Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a heater/mixer (hereinafter "mixer") for beating a flavored coating, such as caramel or a caramel mixture, and mixing the heated flavored coating with an edible substrate, such as popcorn, to coat the substrate with the heated coating, to manufacture a flavored product, such as caramel corn.

Background

[0002] Heater/mixers for manufacturing flavored products are well known in the art However such mixers typically have a heater box permanently attached to a frame. The heater box typically is either of a first type having a gas burner to produce a flame to produce the heat or of

a second type having an electric heating element, such as infra-red, to produce the heat This can lead to various problems, such as in the manufacture of the heater/mixer, or when one desires to substitute a gas burner heated heater box for an electrically heated heater box, or vice versa, on an existing heater mixer.

[0003] For example it is difficult if not impossible to convert an electrically heated mixer to a gas flame heated mixer, such as when the mixer is being moved to a site which has only gas, or vice versa. Italso requires manufacturers of mixers to manufacture, and stock, both electrically heated and gas flame heated mixers.

Summary

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a mixer with interchangeable electric and gas heating modules .

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heater/mixer in accordance with the present invention; [0006] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the heater/mixer of Fig. 1, incorporating a gas burner; [0007] Figure 3 is a detailed view of the portion "Fig. 3" of the heater/mixer of Fig. 1; and

[0008] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the heater/mixer of Fig. 1, incorporating an electric heating element.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0009] It is to be understood that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to any particular form described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to include all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0010] An apparatus, generally designated 10 and also referred to as a heater/mixer, is illustrated in Fig . 1. The heater/mixer 10 heats a flavored coating, such as caramel, and mixes the heated caramel with an edible substrate 12, such as popcorn. For purposes of this description, caramel as a flavored coating will be described, but other coatings, well known in the art, may be used.

[0011] Heater/mixers are generally well known in the art.

[0012] The heater/mixer 10 includes such conventional items as a kettle 14 for containing the caramel and the popcorn 12 to be mixed.

[0013] The heater mixer 10 further includes a frame 18, a lever mechanism 20 for tipping the kettle 14, such as to empty the kettle 14 when the heating and mixing is complete. The heater mixer 10 further includes a conventional motor (not shown) actuated beater 22.

[0014] Conventional heater/mixers include heater boxes, generally permanently secured to the

frame, which may be either heated by a gas burner 24 (Fig. 2) or an electric heating element 25 (Fig 4), such as an infrared heating element.

[0015] In accordance with the present invention, the heater/mixer 10 may include either a removable heater box, which may be a removable gas-fired heater box 26a (see Figs. 1- 2) or a removable, electrically heated heater box 26b (Fig.4).

[0016] The removable heater box permits interchangeability between the types of heater boxes 26a, 26b. The removable heater box also permits simplified replacement of one type of heater box (26a or 26b) with a heater box (26a or 26b) of the same type. [0017] Either type of the heater boxes 26a, 26b, is removably attached to the frame 18 by a releasable securing device 28, such as one or more bolts 30.

[0018] Each of the types of heater boxes 26a, 26b, is generally conventional, but for their removable attachment to the frame 18.

[0019] Referring in particular to Figs. 1-2, gas is provided to me gas fired burner 24 via a gas supply 35, which may be removably connected to a source of gas (not shown). The gas supply 35 may include a shut-off valve 36, a gas filter 37 (for European CE compliance), a conventional pressure regulator 38 and a pressure gauge 40.

[0020] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the gas supply continues into the gas heater box 26a, through a conventional gas control module 42, to the gas burner 24. The gas control module 42 performs such conventional functions as igniting pilot burners, confirming the pilot burners have been ignited and subsequently turning on the gas to the main burners of the gas burner 24. The control module 42 may also regulate the gas burner 24 to regulate the temperature of the gas heater box 26a.

[0021] Removal of the gas heater box 26a may include removal of the gas supply 35.

[0022] The gas heater box 26a may also include a wiring harness 46 extending from the control module 42 to a control panel 34, which may be located inside of the frame 18. The wiring harness may include an electrical disconnect 48 to permit disconnection of the gas heater box 26a from the frame 18.

[0023] The gas heater box 26a may include a cover 44 and an annular ring 45. The gas burner 24 fits into the ring 45, and the ring 45 concentrates the heat from the gas burner 24 towards the kettle 14.

[0024] The heater/mixer 10 having the electric heater box 26b with the electric heating element 26b is illustrated in Fig. 4. Elements of the heater/mixer 10 having the electric heater box 26b common to those of the heater/mixer 10 having the gas heater box 26a have retained the same reference numbers.

[0025] The heater/mixer 10 having the electric heater box 26b includes an electrical wiring harness 46 which has a first end 46a adapted to be connected to an electrical power supply (not shown) and a second end 46b which connects to the electric heating element 26b. Between the first end 46a and the second end 46b, travels to the control panel 34, and into the electric heater box 26b, where it attaches to the electric heating element 25. The wiring harness 46 includes an electrical disconnect 48, to permit removal of the electric heater box 26 from the frame 18. The wiring harness 46 provides both control and power to the electrical heater box. [0026J The electric beater box may include a conventional temperature sensor (not shown) to permit regulation of the temperature of the electric heater box 26b by the control panel 34.

[0027] As discussed above, the electric heater box 26b is removably attached to the frame 18 by a releasable securing device 28, such as one or more of the bolts 30a.

[0028] Preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.