GB1562070A

GB1562070A - Food preparing machine

Info

Publication number: GB1562070A
Application number: GB727078A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 1977-03-04
Filing date: 1978-02-23
Publication date: 1980-03-05
Also published as: DE2809416C3; DE2809416B2; DE2809416A1; SE403693B

Description

(54) FOOD PREPARING MACHINE (71) We, AKTIEBOLAGET ELEC TROLUX, a Swedish joint-stock company, of Luxbacken 1, S-105 45 Stockholm, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a food preparing machine to which various kinds of working implements can be detachably applied and which is designed to be mounted above for example a kitchen table top surface, for example by fastening to a wall, the machine having a casing shrouding an electric motor for driving the tools.

The advantage of such a food preparing machine compared to a conventional machine which is used directly on a table top or other surface, is that the machine is easily accessible and is always available without obstructing other work at the surface. However, previous machines proposed, for example ss disclosed tn Swedish patent sPecification No. 348,639, have not satisfied the requirements for a machine which allows connection of various implements to the machine, and which is simple to handle.

An object of the invention is to reduce these drawbacks and provide a food preparing machine which is simple to handle, requires a minimum of space and can accept a variety of implements as normally used for food preparation.

According to this invention there is provided a food preparing machine for use with detachable implements and for mounting above for example a kitchen work surface, the machine comprising a casing enclosing an electric motor for driving an implement, and at least two arms of which at least one has one or more than one connector driven by the motor, both arms separately being pivotable between a swung-in position, in which each is substantially flush with the casing, and at least one other position, in which each is swung out and projects from the casing, one arm in its swung-out position being above the other arm and wherein one arm is pivotable about a horizontal axis and the other arm is pivotable about a vertical axis.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine in normal idle position, which is also a first operative position, and mounted on a wall; Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the machine in two other operative positions in which it can accept various implements; Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the machine drawn to a reduced scale; Figure 5 is a vertical section on the plane V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a vertical section on the plane VI-VI of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a vertical section on the plane VII-tII of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 4; and Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the plane IX-IX of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a food preparing machine 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a casing 11 with two arms 12 and 13 which can be swung out from the casing. The arm 12 is pivotable about a horizontal axis in the upper part of the casing such that the lower end of the arm can be swung out from the casing. The arm 13 is pivotable about a vertical axis in the lefthand part of the machine such that the right-hand end of the arm can be moved to different positions outside the casing. The arm 12 has a connector 14 which in the position of the arm shown in Figure 1 faces out wards. In use the connector 14 rotates an implement relatively slowly. In the Figure 1 position the connector can accept any one of the implements shown in the lower part of the Figure, in which 15 is a meat mincer, 16 a mincer for raw vegetables, 17 a citrus fruit squeezer, and 18 a can opener.

As seen in Figure 2 the arm 12 can be pivoted to a swung-out horizontal position.

On the outer lower surface of the arm are two adjacent connectors 19 for rotating two beaters 20 relatively rapidly. Another connector 21 in the outer lower surface of the arm 12 has its shaft coinciding with that of the connector 14, and will thus rotate relatively slowly, as will be described below. The connector 21 is designed to receive a dough mixing hook 22. In Figure 2 the arm 13 is also shown in its swung-out position, in which it is at an angle of about 45" to the longitudinal vertical plane of the machine. Also this arm has a comparatively rapidly rotating connector 23 with a vertical shaft. In the outer part of the arm 13 is a bearing in the form of a sleeve 24, which can support a bowl 25. In the outer lower surface of the bowl 25 is a pin 26, which projects perpendicularly downwards.The diameter of the shaft 26 is slightly less than the diameter of the sleeve 24, so that the bowl can be turned easily in the sleeve 24. The bowl 25 has an upper rim with a flange 27 extending outwards for engagement with a drive means at the outer lower surface of the arm 12. This drive means can cause the bowl to rotate slowly, as will be explained below.

