U.S. patent application number 13/088520 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-22 for device for processing foodstuffs.
Invention is credited to Bruno HERREN.
Application Number | 20110226140 13/088520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38269111 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110226140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HERREN; Bruno |
September 22, 2011 |
DEVICE FOR PROCESSING FOODSTUFFS
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a working unit or a device
that includes a working unit of this type for processing
foodstuffs. The working unit can be driven and made to rotate by
means of a drive unit of said device. The working unit preferably
has at least two working elements that are situated on a working
axis and that act in the peripheral direction of said working axis.
At least one of the working elements can be pivoted about the
working axis in relation to at least one additional working element
within a restricted pivoting angle.
Inventors: |
HERREN; Bruno; (Beckenried,
CH) |
Family ID: |
38269111 |
Appl. No.: |
13/088520 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12299436 |
Nov 3, 2008 |
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PCT/CH2007/000217 |
May 3, 2007 |
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13088520 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/537 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/044 20130101;
A47J 23/00 20130101; A47J 43/085 20130101; A47J 43/046 20130101;
A47J 43/0711 20130101; A47J 43/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/537 |
International
Class: |
A47J 17/00 20060101
A47J017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2006 |
CH |
730/06 |
Claims
1. A processing unit for a device for processing foodstuffs,
comprising at least one processor arranged along a processing axis
and acting in a circumferential direction of the processing axis,
and at least one deflector arranged at least one of the above and
below the processor.
2. The processing unit according comprising a second processor to
claim 1, further
3. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing
axis is defined by a support shaft.
4. The processing unit according to claim 3 wherein the deflector
further comprises at least one deflector wing acting in the
circumferential direction of the processing axis, which in course
of operation of the processing unit rotates along with the support
shaft, in order to return material to be processed, which is flung
upward or downward out of an active area of the process during the
rotation of the processing unit around the processing axis, back
into the active area.
5. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein that at least
one deflector is substantially oriented radially to the processing
axis.
6. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the deflector
is arranged below the processor and is fastened torque proof,
releasably or fixed to a lower end of the processing unit when
viewed in the direction of the processing axis.
7. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the processor
is selected from the group consisting of blades for cutting, blades
for squeezing, fingers for kneading, fingers for cutting, beaters
for foaming, and combinations thereof.
8. The processing unit according to claim 6, wherein the processor
is a cutting unit compromising stationary blades.
9. The processing unit according to claim 8, wherein a first
deflector is arranged above and a second deflector is arranged
below the processor and above and below the cutting unit.
10. The processing unit according to claim 8, wherein the
stationary blades are substantially oriented radially to the
processing axis.
11. The processing unit according to claim 4, wherein the at least
one deflector wing of the deflector comprises a horizontal segment
and a deflector segment.
12. The processing unit according to claim 11, wherein the
deflector segment of a lower deflector projects upward at an angle
in relation to the horizontal segment when viewed in the direction
of rotation.
13. The processing unit according to claim 12, wherein the
horizontal segment and the deflector segment of an upper deflector
form an inclination angle and the deflector segment projects
downward at an angle when viewed in the direction of rotation.
14. The processing unit according to claim 12, wherein the
inclination angle between the horizontal segment and the deflector
segment form an inclination angle between 0' and 90'.
15. The processing unit according to claim 12, wherein the
inclination angle between the horizontal segment and the deflector
segment form an inclination angle between 10' and 30'.
16. The processing unit according to claim 12, wherein the
inclination angle between the horizontal segment and the deflector
segment form an inclination angle of 30.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Choppers for comminuting foodstuffs, in particular for
chopping onions, are known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,711
or EP-B-0 345 223, which have a housing which can be inverted over
the material to be comminuted and have a cutter, which is guided
inside the housing and can be displaced against the force of a
spring by means of an actuating mechanism with a pushbutton and a
plunger. The cutter can be downwardly displaced against the force
of the spring and, in the course of the subsequent upward movement,
is rotated over a defined angle in relation to the housing by a
guidance device in the housing. A stepping mechanism arranged
between the actuating mechanism and the housing makes sure that a
forced stepping of the cutter is assured. This forced stepping
mechanism has been shown to be very advantageous, because it
prevents the cutter from "chopping in place". The effectiveness of
the chopper is increased by this and the evenly sized distribution
of the chopped material is improved. The devices are widely
distributed, however, they have some disadvantages. For example,
for chopping hard vegetables it is necessary to hit the pushbutton
with great force. Fibrous vegetables, such as fennel or leeks, can
be chopped only poorly or not at all, and in connection with fine
materials to be cut, the results are rather unsatisfactory.
[0002] Devices driven by a crank for processing vegetables have
been known for years, such as the device in U.S. Pat. No.
6,035,771, for example, in which two blades, which project at right
angles in two opposite directions, are arranged on a shaft which
extends perpendicularly into a container for material to be cut.
The blades are each provided with a cutting edge only at the front
edge, so that the crank must always be turned in a clockwise
direction. Because of the constant direction of rotation of the
blades and as a result of the relatively low number of revolutions
it is only possible to achieve moderate results in connection with
hard or fibrous material to be cut, because the material to be cut
is often either taken along by the blades and is not cut, or the
blades are blocked. It is only possible to somewhat counteract this
by a comparatively high speed of the blades which, however, in
particular when chopping onions, can easily result in that a
satisfactory degree of homogeneity only occurs at a high degree of
comminution. This problem also occurs with electrically operated
devices, in connection with which an undesired generation of heat
is added to all this.
[0003] A small, manually operated device is known from WO
2004/073474, which is hand-held for operation. A shaft with two
blades, which project at right angles in opposite directions, is
driven by means of the repeated rotation of the drive mechanism in
relation to the container with the material to be chopped. Since
the device must be almost completely enclosed by the hands of the
user, the structural size is extremely limited. The material to be
chopped--for example an onion--must be cut into quarters for
filling, since otherwise there is no room for it in the container
for the material to be chopped. For achieving a satisfactory
chopping result it is necessary to rotate the drive element 40 to
60 times alternatingly in opposite directions in relation to the
remaining parts of the device. Since the blades are provided with
cutting edges on both sides, it is possible to cut in both
directions by a directed reversal of the turning direction of the
shaft. Although the device has acceptable chopping results, it has
the disadvantage that it is not possible to process larger amounts
of material to be cut within a sensible amount of time. Since the
material to be cut--for example an onion--must already be cut into
quarters prior to being put into the device, the use of the device
is often completely omitted and the onion is simply further chopped
by means of the knife.
[0004] A further small manual device is known from EP 1 385 409, in
which a shaft having four radially projecting blades, which are
arranged spaced apart at approximately right angles in respect to
each other, can be pushed onto a driven shaft. Movement of the
shaft takes place by means of a cord pull, wherein the device is
freely held in one hand and the cord pull must be pulled with the
other hand. For achieving a homogeneous chopping result, the
material to be chopped can be mixed by shaking between the pulls on
the cord pull. Again, only a small amount of material to be
chopped, which must be cut into pieces prior to chopping, can be
filled in between the blades and under the shaft supporting the
blades and projecting freely into the container for the material to
be cut. If too much or too large-sized material to be cut is filled
into the container for the material to be chopped, blockage of the
device can occur when pulling on the cord pull, because all four
blades cut simultaneously.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a
processing unit which is, for example, designed as a cutting unit,
which can be installed in a device in accordance with the species
in order to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages, and which is
capable of processing increased amounts of material difficult to
process, such as material to be chopped, for example hard, fibrous
and/or wet material to be processed, without problems. A further
object is to assure the large uniformity of processing of the
material to be chopped, even at a reduced degree of comminution. It
is moreover intended to permit its employment in connection with
further processing steps of foodstuffs, besides cutting or
chopping, to be simple, safe and easy to operate and clean with
little effort.
