EP4387494A1

EP4387494A1 - Food preparation appliance, tool and cover of such an appliance

Info

Publication number: EP4387494A1
Application number: EP22769739.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Loïc FEVRE; Julien Bertrand
Original assignee: Hameur SA
Current assignee: Hameur SA
Filing date: 2022-08-31
Publication date: 2024-06-26

Abstract

The invention relates to a food preparation appliance (20) which is intended to produce fruit and/or vegetable juices from whole or sliced fruits and/or vegetables. This appliance (20) comprises: - a rotating electric motor (21) mechanically connected to at least one basket (22) having an internal space (23) delimited by cylindrical or conical peripheral walls of the basket, into which space the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced; and - a fixed tool (27) for collecting residue, comprising a ramp (28) positioned, permanently during the operation of the appliance, near the internal surface (29) of the basket, the ramp having, in the direction of rotation of the basket, an upward inclination towards an upper surface (30) of the internal space of the basket, so that the residue carried to the ramp by the basket rises up the ramp to exit the internal space of the basket.

Description

FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS, TOOL AND COVER FOR SUCH APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a food preparation device, a tool and a cover for such a device. It applies, in particular, to the field of appliances for domestic, professional or commercial catering.

STATE OF THE ART

An electric juicer or an electric citrus press extract juice from fruits, whole or cut, by means of a rotating tool driven by an electric motor, for example a cone or a grater. The juice thus produced then passes through a filter, in order to be rid of solid residues such as large pieces of pulp, pips or internal walls of the treated fruit.

In professional machines, the filter is rotating and has conical or cylindrical peripheral walls, in order to extract the juice by centrifugation. The yield is greatly increased by this compared to the simple fixed filters that can be encountered, for example, on the simplest citrus presses, where only gravity is involved, as is the case of the citrus press described in document FR 2 912 631 . This rotating filter, also called "basket" can be integral with the tool, for example a pressing cone, for example by forming a single mechanical part with this cone.

Document FR 2 912 631 describes such a juicer which does not comprise a basket, that is to say, as explained above, a rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical peripheral walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation. On the contrary, the filter, called "ejection member 90", "takes the form of a disc" (page 16, line 11). The side wall 63 of the internal volume of this juicer is fixed and has an opening 64 for ejecting waste through a "deflector member 93".

In the case of machines without a residue evacuation system, the rotating filters adopt a cylindrical shape with vertical walls. The disadvantage is that the residues remain trapped in the basket, the yield then gradually decreasing as they clog the filter, the machine in front of finally be regularly stopped to be able to empty the basket, otherwise it will overflow, causing losses and splashes.

To remedy this, many professional machines include a continuous residue evacuation system, thanks to a rotating filter adopting a very flared conical shape with oblique walls. The residue retained by the filter then rises along it under the effect of centrifugal force, until it overflows to fall, for example, into a residue collection tray.

However, some applications see their performance greatly reduced by this device, in which the juice produced will also tend to rise along the filter instead of passing through it, to finally be evacuated with the residues.

These applications therefore require the use of a filter with more slightly inclined or even vertical walls, which is incompatible with the continuous evacuation system for residues previously described.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

To this end, the present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a food preparation appliance, intended for the production of fruit and/or vegetable juices from whole or chopped fruits and/or vegetables, which comprises :

- a rotating electric motor mechanically connected to at least one basket, rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical peripheral walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation, this basket having an internal volume (23, 43) delimited by the cylindrical or conical peripheral walls of the basket, volume in which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced and provided with openings for the flow of juice, this basket rotating, in a direction of rotation, around an axis of rotation,

- a lower surface for receiving the juice flowing through the drain openings of the basket and

- a fixed residue recovery tool comprising a ramp positioned, permanently during operation of the device, close to the internal surface of the basket, this ramp having, in the direction of rotation of the basket, an upward inclination towards a surface upper part of the internal volume of the basket opposite the lower surface, so that the residues entrained by the basket as far as the ramp go up the ramp to exit the internal volume of the basket. Thanks to these provisions, fruit or vegetable residues do not accumulate on the surface of the basket, which avoids clogging of the juice flow openings with which the basket is fitted. The apparatus which is the subject of the invention can thus operate continuously by extracting the juice from numerous fruits or vegetables. Due to the fact that the tool is permanently in the device during its operation, there is no discontinuity in this operation and a very large quantity of fruit or vegetables can be processed, without having to interrupt the operation to empty the basket as is the case for appliances without residue evacuation systems.

