WO2016207740A1

WO2016207740A1 - Spice grinders

Info

Publication number: WO2016207740A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/052355
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick John Delbridge
Original assignee: Patrick John Delbridge
Priority date: 2015-06-22
Filing date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2016-12-29

Abstract

The spice grinder disclosed comprises a first component (12) including means for securing it to the neck of a spice container and a second component (14) mounted on the first component for rotation with respect thereto. The first and second components include grinding teeth in the gap between which spice corns are ground when the component (14) is rotated on the component (12). The rotatable component (14) has a transverse wall (82) and there are apertures (86) in the wall through which spice ground between said teeth falls from the grinder. A shutter is provided between the teeth and the wall and there are diametrically opposed arcuate slots (88) in the wall. A structure (96) for rotating said shutter is connected to the shutter and passes through the slots (88) so as to be accessible from the side of the wall (82) remote from the shutter. Operation of the structure displaces it along the slots (88) thereby rotating the shutter with respect to the wall (82). The shutter is configured to obstruct the apertures (86) to a greater or lesser extent depending on the position to which it has been rotated.

Description

SPICE GRINDERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to spice grinders.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In European Specification EP 2 096 969 there is disclosed a spice grinder which is secured to the top of a spice bottle. The grinder comprises two relatively rotatable parts each of which has grinding teeth between which spice is ground.

The grinder can be set for coarse or fine grinding by means of a shutter which can be displaced in a circumferential movement between its fine and coarse grinding positions. The shutter varies the cross-sectional areas of passageways through which ground spice can fall.

Part of the shutter protrudes through one of the cylindrical side walls of the grinder, and it is by means of this that the shutter is displaced.

Automatic capping apparatus is used, as part of the filling line, to secure the grinders to the spice bottles. The laterally projecting operating element of the grinder disclosed in the European specification can interfere with operation of the capping heads. The present invention provides an improvement to this grinder in that the operating means for the shutter is contained within the footprint of the grinder, as viewed in the axial direction, and does not protrude laterally from the relatively rotatable parts of the grinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a spice grinder comprising a first component including means for securing it to the neck of a spice container, a second component mounted on the first component for rotation with respect thereto, the first and second components including grinding teeth in the gap between which spice corns are ground when the second component is rotated on the first component, the rotatable component having a transverse wall and there being apertures in said wall through which spice ground between said teeth falls from the grinder, there being a shutter between said teeth and said wall and diametrically opposed arcuate slots in said wall, a structure for rotating said shutter being connected to said shutter and passing through said slots so as to be accessible from the side of said transverse wall remote from the shutter, operation of said structure displacing it along said slots thereby rotating the shutter with respect to said wall, and the shutter being configured to obstruct said apertures to a greater or lesser extent depending on the position to which it has been rotated.

Said structure can in one embodiment comprise a bar with integral pins which extend through said slots and into bores in the shutter.

The bar can include a third pin which passes through said wall and into a bore of a grinding element of the rotatable component.

The pins can pass through the respective bores and can be in the form of split pins with latching teeth at their lower ends so that once inserted into their respective bores they cannot be withdrawn.

In another form said shutter includes operating tabs which protrude through said slots. A bar can be provided which connects said tabs. In a preferred form the rotatable component includes a rim which stands proud of said wall, the inner surface of the rim having therein sets of grooves for receiving the ends of the bar and locating the bar in its position of adjustment.

The ends of the bar are preferably rounded and the grooves, and ribs which separate the grooves, preferably have an undulating surface over which the ends of the bar move. Each of said apertures is preferably of arcuate form and the apertures are preferably arranged in a circular array.

Said shutter can be in the form of a ring the inner periphery of which is formed with alternating notches and protrusions which move into and out of register with said apertures, the apertures being partly obstructed by said protrusions for fine grinding and being in register with said recesses, and unobstructed for coarse grinding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a spice grinder in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the grinder of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a diametral section on the line III - III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a pictorial view of the fixed component of the grinder;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the fixed component;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI - VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the rotatable component of the grinder;

Figure 8 is an underneath plan view of the rotatable component of the grinder;

Figure 9 is side view of the rotatable component;

Figures 10 and 1 1 are pictorial views of a fixed grinding ring;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the ring of Figures 10 and 1 1 ;

Figure 13 is a section on the line XIII - XIII of Figure 12;

Figures 14 and 15 are pictorial views of the rotatable grinding element;

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the rotatable grinding element;

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the rotatable grinding element;

Figure 18 is a pictorial view of a shutter;

Figure 19 is a top plan view of the shutter;

Figure 20 is a side elevation of the shutter; Figure 21 is a pictorial view of a further form of spice grinder; Figure 22 is a top plan view of the grinder of Figure 21 ;

Figure 23 is a section on the line XXI I l-XXI 11 of Figure 22; Figure 24 is pictorial view of a grinder adjusting element; Figure 25 is an underneath plan view of the element of Figure 24;

