Importance

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Abstract

A rotary clamp mechanism for coupling a mixing bowl to an arcuate arm of a mixer housing that continuously prohibits the build up of air borne food particles and fluids between the mating circumferential surfaces between the clamp shaft and cylindrical bore. The clamp includes a clamp shaft adapted to be mounted for rotation in a bore extending through a bowl-support arm of a mixer housing, a head positioned on the longitudinal upper end of the clamp shaft, and a jaw projection extending radially from the head, where the jaw has a lower clamping surface adapt to engage a top surface of the projection extending from the mixing bowl upon rotation of the clamp shaft. The clamp shaft includes a channel for providing fluid communication between the circumferential surface of the shaft facing the bore and the lower end surface of the shaft facing below the bore. This channel facilitates drainage of fluids entrained between the circumferential surface of the clamp shaft and the inner circumferential surface of the bore. The clamp shaft also includes an annular depression milled into the surface of the shaft that faces the bore. This annular depression substantially reduces the surface area contacts between the surface of the clamp shaft and the inner surface of the bore.

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First Claim