EP1919675B1 - Apparatus for chopping up food - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for chopping up food, in particular a grinder, having a housing (1) and a plunger (3), which is displaceably guided in the housing (1) and has a chopping tool (2), is designed and developed in such a way that, with a view to storing and transporting said apparatus in a space-saving manner, the plunger (3) can be locked in a position which can be prescribed in relation to the housing (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for mincing foodstuffs, in particular hackers, with a housing and a plunger displaceably guided in the housing and having a comminution tool.

A device of the type mentioned is, for example, from the EP 1 027 966 A1 known. In the known device, the housing has an additional removable lower part which sits on a shell for receiving the material to be cut. For crushing food, the device with the housing, the lower part and the shell is placed on a support. Then, the plunger is inserted by hand down into the housing, wherein arranged on the plunger cutting tools cause comminution of arranged on the shell food. The plunger is spring biased relative to the housing so that it rests in the unactuated state at the upper end of the housing. That is, after a crushing operation by pressing down the plunger this moves automatically due to the spring bias back up and away from the material to be cut.

In the known device is problematic that the device with the housing and the top of the housing abutting the plunger in the unactuated state assumes a relatively large volume. This requires a large volume or a large space both during transportation and storage of the device. This is extremely impractical.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, such a device for mincing food of the type mentioned in such a way and further develop that a space-saving storage and a space-saving transport are realized with simple design means.

According to the invention the above object is achieved by a device for mincing food with the features of claim 1. Thereafter, the device is configured and further developed such that the plunger can be locked in a position predeterminable relative to the housing.

The present invention relates to a device for mincing foodstuffs, in particular hackers, with a housing and a plunger displaceably guided in the housing and having a comminution tool.

A device of the type mentioned is, for example, from the EP 1 027 966 A1 known. In the known device, the housing has an additional removable lower part which sits on a shell for receiving the material to be cut. For crushing food, the device with the housing, the lower part and the shell is placed on a support. Then, the plunger is inserted by hand down into the housing, wherein arranged on the plunger cutting tools cause comminution of arranged on the shell food. The plunger is spring biased relative to the housing so that it rests in the unactuated state at the upper end of the housing. That is, after a crushing operation by pressing down the plunger this moves automatically due to the spring bias back up and away from the material to be cut.

In the known device is problematic that the device with the housing and the top of the housing abutting the plunger in the unactuated state assumes a relatively large volume. This requires a large volume or a large space both during transportation and storage of the device. This is extremely impractical.

Out DE 197 47 007 A1 which represents the closest prior art, a cutting device for mincing food is known, which has a locking member with which the knife carrier is locked in a depressed position.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, a device for mincing food of the type mentioned in such a way and further, that a simplified and improved locking is possible.

According to the invention the above object is achieved by a device for mincing food with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention it has been recognized that by suitable choice of a locking position of the plunger relative to the housing, the above task aufraachse provided. This twisting movement, also referred to as a twist, ensures a particularly effective comminution of the material to be cut. In a structurally particularly simple and effective way, the housing could now be assigned a guiding and deflecting mechanism with locking means. This guide and deflection mechanism, which is responsible for the guidance and deflection or rotation of the plunger during insertion of the plunger into the housing, could additionally allow the locking of the plunger in the desired position.

Specifically, the guiding and deflecting mechanism could have a deflecting part associated with the plunger, which interacts with a corresponding swirl region of the guiding and deflecting mechanism assigned to the housing. Deflection part and swirl area cause the rotation of the plunger about the displacement axis.

The locking means could have in a particularly simple manner at least one locking lug and / or a spring tongue. The locking lug and / or the spring tongue could be assigned to the deflecting part in a further structurally particularly simple manner.

On the other hand, the locking means could have at least one clearance or latching recess for locking. Such clearances or recesses could then cooperate with the above-mentioned locking lugs or spring tongues for locking.

In a further structurally particularly simple and effective manner, the franking or recess, which could in principle be associated with the swirl region, could be associated with a delivery or insertion bevel at the end of the swirl region of the guide and deflection mechanism. This ensures that a detent or spring tongue arrives particularly secure in the franking or recess to ensure the desired locking.

In order to limit the locking operation, for example by means of a rotation, the locking means could have a stop which could limit such a rotational movement.

In the presence of a swirl region of the guiding and deflecting mechanism, the locking could thus take place, as it were, by continuing the rotational movement of the ram caused by the swirl region beyond the working region. As a result, a particularly simple and effective locking of the plunger is ensured relative to the housing. Maximum space savings are guaranteed.

In a structurally further particularly simple embodiment, the locking means could be designed according to a ball-point locking mechanism. Any configurations are possible.

It should be noted that the inventive design of a lock for the plunger in a housing of a device for mincing food does not affect the function of the device under any circumstances. Rather, the device according to the invention has an effective additional design that significantly improves the practical use of the device.

