GB2293754A

GB2293754A - Improvements in or relating to food processing apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2293754A
Application number: GB9523778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Saburo Suzuki
Original assignee: SANYEI ELECTRIC CO
Current assignee: SANYEI ELECTRIC CO
Priority date: 1995-11-21
Filing date: 1995-11-21
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Also published as: GB9523778D0

Abstract

A portable food grater (10), for example, for cheese, has a substantially hollow grating compartment (42), for receiving the cheese to be grated which has a first open end (48) through which grated cheese is to be dispensed, a grating disc (44) mounted in the grating compartment (42) for rotation about a rotation shaft (72), and a pusher (40) extending into the grating compartment through a second open end (50) thereof arranged to push cheese to be grated into contact with the grating disc (44). The rotation shaft (72) of the grating disc extends through the pusher (40) into engagement with a motor received within a housing (18) whereby the grating disc (44) is rotated. It has been found that the use of a rotatable grating disc (44) enables fine particles of cheese to be dispensed. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the grating process is enhanced by resiliently mounting the pusher (40) to be reciprocable along the longitudinal axis of the grating compartment, and by preventing rotation of the pusher (40) within the grating compartment (42). A key (62) is provided to prevent rotation of the pusher (40) and acts also to prevent rotation of the cheese relative to the grating compartment (42). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOD PROCESSING APPARATUS The present invention relates to food processing apparatus in general and to a portable food grater in particular.

It is often required to sprinkle grated cheese, for example, over a prepared dish of food. It has been proposed to provide a portable cheese grater to grate and discharge the cheese where required in a single operation, but the devices presently available are not entirely satisfactory. Thus, powered graters are now available but these generally employ a rotatable grating drum thereby aping previously available hand operated designs. Furthermore, the presently available graters generally shred or cut, rather than grate, the cheese.

As a result, the particles of cheese discharged are not rendered sufficiently fine.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a food grater in which the identified problems of prior devices are alleviated.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable food grater comprising a substantially hollow grating compartment for receiving food to be grated, said compartment having first and second open ends which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the compartment, the first open end defining an outlet for food grated in said compartment, a grating disc mounted in said grating compartment for rotation about said longitudinal axis, and a pusher extending into said grating compartment through said second open end for urging food to be grated into contact with said grating disc.

It has been found that the use of a grating disc, rather than a grating drum or cooperating knives, enables fine particles of the food to be prepared.

Preferably, the pusher is resiliently mounted to be reciprocable along the longitudinal axis of the grating compartment. The pusher preferably comprises a pushing surface for contacting the food to be urged towards the grating disc. Said pushing surface is preferably substantially planar and is arranged to face a substantially planar grating surface of the grating disc. In a preferred embodiment, the pushing surface and the grating surface extend substantially parallel to one another.

In a preferred embodiment, rotation of said pusher within said grating compartment is prevented. For example, a key carried by one of the grating compartment and the pusher is engaged within a keyway in the other of the pusher and the grating compartment.

Preferably, means are provided for preventing the rotation of food in said grating compartment. Said anti-rotation means may comprise one or more projections carried by said compartment and extending therein.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the pushing surface of said pusher may carry a plurality of steps thereon.

In an embodiment, said pushing surface of the pusher is substantially circular and is formed to have a plurality of radially extending steps thereon. As the pushing surface is generally arranged to be non-rotatable, these radially extending steps act to prevent the rotation of food within the grating compartment. This assists in making the grating operation undertaken by the grating disc effective.

In a preferred embodiment, the key for preventing rotation of said pusher comprises a longitudinally extending projection which extends radially within said grating compartment and is received within a radially extending slot in said pusher. In this embodiment, the projection not only prevents rotation of said pusher but also acts to prevent rotation of food within the grating compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, said grating disc comprises a substantially circular, planar disc having a plurality of cutting members carried on one surface, the grating surface, thereof. To improve the effectiveness of the grating operation, in general, each cutting member is centred on a unique circular track of said grating disc.