In Figure 3 the machine is shown with the upper arm 12 in the closed or swung-in position whilst the lower arm 13 is swung out and projects horizontally from and at right angles to the casing. When the arms are in these positions the connector 23 can receive a mixer 28, a juice centrifuge 29, a grinder 30 or a flexible shaft 31 for driving for example a rotary brush or a polishing roller.

Construction of the machine will now be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 9. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the casing 11 accommodates a motor 32 with a vertical shaft with an upper end 33 and a lower end 34. The upper end 33 drives the connectors 19, 21 and the drive means for the bowl 25, all of which are located in the upper arm 12, and the lower end 34 drives the connector 23 in the lower arm 13.

The shaft end 33 supports a helical gear 35 co-acting with a gear 36 on one end of a horizontal shaft 37. At the other end of the shaft 37 is a bevel gear 39. Each end of the shaft 37 is slidably supported in an elongate sleeve 38 in the casing 11. The bevel gear 39 co-acts with a bevel gear 40 journalled to rotate about a shaft 41, the end 42 of which is fastened to the arm 12. The bevel gear 40 is held in position by a lock washer 43 and is separated from the arm 12 by a low friction washer 44. The arm 12 has two co-axial, sleeve-like parts 45, 46 (Fig. 8) at either side of the bevel gear 40 and forming the pivot points for movement of the arm 12.The part 45 is supported on the end of the sleeve 38 and enclosed between two washers 47, 48, the washer 47 separating the part 45 from the casing 11 and the washer 48 forming a spacer between the arm 12 and the gear wheel 39.

Also the washers 47, 48 are of low friction material.

The sleeve-like part 46 of the arm 12 is fixed to a short shaft 49, which in turn is fixed to a circular plate 50, the construction and purpose of which will be explained below.

The shaft 49 extends through a bearing sleeve 51 formed in the casing 11, and is retained by a screw 52 running through a diametral groove 53 in the shaft. Thus it will be possible to swing out the arm 12 from vertical to horizontal pdsition, the pivot axis forming the line of connection between the two sleeve-like parts 45, 46 of the arm. During the pivoting movement of the arm 12 the driven gear 40 is in engagement with the driving gear 39 and the shaft 41 moves from the horizontal to the vertical position. The driven gear 40 has a cylindrical gear portion 54 which engages a gear 55 of a diameter somewhat larger than that of the gear portion 54. The gear 55 is fixed to a shaft 56, supported in the arm 12 by a bearing 57. The end 58 of the shaft 56 extends beyond the arm 12 and has a frusto-conical rubber part 59.The rubber part 59 forms a drive means for the bowl 25 whose flange 27 is to be inserted between the rubber part and a freely rotatable cylindrical and rubber-coated sleeve 60 on a shaft 61 projecting from the arm 12. The gear 55 and the shaft end 58 are separated from the arm 12 and the bearing 57 by two low friction washers 62. The sleeve 60 is urged against a washer 64 at the outer end of the shaft 61 by a helical spring 63. Thus insertion and removal fo the flange 27 into and out of engagment with the sleeve 60 and the part 59 is facilitated. The shaft 61 is fixed in the arm 12.

The gear 55 is in engagement with another gear 65, whose diameter is somewhat larger than that of the gear 55. The gear 65 is fixed to a tubular shaft 66 with an inner surface which is polygonal in section, Figure 4. The ends of the shaft 66 form the connectors 14 and 21. The shaft is supported in a slide bearing on either side of the gear 65, one bearing being a bushing 67 and the other comprising a cylindrical portion 68 forming part of a plate 69.

The plate 69 is fastened to the arm 12 by three screws 70. At one edge it has two hook-shaped portions 71 bent outwards (Fig.