In some embodiments, the basket comprises at least one residue driving surface exiting the ramp outside the internal volume of the basket.

Thus, the fruit or vegetable residues which have moved up the ramp under the effect of the rotation of the basket are drawn by the drive surface and can be collected.

In some embodiments, the basket comprises, on the periphery of its upper face, a collar for driving the residues guiding them outside the internal volume of the basket.

Thus, the fruit or vegetable residues which have come up the ramp under the effect of the rotation of the basket are drawn by the collar and, by the action of centrifugal force, are then ejected to be collected.

In some embodiments, the device further comprises a residue collection tray, the mouth of which is positioned outside the internal volume of the basket and close to the upper surface of the basket.

Thus, the collection tray collects fruit or vegetable residues that have gone up the ramp and which have been carried away by a surface or a drive collar. This collection tray allows subsequent treatment of these residues, for example with a view to their recovery or their disposal.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a cover supporting the fixed tool for recovering residues by positioning the ramp facing the internal surface of the basket at a predetermined distance, the cover having a chute of introduction of the fruits and/or vegetables opening into the internal volume of the basket, as well as the surfaces for guiding the residues towards the mouth of the collecting tray. Thus, the tool is supported by the cover, which avoids an independent fixed support. The disassembly and then the cleaning of the cover, of the tool and of the guide surfaces can thus be carried out jointly and simultaneously.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a movable pusher in the insertion chute of the lid, this pusher having an external shape corresponding to the shape of an internal wall of the chute, and a blocking means of a rotation of the pusher with respect to an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the basket.

Thus, the pusher is blocked in rotation by the means for blocking a rotation around an axis of the chute, and supports the torque necessary for the treatment of the fruit or vegetable, by preventing it from starting to rotate with Cart.

In embodiments, the chute has a wall supporting the residue recovery tool.

Thus, the residue recovery tool is incorporated into the lid.

In embodiments, the chute comprises a cylindrical or conical wall, this wall opening into the internal volume of the basket, in which there is at least one plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the basket and passing through the internal volume of the basket , whose intersection with this wall is non-circular.

Thus, the pusher is blocked in rotation by the chute, and supports the torque necessary to process the fruit or vegetable, preventing it from rotating with the basket.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for recovering residues from the extraction of fruit and/or vegetable juices from an apparatus which is the subject of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a cover of an apparatus which is the subject of the present invention.

The advantages, aims and particular characteristics of this recovery tool and of this cover being similar to those of the apparatus which is the subject of the invention, they are not repeated here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the non-limiting description which follows of at least one particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents, schematically, partially, and in view in vertical section, a first embodiment of the apparatus which is the subject of the invention,

Figure 2 represents, schematically, partially, and in view in vertical section perpendicular to the section of Figure 1, the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 represents, schematically, partially, and in top view, the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 represents, schematically, partially, in perspective view, a second particular embodiment of the apparatus which is the subject of the invention,

Figure 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the device shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of a cover object of the invention, and

Figure 7 represents, schematically, an evacuation of residues from a ramp of a cover via a basket flange.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

This description is given on a non-limiting basis, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner.

It is noted, as of now, that Figures 1 to 3 and 7 are not to scale but that Figures 4 to 6 are each to scale and that the scales of these Figures 4 to 6 may be different .

Throughout the description, what is called “internal” or “central” is what is close to or oriented towards an axis 25 of the device and, “external”, what is distant or oriented opposite to this axis. What is at the top in the figures is called "top" or "upper", these figures corresponding to the configuration of use of the device, gravity acting downwards in these figures. We call "bottom" or "lower" what is at the bottom in these figures. Heights are defined from bottom to top in these figures.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an apparatus 20 for preparing food, which makes fruit and/or vegetable juices from whole fruits and/or vegetables or in pieces.

The device 20 comprises, in the lower part, a rotating electric motor 21 which is connected by a mechanical connection 31, that is to say a shaft 31, to a basket 22. The basket 22 has an internal volume 23 delimited by cylindrical or conical peripheral walls of the basket, internal volume into which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced. The basket 22 is provided with openings 24 for the flow of juice. This basket 22 rotates, in a direction of rotation, around an axis of rotation 25. The apparatus 20 also comprises a lower surface 26 for receiving the juice flowing through the openings 24 for the flow of the basket 22. Although of course, peripheral walls of more rounded shapes, for example spherical, of the basket 22 are here assimilated to a succession of cylindrical or conical walls.

