the outlet 101 and the cylindrical plug 1003. When the sealing piston 10 moves laterally out, the elastic sealing sleeve 1002 seals between the guide port 122 and the cylindrical plug 1003 to prevent cold drinks from leaking into the lower active space B through the gap in the guide port 122, which would make cleaning difficult.

[0046] The actuating arm 42 includes an actuating plate 421 and several reinforcing ribs 422 spaced apart and connected to the back side of the actuating plate 421. Since the actuating arm 42 acts as a resistance arm to bear the power of the handle 41, but the length of the actuating arm 42 is relatively short, the addition of reinforcing ribs 422 can prevent the actuating plate 421 from breaking when subjected to a large force.

[0047] The bottom end of the actuating plate 421 is provided with an arc-shaped contact surface 423, and the surface of the force arm 51 is provided with a concave arc groove 514 that cooperates with the arc-shaped contact surface 423. The cooperation between the arc-shaped contact surface 423 and the concave arc groove 514 makes the contact between the first moving member 4 and the linkage member 5 smoother when they push, increases the contact area between the two, and avoids the contact point of the linkage member 5 being dented or the contact point of the first moving member 4 being deformed due to long-term use.

[0048] See Figure 8 As shown, the refrigeration tank 1 includes a tank body 14 and an evaporation module 15. A discharge port 101 is provided on one side of the tank body 14 near the bottom, and the other side of the tank body 14 is open and forms an installation port 102. The evaporation module 15 is inserted into the inner cavity of the tank body 14 through the installation port 102. The structure of the evaporation module 15 is prior art and will not be described in detail here. The evaporation module 15 can cool or freeze the beverage in the tank body 14 to form slush.

[0049] The above describes the preferred embodiments of this utility model, illustrating and describing its basic principles, main features, and advantages. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this utility model as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A discharge structure of a slush machine, comprising a refrigeration tank (1), a discharge opening (101) is arranged on the refrigeration tank (1) and communicates with the tank cavity, and a discharge switch device (2) is arranged on the refrigeration tank (1) and sealingly cooperates with the discharge opening (101), characterized in that: The discharge switch device (2) includes a switch base (3), a starter (4) and a linkage (5). The starter (4) and the linkage (5) are rotatably connected to the switch base (3) via a rotating shaft one (7) and a rotating shaft two (8) in the middle, respectively. The upper end of the first moving part (4) is provided with a handle (41) and the lower end is provided with a toggle arm (42). The upper end of the linkage part (5) is provided with a force arm (51) that is pushed inward by the toggle arm (42) and the lower end is provided with a free arm (52). The end of the free arm (52) is movably hinged to a sealing piston (10) through a rotating shaft (9). By pulling the handle (41) and driving the linkage (5), the sealing piston (10) is driven to move laterally out to open the discharge port (101). The rotating shaft (8) is provided with a torsion spring (11). The two ends of the torsion spring (11) abut against the switch base (3) and the force arm (51) respectively. The elastic potential energy of the torsion spring (11) drives the linkage (5) to drive the sealing piston (10) to move laterally in to block the discharge port (101).

2. The discharging structure of the smoothie machine according to claim 1, wherein: The refrigeration tank (1) has a discharge hood (12) on the outside of the discharge port (101) on the tank wall. The discharge hood (12) forms a discharge chamber (121) inside which communicates with the discharge port (101) and limits the downward flow of cold drinks. The sealing piston (10) is movably disposed in the discharge chamber (121).

3. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 2, wherein: The front wall of the discharge hood (12) is provided with a guide port (122) coaxially arranged with respect to the discharge port (101). The sealing piston (10) is always arranged in the guide port (122). The linkage (5) drives the sealing piston (10) to slide horizontally back and forth in the discharge chamber (121) relative to the discharge port (101).

4. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the free arm (52) is provided with an elongated shaft hole (521). The elongated shaft hole (521) is stretched along the length of the free arm (52). The free arm (52) passes through the elongated shaft hole (521), causing a loose connection between the sealing piston (10) and the free arm (52).

5. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A protective cover (13) is detachably connected to the outside of the switch base (3). The upper part of the protective cover (13) and the switch base (3) enclose and define an upper moving space (A) for accommodating the toggle arm (42) and the force arm (51). The lower part of the protective cover (13) and the tank wall of the refrigeration tank (1) enclose and define a lower moving space (B) for accommodating the free arm (52) and the sealing piston (10).

6. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The switch base (3) includes a base body (31), and two rotating shaft mounting plates (32) extend forward on the left and right sides of the base body (31). The rotating shaft one (7) and rotating shaft two (8) are fixedly connected between the two rotating shaft mounting plates (32). The outer sidewalls of the two rotating shaft mounting plates (32) are provided with snap-fit ​​grooves (33), and the inner sidewalls of the protective cover (13) are provided with snap-fit ​​protrusions (131). The protective cover (13) is detachably connected to the switch base (3) by snap-fitting the snap-fit ​​protrusions (131) and the snap-fit ​​grooves (33).

7. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The force-bearing arm (51) has a semi-open box structure, including a front wall (511) and two side walls (512). The second rotating shaft (8) passes through the two side walls (512). The torsion spring (11) has two sets of torsion spring bodies (111) sleeved on the second rotating shaft (8). The two ends of the torsion spring (11) abut against the switch base (3) and the front wall (511) respectively. The two side walls (512) are provided with protective inclined surfaces (513) that limit the maximum swing angle of the linkage (5). The protective inclined surfaces (513) abut against the switch base (3).

8. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing piston (10) includes a connector (1001) and an elastic sealing sleeve (1002) with several sealing lips. The free arm (52) is hinged to the connector (1001). The front side of the connector (1001) is provided with a cylindrical plug (1003) that can be inserted into the discharge port (101). The elastic sealing sleeve (1002) is sleeved on the cylindrical plug (1003) and sealed between the discharge port (101) and the cylindrical plug (1003).

9. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The actuating arm (42) includes an actuating plate (421) and several reinforcing ribs (422) spaced apart and connected to the back side of the actuating plate (421). The bottom end of the actuating plate (421) is provided with an arc-shaped contact surface (423), and the surface of the force-bearing arm (51) is provided with a concave arc groove (514) that cooperates with the arc-shaped contact surface (423).

10. The discharge structure of a smoothie machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigeration tank (1) includes a tank body (14) and an evaporation module (15). A discharge port (101) is provided on one side of the tank body (14) near the bottom, and the other side of the tank body (14) is open and forms an installation port (102). The evaporation module (15) is inserted into the inner cavity of the tank body (14) through the installation port (102).

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