7) at the opposite edge two through holes 72 forming bearing points for additional gears, as will be explained below. The cylindrical portion 68 has two parallel, plane portions 73 on either side of its axis. These portions form guides for an arm 74 in the form of a plate, whose central portion has a comparatively large, rectangular hole with two edges 75 abutting the plane portions. The arm 74 has a lip 76, which projects at right angles to the plane of the plate 69 and is situated near one edge of the central hole. The lip 76 is movable in an axial groove 77 in the portion 68, whose outer end has a peripheral groove 78. Together with lip 76 the groove 78 locks an implement to the connector 14. Further, the arm 74 has two lips 79 extending in a direction opposite to that of the lip 76.The lips 79 are placed over the centre of the holes 72 forming bearings for the additional gears mentioned above. Normally, the arm 74 is pressed by a spring 80 outwards from the plate 69. A push button 81 on the arm 74 is accessible from the outside of the arm 12.

When the button 81 is depressed the lip 76 uncovers the axial groove 77.

The above-mentioned additional gears are 82, 83, 84. The gear 82 is relatively small and engages with the gear 65, which rotates relatively slowly. The gear 83 is mounted on the same shaft 85 as the gear 82 and is in engagement with the gear 84, which latter is connected to a shaft 86. The transmission formed by the gears 65, 82, 83 increases the speed of the shafts 85 and 86 supported in the plate 69 and the arm 12. These two shafts also are tubular and have conventional attachments (not shown) for beaters 20.

When mounted the ends of the beaters project beyond the ends of the shafts 85, 86.

Depression of the push button 81 makes the lips 79 move so as to urge the beaters out of the shafts 85, 86.

As seen in Figures 6 to 8, the casing 11 has at its rear side a rubber strip 87 for absorbing some of the vibration of the machine when in operation. The machine is mounted on a wall by a plate 88 screwed to the wall and having two shafts each with a projecting head 89 on which the machine is suspended. The shafts are enclosed by rubber packings to further damp vibration. The plate 88 has also a retaining means 90, Figure 7, in the form of a pin with a bead which is pressed into a rubber ring 91 connected to the casing. At the rear side of the machine (Fig. 7) is a winder 92 for a cable 93 with a conventional plug 94 for electric connection.

The arm 12 is retained in its different positions by the circular plate 50, Figure 6. The plate 50 is fixed to the short shaft 49, which is fixed to the sleeve-like part 46 of the arm 12.

At its periphery the plate 50 has two abutment surfaces 95, 96 and two cut-outs 97, 98 separated by a circular cam surface. On the other side of the plate 50 is a pin 99 which is coaxial with the shaft 49 and has a diameter less than that of the shaft 49. In one end of this pin is a peripheral groove which receives a locking washer 100 and retains an angled plate 101 on the pin 99. The plate 101 is relatively long and has at one end a bent portion 102, which by a tension spring 103 is connected to a pin 104. The pin 104 is fastened to the casing 11 and extends through an oblong hole 105 in the plate 101. The plate has another oblong hole 106, through which the pin 99 extends, and a flap 107 which is stamped out of the plate and abuts the periphery of the plate 50.The other end of the plate 101 merges into an angled portion the outer part of which has a bent abutment surface 108 for a push button 109 accessible from outside the casing 11. The plate 50 has a pin 110 to which one end of a tension spring 111 is attached, the other end of the spring being attached to a pin 112 fixed in the casing 11. This pin also supports a wire spring 113, one end 114 of which presses against the abutment surface 96 when the arm 12 is in the swung-in position, the other end 115 of the spring resting on a support pin 116.

The mechanism for moving the arm 12 operates in the following manner.

On depression of the push button 109 the abutment surface 108 is acted upon so that the angled plate 101 moves linearly to the right, Figure 6. During this movement the plate is guided by the pins 99 and 104. The flap 107 is released from the cut-out 98, so that the spring 113 via the abutment surface 96 turns the plate 50 and the arm 12 tilts outwards about 20 to 300 and so becomes accessible.