If the locking takes place in the apparatus according to the invention by a rotary movement of the plunger relative to the housing, the lock can be solved in a simple manner by an opposite rotation.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen und geschnittenen Seitenansicht ein Ausfüh- rungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Zerkleinern von Lebensmitteln mit maximal ausgefahrenem Stößel,

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen und geschnittenen Seitenansicht das Ausfüh- rungsbeispiel aus Fig. 1 mit derart eingefahrenem Stößel, dass das Zerkleinerungswerkzeug auf einer Arbeitsplatte aufliegt,

Fig. 3

in einer schematischen und geschnittenen Seitenansicht das Ausfüh- rungsbeispiel aus Fig. 1, wobei der Stößel derart über den Arbeitsbe- reich weiter hinaus eingeschoben ist, dass er in die Arretierungsposi- tion gebracht ist,

Fig. 4

in einer perspektivischen Seitenansicht das Umlenkteil des Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 5

in einer perspektivischen Seitenansicht den Drallbereich des Ausfüh- rungsbeispiels,

Fig. 6

in einer Draufsicht und in einer entlang der Linie A-A geschnittenen Seitenansicht den Drallbereich des Ausführungsbeispiels und

Fig. 7

in einer Seitenansicht, in einer Unteransicht sowie in einer entlang der Linie B-B geschnittenen Seitenansicht den Drallbereich des Ausfüh- rungsbeispiels.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand to the subordinate claims, on the other hand, to refer to the following explanation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are explained. In the drawing show

Fig. 1

in a schematic and sectional side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food with maximum extended ram,

Fig. 2

in a schematic and sectional side view of the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 with such a tappet retracted that the crushing tool rests on a worktop,

Fig. 3

in a schematic and sectional side view of the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 wherein the plunger is inserted further beyond the working area such that it is brought into the locking position,

Fig. 4

in a perspective side view of the deflection part of the embodiment,

Fig. 5

in a perspective side view of the swirl region of the exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 6

in a plan view and in a sectional side view along the line AA the swirl region of the embodiment and

Fig. 7

in a side view, in a bottom view and in a cut along the line BB side view of the swirl region of the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a sectional and schematic side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for comminuting food, wherein the device is formed by a hacker. The device comprises a housing 1 and a plunger 3 which is displaceably guided in the housing 1 and has a comminution tool 2. With regard to a particularly space-saving storage and with regard to a particularly space-saving transport of the plunger 3 can be locked in a position relative to the housing 1 position.

The device is arranged on a worktop 4, this represents the usual operating position of the device. The plunger 3 is displaceable along a displacement axis 5 to the work surface 4, wherein the plunger 3 by means of a guide and deflecting mechanism 6 in addition to this shift still performs a superimposed rotary motion or swirling motion about the displacement axis 5.

The guide and deflecting mechanism 6 has a plunger 3 associated deflecting part 7, which cooperates with a swirl region 11 of the guide and deflection mechanism 6.

The swirl region 11 has a delivery or insertion bevel 10, which in a clearance 9 for a in Fig. 1 not shown spring tongue 8 of the deflecting part 7 opens.

Furthermore, the housing 1 has a lower part 13 which rests on the worktop 4.

The FIGS. 2 and 3 show in schematic and sectional side views - reduced - the embodiment Fig. 1 with inserted and with the cutting tool 2 resting on the worktop 4 ram 3 and with further inserted plunger 3, so that according to Fig. 3 there is a locking of the plunger 3 in the housing 1. The cutting tool 2 is in the locked state slightly above the lower portion of the housing 1 and the lower part 13 also.

Fig. 4 shows in a perspective side view of the deflecting part 7, in which case the spring tongue 8 is particularly well recognizable.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of the swirl region 11 of the guiding and deflection mechanism 6 with a recognizable attachment or insertion bevel 10 and grooves formed in the inner wall for guiding the deflection part 7.

Fig. 6 shows the component having the swirl region 11 in a plan view and in a sectional view along the line AA. In this case, the spring tongue 8 and a stop 12 for the spring tongue 8 can be seen in plan view. In the sectional view, the deflecting part 7 is arranged in the locking position. The spring tongue 8 is located in the clearance 9.

Fig. 7 shows the component having the swirl region 11 in a side view, in a bottom view and in a sectional view along the line BB.

In this case, the arrival or insertion bevel 10 and the clearance 9 of the swirl region 11 can be seen.

When locking the plunger 3 in the housing 1, the deflecting member 7 is moved beyond its usual working range, so that the cutting tool 2 protrudes slightly at the bottom of the housing 1. As a result, the locking position is formed.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention, reference is made to avoid repetition to the general part of the specification and to the appended claims.

Finally, it should be expressly understood that the above-described embodiment of the device according to the invention is only for the purpose of discussion of the claimed teaching, but this does not limit the embodiment.

Claims (11)

1. A device for the size reduction of foodstuffs, in particular choppers, with a housing (1) and a ram (3) guided in a displaceable manner in the housing (1) and comprising a size-reduction tool (2), wherein the ram (3) can be locked in a position that can be preselected relative to the housing (1) and
   the ram (3) can be displaced from a rest position pretensioned against the housing (1) into a working position, characterised in that the locking can be achieved by a further displacement of the ram (3) beyond this working position
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking can be achieved by rotating the ram (3) about the displacement axis (5) of the ram (3), said displacement axis being defined in the displacement direction.
3. The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a guiding and deflecting mechanism (6) with locking means is assigned to the housing (1).
4. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the guiding and deflecting mechanism (6) comprises a deflecting part (7) assigned to the ram (3).
5. The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the locking means comprise at least one latching nose.
6. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the locking means comprise a spring-loaded tongue (8).
7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the latching nose and/or the spring-loaded tongue (8) are assigned to the deflecting part (7).
8. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the locking means comprise at least one aperture (9) or latching recess for the latching.
9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that a lead-on or lead-in incline (10) at the end of a twisting region (11) of the guiding and deflecting mechanism (6) is assigned to the aperture (9) or latching recess.
10. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the locking means comprise a stop (12).
11. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterised in that the locking means are constituted corresponding to a ballpoint pen locking mechanism.

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