The device 20 also includes a fixed tool 27 for recovering fruit or vegetable residues. The tool 27 comprises a ramp 28 positioned, permanently during the operation of the device 20, close to an internal surface 29 of the basket 22. Viewed from above, in FIG. 3, the direction of rotation of the basket is anti - schedule, as indicated by the arrow in broken lines 34.

The ramp 28 has, in the direction of rotation of the basket 22, an upward inclination towards an upper surface 30 of the internal volume 23 of the basket 22. Consequently, the residues carried by the basket 22 up to the ramp 28 go up the ramp 28 to leave the internal volume 23 of the basket 22. The path of the residues on the ramp 28 is represented by the arrow in broken lines 33.

Note that the upper surface 30 is defined as the opening of the basket 22 located in the highest plane.

A drain 32 allows the juice to flow from the juice receiving surface 26 to a juice outlet outside the apparatus 20 or to a juice reservoir (not shown).

The section along which Figure 1 is made is the section A - A shown in Figure 3. The section along which Figure 2 is made is the section B - B shown in Figure 3.

It is observed, in Figures 4 to 7, a device 40 for preparing food, which produces fruit and / or vegetable juices from fruits and / or whole vegetables or pieces.

The device 40 comprises, in the lower part, a rotating electric motor (not shown) which is connected by a mechanical connection (not shown) to a basket 42. The basket 42 has an internal volume 43 delimited by cylindrical or conical peripheral walls of the basket, internal volume in which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced. The basket 42 is provided with openings (not shown) flow of juice. This basket 42 rotates, in a direction of rotation, around an axis of rotation 25. The device 40 also comprises a lower surface 46 for receiving the juice flowing through the flow openings of the basket 42.

The device 40 also includes a fixed tool 47 for recovering fruit or vegetable residues. The tool 47 comprises a ramp 48 positioned, permanently during the operation of the device 40, close to an internal surface 49 of the basket 42. Seen from above, the direction of rotation of the basket is anti-clockwise, so called counterclockwise as represented by the arrow 54.

The ramp 48 has, in the direction of rotation of the basket 42, an upward inclination towards an upper surface 50 of the internal volume 43 of the basket 42. Consequently, the residues carried by the basket 42 up to the ramp 48 go up the ramp 48 following the path symbolized by the arrow 53, to exit the internal volume 43 of the basket 42, following the path symbolized by the arrow 64.

Note that the upper surface 50 is defined as the opening of the basket 42 located in the highest plane.

A drain 52 allows the juice to flow from the juice receiving surface 46 to a juice outlet 55 outside the apparatus 50 or to a juice reservoir (not shown).

In addition to these elements, which have the characteristics of the corresponding elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, FIGS. 4 to 7 show a pressing cone 56 and a cover 57. In embodiments (not shown), the pressing cone is not integral with the basket 42, for example by not being formed in one piece with this basket or by not rotating at the same angular speed or in the same direction as the basket.

Preferably, and as in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pressing cone 56 is integral with the basket 42. For example, a single piece comprises the basket 42 and the pressing cone 56. According to a second example, the basket 42 and the pressing cone 56, made of two mutually removable mechanical parts, are integral by being driven by the same motor, at the same angular speed and in the same direction of rotation.

The pressing cone 56 receives the fruit or vegetable, typically half a citrus fruit, subjected to a downward force. Due to the rotation of the pressing cone 56, part of the juice contained by the fruit or vegetable is extracted therefrom. The cover 57 has a central chute 59 for introducing fruit and/or vegetables, which chute opens into the internal volume 43 of the basket 42. The fruit or vegetable to be pressed is pushed through the chute 59 towards the pressing cone 56. A pusher 60, held by hand or mounted on a lever (not shown), allows the application of the pressing force on the fruit or vegetable.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the basket 42 comprises at least one drag surface 61 for the residues leaving the ramp 48 outside the internal volume 43 of the basket 42, following the path symbolized by the arrow 64.

In this embodiment, the basket 42 comprises, on the periphery of its upper face, a collar 62 for driving the residues guiding them outside the internal volume 43 of the basket 42, following the path symbolized by the arrow 69.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the residues go up the ramp 48 following the path symbolized by the arrow 53, they approach the lower surface 63 of the cover 57 and are pushed outwards along the path symbolized by the arrow 64. They then reach the drive collar 62 and, when passing the drive surface 61, are driven on this collar 62.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the lid 57 supports the fixed tool 47 for recovering residues by positioning the ramp 48 opposite the internal surface 49 of the basket 42 at a predetermined distance, for example included, to the substantially vertical walls, between zero and ten millimeters and for the lower wall, between one and twenty millimeters. The lid 57 has surfaces 66 for guiding the residues towards the mouth 65 of a collection tank 58 for the residues. This mouth 65 is positioned outside the internal volume 43 of the basket 42 and close to the upper surface of the basket 42.

Due to the centrifugal force, when these residues driven by the collar 62 arrive opposite the opening of the collecting tank 58, they are ejected into this collecting tank 58, following the path symbolized by the arrow 70.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the chute 59 for introducing the lid 57 comprises a cylindrical or conical wall 68, this wall being positioned in the internal volume 43 of the basket 42 and supporting the tool 47 for recovering residues. In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 7, there is at least one plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 25 of the basket 42 and passing through the internal volume 43 of the basket 42, the intersection of which with this wall is not circular. In addition, the pusher 60 has an external shape complementary to the cylindrical or conical wall 68 of the chute 59 for introducing the cover 57. In other words, the device 40 comprises a fixed cover 57 provided with a ramp 48 forming a scraper, which scrapes the inner edge of the rotating filter, or basket 42. This ramp 48 is inclined so that the residues, naturally entrained by the rotation of the basket 42, go up along this ramp 48 until they are caught by rotating blades 61 fixed to the upper part of the basket 42. The fixed cover 57 has an opening 67 through which the residues are then evacuated under the effect of centrifugal force, to fall back into the collection tray 58 located at the rear of the device 40.

Other explanations and alternative embodiments of the apparatus and of the cover which are the subject of the invention are given below.

In alternative embodiments, a locking means (not shown), for example a lever, prevents any rotation of the pusher 60 with respect to an axis parallel to the axis 25 of rotation of the basket 42. The pusher being locked in rotation by this blocking means, it supports the torque necessary for the treatment of the fruit or vegetable, preventing it from rotating with the basket 42.

Note that the ramp, 28 or 48, does not need to protrude from the internal volume 23 or 43 for the technical effect to be obtained. Indeed, the first role of this ramp, 28 or 48, is to take off the residues from the surfaces of the internal volume 23 or 43 to bring these residues up until they are taken over by drive means, for example blades , which can overflow inside the internal volume 23 or 43 if the residues do not overflow by themselves.

The distance between the side edge of the ramp and the substantially vertical inner surface of the basket is as small as possible to maximize the scraping effect of this surface of the basket.

It is noted that each surface for entraining the residues leaving the ramp outside the internal volume 23 or 43 of the basket can take different forms, for example blades, handles or projecting surfaces.

The present invention also relates to a tool and a lid configured to be used in a predetermined culinary preparation appliance comprising

- a rotating electric motor 21 mechanically connected to at least one basket 22 or 42, rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical peripheral walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation, this basket having an internal volume 23 or 43 delimited by the cylindrical peripheral walls or conical sections of the basket, volume in which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced and provided with openings 24 of juice flow, this rotating basket, in a direction of rotation, around an axis of rotation 25 and

- A lower surface 26 or 46 for receiving the juice flowing through the basket flow openings. The person skilled in the art knows, starting from this predetermined device, and in particular from all of its geometrical dimensions, that the tool and the cover that are the objects of the present invention are unambiguously produced.

Claims

1 . Apparatus (20, 40) for preparing food, intended for the production of fruit and/or vegetable juice from whole or chopped fruit and/or vegetables, which comprises:

- a rotating electric motor (21) mechanically connected to at least one basket (22, 42), rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical peripheral walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation, this basket having an internal volume (23, 43) delimited by the cylindrical or conical peripheral walls of the basket, volume in which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced and provided with openings (24) for the flow of juice, this basket rotating, in a direction of rotation, around a axis of rotation (25) and

- a lower surface (26, 46) for receiving the juice flowing through the basket's flow openings; characterized in that it further comprises:

- a fixed tool (27, 47) for recovering residue comprising a ramp (28, 48) positioned, permanently during operation of the device, close to the internal surface (29, 49) of the basket, ramp having , in the direction of rotation of the basket, an upward inclination towards an upper surface (30, 50) of the internal volume of the basket opposite the lower surface, so that the residues carried by the basket up to the ramp go up the ramp to out of the internal volume of the basket.

