CN117502939A

CN117502939A - Food processor for mixing and stirring food materials

Info

Publication number: CN117502939A
Application number: CN202310906813.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 莱奥·佩尔蒂埃; 安妮·埃斯特尔·罗奇
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2022-07-27
Filing date: 2023-07-24
Publication date: 2024-02-06
Also published as: FR3138286A1

Abstract

A cooking machine for mixing and stirring food material includes: -a cup (10) comprising a bottom with an opening, -a blade holder (20) removably mounted in the bottom opening, -a securing ring (30) for securing the blade holder (20) to the cup (10), and-a locking system (40) for locking the securing ring (30) to the cup (10), comprising a first locking element (41), a second locking element (42), a first return spring (44), an actuating element (46) and a resilient element (48), the first locking element (41) being engaged with the securing ring (30) under the action of the first return spring (44) and being unlocked from the securing ring (30) under the action of the actuating element (46) when the actuating element (46) is moved against the resilient element (48); the second locking piece (42) holds the fixed ring (30) under the action of the first return spring (44).

Description

Food processor for mixing and stirring food materials

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of cooking processing devices, and more particularly to devices for stirring and mixing liquid or pasty food products, such devices being commonly referred to as "cooking machines".

The present invention more particularly relates to a food processor including a removable blade carrier.

Background

Such devices for food processors are well known to those skilled in the art; they generally comprise a cup, a blade holder, a securing ring for securing the blade holder to the cup and a base with a motor, to which a pre-assembly consisting of the cup, the blade holder and the securing ring is engaged. The motor base comprises a motor for driving the shaft and is provided with a coupling system which cooperates with a complementary coupling system on the tool holder when the pre-assembly is engaged to the motor base.

Security problems are found on some of these devices. In fact, when the blade holder, driven at high speed by the motor, rotates, the fixing ring can rotate together with the blade holder, which can cause it to disengage from the cup when the user removes the cup after mixing the ingredients. As a result, the liquid or pasty food material may spill onto the motor base and damage it, even creating a risk of electric shock to the user. If hot drinks such as soup are contained, the user may be scalded.

Many structures have been proposed to secure the retaining ring to the cup and/or motor base. In particular, in document CN209773879U, a latch assembly for locking a retaining ring to a cup is disclosed. Wherein the catch assembly comprises two catch members, each catch member cooperating with the retaining ring to retain the retaining ring and being arranged to release the retaining ring by means of the control button. To unlock the retaining ring, the user presses a vertically moving control button to first unlock the second catch member from the retaining ring. The user then continues to press the control button further downward until the first catch member and the retaining ring are unlocked. In other words, the user opens the latch assembly by pressing the control button twice in succession.

However, the inventors have found that if the applied force is large enough, two vertical presses of the control key can be activated almost simultaneously. For example, if a liquid filled cup is placed just above a protrusion that can press a control button, gravity of the cup may cause the latch assembly to accidentally unlock, resulting in a user being able to be scratched by the stirring blade and/or scalded by the high temperature liquid.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks by devising a device which is able to avoid the locking system being undesirably opened while ensuring a simple and reliable assembly.

Thus, according to the present invention, a food processor for mixing and stirring food materials includes:

a cup comprising a bottom with an opening,

a tool holder removably mounted in the bottom opening,

-a securing ring for securing the tool holder to the cup, the securing ring being pivotally mounted to the cup, and

-a locking system for locking a securing ring to the cup, comprising a first locking member, a second locking member, a first return spring, an actuating element and a resilient element, the first locking member and the second locking member being pivotally mounted on the cup, the first locking member being engaged with the securing ring under the action of the first return spring and being unlocked from the securing ring under the action of the actuating element when the actuating element is moved against the resilient element;

and the second locking piece keeps the fixed ring under the action of the first return spring.

According to the invention, the food processor comprises a fixed ring which is pivotally mounted on the cup body and is locked by a locking system, and the locking system can avoid any unexpected unlocking, so that safe unlocking is ensured. In practice, the unlocking takes place in two successive steps. In a first step, the first catch member is disengaged from the retaining ring by the actuating element, while the second catch member still holds the retaining ring in place under the influence of the first return spring. The second catch piece must be moved deliberately against the force of the first return spring in order to unlock the securing ring during the second unlocking step. Thus, the locking system can prevent any accidental unlocking of the securing ring, thereby preventing potential scratching and/or scalding of the user by the liquid in the blade holder or cup.