When the push button 109 is released the flap 107 is caused to return into contact with the periphery of the plate 50 under the action of the tension spring 103. The arm can now be moved fully upwards by hand to its horizontal position, in which it is locked by the flap 107 entering the cut-out 97. This movement is facilitated by the tension spring 111 which during the latter part of the movement helps to lift the arm 12. To facilitate insertion of an implement in a connector of the arm 12 it is possible in the horizontal position of the arm once again to depress the push button 109, so that the tension spring 111, which in that position has a relatively large moment, acts on the plate so that the arm 12 is raised about 45" further, until the flap 107 strikes the abutment surface 95.

When an implement has been placed in a connector, the arm 12 is lowered by hand to the horizontal position. The arm swings in when the push button 109 is depressed so that the arm is lowered by gravity and during the last part of the movement is braked by the spring 113. Should the arm not swing in entirely it can be manually pressed slightly at its lower end.

The lower arm 13 has a cylindrical collar 117 (Fig. 4) held in a supporting part 118 in the casing 11, in which it is secured by an annular plate 119, fastened to the casing by screws 120. A fan wheel 121 for cooling the motor 32 is mounted on the lower end 34 of the motor shaft, which beyond the fan wheel has a toothed drive wheel 122 for a belt 123.

In the periphery of the annular plate 119 are cut-outs 124, 125, 126 (Fig. 9) co-acting with a lever 127. The lever is journalled to rock about a pin 128 and has at one end a nose 129 for engaging the cut-outs 124, 125, 126. The other end of the lever forms a stop 130 for a slide bar 131. The pin 128 supports a wire spring 132, one end of which rests on a pin 133 fastened to the arm 12 and the other end of which acts on a pin 134' on the lever 127 so as to urge the nose 129 towards the periphery of the plate 119.

The slide bar 131, which is bent and elongate, has two slots receiving respective pins 134 and 135 which will define the movement of the slide bar. The latter, like the wire spring 132, is retained on the pins 134, 135 by locking washers 136. One end of the slide bar has a lug 137, which co-acts with the stop 130, and is connected to one end of a tension spring 138, whose other end is hooked on the pin 135 so that the slide bar tends to move upwards as viewed in Figure 9. At the other end of the slide bar is a push button 139 by which the bar can be manually operated from outside the arm 13.

The arm 13 has on its outer top surface a plate 140 (Fig. 4) which is screwed to the arm and serves as a support for a tubular drive shaft 141 forming the connector 23 and including a toothed wheel 142 for the belt 123. The shaft 141 is journalled in a ball bearing 143. The two toothed wheels 122 and 142 are connected by the belt 123. The slide bar has a bent portion 144 which on depression of the button 139 acts on a push bar 145 which is under the action of a compression spring 146 (Figs. 6 and 9). The end of the push bar projects above the plate 140 and serves as a locking means for an impale; ment mounted on the arm 13. The upper' central portion of the plate 140 is of the same form as the cylindrical portion 68 of the connector 14 to make it possible to connect an implement thereto.

Also mounted in the arm 13, near the outer end thereof, is the sleeve 24 (Fig. 9) whose axis is vertical. The sleeve forms a bearing for the shaft 26 of the bowl 25, Figure 2.

The arm 13 can be swung out by pulling its outer part so that the nose 129 slides along the oblique surface of the cut-out 126 and up on to the peripheral surface of the annular plate 119. When the arm has been swung out about 45 , the nose 129 is urged by the spring 132 into the cut-out 125 and locks the arm in the swung-out position. Then the shaft 26 of the bowl 25 can be placed in the sleeve 24.

The arm can be swung out 900 by depressing the push button 139, so that the slide bar 131 lifts the nose 129 from the cut-out 125.

Thus the arm is free and can be moved to the fully swung out position, in which the nose 129 will engage the cut-out 124. When the arm is in this position, a mixer can be attached to it and be driven by the drive wheels 122 and 142 and the drive shaft 141.

The mixer is placed over the central portion of the plate 140 and will thus move the push bar 145 downwards. Then the mixer is turned and a rim thereof engages with a groove in the central portion. When the mixer has been turned through 90 , the push bar 145 falls into a hole in the bottom plate of the mixer and locks it. The lock may be released by depression of the push button 139.