The arrangement of the cutting members on unique tracks of the grating disc means that a circular line at a specified radial distance of the grating disc will only pass through the centre of one cutting member although it may pass through off-centre portions of a number of cutting members. This improves the effectiveness of the grating procedure as it reduces the risk that a portion of food will be able to rotate relative to the grating disc without coming into contact with cutting edges.

In one preferred embodiment, each cutting member carried by the grating disc comprises a hole having a serrated or toothed periphery. For example, each said hole may be circular in shape. Additionally and/or alternatively, each hole may carry upstanding blades.

Whilst the grating disc is substantially planar, it preferably has an upstanding peripheral flange.

Preferably, said grating disc carries a rotation shaft which extends substantially perpendicular to the grating surface thereof and is fixed to the central part of the grating disc.

Preferably, the grating compartment of the portable food grater is carried by a hollow body member in which a motor is housed. The motor is arranged, when required, to rotate the grating disc.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotation shaft of the grating disc extends through the pusher into the body member of the food grater and into engagement with the motor for rotation thereby.

Preferably, for portability, the motor is battery powered and one or more batteries are housed within the food grater body member. In an embodiment, a resiliently mounted push button switch is arranged to connect the motor to the batteries to operate the motor and hence the grating disc.

Such an arrangement enables one handed operation of the food grater.

In a presently preferred embodiment, the batteries within said food grater body member are rechargeable. In a preferred embodiment, a housing for the portable food grater is provided, said housing having inductive or connector means for applying mains power to the rechargeable batteries when the food grater body is positioned on said housing.

The present invention also extends to a grating disc for use in food processing apparatus, said grating disc comprising a substantially circular, planar disc having a plurality of cutting members carried on one surface thereof, wherein, in general, each cutting member is centred on a unique circular track of said grating disc.

Preferably, the grating compartment of food processing apparatus is carried by a hollow body member in which a motor is housed. The motor being arranged, when required, to rotate a grating disc mounted in said grating compartment to rotate about a substantially perpendicular rotation axis, and wherein said grating disc is as defined above.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotation shaft of the grating disc extends through the pusher into the body member of the food processing apparatus and into engagement with the motor for rotation thereby.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pusher for use in food processing apparatus, said pusher to be used to push food during processing, said pusher comprising a pushing surface for contacting the food to be urged, said pushing surface having a plurality of steps formed thereon.

The present invention also relates to a method of grating food comprising the steps of placing the food within a grating compartment defined between a pusher and a grating disc surface, urging the pusher towards the grating disc and rotating the grating disc, and preventing rotation of the food within the compartment during rotation of the grating disc to provide an effective grating operation.

The present invention also extends to a food grater when arranged to perform the method defined above.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of a portable cheese grater of an embodiment of the invention mounted on a housing therefor; Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the cheese grater and housing of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the cheese grater of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4a and 4b show respectively a side elevation and an underneath plan view of a pusher of the cheese grater of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a plan view of a grating surface of a grating disc of the cheese grater of Figure 3.

The invention is specifically illustrated and described with reference to a portable cheese grater, for example, for use in restaurants to dispense grated cheese onto prepared meals. However, it will be appreciated that the grater may be used to grate any required foodstuffs. Furthermore, the grating technique used by the food grater may, additionally and/or alternatively, be used in other food processing apparatus.

As will become apparent, the cheese grater illustrated is driven by an electric motor which is battery powered. It would, of course, be possible to power the cheese grater with batteries which are periodically replaced. However, it is preferred that the cheese grater be powered by rechargeable batteries and that when not in use the cheese grater is maintained on a housing therefor for recharging the batteries.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of a portable cheese grater 10 mounted on a housing 12. As can be seen, the housing 12 has a recessed platform 14 in which the base of the cheese grater 10 is received. The housing 12 also has spaced arms 16 engaging on opposed sides of the cheese grater 10. The coupling of electrical power supplied to the housing 12 to the batteries (not shown) within the cheese grater 10 takes place in the vicinity of the arms 16.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the cheese grater 10 and its housing 12. As can be seen, the cheese grater 10 has a hollow body 18 within which an electric motor 20 is housed. Two rechargeable batteries, not visible in Figure 2, are housed within the body 18 adjacent to the motor 20 and battery contacts, as 22, are provided such that the depression of a resiliently mounted push button 24 supplies power from the batteries to the motor 20. It will be seen that the push button 24 is urged by way of a spring 26 to its outer, off, position. This means that operation of the grater requires that the push button 24 be held in its depressed, on, position against the force of the spring 26.