According to one embodiment of the device, displacement of the actuating element cannot cause the second catch member to unlock from the stationary ring. In other words, the second catch member is also held in place by the first return spring throughout the stroke of the actuating element. Thus, even if the actuating element is pressed hard and thus displaced significantly, it cannot trigger the unlocking of the second catch piece. Preferably, the second locking element must overcome the force of the first return spring in order to rotate about the axis, while the direction of the force exerted by the actuating element on the return spring by the first locking element is in the same direction as the force exerted by the return spring on the second locking element, thus not allowing unlocking thereof. Thus, even if an unexpected excessive force is applied to the actuating element, the retaining ring cannot be unlocked, thereby preventing the retaining ring from being accidentally opened.

According to one embodiment of the device, the securing ring is mounted to pivot on the cup against a third return spring, which drives the securing ring open when the securing ring is unconstrained by the latching system. According to this embodiment, the retaining ring is automatically lifted by the third return spring when it is no longer held by the latching system, which facilitates the removal of the tool holder. Preferably, one end of the securing ring is mounted to pivot on the cup against the third return spring and the opposite end of the securing ring is retained by the latching system.

According to one embodiment of the device, the securing ring comprises a first catch piece and the first catch piece comprises a second catch piece, the second catch piece cooperating with the first catch piece to effect engagement of the securing ring with the first catch piece. Other complementary shapes formed on the first catch piece and the retaining ring, respectively, are also conceivable to achieve engagement of the two parts, such as a protrusion and a recess.

According to an embodiment of the device, the second catch member comprises a lug extending towards the securing ring arranged to press against the securing ring when the second catch member is held by the first return spring. According to this embodiment, the second catch piece comprises at least one lug on its inner side, which lug is arranged to overlap the upper surface of the securing ring in order to exert a force thereon that prevents the securing ring from opening. The first return spring holds the second catch member by applying the force to the securing ring that prevents it from opening.

According to one embodiment of the device, the latching system includes a first shaft disposed on the cup, the first latching member and the second latching member are mounted to pivot about the first shaft, the first return spring is a torsion spring mounted on the first shaft and includes a first end connected to the first latching member and a second end connected to the second latching member. According to this embodiment, the first catch piece and the second catch piece are mounted to pivot about the same axis and are connected with the same return spring, which makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the catch system and simplify the structure thereof. However, the return spring applies opposite forces to the first and second locking members, respectively. It is contemplated that the second catch member may also be mounted for pivoting about the second axis and/or in connection with the second return spring without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to an embodiment of the device, the second catch comprises a receiving space for receiving an actuating element arranged to move in the receiving space. According to this embodiment, the actuating element is smaller in size than the second locker, which enables a reduction in the volume of the locker system, while improving the ergonomics of its use. In practice, the user may press the actuating element with the index finger and then move the second catch member with the thumb, the first contact surface being smaller than the second contact surface. Further, according to this embodiment, the second locker includes two lugs pressing the fixing ring, which are connected to each other by the connection portion. The two pressing lugs are better able to hold the securing ring when the actuating element unlocks the first catch piece.

According to one embodiment of the device, the actuating element comprises a pressing surface accessible from the outside and a pillar extending towards the cup and connected to a resilient element, which is located in the hollowed-out portion of the first catch piece, said pillar being provided with an actuating projection arranged to press against the first catch piece to pivot against said first return spring when the pillar moves against the resilient element towards the cup. Therefore, the latch system is compact.

Preferably, the latching system comprises a displacement guide for guiding the movement of the actuating element, in which the upright slides. For example, the displacement guide may be located on the cup or other element integral with the cup. Thereby, the sliding of the actuating element post is stably guided.

According to one embodiment of the device, the elastic element is selected from a spring, a metal dome or an elastomer.

According to one embodiment of the device, the cup includes a cup body and a base secured to a bottom of the cup body and carrying a latching system. In this embodiment, the securing ring may also be carried by the base, which then requires a more rigid fastening function for the base integration. This provides a greater degree of freedom in selecting the material from which the cup is made.

According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base incorporating a motor for driving rotation of a first coupling member, and a pre-assembly of a cup, a tool holder including a tool driven for rotation by a second coupling member leading to a lower surface of the tool holder and engaging the first coupling member when the pre-assembly is mounted to the base. In this embodiment, the pre-assembly may also integrate an electrical interface to the base to heat the food material in the cup and control the heating. The electrical interface is typically carried by the cartridge and includes electrical connection means to the base as known to those skilled in the art.

Drawings

The features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment based on the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of a pre-assembly of a food processor according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the blade holder and lower cup portion of the machine;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the tool holder with the latching system in an engaged position to lock the retaining ring;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge after a first unlocking step, wherein the first locking member has been unlocked from the retaining ring;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge after a second unlocking step, wherein the second locking member has been unlocked from the retaining ring;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the tool holder with the retaining ring raised to its open position and the tool holder removed;

fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the latching system.

Detailed Description

The examples on which the following description is based are stirring and mixing devices for preparing hot or cold liquid or pasty foods (e.g. soups or milkshakes), such devices being commonly referred to as "processors". In the following description, the terms "apparatus" and "food processor" are used synonymously.

In the remainder of the specification, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same features unless otherwise specified.

The device generally includes a base (not shown) on which the pre-assembly 300 is mounted. The base comprises in particular a motor driving the rotation of the first coupling member. As shown in fig. 1, the preassembly 300 is composed of a cup 10, a tool holder 20, and a fixing ring 30. The cup 10 includes an elongated shaped cup body 11, and the cup body 11 is provided with a handle 17 to operate the pre-assembly 300. The cup 10 also includes a bottom having an opening. In the illustrated embodiment, the base is secured to the cup body 11 and includes a base 12 and a shell 13 surrounding the base 12. In other embodiments, the base 12 and the housing 13 may be integrated in a single component. Furthermore, the bottom may also be integrated with the cup body 11 to form a single piece.

As shown in fig. 2, both the base 12 and the outer shell 13 have a generally cylindrical shape to form an opening in the bottom of the cup 10 that allows for receiving the tool holder 20. The tool holder 20 includes a tool 24, the tool 24 being driven in rotation by a second coupling 22 to the lower surface of the tool holder 20. The second coupling member 22 engages the first coupling member when the pre-assembly 300 is mounted on the base.

To secure the tool holder 20 to the cup 10, a securing ring 30 is pivotally mounted on the base 12. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1-7, the securing ring 30 includes an annular body and two ends extending radially outwardly from the annular body, a first end 32 ensuring that the securing ring 30 is pivotally mounted on the base 12, and a second end 34 intended to be restrained by a latching system 40, as described below. More precisely, as shown in fig. 2, the fixed ring 30 comprises two holes 321 at the first end 32 through which the third rotation shaft 51 passes, and the third return spring 50 is mounted on the third rotation shaft. The third shaft 51 is fixed to a shaft seat 52 provided on the base 12. The third return spring 50 is here a torsion spring and exerts a force on the stationary ring 30 that lifts it about the third rotational axis 51. The securing ring 30 includes a first hook fastener 36 at the second end 34 that extends toward the base 12.

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, the food processor includes a locking system 40, which locking system 40 is capable of locking the securing ring 30 such that the securing ring 30 ensures fastening of the tool holder 20 to the cup 10. In this embodiment, the latching system 40 is disposed on the base 12 and includes a first shaft 43 secured to the base 12. The latch system 40 includes a first latch member 41 and a second latch member 42 mounted to pivot about a first pivot shaft 43, respectively, and a first return spring 44 mounted to the first pivot shaft 43. The first return spring 44 is a torsion spring and includes a first end 441 connected to the first catch member 41 and a second end 442 connected to the second catch member 42. The first return spring 44 applies forces in opposite directions to the first latch piece 41 and the second latch piece 42, respectively. The latching system 40 further comprises an actuating element 46, which actuating element 46 is movable in a vertical direction and is connected to a resilient element 48, which resilient element 48 is here a spring, but may also be formed by a metal dome or an elastomer part.

As shown in fig. 3 and 7, the first catch piece 41 includes a second catch piece 412 that cooperates with the first catch piece 36 of the securing ring 30 to effect engagement of the securing ring 30 with the first catch piece 41. As best shown in fig. 2, the first catch member 41 further includes two wing portions 413 defining a hollowed out portion 411.

