| 摘要 |
<p>An ingredient mixing apparatus and moisture reduction system for a liquid vending machine which is capable of mixing a predetermined portion of dry ingredient with a liquid and vending the resultant mixture are described. The ingredient mixing apparatus includes a mixing bowl (26) which has a cylindrical upper portion (48) and conical lower portion (50) with an outlet spout (52) at the bottom. The liquid is injected into the bowl (26) at a tangent so that it swirls about the bowl (26) for mixing. The dry ingredient is dropped into the top of the bowl (26) simultaneously with the liquid injection so that the two mix before leaving the bowl (26) through the bottom. A top cap (66) is provided for the mixing bowl (26) with a depending wall (70) extending adjacent the inner cylindrical surface of a portion of the bowl (26). A divider wall (76) also supported by the cap (66) extends down into the mixing bowl (26) to divide it into two sections. Suction is provided on the second section to remove steam or vapor and airborne dry ingredient from the bowl (26). The moisture reduction system includes a series of mixing bowls (21, 23, 26, 28, 34) and a manifold (40) that removes the steam and dry ingredient from the mixing bowls (21, 23, 26, 28, 34).</p> |