When power is applied to the motor 20 it rotates a gear arrangement indicated at 28 whereby an output pinion 30 is rotated. As will be described below, this effects grating of cheese held within a grating compartment of the cheese grater 10.

The housing 12 is provided with a transformer 32 which is connected to the mains by way of a connector 34 and an appropriate mains lead (not shown). The transformer 32 is electrically connected by wiring internal to the housing 12 to an appropriate supply assembly 36 for making contact with a corresponding assembly 38 within the body 18 of the cheese grater 10 and electrically connected to the batteries. In this manner, when the cheese grater 10 is in position on the housing 12 power is supplied to the batteries to recharge them whenever the transformer 32 is connected to the mains.

In a kitchen environment it is generally preferred that the transfer of power to the batteries of the cheese grater be by inductive means. In this case, the assemblies 36 and 38 are arranged to be inductively coupled. However, if preferred, the assemblies 36 and 38 may be arranged to be plugged one into the other so that they are directly electrically connected.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the portable cheese grater 10. As can be seen, a pusher 40 is mounted to project from the body 18 of the cheese grater. The pusher 40 projects within and is surrounded by a substantially cylindrical grating compartment housing 42. A grating disc 44 is also arranged within the compartment housing 42 supported by an end ring 46. In this respect, the grating compartment housing 42 defines a substantially hollow cylindrical grating compartment for receiving the cheese to be grated.

first and second open ends 48, 50 which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis A of the grating compartment. The end ring 46 is arranged to be removably clipped into the first open end 48 of the grating compartment to provide an outlet for cheese which has been grated within the grating compartment. The pusher 40 extends into the grating compartment through the second open end 50.

The pusher 40 functions to render the grating process more effective both by pushing cheese to be grated towards the grating disc 44 and also by preventing rotation of the cheese within the grating compartment. In this respect, and as illustrated in Figure 4a, the pusher 40 comprises a substantially cylindrical member which is resiliently mounted within the body member 18 for reciprocating sliding movement longitudinally relative to the body 18. In this respect, the pusher 40 has a cover 52, as can be seen in Figure 2, which in the fully extended position of the pusher 40 engages a circular flange 54 of the body 18. The pusher 40 is urged to its fully extended position by way of a spring 56. The pusher 40, therefore, can be urged into the body 18 against the action of the spring 56.

As is apparent from Figures 2 and 3, in use, the grating compartment housing 42 is removably fixed to the body 18 of the grater 10. For example, projections, as 58, on the body 18 may be engaged within recesses, as 60, provided internally of the grating compartment housing 42.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the grating compartment housing 42 is provided internally with a longitudinally extending and radially projecting member or key 62. This projection or key 62, which is generally wedge shaped, is received within a corresponding recess or keyway 64 formed within the pusher 40. It will be appreciated that the projection 62 prevents rotation of the pusher 40 during the projection 62 prevents rotation of the pusher 40 during the grating operation. As will be seen herein below, the projection 62 also assists in preventing rotation of the cheese being grated.

The pusher 40 has a lower pushing surface 70, a plan view of which is shown in Figure 4b. As can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4b this pushing surface 70 is substantially circular and is provided with a number of radially extending steps thereover. It will be appreciated that these radially extending steps will provide resistance to the rotation of cheese over the pushing surface 70.

The grating disc 44 has a rotation shaft 72 fixed relative to its grating surface and extending longitudinally thereof. As is apparent from Figure 2, the rotation shaft 72 extends through a central bore provided in the pusher 40 and connects within the body 18 into the output pinion 30. It will thus be appreciated that operation of the motor 20 rotates the rotation shaft 72 and hence the grating disc 44.