2. Apparatus (20, 40) according to claim 1, wherein the basket (22, 42) comprises at least one driving surface (61) of the residues leaving the ramp outside the internal volume of the basket.

3. Apparatus (20, 40) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the basket (22, 42) comprises, on the periphery of its upper face (30, 50), a collar (62) for driving the residues guiding them outside the internal volume (23, 43) of the basket.

4. Apparatus (40) according to one of claims 1 to 3, which further comprises a residue collection tank (58) whose mouth (65) is positioned outside the internal volume (43) of the basket (42) and close to the upper surface (50) of the basket.

5. Apparatus (40) according to claim 4, which further comprises a cover (57) supporting the fixed tool (47) for recovering residues by positioning the ramp (48) facing the internal surface (49) of the basket (42) at a predetermined distance, the lid having a chute (59) for introducing the fruits and/or vegetables opening into the internal volume of the basket, as well as surfaces (66) for guiding the residues towards the mouth (65) of the drip tray (58).

6. Apparatus (40) according to claim 5, which further comprises a pusher (60) movable in the chute (59) for introducing the cover (57), this pusher having an external shape corresponding to the shape of an internal wall (68) of the chute (59), and a means for blocking a rotation of the pusher with respect to an axis parallel to the axis of rotation (25) of the basket (22, 42).

7. Apparatus (40) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the chute (59) has a wall (68) supporting the tool (47) for recovering residues.

8. Apparatus (40) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the chute (59) has a cylindrical or conical wall (68), this wall opening into the internal volume of the basket (42), in which there is at least one plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (25) of the basket and passing through the internal volume (43) of the basket, the intersection of which with this wall is non-circular.

9. Apparatus (40) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the basket (42) is integral with a pressing cone (56).

10. Apparatus (40) according to claim 9, wherein a single mechanical part comprises the basket (42) and the pressing cone (56).

11 . Tool (27, 47) for recovering fruit and/or vegetable juice extraction residue configured for a predetermined food preparation appliance (20, 40), intended for the production of fruit and/or vegetable juice from fruit and/or vegetables whole or in pieces, apparatus comprising a rotating electric motor (21) mechanically connected to at least one basket (22, 42), rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical peripheral walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation, this basket having a internal volume (23, 43) delimited by the cylindrical or conical walls of the basket, internal volume into which the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced and provided with openings (24) for the flow of juice, this rotating basket, in one direction rotation, around an axis of rotation (25); tool characterized in that it comprises a ramp (28, 48) positioned, permanently during operation of the device, close to the internal surface (29, 49) of the basket, this ramp having, in the direction of rotation of the basket, an upward inclination towards an upper surface (30, 50) of the internal volume of the basket opposite the lower surface, so that the residues carried by the basket to the ramp move up the ramp to exit the internal volume of the basket .

12. Lid (57) configured for a device (40) for the preparation of predetermined food, intended for the production of fruit and/or vegetable juices from fruits and/or whole or cut vegetables, device comprising a motor electrical (21) rotating mechanically connected to at least one basket (22, 42), rotating filter comprising conical or cylindrical walls allowing the extraction of juice by centrifugation, this basket having an internal volume (23, 43) delimited by the walls cylindrical or conical of the basket, volume where the fruits and/or vegetables are introduced and provided with openings (24) for the flow of juice, this basket rotating, in a direction of rotation, around an axis of rotation (25) ; cover characterized in that it supports a fixed tool (47) for recovering residues which comprises a ramp (48), the cover positioning the ramp (48) opposite the internal surface (49) of the basket (42) at a predetermined distance, close to the internal surface (49) of the basket, ramp having, in the direction of rotation of the basket, an upward inclination towards an upper surface (30, 50) of the internal volume of the basket opposite the lower surface, of so that the residues carried by the basket up the ramp go up the ramp to exit the internal volume of the basket; the cover having a chute (59) for introducing fruit and/or vegetables opening into the internal volume of the basket, and surfaces (66) for guiding the residue towards the mouth (65) of the collecting tray (58).