[0006] This object is attained by means of a processing unit having
the characteristics of claim 1, or respectively of a device having
the characteristics of claim 15.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the processing unit in
accordance with the invention for a device for processing
foodstuffs, this drive unit comprises at least two processing means
arranged on a processing axis A and acting in the circumferential
direction of the processing axis A, wherein at least one processing
means can be pivoted in relation to at least one further processing
means within a limited pivot angle around the processing axis
A.
[0008] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, the processing axis (A) is defined by a support
shaft.
[0009] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, the processing means have been selected from
the following group or comprise combinations from it: blades for
cutting and/or squeezing, fingers for kneading or peeling, beaters
for creating foam.
[0010] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, it is embodied as a cutting unit and has at
least one first blade, which is arranged, secure against twisting,
on the support shaft. It moreover has at least one second blade,
which can be pivoted in relation to the first blade, preferably
around 180.degree., around the common processing axis A from a
position of rest into a cutting position.
[0011] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, it is embodied as a cutting unit and has at
least one first blade, which is arranged, secure against twisting,
on a support shaft. It moreover has at least one second blade,
which can be pivoted in relation to the first blade, preferably
around 120.degree., around the common processing axis A from a
position of rest into a cutting position. Furthermore, this
processing unit has a least a third blade which can be pivoted in
relation to the first blade, preferably around 240.degree., around
the common processing axis A from a position of rest into a cutting
position.
[0012] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, it is embodied as a cutting unit, wherein this
time a transition piece is arranged at least between a first blade
and a second blade in such a way, that the pivot angle of the
second blade in respect to the first blade is increased to more
than 360.degree..
[0013] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, it is embodied as a cutting unit and has at
least one first blade, which is arranged, secure against twisting,
on a support shaft. It moreover has at least one second blade,
which can be pivoted in relation to the first blade, preferably
around 480.degree., around the common processing axis A from a
position of rest into a cutting position. Furthermore, it has a
least a third blade which can be pivoted in relation to the first
blade, preferably around 960.degree., around the common processing
axis (A) from a position of rest into a cutting position.
[0014] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, all blades can be arranged resting above each
other in their positions of rest, viewed in the direction of the
processing axis A.
[0015] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, its blades are substantially oriented radially
in respect to the processing axis A.
[0016] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, a deflector, having respectively one deflector
wing acting in the circumferential direction of the processing axis
(A), is arranged above and/or below the processing means. During
the operation of the processing unit these deflectors turn along
with the support shaft in order to convey the material to be
processed, which had been flung upward or downward out of the
effective range of the processing means in the course of the
rotation of the processing unit around the processing axis A, back
into this selfsame effective range.
[0017] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, the deflectors are arranged substantially
radially in respect to the processing axis A.
[0018] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, a lower deflector can be fastened, held in
place by torque and releasably, at a lower end of the processing
unit, viewed in the direction of the processing axis A.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, the processing means are arranged at an axial
spacing from each other in the direction of the processing axis
A.
[0020] In a further embodiment of the processing unit in accordance
with the invention, the blades, viewed in the direction of the
processing axis A, are arranged closer to the lower end of the
processing unit than to the oppositely located upper end of the
processing unit.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of a device for processing
foodstuffs, this device has a top part, a drive unit, a lower part
with a processing container, as well as a processing unit, which
can be driven by means of the drive unit and has the just mentioned
characteristics.
[0022] In a further embodiment of the device its drive unit can be
operated manually or electrically.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the device its drive unit and its
processing unit are in an operative connection with each other via
a releasable connection maintained by means of torque.
[0024] In a further embodiment of the device its manually operable
drive unit contains a crank drive mechanism, preferably a cord pull
drive mechanism.
[0025] In a further embodiment of the device a winder, which can be
caused to perform a rotating movement by means of pulling a cord
pull, is in an operative connection with an engagement member in
such a way that a resulting rpm gear ratio amounts to more than 1,
preferably 1.8 to 1.9.
[0026] In a further embodiment of the device its winder is seated,
maintained in place by torque and rotatably, by means of a driving
wheel on a cover shaft projecting on the inside of a cover of the
top part. As a result, the rotating movement of the driving wheel
can be transferred to an axial wheel, which is arranged extending
coaxially to the processing axis A.
[0027] In a further embodiment of the device an interior tooth
arrangement of the driving wheel engages an exterior tooth
arrangement of the axial wheel.
[0028] In a further embodiment of the device, its processing
container is a substantially rotation-symmetrical vessel for
receiving material to be processed, and its processing unit is
rotatably seated in this processing container.
[0029] In a further embodiment of the device, its processing unit,
viewed in the direction of the processing axis A, is seated with an
upper end of the processing unit, which is in an operative
connection, maintained by means of torque, with the drive unit, as
well as with a lower end, facing away from the upper end, which is
rotatably seated in the bottom of the processing container.
[0030] In a further embodiment of the device a desired degree of
processing of the foodstuffs is detected by an electronic unit on
the basis of a defined number of processing steps, which are
preferably correlated with a defined number of revolutions of the
drive unit, or respectively of the processing unit, and is
displayed to the user by means of a display unit.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the device, the electronic unit
and the display unit are provided with electric current by a
generator, which is driven by means of the drive unit and/or the
processing unit.
[0032] In a further embodiment of the device, the display unit
contains three LED's of different colors, preferably the colors
green, yellow and red.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The invention will be explained in what follows by means of
drawing figures which merely represent exemplary embodiments. Shown
are in:
[0034] FIG. 1a, a longitudinal sectional view along a processing
axis A through the device in accordance with a first embodiment, in
which a embodied as a cutting unit is not represented in
section,
[0035] FIG. 1b, a sectional view through a top part in accordance
with FIG. 1a, in which portions of a drive unit are not shown in
section,
[0036] FIG. 1c, a view from above on the top part in accordance
with FIG. 1a, in which a cover has been omitted,
[0037] FIG. 1d, a lateral view of a generator unit for installation
in a top part in accordance with FIG. 1a,
[0038] FIG. 2a, an exploded view of a processing unit designed as a
cutting unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,
[0039] FIG. 2b, a lateral view of the cutting unit in accordance
with FIG. 2a in the installed state, with the blades in the
processing position,
[0040] FIG. 2c, a view from above B on the cutting unit in
accordance with FIG. 2b,
[0041] FIG. 2d, a view from below A on the cutting unit in
accordance with FIG. 2b,
[0042] FIG. 2e, a view from obliquely below on the cutting unit in
accordance with FIG. 2b, in which a position of rest of a second
blade is shown in dashed lines,
[0043] FIG. 2f, a cross-sectional view along X-X through the
cutting unit in accordance with FIG. 2b, in which a processing
position of a second blade is shown by dashed lines, and a pivot
direction is indicated by an arrow, and a lower deflector has been
omitted.
