Fountain that flows with fluidic material
A fountain for heating and distributing fluidic material is manufactured using various processes and materials so that the fountain is more easily cleaned and sanitized, has improved performance, and is easier to assemble. In one embodiment, the chocolate fountain includes a heating element encased in an aluminum enclosure. A basin containing chocolate is heated by contact with the aluminum enclosure. Because the aluminum enclosure has a relatively high thermal conductivity, the basin is heating substantially uniformly, thus reducing the occurrence of hot spots. Additionally, a plastic auger having a spiral flight rotates and lifts the melted chocolate upward to a top end of cylinder that houses the auger. The use of a plastic auger advantageously eliminates welding artifacts on the auger, such as burrs and pits, on which melted chocolate may accumulate. Accordingly, the plastic auger is easy to clean. A smaller chocolate fountain that may advantageously be more suitable for home use is also described herein.
1 . A method of manufacturing an apparatus for circulating melted food items, the method comprising:
molding a plastic auger with a spiral flight;
forming a crown;
providing a structure having a central aperture;
inserting a collar in the central aperture of the structure; and
flanging the collar so that the collar is attached to the structure.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure is concave and the central aperture is circular.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising manufacturing a cylinder having a score mark at a predetermined height of the cylinder and extending around an outer perimeter of the cylinder, wherein the collar is attached to the cylinder at the predetermined height of the cylinder.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auger, the crown, and the collar flanged to the structure are substantially free of welding artifacts.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crown is formed by injection molding.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crown is formed by metal casting.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plastic auger is fabricating using an insert molding process.
8 . A method of assembling an apparatus for circulating fluidic material, the method comprising:
coupling a cylinder to a basin so that the cylinder extends substantially perpendicular from a bottom surface of the basin;
placing a tier having a circular aperture on the cylinder so that a top end of the cylinder is inside the circular aperture; and
moving the tier towards a bottom end of the cylinder until a locking mechanism stabilizes the tier at a predetermined location and the tier is supported on the cylinder by the locking mechanism.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cylinder is removably coupled to the basin.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cylinder comprises a step configured to engage the tier as the tier is moved towards a bottom end of the cylinder.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cylinder comprises a groove extending around a perimeter of the cylinder at the predetermined location.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching an auger to a source of rotation disposed proximate the basin so that the auger is positioned in a longitudinal cavity in the center of the cylinder.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the auger comprises plastic.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the fluidic material comprises melted chocolate.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising placing a crown on a top end of the cylinder, wherein the fluidic material is moved upwardly in the cylinder by the auger within the cylinder and the fluidic material flows over a top surface of the crown.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the crown comprises a plastic single structure crown.
17 . A method of assembling a chocolate fountain comprising:
removably coupling a housing having a central aperture to a basin so that the housing extends longitudinally substantially perpendicular from a bottom surface of the basin, the basin being configured to contain chocolate;
placing a tier having a circular aperture on the housing so that a top end of the housing is inside the circular aperture; and
moving the tier towards a bottom end of the housing until a support structure positioned at a predetermined location of the housing is engaged by the tier such that the support structure supports the tier at the predetermined location.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the support structure comprises a step integrally formed in the housing.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the support structure comprises a groove extending around a perimeter of the housing.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical.