EP1700676A1 - Cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device to divide and portion the food or other substance (4) has a base body (1) a laying surface (1.1) on which the mass is positioned, a lengthwise axis (6) running parallel to the laying surface, a dividing unit (3) with a dividing means (3.4) fixable on the dividing unit. The dividing means can be moved along a cutting plane (5) through at least one part of the substance. The dividing means is fixed to the dividing unit in such a way as to be either slid and/or pivoted along a plane running at right angles to the lengthwise axis.

Description

The invention relates to a device for household use for separating and portioning a mass with a base body with a bearing surface on which the mass is positionable, a parallel to the bearing surface extending longitudinal axis, a translationally adjustable on the main body separation unit with a separating means attached to the separation unit wherein the separating means is movable along a cutting plane through at least part of the mass. For this purpose, the separating means is displaceable and / or pivotably mounted on the separating unit along a plane extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis.

It is already a manual separator for cheese from the WO 89/06183 known. This device has a movable arm in which a wire is stretched. The wire is guided by the arm over the support surface for the cheese, ie the wire moves parallel to the support surface from one side of the support surface to an opposite or adjacent side of the support surface. The thickness of the cheese slice is dependent on the distance of the wire to the support surface. The disadvantage here is that the thickness of the disc is not adjustable and the device must be held during cutting.

The US 2,144,557 shows a generic device for household use for separating and portioning a mass with the features of the preamble of claim 1. The bracket (member 3) is via a sleeve (rolled over portion 12) slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the body via a bearing rod (member 2). With the aim to ensure an exact and repeatable portioning, the operation of this generic device, especially for elderly people is extremely difficult.

The general technical object underlying the present invention is to design a device for household use for separating and portioning a mass in such a way that precise and at the same time individual portioning of the mass is possible.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the separation unit is mounted on the base body via a feed unit with a manually operable, rotatable drive and with the aid of the feed unit a translational adjustment of the separation unit and / or the release agent is ensured in at least one direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

This ensures that the feed is individually adjustable and at the same time can be easily and accurately metered via a corresponding designed as a feed mechanism. The mechanism of the feed unit translates a rotary motion on a drive designed as a knob, for example, into a linear movement, wherein the transmission ratio of the angle of rotation of the drive to the longitudinal displacement of the separating unit is greater, smaller or equal to one depending on the design. The design of the feed unit thus creates the possibility of setting the thickness of the slice to be separated individually as well as repeatably exactly in terms of its thickness.

It is also advantageous that the feed unit has at least one guide rod arranged parallel to the bearing surface and at least one displaceably mounted on the guide rod bearing part, via which the separation unit is mounted translationally displaceable on the base body.

In this case, it is advantageously provided that the feed unit has an adjusting screw with a rotation axis arranged at right angles to the guide rod, which is so indirectly or directly positively and / or positively connected to the guide rod that the bearing part is displaced by turning the adjusting screw. The management staff is not moved.

Alternatively, it is advantageous that the guide rod has an external thread and is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and the bearing part such medium or direct non-positively and / or positively connected to the guide rod in connection that the bearing member is moved by rotating the guide rod.

With regard to the adjustment of the separation unit, it is advantageous that the adjusting screw and / or the guide rod are mounted self-locking against rotation, wherein the self-locking is generated by a thread and / or by friction. As a result, a defined for the operator sensible adjustment is possible, wherein the set level does not adjust during the cutting process. This also avoids that the release agent runs during the cutting process in the mass.

In connection with the design and arrangement according to the invention, it is advantageous that the adjusting screw and / or the guide rod are so medium or directly connected to a locking element that the screw after rotation about the axis of rotation and / or the guide rod after rotation to the axis of rotation about one or several identical or different angular amounts locks. Such a raster makes it possible to cut very thin slices of always the same thickness.

It is further advantageous that the adjusting screw is rotatably mounted in the bearing part via at least one rotationally symmetrical first bearing surface to the rotational axis and has a rotationally symmetrical drive surface adjoining the bearing surface in the direction of the rotational axis. As a result, a frictional power transmission is made possible by the feed unit is adjustable.

Moreover, it is advantageous that the adjusting screw has one of the first bearing surface with respect to the drive surface opposite second bearing surface and is rotatably supported in the bearing part via the second bearing surface. The two-sided mounting of the adjusting screw allows a symmetrical and therefore more exact power transmission from the adjusting screw to the guide rod.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the drive surface is frictionally connected to the guide rod via a coaxial with the drive surface on the drive surface arranged elastomeric ring. As a result, an expensive and complex teeth, as they would also be used for power transmission between the screw and the guide rod, avoided.

It is advantageous that the locking element is mounted displaceably in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation in the bearing part and biased in the direction of displacement with a spring force.

Finally, it is advantageous that at least one of the bearing surfaces one or more holes or depressions has, in which engages the locking element by means of the spring bias. The screening provides the user thereby defined positions of the screw because the locking element engages defined by the spring preload engages in the holes. The adjusting screw transfers the grid to the separation unit.

It is advantageous for this purpose also that the guide rod has a rotary knob and the knob is provided in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation slidably mounted and biased with a spring force locking element. As a result, the locking device is integrated to save space in the knob.

Alternatively, it is advantageous that the base body bores or depressions, in which engages the latching element. This configuration is preferably used when using a guide rod with external thread, since the guide rod is already stored in the body and the knob is attached directly to the guide rod.

Further, it is advantageous that the bracket with the aid of a bearing head is mounted directly on the guide rod or on a bolt pivotally. The bracket is in the first case as part of the separation unit not indirectly on the bearing part on the guide rod, but stored directly on this. As a result, an exchange of the bracket without the dismantling of the bearing part is possible.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the main body has a receptacle for a coolant, such as a cooling battery. With the separator, it is possible to store the mass cooled as, for example, butter, to ensure the cutting process even at critical ambient temperatures.

In addition, it is advantageous that a cover is provided which covers the main body, the feed unit and the separation unit and the recording. The device thus serves at the same time as a receptacle for the mass to be cut and is formed, for example, as a butter dish or cheese bell.

Of particular importance for the present invention is that the separation unit or the separation means is biased with respect to the movement about the pivot axis by means of a spring. This ensures that the release agent in the form of a cutting wire or a blade by means of the spring force into the mass in or out of the mass is led out. The user sets in the first case the bracket with the cutting wire or the blade and waits until the release agent has worked through the mass and the cut disc is available. In the latter case, the user presses the release agent through the mass and after the separation process, the cutting wire or the blade is automatically pivoted upwards again by means of the spring force.

It is also advantageous that the separation unit has a bracket on which the release agent is fixed, and the bracket by an angle α between 0 and 120 degrees, in particular between 0 and 80 degrees, about a pivot axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis pivotable or in one Direction is mounted at right angles to the bearing surface slidably mounted on the separation unit. This ensures that the cutting movement can take place in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface, wherein the bracket is guided from above the mass. In such a substantially vertically extending from top to bottom cutting guide is required for cutting force thus transferred to the edition on which the body is. It is not necessary to hold the body during cutting.

An additional possibility is according to a development that the release agent is designed as a cutting wire, a knife blade or cutting disc. Depending on their width and height, knife blades have the advantage that the cut disc does not stick back to the cut surface immediately after the cutting process. Furthermore, knife blades can have a curvature, by which the cut slice is transferred to the bearing surface after the cut.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Trennen von Butter oder Käse mit zwei Führungsstäben;

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1;

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2;

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß Schnittführung A-A';

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorschubeinheit mit reibschlüssigem Antrieb;

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorschubeinheit gemäß Schnittführung B-B';

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Trennen von Butter mit einem Führungsstab mit Außengewinde;

Figur 8

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorschubeinheit gemäß Schnittführung C-C'.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the patent claims and in the description and illustrated in the figures. It shows:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of an apparatus for separating butter or cheese with two guide rods;

FIG. 2

a side view of a device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3

a plan view of a device according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4

a side view of a device according to section A-A ';

FIG. 5

a side view of a feed unit with frictional drive;

FIG. 6

a side view of a feed unit according to cut B-B ';

FIG. 7

a side view of a device for separating butter with a guide rod with external thread;

FIG. 8

a side view of a feed unit according to cut C-C '.

Fig. 1 shows a device for separating a mass 4 such as. Butter or cheese with a base 1, on which the mass 4 is mounted. The butter 4 is separated or cut by means of a separating unit 3, which is displaceably mounted on the base body 1. For this purpose, a manually operated feed unit 2 is provided, which is movable relative to the base body 1 by rotating a drive 2.7, 2.12 and on which the separation unit 3 is pivotally mounted. The feed unit 2 acts frictionally and / or positively, so that on the one hand a sensible adjustment and on the other hand a clear adjustment in a defined position. Because of the frictional and / or positive action, the operator is sensitized to the degree of adjustment, since a certain torque has to be generated, and at the same time a gradual adjustment can take place due to the frictional and / or positive-locking action.

The main body 1 has a longitudinal axis 6, to which the feed unit 2 is mounted displaceably in parallel. The separation unit 3 is pivotally mounted on the feed unit 2 about a pivot axis 7 arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 6, in a sectional plane 5 which is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis 6. The separation unit 3 consists essentially of a bracket 3.3, by means of which a release agent 3.4 such as. A wire is stretched. In one not shown embodiment, the separation unit 3 is formed by a pivotally mounted on the feed unit 2 blade.

The feed unit 2 is driven by means of a set screw 2.2 with a rotary knob 2.7, which is described, for example. In Figs. 5 and 6 in detail and non-positively in operative connection with at least one of the two guide rods 2.1, 2.1 '. Although the diameter of the knob 2.7 does not affect the described gear ratio, but serves to adjust the torque required for the rotation of the screw 2.2.

The main body 1 additionally has a receptacle 1.3, in which, in the event that the mass to be cut 4 must be cooled, a cooling battery can be used. The cooling battery is inserted in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 in the base body 1 and locked by a mechanism not shown with the base body. 1

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the feed unit 2 has two guide rods 2.1, 2.1 'with a cylindrical surface. The guide rods 2.1, 2.1 'are screwed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 in each case frontally on the base body 1. For this purpose, the base body 1, which is formed of thin, sheet-like material such as. Sheet metal or plastic, a working space 1.4, in which the feed unit 2 is arranged and movable. The working space 1.4 is limited by four side parts, with respect to the longitudinal axis 6 front and rear side part 1.5, 1.6 with the guide rods 2.1, 2.1 'is connected. The front and rear side part 1.5, 1.6 serves simultaneously in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 as a stop for the feed unit. 2

The bracket 3.3 or the blade is mounted on a bearing head 3.2 about the pivot axis 7 pivotally mounted on a sliding part as a bearing part 2.4 of the feed unit 2. As shown in section A-A 'in Fig. 4, the upper of the two guide rods 2.1, 2.1' serves as a bearing for the bearing head 3.2. The bearing head 3.2 and the slider 2.4 are guided by the guide rod 2.1 '. The bearing head 3.2 serves as a tensioning means for the trained as a wire release agent 3.4, which is suspended as shown at a strap end and clamped at the other end of the bracket on the bearing head 3.2 by means of a screw 3.1.

As shown in Fig. 5 and in the sectional view B-B 'shown in FIG. 6, slides the slider 2.4 on the two guide rods 2.1, 2.1'. The slider 2.4 has a recess 2.15 for the bearing head 3.2, which is also slidably mounted on the guide rod 2.1 '. In the slider 2.4, the adjusting screw 2.2 is slidably mounted about a rotation axis 2.6. The adjusting screw 2.2 can be operated manually via the rotary knob 2.7 and has a first bearing surface 2.8 and a second bearing surface 2.10. Between the two bearing surfaces 2.8, 2.10 a drive surface 2.9 is provided in the axial direction of the axis of rotation 2.6, the diameter of which is reduced relative to the bearing surfaces 2.8, 2.10.

On the surface of the bearing surface 2.8 a plurality of evenly distributed holes in the circumferential direction are 2.14 introduced, in which a mounted in the slider 2.4 locking element can engage 2.13. The second bearing surface 2.10 is provided on a head 2.2a of the adjusting screw 2.2, the for adjusting and mounting the adjusting screw 2.2 adjustable in the axial direction and is removable from the adjusting screw 2.2. For this purpose, the head 2.2a of the adjusting screw 2.2 is attached to the adjusting screw 2.2 via a threaded connection (not shown) or a prestressed plug connection.

On the drive surface 2.9 an elastomeric ring 2.11 is provided which is frictionally seated on the lower guide rod 2.1. The frictional engagement causes the feed unit 2 to be moved along the guide rods 2.1, 2.1 'when the adjusting screw 2.2 is rotated about the axis of rotation 2.6. The amount of displacement of the feed unit 2 and the slider 2.4 can be effected in this embodiment by the locking element 2.13, which is mounted in a sliding direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 6 in the slider 2.4 and against the bearing surface 2.8 by means of a pressure or tension spring, not shown is biased. If necessary, the latching element 2.13 is pressed into the respective bore 2.14 by the spring force, so that further rotation of the adjusting screw 2.2 is possible only over one resistance. As soon as the next hole 2.14 is reached, the locking element engages 2.13 again. Depending on the dimensions of the distances of the holes 2.14 and the outer diameter of the elastomeric ring 2.11 a stepwise adjustment of the separation unit 3 and thus of the release agent 3.4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 is achieved.

The upper guide rod 2.1 'is used exclusively to guide the slider 2.4 so that it does not pivot about the axis of symmetry of the lower guide rod 2.1.

An individual adjustment of the disc thickness or the step length of the separation unit 3 in one rotation the adjusting screw 2.2 is achieved in that the locking element is disabled 2.13 and the screw 2.2 is self-locking stored in the feed unit 2. A rotation of the screw 2.2 by a certain angle has a certain displacement of the separation unit 3 result. This geometry determines the gear ratio from rotation to translational motion. Due to the self-locking of the screw 2.2 is achieved that the set level during the separation process is not easily adjusted and the operator is sensitized.

In Figs. 7 and 8, a separating device is shown, in which the slider 2.4 is driven by a guide rod 2.1, which has an external thread 2.3. The external thread 2.3 engages in a not-shown internal thread in a through hole of the slider 2.4, wherein the through hole extends coaxially to a rotation axis 2.5 of the guide rod 2.1, which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 6. The slider 2.4 is in a direction parallel to the cutting plane 5 via two provided on the base body 1, parallel to the longitudinal axis 6 extending webs 1.7, 1.8 slidably guided so that the slider 2.4 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis 2.5 over the entire length of the guide rod 2.1 a stable position having.

In the axial direction of the axis of rotation 2.5, this is connected to a rotary knob 2.12, by means of which the guide rod 2.1 is rotated and the separation unit 3 is adjusted via the external thread 2.3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6.

Also in this embodiment, a screening provided, which are effected by the locking element 2.13 can. The locking element 2.13 is mounted parallel to the axis of rotation 2.5 slidably and biased in the axial direction in the knob 2.12. The locking element 2.13 engages in holes 1.2 in the base body 1 and in the side part 1.5 a. The holes 1.2 are arranged on a circular path, through the center of the axis of rotation 2.6 of the knob 2.7 runs. The guide rod 2.1 is mounted in a respective bore in the side parts 1.5, 1.6 of the base body 1, wherein the holes are arranged coaxially to the center of the circular path of the holes 1.2 for screening.

Also in relation to this embodiment with a guide rod 2.1 with external thread 2.3 is provided in a variant, not shown, self-locking form the external thread 2.3 and to dispense with the locking element 2.13 and the holes 1.2 and the locking element 2.13 as well as in the former embodiment deactivate. The self-locking can alternatively be achieved by a close fit of the bearing of the guide rod 2.1, without forming the external thread 2.3 self-locking. By appropriate choice of material of the bearing of the guide rod 2.1 this is frictionally secured against rotation and thus secured the feed unit 2 in the set position.