It will also be appreciated that this rotation of the grating disc 44 is about the longitudinal axis A of the grating compartment within the housing 42. For stability, the rotation shaft 72 has an extension 74 (Figure 2) which is received within a closed bore 76 provided in the end ring 46.

In use, the end ring 46 is removably received within the first open end 48 of the grating compartment housing 42 and the grating disc 44 is supported thereby.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 5, the grating disc 44 has an upper grating surface 78 in which a number of cutting members 80 are formed. In use, the substantially planar pushing surface 70 of the pusher 40 is arranged to face the grating surface 78 which is also substantially planar.

Preferably, the grating surface 78 and the pushing surface 70 are arranged to be, in use, substantially parallel. In the embodiment illustrated, each of the cutting members 80 of the grating disc 44 comprises a cut circular hole with an upstanding toothed or serrated periphery 82. Obviously, it is the teeth or serrations 82 on the cutting holes 80 which act to grate the cheese.

Consideration of Figure 5 will reveal that, in general, each cutting hole 80 is centred on a unique circular track of the grating surface 78. This means that if a piece of cheese follows the rotation of the grating surface 78 it is prevented from avoiding all of the cutting holes 80 and it is also prevented from striking each cutting hole 80 in an identical manner. Thus, for example, if a piece of cheese follows a circular track B over the grating surface 78 which commences at the centre of the cutting hole 80 marked D it will be seen that the cheese will pass between the holes E and G, over an outer area of the cutting hole H, and over an inner area of the cutting hole I. Because the cheese meets cutting holes 80 at different orientations, the grating operation effected is more effective.

In use, the grating compartment housing 42 is fastened to the grater body 18 and a piece of cheese to be grated is then placed within the compartment housing 42. The rotation shaft 72 of the grating disc 44 is then passed through the pusher 40, through the body 18, and into connection with the output pinion 30. The end ring 46 is then clipped into the open end 48 of the grating compartment housing 42 to support the grating disc 44. In this position the cheese to be grated is sandwiched between the pushing surface of the pusher 40 and the grating surface 78 of the grating disc 44. The pusher 40 will be pushed by the cheese into the body 18 against the action of the spring 56 as is necessary to accommodate the cheese. It will be appreciated that this means that the pusher 40 is effectively urging the cheese against the grating surface of the grating disc 44.

When it is required to dispense grated cheese the assembled cheese grater 10, as shown in Figure 3, with the cheese in the grating compartment housing 42 is positioned over a dish on which the cheese is required. The user carries the grater 10 in one hand, and to facilitate this, two finger recesses 84 are provided in the body 18. It will be seen from Figure 1 that when the grater is not in use the arms 16 of the housing 12 may also engage within the recesses 84. When the user has positioned the grater 10 accordingly, it is necessary only for the user to press the push button 24 downwardly using a finger. Whilst ever the push button 24 is in its downward position, power is applied to the motor 20 by way of the battery contacts 22.The motor 20 thus rotates the grating disc 44 by way of its rotation shaft 72 and the cutting members 80 thereof grate the cheese pressed against them by way of the pusher 40. The gratings of cheese fall through the holes 80 in the grating disc 44 and through the end ring 46 and are thereby dispensed.

Because the cheese is effectively pushed against the grating disc 44, the grating action thereof is rendered more effective. Furthermore, both the pusher 40 and the projection 62 prevent the cheese from simply being rotated by rotation of the grating disc 44 and thereby enhance the grating effect.

Thus, if the cheese tries to rotate within the compartment housing 42 it will be hampered by striking the steps 70 on the pushing surface of the pusher 40. If, despite this, rotation is imparted to the cheese it will be prevented from continuing by the impact of the cheese with the projection 62.