[0044] FIG. 2g, a cross sectional view in accordance with FIG. 2f,
in which the second blade in its position of rest has been pivoted
over a first blade and the lower deflector has again been
omitted,
[0045] FIG. 3a, a lateral view of a first cutter with support
shaft,
[0046] FIG. 3b, a view from above B on the cutter in accordance
with FIG. 3a,
[0047] FIG. 3c, a view from below A on the cutter in accordance
with FIG. 3a,
[0048] FIG. 4a, a lateral view of an upper deflector unit,
[0049] FIG. 4b, a lateral view of a deflector unit in accordance
with FIG. 4a, turned by 90.degree., so that a deflector wing points
toward the viewer,
[0050] FIG. 4c, a view from below on the deflector unit in
accordance with FIG. 4a,
[0051] FIG. 5a, a lateral view of a lower deflector unit,
[0052] FIG. 5b, a lateral view of a deflector unit in accordance
with FIG. 5a, rotated by 90.degree., so that a deflector wing
points toward the viewer,
[0053] FIG. 5c, a view from above on the deflector unit in
accordance with FIG. 5a,
[0054] FIG. 6a, a longitudinal sectional view along a processing
axis A through the device in accordance with a further embodiment,
in which a processing unit embodied as a cutting unit is not
represented in section,
[0055] FIG. 6b, a section through a top part in accordance with
FIG. 6a,
[0056] FIG. 6c, a section through a lower part of the device in
accordance with FIG. 6a with the cutting unit inserted, in which
the cutting unit is not represented in section,
[0057] FIG. 6d, a lateral view of the cutting unit in accordance
with FIG. 6a,
[0058] FIG. 6e, a view from above on the top part in accordance
with FIG. 6a,
[0059] FIG. 6f, a partial section along D through a container wall
with a rib of a device in accordance with FIG. 6a,
[0060] FIG. 7a, a lateral view of a first cutter with support shaft
in accordance with a further embodiment,
[0061] FIG. 7b, a view from above on the first cutter in accordance
with FIG. 7a,
[0062] FIG. 7c, a view from below on the first cutter in accordance
with FIG. 7a,
[0063] FIG. 8a, a lateral view of a second cutter in accordance
with a further embodiment,
[0064] FIG. 8b, a view from above on the second cutter in
accordance with FIG. 8a,
[0065] FIG. 8c, a view from below on the second cutter in
accordance with FIG. 8a,
[0066] FIG. 9a, a lateral view of a third cutter,
[0067] FIG. 9b, a view from above on the third cutter in accordance
with FIG. 9a,
[0068] FIG. 9c, a view from below on the first cutter in accordance
with FIG. 9a,
[0069] FIG. 10a, a lateral view of an upper deflector in accordance
with a further embodiment,
[0070] FIG. 10b, a view from above on the deflector in accordance
with FIG. 10a,
[0071] FIG. 10c, a lateral view from the direction I of a deflector
unit in accordance with FIG. 10a, rotated by 90.degree., so that a
deflector wing points toward the viewer,
[0072] FIG. 11, a lateral view of a cutting unit in accordance with
a further embodiment in the assembled state and with blades and
deflectors in accordance with FIGS. 7 to 10 in the processing
position,
[0073] FIG. 12a, a longitudinal section along the processing
axis
[0074] A through the device in accordance with a further
embodiment, in which a cutting unit is not represented in
section,
[0075] FIG. 12b, a section through a top part in accordance with
FIG. 10a,
[0076] FIG. 13a, a processing unit embodied as a cutting unit in
accordance with a further embodiment, in which the lower deflector
unit has been omitted,
[0077] FIG. 13b, a view from above on the cutting unit in
accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0078] FIG. 14a, a lateral view of a first cutter with support
shaft in accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0079] FIG. 14b, a view from above on a first cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0080] FIG. 14c, a view from below on a first cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0081] FIG. 15a, a lateral view of a second cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0082] FIG. 15b, a view from above on a second cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0083] FIG. 15c, a view from below on a second cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0084] FIG. 16a, a lateral view of a third cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0085] FIG. 16b, a view from above on a third cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0086] FIG. 16c, a view from below on a third cutter in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0087] FIG. 17a, a lateral view of a transition piece in accordance
with FIG. 13a,
[0088] FIG. 17b, a view from above on a transition piece in
accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0089] FIG. 17c, a view from below on a transition piece in
accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0090] FIG. 18a, a lateral view of an upper deflector unit in
accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0091] FIG. 18b, a view from above on an upper deflector unit in
accordance with FIG. 13a,
[0092] FIG. 18c, a partial plan view through an upper deflector
unit in accordance with FIG. 13a, and
[0093] FIG. 18d, a front view of an upper deflector unit in
accordance with FIG. 13a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0094] A first embodiment of the device 1 for processing foodstuffs
in accordance with the invention is represented in axial
longitudinal section in FIG. 1a, in which a processing unit 60 is
embodied as a cutting unit 60 and is not shown in section. The
device 1 is substantially rotation-symmetrical and has a top part
2, which is comprised of a circular, substantially flat base 21
with a curved cover 20 placed on it. Essential parts of a drive
unit 10 are housed between the cover 20 and the base 21. The top
part 2 can be placed in a positive and/or non-positive manner on a
lower part 3 which, in the present case, comprises a circular,
bowl-shaped processing container 30 designed as a container 30 for
material to be cut. The container 30 for material to be cut is
preferably made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic
material approved for foodstuffs and includes a bottom 31 with a
centered, upward oriented bearing pin 33 and a lateral wall 32 with
a plurality of vertical swirling ribs 34, evenly distributed over
the circumference. On its underside the cutting unit 60 is provided
with a central bearing opening 70, by means of which it can be
plugged onto the bearing pin 33 in the container for material to be
cut. The cutting unit 60 in accordance with the represented
embodiment is substantially constituted by a multi-part shaft, from
which two blades 63, 64 and two deflectors 50, 51 protrude, as the
operative means--also called processing means in what
follows--substantially radially, viewed in the circumferential
direction, in relation to a processing axis A. Here, a section of
the processing means 60, which is substantially
circular-cylindrically shaped, is understood to be the shaft by
which the processing axis A is defined. A drive cam 69 at the top,
in the exemplary embodiment a cam with a hexagonal exterior, of the
cutting unit 60 engages a corresponding reception opening 71 of an
engagement member 23 of the drive unit, so that the torque can be
transferred from the engagement member 23 of the drive unit 10 to
the cutting unit. In this way the ends of the shaft with the
operative means are dependably seated at the top and the bottom,
and during the operation can absorb without problems the forces
introduced into the operative means, in the present example the
cutters 61, 62 and the strippers 50, 51, even at high rpm, without
being deflected out of their axial position. In the exemplary
embodiment represented, the rotating movement is generated by a
cord pull mechanism. Neither the cord nor the handle have been
drawn in FIG. 1. With the cord wound up, the handle comes to rest
in the recess 5 of the cover 20, and the cord fastened to it is
conducted under low friction to a winder or cord roller 12 attached
to the interior of the top part 2. A spring housing 7 is arranged
concentrically in relation to the winder 12 on a cover shaft 8,
which has been centrally formed on the cover 20 and extends
downward in the direction toward the processing axis A. A restoring
spring, also not drawn in, is located in the spring housing, whose
function is known in connection with the cord pull mechanism and
need not be explained further. The winder is caused to rotate by
pulling on the cord pull and in the course of this rotation the
spring is prestressed in the operating direction until the cord is
completely unwound, preferably after 3 to 6 rotations of the
winder. In the course of the operational rotation, the rotating
movement of the winder 12 is transmitted to an upper coupling
element 22 assigned to the drive unit 10, which is arranged in a
manner in which it is maintained in place by torque and axially
displaceable on the cover shaft 8 and is in operative connection
with the winder 12. In FIG. 1a the upper coupling element 22 is
located in an upper release position, in which it does not engage
with its counter-tooth arrangement on its underside the
corresponding tooth arrangement of a lower coupling element, also
called engagement member 23, facing the lower part 3. The upper
coupling element 22 is prestressed against the engagement member 23
by means of a spring, not represented in the drawing figure, so
that during the operation the torque from the upper coupling
element can be transmitted to the engagement member in the course
of the rotation in the processing direction because of the positive
connection between the teeth of both coupling elements through
engagement with each other. Since in the exemplary embodiment
represented only a rotation in the processing direction is desired
for the downstream-located processing means, the coupling is
provided with only a one-directional free-running device in the
restoring direction, i.e. opposite the processing direction. As is
known from other ratchet mechanisms, the teeth are slanted in
opposite directions on one side, so that the upper coupling element
22 can be pushed into the upper release position during the
recovery rotation of the cord pull and the cutting unit can stand
still during the rewinding of the pull cord. In the course of the
next pull on the handle the top coupling part 22 is turned again
into the processing direction and it again engages the engagement
member 23, so that the latter can continue the rotating movement in
the processing direction. The rotating movement is transmitted 1:1
from the drive unit to the cutting unit 60 by means of the
torque-derived connection which, in the present exemplary
embodiment, is realized by means of the interior and exterior
hexagonal structure, between the reception opening 71 of the
engagement member 23 and the drive cam 69 at the top of the support
shaft 67.