The second catch member 42 comprises a receiving space 426 for receiving the actuating element 46, the actuating element 46 being arranged for vertical movement in the receiving space 426. As shown in fig. 7, the second catch member 42 includes two adjacent first portions 421 and a second portion 422 connecting the two first portions 421 to define a receiving space 426. The actuating element 46 is arranged between the two first portions 421. Each first portion 421 is provided with a hole 425 for receiving the first shaft 43, and the first return spring 44 is sleeved on the first shaft 43. The second catch piece 42 further comprises two lugs 424 each extending from the first portion 421 towards the securing ring 30, arranged such that the lugs 424 press against the securing ring 30 when the second catch piece 42 is held in place by the first return spring 44.

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, the actuating element 46 comprises a pressing surface 461, which pressing surface 461 is located between the two first portions 421 of the second catch piece and is intended to be externally accessible. The actuating element 46 further comprises a post 462 extending towards the cup 10 and connected to the elastic element 48, the elastic element 48 being located in the hollowed out portion 411 of the first catch piece 41. The upright 462 is provided with an actuation tab 463 configured such that, when the upright 462 moves towards the cup 10 against the elastic element 48, the actuation tab 463 abuts against the two wings 413 of the first catch piece 41, so that it pivots against the force of the first return spring 44. The upright 462 is configured to slide in a displacement guide 121 formed in the base 12. In this embodiment, the post 462 includes two posts connected by a plate, with an actuation tab 463 formed on the plate. The displacement guide 121 comprises two hollow uprights or vertical runners capable of receiving the two posts of upright 462.

Fig. 3-6 illustrate various steps in the process of removing the tool holder 20 from the cup 10.

First, fig. 3 shows the pre-assembly 300 in an operative position, wherein the tool holder 20 is placed in an opening in the bottom of the cup 10 and secured to the cup 10 by means of the locking system 40 via the securing ring 30. More specifically, the retaining ring 30 is engaged with the first catch piece 41 by the engagement between the first and second catch pieces 36, 412 and with the second catch piece 42 by the lugs 424 abutting the second end 34 of the retaining ring 30. The actuating element 46 is in its rest position under the influence of the elastic element 48, the pressing surface 461 being flush with the first portion of the second catch piece 42.

To remove the tool holder 20, for example, for cleaning thereof, the latching system 40 must be unlocked to release the securing ring 30, so that the securing ring 30 is lifted under the action of the third return spring 50. For this purpose, in a first step, it is first necessary to press the pressing surface 461 of the actuating element 46, the actuating element 46 thus being moved towards the cup body 11 against the elastic element 48, the post of the upright 462 sliding in the hollow post of the movement guide 121. Thereby, the actuation boss 463 is pressed against the two wings 413 of the first catch piece 41, so that the first catch piece pivots about the first axis 43 against the first return spring 44. Thus, as shown in fig. 4, the second hook members 412 pivot outwardly away from the first hook members 36 of the retainer ring 30. However, since displacement of the actuating element 46 cannot cause the second latch member 42 to be unlocked from the fixed ring 30, and the force applied by the actuating element 46 to the first return spring 44 through the first latch member 41 is in the same direction as the force applied by the first return spring 44 to the second latch member 42, the force applied by the second latch member 42 is also enhanced. Thus, at this point the second catch piece 42 is still held by the first return spring 44 and the lugs 424 remain pressed against the securing ring 30. The first and second hooks 36, 412 are blocked from each other by their ends such that the actuating element 46 remains in place without moving back up.

Next, in a second step, the user must manually push the second catch piece 42 outwardly against the first return spring 44. Fig. 5 shows the pre-assembly 300 when the user has just pushed the second catch member 42, i.e. rotated the second catch member 42 about the first rotation axis 43 against the action of the first return spring 44. Since the lugs 424 no longer press against the securing ring 30, the securing ring 30 is completely unlocked, and is therefore pivoted about the third pivot shaft 51 under the action of the third return spring 50, so that its second end 34 is lifted upwards. Therefore, the second hook piece 412 of the first catch piece 41 is no longer blocked by the first hook piece 36 and will return to its original position under the action of the first return spring 44. The actuating element 46 will also return to its rest position under the influence of the elastic element 48.