The present invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the illustrated embodiments within the scope of this applicationz ; t

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A portable food grater comprising a substantially hollow grating compartment for receiving food to be grated, said compartment having first and second open ends which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the compartment, the first open end defining an outlet for food grated in said compartment, a grating disc mounted in said grating compartment for rotation about said longitudinal axis, and a pusher extending into said grating compartment through said second open end for urging food to be grated into contact with said grating disc.
2. A food grater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said pusher is resiliently mounted to be reciprocable along the longitudinal axis of the grating compartment.
3. A food grater as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said pusher comprises a pushing surface for contacting the food to be urged towards the grating disc, said pushing surface being substantially planar and being arranged to face a substantially planar grating surface of the grating disc.
4. A food grater as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the pushing surface and the grating surface extend substantially parallel to one another.
5. A food grater as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein rotation of said pusher within said grating compartment is prevented.
6. A food grater as claimed in Claim 5, wherein to prevent rotation of said pusher, a key is carried by one of the grating compartment and the pusher, and is engaged within a keyway in the other of the pusher and the grating compartment.
7. A food grater as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for preventing the rotation of food in said grating compartment.
8. A food grater as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said antirotation means comprise one or more projections carried by said grating compartment and extending therein.
9. A food grater as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said antirotation means comprise a plurality of steps carried on a pushing surface of said pusher.
10. A food grater as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said pushing surface of the pusher is substantially circular and is formed to have a plurality of radially extending steps thereon which are arranged to prevent the rotation of food within the grating compartment.
11. A food grater as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said grating disc comprises a substantially circular, planar disc having a plurality of cutting members carried on one, grating, surface thereof.
12. A food grater as claimed in Claim 11, wherein in general, each cutting member is centred on a unique circular track of said grating disc.
13. A food grater as claimed in Claim 11, or Claim 12, wherein, each said cutting member carried by the grating disc comprises a hole having a serrated or toothed periphery.
14. A food grater as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein said grating disc carries a rotation shaft which extends substantially perpendicular to the grating surface thereof and is fixed to the central part of the grating disc.
15. A food grater as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said grating compartment is carried by a hollow body member in which a motor is housed to rotate the grating disc, and wherein the rotation shaft of the grating disc extends through the pusher into the body member of the food grater and into engagement with the motor fpr rotation thereby.
16. A grating disc for use in food processing apparatus, said grating disc comprising a substantially circular, planar disc having a plurality of cutting members carried on one surface thereof, wherein, in general, each cutting member is centred on a unique circular track of said grating disc.
17. A grating disc as claimed in Claim 16, wherein each cutting member carried by the grating disc comprises a hole having a serrated or toothed periphery.
18. A grating disc as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, further comprising an upstanding peripheral flange.
19. A grating disc as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 18, wherein said grating disc carries a rotation shaft which extends substantially perpendicular to the grating surface thereof and is fixed to the central part of the grating disc.
20. Food processing apparatus comprising a grating compartment carried by a hollow body member in which a motor is housed, wherein the motor is arranged to rotate a grating disc mounted in said grating compartment to rotate about a substantially perpendicular rotation axis, and wherein said grating disc is as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19.
21. Food processing apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, wherein a grating disc extends through a pusher into said body member and into engagement with the motor for rotation thereby, the pusher extending into the grating compartment for urging food to be grated into contact with said grating disc.
22. A pusher for use in food processing apparatus, said pusher to be used to push food during processing, said pusher comprising a pushing surface for contacting the food to be pushed, said pushing surface having a plurality of steps formed thereon.
23. A pusher as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said pushing surface of the pusher is substantially circular and is formed to have a plurality of radially extending steps thereon, and wherein said pushing surface is generally arranged to be nonrotatable such that said radially extending steps act to prevent the rotation of food within the food processing apparatus.
24. A method of grating food comprising the steps of placing the food within a grating compartment defined between a pusher and a grating disc surface, urging the pusher towards the grating disc and rotating the grating disc, and preventing rotation of the food within the compartment during rotation of the grating disc to provide an effective grating operation.
25. A food grater when arranged to perform a method as claimed in Claim 24.
26. A portable food grater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
27. A grating disc for use in food processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
28. A pusher for use in food processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. Food processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of grating food substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.