[0095] The base 21 of the top part has a central circular opening,
in which the substantially cylindrical engagement member is
rotatably seated with suitable fit. Since the reception opening 71
is embodied as a blind hole and the base 21 does not have any other
further openings, the areas of the top part which come into contact
with the foodstuffs to be processed can be very easily cleaned. In
the peripheral area the base is solidly connected, sealed along the
circumference, with the cover, so that foodstuff remnants or water
are prevented from penetrating into the interior of the top part
2.
[0096] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1a, the base 21 is
provided with a peripheral circumferential lateral wall 28, which
has an exterior contour permitting the positive and/or non-positive
placement of the top part 2 on the container 30 for material to be
cut. The clearance between the underside of the engagement member
23 and the bottom 31 of the container 30 for material to be cut
corresponds substantially to the height of the cutting unit 60
without its drive cam 69 at its top. Top and bottom seating of the
cutting unit are respectively designed in a positive and/or
protected manner in such a way, that no material to be cut can
enter and become stuck. As indicated in FIG. 6c, a slip-protection
device made of soft rubber or a silicone material has been applied
to the underside of the container bottom 31'. The vertical swirling
ribs 34', evenly distributed over the circumference of the inner
container wall, extend from the bottom of the container as far as
almost to the rotation height of the upper deflector wing 56'. The
swirling ribs 34', represented in FIG. 6f in a partial sectional
view through the container wall 32', radially project a few mm
inward into the container and are matched to the length of the
blades and of the deflector wings in such a way that, although the
latter are moved closely past the swirling ribs 34', they do no
touch them in any way. The function of the swirling ribs 34' in
connection with cutting of peeling of vegetables or fruit is known
and need not be further explained here.
[0097] The essential aspects of the novel processing units 60 will
now be explained in greater detail in what follows by the use of
the cutting unit in FIG. 2. It can be seen from the exploded view
in FIG. 2a that the cutting unit 60 comprises a first cutter 61 and
a second cutter 62, which can be pivoted in relation to each other
by a predetermined pivot angle around the common axis A. As a
first, lower cutter 61 and upper, second cutter 62, the two cutters
61, 62 are preferably axially spaced apart from each other and
fixedly arranged in the axial direction in respect to each other. A
base blade holder 65, substantially cylindrical, of the lower
cutter 61 supports a radially projecting blade 63, which is
provided with a cutting edge on a front edge. The front edge is
that edge of the blade 63 which, during cutting, i.e. in the course
of the rotation in the processing direction P, is located at the
front and therefore comes into contact with the material to be cut.
A central support shaft 67, which defines the processing axis A,
whose diameter is less than the diameter of the blade holder 65,
extends coaxially in relation to the blade holder 65, is fixedly
connected with it and has the drive cam 69 at the top.
[0098] With its height, the first cutter 61 determines not only the
height of the entire component of the cutting unit 60, but also
constitutes the basic structure. The blade holder of the second
cutter 62 is a hollow cylinder, which can be plugged onto the
support shaft 67 and preferably has the same exterior diameter as
the first blade holder 65. The interior diameter of the second
blade holder is correspondingly matched to the diameter of the
support shaft 67, so that the second cutter 62 can be easily
rotated. As a further element, the holder 52 of an upper deflector
51 is pushed on the support shaft 67. For fastening the upper
deflector to the support shaft 67 in a manner secure against
twisting and axially non-displaceably, a securing pin or cotter pin
53 is pushed through corresponding cotter pin holes 55 and 68 in
the holder 52 and the support shaft 67 in this embodiment. The
securing pin 53 is completely inserted into the cotter pin holes
and its length has been matched to the exterior diameter of the
deflector holder 52 in such a way that on both sides the securing
pin ends constitute an almost closed surface with the shell face of
the holder 52. This has proven itself for preventing foodstuff from
becoming stuck in small, difficult to access and therefore
difficult to clean recesses. For this reason it has also been
proven to be advantageous to design each of the blade holders 65,
66 and the holder 52 of the upper deflector 51 cylindrically and to
select their diameters in such a way that they define an aligned
common shell face. In the represented case, the stop area between
the holder of the upper deflector 51, which is fixedly arranged on
the support shaft, and the limitedly rotatable holder 66 of the
second cutter, has been designed as a flat annular face 72. Means
responsible for the limited relative rotatability of the two blade
holders, and therefore also of the two blades 63, 64 in respect to
each other, have been placed into the stop area between the two
blade holders 56 and 66. In the concrete exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 2, these are a radial rib 72 seated on the top of the blade
holder 65 and defining a front and a rear stop face 73, 74. The
stop faces 73, 74 are substantially aligned radially in respect to
the processing axis A and include an angle of approximately
120.degree. between them. The radial lip does not extend to the
edge of the top of the first blade holder 65, so that an downward
drawn apron 75 of the second blade holder can rest on the
correspondingly shaped top of the first blade holder 65 and covers
the radial rib completely. The apron 75 defines an annular gap 76
in the shape of a segment of a circle, in which a stop 77 is
fixedly arranged on the second blade holder 66. As a counterpiece
to the radial rib 72, the stop 77 is also equipped with a front and
a rear radial stop face which, however, on the stop side only
include an angle of 60.degree. between them. It becomes clear from
FIGS. 2f and 2g, in which the cutting unit 60 is shown in section
in the area of the annular gap 76, how the dimensioning of the rib
72 and the stop 77 affects the placement of the positions of rest
and operation, or respectively the operating positions of the blade
64 in relation to the first blade 63. In FIG. 2f the blade 64
(represented in dash-dotted lines) is in a operating position which
is pivoted by approximately 180.degree. in relation to the first
blade, and the arrow P indicates the direction of rotation of the
blade during cutting. In the operating position, the rear stop face
79 of the stop 77 rests against the front stop face 73 of the
radial rib 72 and prevents the pivoting of the second blade 64
opposite the working direction P. However, the second blade 64 can
be pivoted in the working direction around the support shaft into a
position of rest of 0.degree., in which the second blade 64 comes
to lie above the first blade 63. As represented in FIG. 2g, the
front stop face 78 of the stop 77 rests against the rear stop face
74 of the radial rib 72 and prevents the further pivoting of the
first blade in the working direction past the position of rest.
[0099] While, in the embodiment represented, the relative
pivotability of the cutters in respect to the blades in relation to
each other is predetermined and limited by the stops arranged on
the blade holders, in further embodiment versions these means can
also be arranged on a blade holder and a common shaft. Thus, the
pivot movement can also be limited by an inward projecting radial
pin of the blade holder, for example, which engages a radial groove
in the support shaft, which extends over 189.degree.. For example,
in embodiments with two or more movable blades, the radial grooves
correspondingly extend over 120.degree. and 240.degree. (in case of
two movable blades and operating positions in the 120.degree. and
240.degree. positions relative to the stationary blade) or, for
example, over 90.degree., 180.degree., 240.degree. (in case of
three movable blades and operating positions in the 90.degree.,
180.degree., 240.degree. positions relative to the stationary
blade). An advantage of the embodiment of the processing unit
represented in FIG. 2 lies in that the design of the stops allows
the simple plug-in of the cutting unit in the axial direction.
[0100] In preferred types of embodiment, the blades, which are
preferably made of stainless steel, for example hardened AISI 420
of a service hardness of 48-50 HRC, and are ground to form a
cutting edge on one side, are extrusion-coated at the base in the
course of the blade holders being produced by means of extrusion
technology. Preferably, all further components of the device, with
the exclusion of the cutting degree indicator and the cord, are
made from plastics, such as SAN (styrene acrylonitrile), POM
(polyoxy-methyline) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), by
an extrusion process, wherein those parts which come into contact
with the foodstuffs to be processed, are of course approved for use
with foodstuffs.
[0101] Since the blades are equipped with cutting edges only at
their front edges, for filling the container for the material to be
cut the second and every other blade can be manually pivoted by the
user into the position of rest without problems and without any
danger of injury. In this position of rest, such as represented in
FIG. 2e by means of the dash-dotted second blade, the upper
deflector 51 and both blades are placed on top of each other. If
the blades and the upper deflection wing are arranged in the same
radial position on top of each other, the entire remaining interior
space of the container 30 for the material to be cut is available
for simple filling.
[0102] While only forms of embodiment with cutters, each having a
blade which radially projects approximately at right angles in
regard to the processing axis A, are represented in the drawing
figures, the idea of the invention can also be employed in actual
use with cutters having more than one blade. In such an embodiment
with a stationary and a pivotably moved cutter, two blades are
arranged on each blade holder and are located opposite each other,
so that in the position of rest respectively one blade of each
cutter is in a 0.degree. and one in a 180.degree. position, and the
blades of the movable cutter can be pivoted into operating
positions in a 90.degree. and 240.degree. position. In connection
with further possible forms of embodiment, a lower stationary blade
holder, for example, is provided with more than one blade, which is
arranged with only a little spacing from the container bottom,
while second and or further movable blade holders, each with only
one blade, are arranged axially spaced apart above the stationary
blades. If the movable blades have been pivoted into a mutual
radial position of rest, with such a construction there is still a
lot of volume of the container for material to be cut available for
filling. Although only blades have been described in the above
description as the representation of different processing means,
the corresponding technical teaching can also be applied to
processing units with further processing means, such as blunt
pureeing bars, peeling fingers or stirring rods.
[0103] In preferred manually operated types of embodiment of the
devices in accordance with the instant invention the diameter of
the container for the material to be cut lies between 120 and 140
mm at a height of 70 to 90 mm. With the known devices of the same
species, the stationary cutter blades hamper the introduction of
material to be cut and force the user to first cut the material to
be processed with a knife. Since the processing means of the
devices in accordance with the instant invention can be arranged in
a space-saving manner in a common position of rest and the lower
deflector 50, arranged closely above the bottom, hardly takes up
space, the usable free interior space of the container for the
material to be cut is only restricted by the central shaft. In
connection with the small, manually operated devices it is
therefore already possible to insert whole onions, kohlrabi or
fennel tubers. The fact that this material to be cut can actually
be processed represents a further substantial advantage of the
instant invention. The pivotably-movable seating of at least one
cutter blade results in the amount of force required at the start
of each cutting movement being considerably reduced. When the
cutting unit is first operated after the container 30 for material
to be cut has been filled, the lowermost blade 63, which is
stationarily arranged on the blade holder 65 of the first cutter
61, cuts as soon as it encounters the material to be cut. The
second blade 64, axially offset in the direction of the processing
axis A and pivotably seated, also encounters the material to be
cut, but because of the inertia of the material to be cut in
relation to the support shaft 67, it is pivoted out of its position
of rest into the operating position. In this phase the second blade
64 does not change its position in regard to the container for the
material to be cut and only starts to rotate once the operating
position has been reached, i.e. as soon as the first stationary
blade 63 has performed half a rotation in the container 30 for the
material to be cut. As soon as the operating position has been
reached, the stops 72, 77 prevent the further pivoting of the
movable cutter 62, and the blade 64 is suddenly put into motion in
the direction P of rotation and cuts the material to be cut resting
against it, again aided by its inertia. In the starting phase the
initial force requirement by the user of this device 1 is
considerably reduced by means of the pivotable seating of the
second blade on the support shaft, since not all blades need to be
cutting at the same time.
[0104] Only exemplary embodiments having a stationary and a
pivotable processing means (a blade in the example) are described
in the above mentioned examples and represented in the drawings.
The basic principle of the novel mechanical cutting device
explained in this way can now be easily transferred by one skilled
in the art to a multitude of further devices without deviating from
the basic principle of the invention. Preferably, it is possible to
produce devices with one stationary blade and two blades which are
arranged pivotably movable on a support shaft, in which the blades
are preferably spaced apart from each other in the axial direction
and are located in the operating position arranged at angular
positions of, for example, 0.degree., 120.degree. and 240.degree.
around the support shaft. In accordance with the instant invention
it is analogously possible to produce devices with four cutters in
the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. positions,
for example, in which case it is possible to operate with one
stationary and three pivotably movable, or two stationary and two
pivotably movable blades.
[0105] A device 100 with three cutters 161, 162, 163 and an upper
deflector 151 in accordance with a further preferred embodiment is
represented in FIG. 12 in longitudinal section, in which the
processing unit 160, designed as a cutting unit 160, is itself not
represented in section, but partially transparent. As previously
described, the cutters 161, 162, 163 are arranged around the
processing axis A in the operating position in 0.degree.,
120.degree. and 240.degree. positions, in which the blade of the
lowermost cutter is arranged in the same angular position as the
upper deflection wing 152. For making the vertical spacing of the
blades in relation to each other and to the deflectors 50', 151
clear, the blades have been represented in FIGS. 11 and 12 in
respectively facing 0.degree. and 180.degree. positions.
[0106] As can be clearly seen in the overview of FIG. 10a, the
upper deflection wing 152 is arranged, bent at right angles, on the
holder 153, so that it is guided along closely underneath and
substantially parallel in respect to an underside 129 of the bottom
121 of the top part 102.
[0107] The structure of the cutting unit 160 as represented in FIG.
11, corresponds in principle to the already previously described
cutting unit 60 which, however, is only comprised of one cutter 162
arranged in a pivotably movable manner on the support shaft 167. In
the preferred exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 7 to 11, two movable
cutters 162, 163 (FIGS. 8 and 9) are provided on a support shaft
167 of a first stationary cutter 161 (FIG. 7). The design of the
first stationary cutter substantially corresponds to the design of
the previously described and represented cutter 61.
[0108] This agreement is advantageous, since the first stationary
cutter 61 can be employed in this manner for both embodiments of
the device 1, 100 in accordance with the invention. The second
movable cutter 162 substantially corresponds to the first movable
cutter 62 of the cutting unit 60, and the lower deflector 50 can
also be employed in both forms of embodiment of the cutting unit
60, 160. Since the structural height of the cutting unit 150 up to
the upper drive cam 169 does not substantially differ from that of
the cutting unit 60, the structural height of the holder 153 of the
upper deflector 151 (FIG. 10) in comparison to that of the holder
52 of the deflector 51 is reduced by the height of the first
movable cutter 162 (FIG. 8). Again, the means 172, 177, which limit
the pivoting mobility of the first and second movable cutters 162,
163 relative to each other and relative to the first stationary
cutter 163, are clearly visible in the views in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.
In order to make clear their effects in the embodiment with three
cutters, the three cutters 161, 162, 163 are represented
side-by-side in their respective relative angular position of an
operating position in the views from above and from below in FIGS.