Figure 26 is a pictorial view of another form of spice grinder; Figure 27 is a top plan view of the spice grinder of Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a section on the XXVIII-XXVIII of Figure 27;

Figure 29 is a underneath plan view of the rotatable component of the grinder of Figures 25 to 28;

Figure 30 is a pictorial view of the adjusting element of the grinder of Figures 26 to 29; Figure 31 is a top plan view of the adjusting element of Figure 30; Figure 32 is an underneath plan view of the adjusting element of Figures 30 and 31 ;

Figure 33 is a side elevation of the adjusting element of Figures 30 to 32; and Figure 34 is a pictorial view of the shutter of the grinder of Figures 26 to 29. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, the spice grinder 10 illustrated comprises a non-rotatable component 12 which is fixed to the spice container (not shown) and a component 14 which is rotatable on the component 12. The component 12 can be snap-fitted to the container using circumferentially extending ribs or can be fitted using compatible threading. Preferably means are provided for preventing a screwed-on grinder being rotated in the reverse direction and removed from the container. The non-rotatable component 12 comprises a sleeve 16 which has internal threading 18 by means of which it is fixed to the spice bottle. The external surface of the component 12 is formed with a circumferentially extending shoulder 20. An internally ribbed ring 22 is connected to the sleeve 16 by means of a circumferentially extending web 24. The ring 22 is internally stepped so as to provide an axially facing circular surface 26 which is above the axially extending ribs.

The rotatable component 14 (see Figures 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9) comprises a sleeve 28 which is open at one end. At the other end of the sleeve 28 there is a transverse closure plate 30. There is a central depression 32 in the top surface of the plate 30. Within the depression 32 there are six circumferentially spaced apertures 34 in the closure plate

30. In the part of the plate 30 which surrounds the depression there are two T-shaped holes 36. The "cross-bar" of each hole is curved and extends circumferentially and the "upright" of each hole extends radially outwardly from the "cross-bar". Two circumferentially spaced domes 38 are formed on the radially inner edge of the "cross- bar" of each hole 36.

On the underside of the plate 30, as viewed in Figure 3, and at the centre thereof, there is a mounting spigot 40. The grinding ring 42 illustrated in Figures 10 to 13 has internal grinding teeth 44 and can be of ceramic material. The ring is stepped externally to form a shoulder 46. External axially extending long ribs 48 and short ribs 50 extend from the shoulder 46 and fit in the gaps between the internal ribs of the component 12. The shoulder 46 abuts the shoulder 26 to limit axial movement of the grinding ring 42 into the component

12 when it is pressed into the component 12 as best seen in Figure 3.

The generally cylindrical grinding element shown in Figures 14 to 1 7 is designated 52 and has at one axial end a disc 54 the periphery of which configured so as to provide grinding teeth 56. On the underside of the disc 54 there is an array of cracking teeth 58.

A socket 60 is formed in the element 52, the socket 60 matching the shape of the spigot 40 and receiving the spigot 40 when the element 52 is fitted to the rotatable component 14 as seen in Figure 3. This ensures that the element 52 rotates with the component 14.

A shutter is illustrated in Figures 18 to 20, the shutter being designated 62 and being in the form of a ring 64 which has six notches 66 in its inner periphery. This configuration provides six protrusions 68 which alternate with the notches 66.

Diametrically opposed tabs 70 protrude upwardly from the top surface of the ring 64. Each tab 70 comprises a column 72 and a part 74 which, as will be described, is pushed or pulled to displace the shutter in the circumferential direction. The parts 74 are, during assembly, inserted from below through the "uprights" of the T- shaped holes 36. When the sleeve 1 6 is pushed into the sleeve 28 to secure the components 12 and 14 to one another, the shutter 62 is trapped between the ring 22 and the closure plate 30. The tabs 70 are above the plate 30. As can be seen in Figure 2, the protrusions 68 partly obscure the apertures 34 whilst the shutter 62 is in the end position illustrated. One of the two domes 38 holds the shutter in this end position. It is also to provide interlocking domes or recesses on the top face of the shutter 62 and corresponding recesses and domes on the underside of the wall 22.

By exerting a circumferentially directed force on the two parts 74, the shutter 62 can be rotated clockwise past the two detents 38 to its other end position, the columns 72 moving along the curved "cross-bars" of the holes 36. This brings the notches 66 into register with the apertures 34 which are then no longer obstructed.

If the domes and recesses described are provided, domes snap into recesses in each end position of the shutter 62 to hold it firmly in place.

In the first position of the shutter 62, only relatively small pieces of ground material can fall out of the inverted grinder when the components 12 and 14 are rotated relatively to one another. This allows for "fine" grinding. In the second position the effective areas of the apertures 34 through which ground material can fall are larger and this constitutes a "coarse" grinding state.