The motor speed can be varied by a knob 147 (Fig. 6). The machine also has a switch 148 with a built-in lamp indicating when the current is on.

Several modifications are possible. For instance, instead of driving the bowl from the upper arm 12 it can be driven from the lower arm 13 by a transmission between the connector 23 and a shaft disposed in the place of the sleeve 24 in Figure 9. It is also possible to arrange a coupling in the lower arm 13 for releasing the connector in one of the positions of the arm, in which case the connector can serve as a bearing for the bowl 25 which is then driven by the upper arm 12.

It is not necessary to mount the machine on a wall. Instead, for instance, a stand could be used which is clamped, for example by means of telescopically movable columns, between a table top surface and a cupboard, the machine being mounted in the stand when the latter has been clamped in position.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A food preparing machine for use with detachable implements and for mounting above for example a kitchen work surface, the machine comprising a casing enclosing an electric motor for driving an implement, and at least two arms of which at least one has one or more than one connector driven by the motor, both arms separately being pivotable between a swung-in position, in which each is substantially flush with the casing, and at least one other position, in which each is swung out and projects from the casing, one arm in its swung-out position being above the other arm, and wherein one arm is pivotable about a horizontal axis and the other arm is pivotable about a vertical axis.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the arm pivotable about a horizontal axis has at least one connector driven by the motor at each of its upper and lower surfaces as viewed in the swung-out position of the arm.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the connectors at each of the upper

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. annular plate 119, fastened to the casing by screws 120. A fan wheel 121 for cooling the motor 32 is mounted on the lower end 34 of the motor shaft, which beyond the fan wheel has a toothed drive wheel 122 for a belt 123. In the periphery of the annular plate 119 are cut-outs 124, 125, 126 (Fig. 9) co-acting with a lever 127. The lever is journalled to rock about a pin 128 and has at one end a nose 129 for engaging the cut-outs 124, 125, 126. The other end of the lever forms a stop 130 for a slide bar 131. The pin 128 supports a wire spring 132, one end of which rests on a pin 133 fastened to the arm 12 and the other end of which acts on a pin 134' on the lever 127 so as to urge the nose 129 towards the periphery of the plate 119. The slide bar 131, which is bent and elongate, has two slots receiving respective pins 134 and 135 which will define the movement of the slide bar. The latter, like the wire spring 132, is retained on the pins 134, 135 by locking washers 136. One end of the slide bar has a lug 137, which co-acts with the stop 130, and is connected to one end of a tension spring 138, whose other end is hooked on the pin 135 so that the slide bar tends to move upwards as viewed in Figure 9. At the other end of the slide bar is a push button 139 by which the bar can be manually operated from outside the arm 13. The arm 13 has on its outer top surface a plate 140 (Fig. 4) which is screwed to the arm and serves as a support for a tubular drive shaft 141 forming the connector 23 and including a toothed wheel 142 for the belt 123. The shaft 141 is journalled in a ball bearing 143. The two toothed wheels 122 and 142 are connected by the belt 123. The slide bar has a bent portion 144 which on depression of the button 139 acts on a push bar 145 which is under the action of a compression spring 146 (Figs. 6 and 9). The end of the push bar projects above the plate 140 and serves as a locking means for an impale; ment mounted on the arm 13. The upper' central portion of the plate 140 is of the same form as the cylindrical portion 68 of the connector 14 to make it possible to connect an implement thereto. Also mounted in the arm 13, near the outer end thereof, is the sleeve 24 (Fig. 9) whose axis is vertical. The sleeve forms a bearing for the shaft 26 of the bowl 25, Figure 2. The arm 13 can be swung out by pulling its outer part so that the nose 129 slides along the oblique surface of the cut-out 126 and up on to the peripheral surface of the annular plate 119. When the arm has been swung out about 45 , the nose 129 is urged by the spring 132 into the cut-out 125 and locks the arm in the swung-out position. Then the shaft 26 of the bowl 25 can be placed in the sleeve 24. The arm can be swung out 900 by depressing the push button 139, so that the slide bar 131 lifts the nose 129 from the cut-out 125. Thus the arm is free and can be moved to the fully swung out position, in which the nose 129 will engage the cut-out 124. When the arm is in this position, a mixer can be attached to it and be driven by the drive wheels 122 and 142 and the drive shaft 141. The mixer is placed over the central portion of the plate 140 and will thus move the push bar 145 downwards. Then the mixer is turned and a rim thereof engages with a groove in the central portion. When the mixer has been turned through 90 , the push bar 145 falls into a hole in the bottom plate of the mixer and locks it. The lock may be released by depression of the push button 139. The motor speed can be varied by a knob 147 (Fig. 6). The machine also has a switch 148 with a built-in lamp indicating when the current is on. Several modifications are possible. For instance, instead of driving the bowl from the upper arm 12 it can be driven from the lower arm 13 by a transmission between the connector 23 and a shaft disposed in the place of the sleeve 24 in Figure 9. It is also possible to arrange a coupling in the lower arm 13 for releasing the connector in one of the positions of the arm, in which case the connector can serve as a bearing for the bowl 25 which is then driven by the upper arm 12. It is not necessary to mount the machine on a wall. Instead, for instance, a stand could be used which is clamped, for example by means of telescopically movable columns, between a table top surface and a cupboard, the machine being mounted in the stand when the latter has been clamped in position. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A food preparing machine for use with detachable implements and for mounting above for example a kitchen work surface, the machine comprising a casing enclosing an electric motor for driving an implement, and at least two arms of which at least one has one or more than one connector driven by the motor, both arms separately being pivotable between a swung-in position, in which each is substantially flush with the casing, and at least one other position, in which each is swung out and projects from the casing, one arm in its swung-out position being above the other arm, and wherein one arm is pivotable about a horizontal axis and the other arm is pivotable about a vertical axis.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the connectors at each of the upper