7b to 9b and 7c to 9c. Again the radial rib 172 extends at the top
of the cutter holder 165 over an angle .alpha. of 120.degree. and
works together with a stop 177, which extends at an angle .beta. of
120.degree. on the underside of the cutter holder 166 of the first
movable cutter 162, so that the blade of the latter is pivotable
opposite the direction P of rotation of the cutting unit 160 by
120.degree. around the processing axis A, then contacts it and is
maintained in this 120.degree. operating position for cutting in
the course of the continued rotation. A radial rib 170, which
extends on the top of the cutter holder 166 of the first movable
cutter 162 over an angle .beta. of 120.degree., works together
analogously with a stop 178, which extends at an angle x of
60.degree. on the underside of the cutter holder 168 of the third
movable cutter 163 and permits its pivoting, again over 120.degree.
around the processing axis A. Since the two pivot angles of the
first and second movable cutter are added together, in relation to
the lowermost stationary cutter the second movable cutter can be
pivoted from a position of rest into a operating position of a
total of 240.degree. around the processing axis A. Since the upper
deflector 151 is arranged, fixed against relative rotation, on the
support shaft 167, the deflector wing 152 is located exactly above
the blade of the stationary cutter 161.
[0109] FIGS. 13 to 17 illustrate a further preferred form of
embodiment of a as cutting unit 260 with three cutters 261, 262,
263, in which the second cutter 262 and the third cutter 263 are
each pivotable by means of a transition piece 264 over a total of
480.degree. in respect to the cutter 261, 262 located underneath in
the direction of the processing axis A. This form of embodiment has
proven itself to be particularly suitable if very hard foodstuffs,
for example hard vegetables, are to be comminuted. It is made
possible in this way that in the course of the first actuation of
the cutting unit 260 the full force acts for more than one full
revolution only on the first cutter 261 and the second and third
cutter 262, 263 are held back because of the inertia of the
material to be cut. The second cutter 262 is employed only after
more than one revolution, for example over 480.degree..
Accordingly, the third cutter 263 is put actively into rotation
after, for example another 480.degree., i.e. after 960.degree., in
relation to the first cutter 261. FIG. 13a shows the cutting unit
260 in a lateral view with the lower deflector being omitted. FIG.
13b shows the cutting unit 260 in a view from above with the blades
in the operating position and spaced apart from each other. The
angle .phi. of approximately 120.degree. drawn in FIG. 13b
illustrates, in a view from above, the relative angular position of
the blades 164' and 252 to each other, which they assume in their
respective operating position. However, to arrive in this position
the blade 164' is pivoted over 120.degree. plus a full revolution
of 360.degree., i.e. a total of 480.degree., in relation to the
blade 252.
[0110] The cutting unit 260 is designed in such a way that a
transition piece 264, a second cutter 262, again a transition piece
264, a third cutter 163 and finally an upper deflector 251 are
placed on the first cutter 261 with its support shaft 267. For
example, the upper deflector 251 is functionally connected with the
support shaft in a manner fixed against relative rotation and fixed
in place in the axial direction by means of a cotter pin 253.
[0111] A preferred embodiment form of a first cutter 261 of a
cutting unit 260 in accordance with FIG. 13 is represented in FIGS.
14a to 14c. FIG. 14a shows the first cutter 261 in a lateral view,
FIG. 14b in a view from above and 14c in a view from below. The
upper annular gap 276 in the form of segment of a circle with an
upper stop 277 can be clearly discerned in FIG. 14b. This annular
gap 276 and the upper stop 277 in the form of segment of a circle,
which extends over an angle .tau. of approximately 30.degree., work
together with a lower radial rib 278 of the transition piece 264 in
FIG. 17, which extends over an angle .mu. of also 30.degree. at the
underside of the transition piece.
[0112] FIGS. 15a to 15c show a second cutter 262 of the cutting
unit 260 in accordance with FIG. 13, again in a lateral view, a
view from above and a view from below. As can be seen in FIG. 15c,
on its underside the second cutter 262 has a lower annular gap 279
with a lower stop 280 at an angle .lamda. of 60.degree., both of
which act together with an upper radial rib 278' of a transition
piece 264 in accordance with FIG. 17 at an angle .sigma. of
60.degree.. An upper annular gap 276' with an upper stop 277'
similar to the annular gap 276 and the stop 277 of the first cutter
261, which in turn work together with the lower radial lip 278 of a
transition piece 264, is embodied on the upper side of the second
cutter.
[0113] FIGS. 16a to 16c show, in a lateral view, a view from above
and a view from below, a third cutter 263 with a cutting unit 260
in accordance with FIG. 13. Again, a lower annular gap 279' and a
lower stop 280' are embodied on the bottom of this cutter 263 and
work together with an upper radial rib 278' of the transition piece
264.
[0114] A transition piece 264 of the cutting unit 260 in accordance
with FIG. 13 is represented in FIGS. 17a to 17c, wherein FIG. 17a
shows the transition piece 264 in a lateral view, FIG. 17b in a
view from above and FIG. 17c in a view from below. The transition
piece 264 substantially consists of a disk-shaped base 265 with
radial ribs 278 and 278' attached to the upper and lower side and
is preferably made of the same material from which the holders of
the cutters 261, 362, 263 are made.
[0115] The first cutter 261 of the cutting unit 260 is directly
driven in the known manner described above via its drive cam 269
directly by the drive unit 10, 10'. Now, a transition piece 264 is
inserted between the first cutter 261 and the second cutter 262 in
such a way that the respective radial ribs 278 and 278' of the
transition piece enter into the appropriate annular gaps 276 and
279 of the cutters 261, 262 and work together with the appropriate
stops 278 and 280. It has been shown to be advantageous that the
second cutter 262 only starts to operate, or respectively rotates
along, after a rotation over 480.degree. of the first cutter 261
around the processing axis A. In a preferred embodiment form this
free rotation is evenly distributed between the first cutter 261
and the transition piece 264, as well as between the transition
piece 264 and the second cutter 262. The rotation over a pivot
angle of 240.degree. around the processing axis A between the first
cutter 261 and the transition piece 264 can be realized in that the
upper stop 277 and the lower radial lip 278 each extend over an
angle of 60.degree..
[0116] The rotation between the transition piece 264 and the second
cutter 262 can be identically realized. It is of course conceivable
that the pivot angle for free pivoting of the second cutter in
respect to the first cutter can be arbitrarily set by matching the
size of the radial ribs and the corresponding annular gap, as well
as by the insertion of further transition pieces, if necessary.
[0117] A transition piece 264 is also inserted in the same manner
between the second cutter 262 and the third cutter 263, so that the
third cutter 263 also is given a limited freedom of movement in
relation to the second cutter 262. Here, too, pivoting freedom over
a pivot angle of 480.degree. has proven to be advantageous and can
be attained in the same way as described above.
[0118] The pivot angle for free pivoting of the second and third
cutters can be arbitrarily set by matching the size of the radial
ribs and the corresponding annular gap, as well as by insertion of
further transition pieces, if necessary. The distribution of the
angles of rotation, or respectively the angular relationship
between the radial rib and the stop can be differently designed. It
is understood that such variations are possible without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
[0119] Since the inertia of the material to be processed, for
example of the material to be cut, acts on the whole portions of
the material to be cut as well as on the portions already
comminuted by the processing means, so that they are more likely to
stay in the vicinity of the bottom 31 of the processing container
30, 130 than near the base 21, 21', 121 of the top part 2, 2', 102,
the processing means, in particular the blades 63'', 164',
262--viewed in the direction of the processing axis A--are arranged
nearer to the lower end of the processing unit 260 than to the
oppositely located upper end 269 of the processing unit 260.
[0120] In further preferred embodiments it is also possible to
arrange more than one blade in one blade holder, wherein these can
again be positioned in the same angular position or offset from
each other on the same angled holder. The geometry of the blades
and their angle of attack at the blade holder will also be varied
and optimized for the respective use. Since the cutting insert 60
of the devices in accordance with the invention can be easily
changed, it has been shown to be advantageous to offer different
cutting or processing units. Besides the already described cutting
units for cutting vegetables and fruit, nuts or chocolate, it is
also possible to employ and offer those with very narrow thin
blades for cutting herbs, and those with solid blades and serrated
cutting edges for crushing ice.
[0121] In place of blades, finger-shaped processing means are
employed for peeling onions and/or garlic, such as are known from
devices in accordance with the species. Processing units for
cutting and for squeezing are combined with each other in one unit
for processing of soft or pre-cooked vegetables and/or fruit, in
particular for preparing food for small children and babies.
[0122] The devices in accordance with the invention can be employed
in many ways in the kitchen or household with further inserts which
are arranged in the lower part in place of the cutting insert and
can be put into rotation by means of the drive unit, for example a
basket for centrifuging herbs, an S-shaped mixing arm, or a beater
for frothing milk.
[0123] The processing container designed as a container for
material to be cut which, in embodiments described up to now, had
been shown to be substantially rotationally round and with its
diameter tapering downward, can be simply exchanged and adapted to
the respective purpose of use. The container for the material to be
processed and containing the finished processed material can be
closed off by a separate cover and stored. To this end the cutting
insert or other processing insert is removed. With a second
container for material to be cut the device in accordance with the
invention is again ready for use.
[0124] In accordance with preferred embodiments, such as
represented in the drawing figures, the bottom of the container for
the material to be cut has a central, upwardly projecting bearing
journal. The cylindrical journal is used as an abutment for the
shaft with the processing means and is provided with a
corresponding cylindrical cutout for receiving the bearing journal.
Without departing from the idea of the invention, the bottom of the
container for the material to be cut, or processing container, can
also be provided with a reception opening, into which a
corresponding journal on the shaft, or the shaft itself, can be
introduced.
[0125] Because the shaft is preferably seated at both ends, the
stability of the structure is decisively increased, and the volume
of the container for the material to be cut, or processing
container, and therefore the amount of fill which can be
effectively processed, can be substantially increased in comparison
with known small manual devices.
[0126] In accordance with further forms of embodiment of the
invention, the lower seating of the shaft is omitted, so that the
container for the material to be cut, or processing container, need
not have a journal or other means for seating the shaft. In this
case the upper seating of the processing or cutting unit is
designed in such a way that the processing or cutting unit can be
releasably fastened, torque proof and solidly in the axial
direction on the corresponding means of the engagement member. This
can be accomplished by means of the known bayonet coupling, for
example.
[0127] A lateral view, a view from below and above of an upper
deflector 251 in accordance with FIG. 13, and a sectional view
along the line B-B in FIG. 18b are respectively shown in FIGS. 18a
to 18d. Differing from the deflector represented in FIG. 4, a
deflector wing of the deflector 251 represented in FIG. 13 is
displaced in the direction of the processing axis A further in the
direction of the upper end, or respectively the drive cam 269, so
that some kind of a knee is created (see FIG. 18c). By such an
arrangement of the deflector wing 256 it is possible to achieve
that, when employing this cutting unit 260 in a device 10, 10', a
dead zone in respect to the effective area between the upper
deflector wing 256 and the underside of the cover base 21, 21', 121
is further reduced. Because of this, a lesser amount of processed
material sticks to the underside of the cover base and instead is
returned into the effective range of the processing means--in this
form of embodiment the processing unit 260 of the blades 163', 164'
and 252--. In this form of embodiment of the upper deflector 251, a
horizontal segment 257 and a deflector segment 258 are designed
similar to those in FIG. 4b. An angle of inclination .tau. between
the horizontal segment 257 and the deflector segment 258 is
represented in FIG. 18d at approximately 30.degree.. The angle of
inclination .tau. lies between 0.degree. and 90.degree., preferably
between 10.degree. and 60.degree., in accordance with FIG. 18d at
approximately 30.degree..
[0128] As suggested in FIGS. 1 and 6, the device in accordance with
the instant invention is driven manually, for example by a cord
pull. The length of the cord pull has been selected to be 400 to
750 mm, preferably 600 mm, in such a way that, with a corresponding
diameter of the winder, the winder rotates 3 to 6 times, preferably
4 to 5 times, per pull (until complete unwinding). While in the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 the rotating movement of the cord
winder is transmitted 1:1 to the cutting unit, a device 1' with a
drive unit 10' with a gear is represented in FIGS. 6a and 6b. The
cord roll or winder 12' is seated on a shaft 9', which extends
eccentrically in respect to the device axis, or processing axis A
and is arranged on the cover, and is manufactured in one piece with
a spring housing 7' located above it and a drive wheel 14' located
below it. The eccentrically arranged drive wheel 14' is provided
with internal teeth 15', which mesh with the external teeth 16' of
an axial wheel 17', which is seated concentrically on the top part
2'. The gear ratio in the exemplary embodiment represented is
1:1.8, and a gear ratio of up to 1:4 has proven itself to be
advantageous. The axial wheel 17' is seated on a generator wheel
18', which is considerably larger in diameter than the axial wheel
and via external teeth drives a running wheel 44' with a large gear
ratio of, for example 1:15, of a generator 45' peripherally
arranged in the top part. The generator 45' supplies an electronic
unit 47' and a display unit 40' attached to the cover with
electrical current, but the respective current-carrying lines are
not represented in the drawings. Preferably the electronic unit
including the generator is arranged on a base plate 46', which can
be fastened on appropriate nipples at the bottom 29' of the base
21'. For simpler embodiment forms of the device without a cutting
degree indicator, the base plate of the generator and the
electronic unit are simply omitted during production, and the
reception opening for the display unit is closed off by means of an
appropriate insert. Thus, both device variations can be produced by
use of the same injection molding parts, which has a quite
advantageous effect on production costs.
[0129] The electronic unit 47' and the display unit 40' are
components of a cutting degree indicator which, in accordance with
the instant invention, makes it simple even for untrained users to
obtain cut material of an ideal cutting degree. The display unit
40' is arranged in a cutout in the cover 20', as shown in FIGS. 6b
and 6e, for example, and can be easily viewed by the user. The
position above the cutout for the handle 11' has shown itself to be
advantageous, since in use it remains facing the user and is not
covered by the hand of the user with which the device is held.
[0130] The cutting degree indicator, in particular its display unit
40', is advantageously constructed in a very simple manner and can
be intuitively understood by the user without further instruction.
Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6e, a display unit
in the form of three light-emitting diodes 41', 42', 43' has been
inserted, easily visible to the user, into the cover. The three
LED's in the colors green, yellow and red are arranged in a line
next to each other. For detecting the number of revolutions of the
processing unit, for example the cutting unit 60' and therefore of
the blades 61', 62', the number of revolutions of the running wheel
is detected by the electronic device and stored intermediately. As
soon as the intermediately stored value exceeds a preselected value
(for example five blade revolutions), the green LED of the display
is illuminated or blinks. By this it is indicated to the user that,
although the material to be cut has been evenly comminuted, it is
still rather coarse. The green LED is illuminated or blinks,
preferably fed by a capacitor, as long as the cumulative number of
revolutions lies below a preselected value. The cutting unit is
further rotated by further pulls on the cord pull and, after
exceeding MM revolutions, the display unit changes from green to
yellow, i.e. the yellow LED is triggered and the green one switched
off. In this way a signal is provided to the user that now the
material to be cut is finely cut and, after approximately MM
further pulls, the display changes into the red range, i.e. the red
LED is illuminated or blinks instead of the yellow one. In this way
the user is provided with the information that the material to be
cut is now present in a very finely comminuted way and further
processing would only result in finely pureed cut material. In
accordance with a preferred embodiment, the green LED is active
between 0 to 7 revolutions, the yellow one between 8 and 14, and
the red one starting at 15.