Because only one guide rod 2.1 is provided in this embodiment, the bearing head 3.2 of the separation unit 3 is mounted on a bolt 3.5, which is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation 2.5.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 2 to 8, a support element 1.9 is provided on the bearing surface 1.1, to which the mass 4 or the piece of butter can be applied. The support element 1.9 simultaneously forms a conclusion for a cover, not shown, which covers the mass 4, the feed unit 2 and the separation unit 3.

Claims (12)

Device for household use for separating and portioning a mass (4) with a) a base body (1) with a bearing surface (1.1) on which the mass (4) can be positioned, b) a longitudinal axis (6) running parallel to the bearing surface (1.1), c) one on the base body (1) translationally adjustable separation unit (3) aa) a release means (3.4) attached to the separation unit (3), wherein the separating means (3.4) is movable along a cutting plane (5) through at least part of the mass (4), d) the separating means (3.4) is displaceably and / or pivotally mounted on the separating unit (3) along a plane extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis (6),
characterized ,
that
the separation unit (3) via a feed unit (2) with a manually operable rotatable drive (2.7, 2.12) is mounted on the main body (1) and with the aid of the feed unit (2) a translational adjustment of the separation unit (3) and / or Release agent (3.4) is ensured in at least one direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (6). Device according to claim 1,
characterized ,
in that the feed unit (2) has at least one guide rod (2.1) arranged parallel to the bearing surface (1.1) and at least one bearing part (2.4) displaceably mounted on the guide rod (2.1), via which the separation unit (3) is mounted so as to be translationally displaceable on the base body (1) is. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized ,
in that the feed unit (2) has an adjusting screw (2.2) with a rotation axis (2.6) arranged at right angles to the guide rod (2.1), which in such a way communicates directly or positively with the guide rod (2.1) Turn the adjusting screw (2.2) to move the bearing part (2.4). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
that the guide rod (2.1) having an external thread (2.3) and is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (2.5) and the bearing part (2.4) medium in such a manner directly or indirectly non-positively and / or positively in communication with the guide rod (2.1) that by rotating the guide rod (2.1), the bearing part (2.4) is moved. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized ,
that the adjusting screw (2.2) and / or the guide rod (2.1) are mounted self-locking against rotation, wherein the self-locking is generated by a thread and / or by friction. Apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5,
characterized ,
in that the adjusting screw (2.2) and / or the guide rod (2.1) are connected directly or indirectly to a detent element (2.13) such that the adjusting screw (2.2) after rotation about the axis of rotation (2.6) and / or the guide rod (2.1 ) engages after rotation about the rotation axis (2.5) by one or more equal or different angular amounts. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6,
characterized ,
in that the adjusting screw (2.2) is rotatably mounted in the bearing part (2.4) via at least one first bearing surface (2.8) rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (2.6) and a rotationally symmetrical driving surface (2.9) adjoining the bearing surface (2.8) in the direction of the rotational axis (2.6). having. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7,
characterized ,
that the adjusting screw (2.2) has a first bearing surface (2.8) with respect to the drive surface (2.9) opposite the second bearing face (2.10) and is supported on the second bearing face (2.10) rotatably in the bearing part (2.4). Device according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized ,
that the drive surface (2.9) is a arranged coaxially with the drive surface (2.9) on the drive surface (2.9) elastomer ring (2.11) frictionally engaged with the guide rod (2.1) connectable. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized ,
in that the latching element (2.13) is displaceably mounted in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation (2.6) in the bearing part (2.4) and is preloaded in the direction of displacement by a spring force. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10,
characterized ,
in that at least one of the bearing surfaces (2.8, 2.10) has one or more bores (2.14) or recesses into which the latching element (2.13) engages with the aid of the spring preload. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
that the guide rod (2.1) has a rotary knob (2.12) and in the rotary knob (2.12) is provided in a direction parallel to the rotation axis (2.5) slidably mounted and biased by a spring force locking element (2.13).

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