and lower surfaces of the said arm have a common drive shaft.

4. A machine according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the arm pivotable above a horizontal axis is situated above the other arm.

5. A machine according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the lower arm has at least one connector driven by the motor.

6. A machine according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upper arm in addition to the one or more than one connector has a drive means for slow rotation of a bowl or other container.

7. A machine according to claim 5 or claim 6 when appendant to claim 5 wherein the shaft of the motor is vertical, the upper shaft end operating the connectors of the upper arm by way of a first transmission and, as the case may be, the drive means, whilst the lower shaft end by way of a second transmission drives the connector of the lower arm.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the first transmission is a gear transmission and the second transmission includes a driving belt.

9. A machine according to any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the arm which is pivotable about the horizontal axis has a locking device to lock it in its swung-in position and when acted upon releases the arm so that the latter is urged by a spring out of the casing so that it is accessible for raising to the swung-out position.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein the said arm when raised to the swung-out horizontal position is automatically locked in that position but can be released by action of the locking device and be moved to assume a position higher than the horizontal position whereby application of an implement to the arm is facilitated.

11. A machine according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the locking device is a cam disc connected to the rotary shaft of the arm and having several cut-outs in its cam surface with which a plate movable forth and back, co-acts, the plate being pressed against the cam disc by a spring and being operable by a push button accessible outside the casing.

12. Amachine according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein the arm which is pivotable about a vertical axis has a device which locks the arm in any one of at least two swung-out positions and is operable by a knob.

13. A machine according to claim 12, wherein the locking device comprises an annular plate connected to the casing and having peripheral cut-outs co-acting with a spring-loaded rocker arm which can be released from the cut-outs by a spring-loaded slide bar whose outer end forms the knob of the locking device.

14. A machine according to claim 13, wherein the slide bar can be manually pushed and can also operate a lock situated adjacent a connector in the lower arm and adapted to lock the implement to the connector.

15. A food preparing machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings. - - - -