[0131] It is alternatively also possible to select the sequence
yellow, green and red of the LED colors, so that still rough
material to be cut is signaled by yellow to the user, finer
material to be cut by the green LED and very fine cut material, or
puree, by red light. In a further form of embodiment, a
low-consumption LCD display is provided in place of the LEDs, in
which the increasing fineness of the material to be cut, or further
processing progress, is symbolized by increasing bars, for
example.
[0132] Since it is not desired to provide the device for foodstuff
processing with a battery, the electrical current required for
operating the electronic cutting degree indicator is preferably
generated by the above mentioned generator, which is operated by
means of the rotating movement during cutting or processing. The
voltage provided by the generator is rectified and is used for
charging of a storage capacitor. The downstream connected
electronic device and the display unit are provided with energy
from this storage capacitor. The electrical current consumption by
the electronic device and the display unit is so low that the user
practically does not notice the mechanical resistance generated by
the dynamo. To further reduce the electrical current consumption it
is possible to operate the LEDs in a blinking mode.
[0133] In order to be able to omit additional operating elements
and components connected therewith, the electronic device switches
off the display a few seconds after the stop of the drive unit and
returns the counter to zero.
[0134] After the desired degree of fineness has been reached, the
user stops the drive mechanism and the cord is rewound by means of
the pre-wound spring until the handle comes to rest again in the
position of rest provided on the cover. The top part can be removed
from the container for the material to be cut, and the finished
material can be removed or stored in the container.
[0135] The technical teaching in regard to the cutting degree
indicator can also be advantageously transferred to other manually
operated kitchen utensils in which a desired degree of processing
is correlated with a defined number of processing steps, preferably
with revolutions of a drive or processing unit.
[0136] In the course of extensive tests it has been shown to be
extremely advantageous for achieving a homogeneous cutting result
to attach deflectors 50, 51 below and/or above the blades, which
cause the material to be cut to be flung again and again within the
range of the cutter blades. As represented in the exemplary
embodiment of FIGS. 1, 6 and 12, a lower 50, 50' and an upper
deflector 51, 151 are preferably provided for the novel cutting
device, wherein, as already previously described, the upper
deflector is preferably arranged in the same radial angular
position as the stationary blade, and the lower deflector is
mounted in a 180.degree. position located opposite the stationary
blade.
[0137] Upper deflectors 51, 151 (FIGS. 4, 10) and a lower deflector
50 (FIG. 5) are represented in FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, which are
preferably employed in the device in accordance with FIG. 1. While
the upper deflector 51, 151 is preferably fixedly connected with
the support shaft 167, a ring 59 of the lower deflector 50 has been
attached, in positive manner and fixed against relative rotation to
the bottom of the blade holder 65. The radially projecting
deflector wing 56, 156 includes, viewed in the direction P of
rotation, a front horizontal segment 57, 157 and a successive
deflector segment 58, projecting upward at an angle. Material to be
cut, which impinges on the radially rotating deflector segments 58,
58' 158, is flung upward by it into the active area of the blades,
which has an extremely positive effect on the cutting result, in
particular in connection with light materials to be cut, such as
parsley or other herbs. The upper deflector wing 51, 151 acts
analogously to this by again flinging the material to be cut, which
had been flung upward, with its deflector segment 58', 158 downward
into the area of the cutters, respectively the blades. The upper
deflection wing prevents that still coarse pieces of the material
to be cut "remain" between the upper blade and below the inner
bottom of the top part, or adhere there. This might be possible,
since the material to be cut is given buoyancy as a result of the
high rate of rotation of the cutting unit and therefore "remains"
outside of the vertical cutting range defined by the blades. The
upper deflection wing prevents this by returning these not yet
comminuted pieces back into the cutting range and by means of this
sees to a substantially more regular material to be cut.
[0138] The lower deflection wing acts as a buoyancy wing. It
assists in seeing that lightweight material to be cut, i.e. herbs,
leaves, etc., do not adhere to the bottom of the container, in
particular if these are processed while moist. The material to be
cut is constantly transported upward again into the cutting range
by constant buoyancy. Therefore the lower deflector is not fixedly
connected with the support shaft, but instead is placed by the user
on the support shaft below the lowermost stationary cutter blade
when required.
[0139] In tests with devices of the same species with rotating
cutting units with stationary blades, the above described
deflectors in accordance with the invention have affected the
cutting results in an extremely positive manner. The processing or
cutting units, which rotate around a vertical axis of rotation, of
known devices with manual or electric drive mechanisms can be
provided with a lower and/or upper deflector, which are arranged
releasably or fixed in place on suitable parts of the cutting
units.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0140] 1, 1', 100 Device [0141] 2, 2',102 Top part [0142] 3, 103
Lower part [0143] 5 Recess for handle [0144] 6 Feed-through opening
[0145] 7, 7' Spring housing [0146] 8, 8' Cover shaft [0147] 9'
Eccentric shaft [0148] 10, 10' Drive unit [0149] 11' Handle [0150]
12, 12' Winder/cord roll [0151] 13' Opening [0152] 14' Drive wheel
[0153] 15' Internal teeth [0154] 16' External teeth [0155] 17'
Axial wheel [0156] 18' Generator wheel [0157] 19' Axial wheel hub
[0158] 20, 20' Cover [0159] 21, 21', 121 Base [0160] 22, 22'
Coupling (male portion) [0161] 23, 23' Engagement member [0162] 24'
Drive cam [0163] 25' Bearing cup [0164] 26' Bearing journal [0165]
27' Bearing washers [0166] 28, 28' Lateral wall base [0167] 29',
129 Bottom base [0168] 30, 130 Processing container [0169] 31
Bottom [0170] 32, 32' Lateral wall [0171] 33, 33' Bearing journal
[0172] 34, 34' Rib [0173] 35' Slipping guard [0174] 40' Display
unit [0175] 41' First LED [0176] 42' Second LED [0177] 43' Third
LED [0178] 44, 44' Running wheel [0179] 45' Generator [0180] 46,
46' Base plate [0181] 47, 47' Electronic unit [0182] 50, 50' Lower
deflector [0183] 51,51,151,251 Upper deflector [0184] 52, 52'
Holder [0185] 53, 53' 253 Cotter pin [0186] 54, 54' Plug-in opening
[0187] 55, 55' Cotter pin hole [0188] 56,56',156,256 Deflector wing
[0189] 57,57',157,257 Horizontal segment [0190] 58,58',158,258
Deflector segments [0191] 59 Ring [0192] 60, 160, 260 Processing
unit [0193] 61,61',161,261 First cutter [0194] 62,62',162,262
Second cutter, first movable cutter [0195] 63, 63', 63'' First
blade [0196] 64,64',164,146' Second blade [0197] 65, 65', 165 First
blade holder [0198] 66, 66', 166 Second blade holder [0199]
67,67',167,267 Support shaft [0200] 68 Cotter pin hole [0201] 69,
169, 269 Drive cam [0202] 70, 70' Bearing opening [0203] 71, 71',
171 Reception opening [0204] 72, 172 Radial rib [0205] 73 Front
stop face [0206] 74 Rear stop face [0207] 75 Apron [0208] 76
Annular gap [0209] 77, 177 Stop [0210] 78 Front stop face [0211] 79
Rear stop face [0212] 153 Holder [0213] 163, 263 Third cutter,
second movable cutter [0214] 252 Third blade [0215] 264 Transition
piece [0216] 265 Base [0217] 168 Holder [0218] 170 Radial rib
[0219] 178 Stop [0220] 276, 276' Upper annular gap [0221] 277, 277'
Upper stop [0222] 278, 278' Radial rib [0223] 279, 279' Lower
annular gap [0224] 280, 280' Lower stop
* * * * *