Once the retaining ring 30 reaches its open position, as shown in FIG. 6, the tool holder 20 is externally accessible and can be disassembled and removed from the cup 10. The latching system 40 returns to its original position under the influence of the first return spring 44 and the resilient element 48. To secure the tool holder 20 to the cup 10, the user simply presses the securing ring 30 downward about the third pivot axis 51 against the third return spring 50 until it reaches a plane parallel to the bottom of the cup 10. In this position, the second end 34 of the securing ring 30 contacts and pushes it slightly outward against the second catch member 42. To facilitate this cooperation, the lower surface of the second end 34 and the upper surface of the lug 424 of the second catch piece 42 may be provided with a chamfer, respectively. The first catch piece 36 then engages with the second catch piece 412 of the first catch piece 41, so that the system locks directly. The second catch piece 42 is returned to its original position by means of the first return spring 44. In other words, the closing and fixing of the fixing ring 30 is achieved by only one action.

The above description of an embodiment of the device is not limiting and variants are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the second catch piece 42 may be mounted to pivot about a second pivot axis and/or be connected with a second return spring.

The first and second hook members may be replaced with other complementary shapes, such as protrusions and recesses.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, various modifications and variations may be made to the examples of the present invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that such modifications and variations remain within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cooking machine for mixing and stirring food material includes:

-a cup (10) comprising a bottom with an opening,

a tool holder (20) removably mounted in the bottom opening,

-a fixing ring (30) for fixing the tool holder (20) to the cup (10), the fixing ring (30) being pivotably mounted to the cup (10), and

-a locking system (40) for locking the securing ring (30) to the cup (10), comprising a first locking element (41), a second locking element (42), a first return spring (44), an actuating element (46) and a resilient element (48), the first locking element (41) and the second locking element (42) being pivotably mounted on the cup (10), the first locking element (41) being engaged with the securing ring (30) under the action of the first return spring (44) and being unlocked from the securing ring (30) under the action of the actuating element (46) when the actuating element (46) is moved against the resilient element (48);

characterized in that the second catch piece (42) holds the securing ring (30) under the action of the first return spring (44).

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the second catch piece (42) is held in place by the first return spring (44) throughout the stroke of the actuating element (46).

3. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing ring (30) is mounted pivotable on the cup (10) against a third return spring (50) which drives the securing ring (30) open when the securing ring (30) is unconstrained by the locking system (40).

4. The food processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing ring (30) comprises a first catch piece (36), the first catch piece (41) comprising a second catch piece (412) cooperating with the first catch piece (36) to effect engagement of the securing ring (30) with the first catch piece (41).

5. The food processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second catch piece (42) comprises a lug (424) extending towards the stationary ring (30) and arranged to press against the stationary ring (30) when the second catch piece (42) is held by the first return spring (44).

6. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking system (40) comprises a first rotation shaft (43) arranged to the cup (10), the first locking element (41) and the second locking element (42) being mounted to pivot around the first rotation shaft (43), the first return spring (44) being a torsion spring mounted on the first rotation shaft (43) and comprising a first end (441) connected to the first locking element (41) and a second end (442) connected to the second locking element (42).

7. The food processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second catch piece (42) comprises a receiving space (426) for receiving the actuating element (46), the actuating element being arranged to move in the receiving space (426).

8. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating element (46) comprises a pressing surface (461) accessible from the outside and a post (462) extending towards the cup (10) and connected to the elastic element (48), the elastic element being located in the hollowed out portion (411) of the first catch piece (41), the post (462) being provided with an actuating projection (463) arranged to press against the first catch piece (41) to pivot against the first return spring (44) when the post moves against the elastic element (48) towards the cup (10).

9. The food processor according to claim 8, wherein the latching system (40) comprises a displacement guide (121) for guiding the movement of the actuating element (46), in which the upright (462) slides.

10. The food processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic element (48) is selected from a spring, a metal dome or an elastomer.

11. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cup (10) comprises a cup body (11) and a base (12) fixed to the bottom of the cup body (12) and carrying the locking system (40).

12. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a base incorporating a motor for driving the rotation of a first coupling member, and a preassembly (300) consisting of the cup (10), the blade holder (20) and the stationary ring (30), the blade holder (20) comprising a blade (24) driven in rotation by a second coupling member (22), the second coupling member (22) opening onto the lower surface of the blade holder (20) and engaging with the first coupling member when the preassembly (300) is mounted on the base.