The grinder 10.1 of Figures 21 to 25 has many parts in common with the grinder of Figures 1 to 20. Only the differences between the two grinders will be described. The sleeve 28 extends above the closure plate 30 and has, in its cylindrical inner surface, two sets of three vertically extending grooves 76. The grooves of each set are side-by-side in the circumferential direction and the two sets are diametrically opposed to one another. A bar 78 extends diametrically across the sleeve 28 and has each of its ends located in one of the grooves. The underside of the bar 78 has two rectangular sockets 80 in it (see Figure 25) and the ends of the bar are rounded. The sockets 80 receive the parts 74 of the tabs 70, the fit being such that the bar 78 cannot readily be detached from the parts 74. To adjust the grind between fine and coarse, the bar 78 is gripped and twisted to displace the shutter 62 in the same way as is described above. The ends of the bar 78 move from one groove 76 to the adjacent one by riding over the rib between those grooves and snapping into the adjacent groove. The grinder 10.2 of Figures 26 to 34 also has many components in common with the grinders 10, 10.1 described above. Where applicable like references have been used and those parts which the grinder 10.2 has in common with the grinders 10, 1 0.1 are not described in detail. In this form the transverse wall of the rotatable component is designated 82 and has therein a central depression designated 84. Within the depression 84 there are six circumferentially spaced apertures 86. In the outer part of the wall 82 which encircles the depression 84 there are two arcuate apertures 88. A central hexagonal spigot 90 (Figure 29) with a bore 92 through it is provided on the underside of the wall 82.

The grinding element 52 is as described above, its socket 60 receiving the spigot 90.

The adjusting element 96 illustrated in Figures 30 to 33 is in the form of an elongate bar 98 with rounded ends 100 which co-operate with the grooves 76.

A longer split pin 102 extends down from the centre of the bar 98 and two shorter split pins 104 extend down from positions between the pin 102 and the rounded ends 100. The free ends of all the pins are formed with outwardly protruding latching teeth 106. The shutter 108 shown in Figure 34 has a central opening which is of the same shape as that of the shutter 62 shown in Figures 18, 19 and 20. The tabs 70 are, however, omitted and replaced by two diametrically opposed bores 1 10. The pin 102 passes through the bore 92 in the spigot 90 and also through the central bore of the element 52. The teeth 106 open out below the element 52 and prevent the pin 102 being withdrawn. The pins 104 enter the bores 1 10 in the shutter 108 and open out below the shutter so that they cannot be withdrawn. By twisting the bar 98 about the axis of the pin 102, the position of the shutter 108 with respect to the apertures 86 can be varied to change the degree to which the corns are ground as is described above with reference to grinders 10 and 10.1 .

In an alternative embodiment the pins 104 are not split pins but are of short cylindrical form so that they fit into the bores 1 10 but do not pass through the bores 1 10.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A spice grinder comprising a first component including means for securing it to the neck of a spice container, a second component mounted on the first component for rotation with respect thereto, the first and second components including grinding teeth in the gap between which spice corns are ground when the second component is rotated on the first component, the rotatable component having a transverse wall and there being apertures in said wall through which spice ground between said teeth falls from the grinder, there being a shutter between said teeth and said wall and diametrically opposed arcuate slots in said wall, a structure for rotating said shutter being connected to said shutter and passing through said slots so as to be accessible from the side of said transverse wall remote from the shutter, operation of said structure displacing it along said slots thereby rotating the shutter with respect to said wall, and the shutter being configured to obstruct said apertures to a greater or lesser extent depending on the position to which it has been rotated.

2. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said structure comprises a bar with integral pins which extend through said slots and into bores in the shutter.

3. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bar includes a third pin which passes through said wall and into a bore of a grinding element of the rotatable component.

4. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pins pass through said bores of the shutter and are in the form of split pins with latching teeth at their lower ends so that once inserted into their respective bores they cannot be withdrawn.

5. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third pin passes through said bore of the grinding element and is in the form of a split pin with latching teeth at its lower end so that once inserted into said bore it cannot be removed.

6. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said shutter includes operating tabs which protrude through said slots.

7. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 6, wherein a bar is provided which connects said tabs.

8. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7, wherein said rotatable component includes a rim which stands proud of said wall, the inner surface of the rim having therein sets of grooves for receiving the ends of said bar and locating the bar in its position of adjustment.

9. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ends of the bar are rounded and the grooves, and ribs which separate the grooves, have an undulating surface over which the ends of the bar move.

10. A spice grinder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of said apertures is of arcuate form and the apertures are arranged in a circular array.

1 1 . A spice grinder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said shutter is in the form of a ring the inner periphery of which is formed with alternating notches and protrusions which move into and out of register with said apertures, the apertures being partly obstructed by said protrusions for fine grinding and being in register with said recesses, and unobstructed, for coarse grinding.