GB2447609A

GB2447609A - Food grinding apparatus with an integrated manually operated rack and pinion grinding mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2447609A
Application number: GB0701316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Thomson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-24
Filing date: 2007-01-24
Publication date: 2008-09-24
Also published as: GB0701316D0

Abstract

The grinding mechanism 1 is contained within the mill body 2. The mill body 2 has a front component (3, Fig 1), a rear component 4, an inner component 5 and a lid component 6. The grinding mechanism 1 has a 'pinion' assembly 7 and a moving 'rack' assembly 8. The 'pinion' assembly 7 has a fixed grinding surface component 9, a central shaft 10 with an integrated moving grinding surface component 11, an adjustable screw 12 and a profiled sleeve 13. The 'rack' assembly 8 has a belt component 14, a left rotating runner 15 and a right rotating runner 16. The belt component 14 has a grip surface (17, Fig 2) on its outer surface, an inner interlocking detail 18 to engage with both the profiled sleeve 13 of the 'pinion' assembly 7 and interlocking details 19 of the left and right rotating runners 15 16. The granules (20, Fig 4) are ground by placing fingers (21, Fig 4) on the belt component 14 and moving this backwards and forwards with the aid of grip surface 17. The belt component 14, guided by the left and right rotating runners 15 16, which might be assisted by a mechanical component 22, engages with the profiled sleeve 13 on the 'pinion' assembly 7 with interlocking detail 18, transforming the linear movement into rotational movement and turning the central shaft 10. As the central shaft 10 rotates the grinding surfaces 9,11 grind the granules 20 and eject them out through the bottom in a conventional manner.

Description

DESCRIPTION 2447609

FOOD GRINDING APPARATUS WITH AN INTEGRATED MANUALLY

OPERATED RACK AND PINION' GRINDING MECHANISM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a food grinding apparatus that has a rack and pinion' mechanism activated by a backward and forward finger motion.

This invention can be used typically as a grinding activation mechanism within any sort of hand operated mill, whether it be for grinding salt, pepper or any other foodstuff but the term grinding mill will be used hereafter for the sake of convenience.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Over the centuries people have added salt, pepper and other spices to flavour their food. Coming in a larger seed, pod or granular form, there is a need to make them smaller for consumption and to release the flavour. This has been achieved through crushing or pounding under a weighted object or by grinding between two surfaces where one or both surfaces are moving to grind the food as it comes in contact.

There have been many types and designs of grinding mill that are typically operated through turning a lever or rotating an upper section which in turn rotates one part of the grinding assembly, trapping the food between the grinding surfaces which grinds the food and then ejects it out through the bottom with the aid of gravity.

The courseness of the food can be adjusted by determining the proximity of the grinding surfaces, usually by tightening or loosening the rotating grinding element.

Recent innovations have seen grinding devices that are battery operated or activated by squeezing the grinding levers between the palms of ones hands.

If a grinding mill is not used then typically salt and pepper and similar foods are pre ground and then either sprinkled over the food by a small spoon or by picking up a quantity between ones fingers and thumbs and then sprinkled over the food by rubbing the fingers together backwards and forwards which has the effect of releasing the pepper until it has all been let go. It is this rubbing motion that has not been captured within any grinding mechanism to date but which represents potential for a new grinding mechanism.

Page 1 The need for grinding salt, pepper and similar foods will always be there and so represents an on going commercial market where consumers are open to new methods and interesting ways of achieving the same results, giving them either personal satisfaction or the ability to purchase and pass on to others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to develop a grinding method that allows the user to control the grinding of granules such as pepper or salt by simply rubbing their fingers and thumbs together.

An object of this invention is to have a belt device, either as a continuous strip or made from several pieces, that is controlled by runners and that engages with the grinding spindle, which when moved backwards and forwards turns the grinding spindle, which in turn grinds the granules, ejecting them in the normal manner.

An object of this invention is to provide necessary grip of the belt so that the user can operate it by friction alone. This grip is likely to be orientated so as to allow movement in the direction of the belt rather than perpendicular to it.

An object of this invention is to create appropriate manually operated rack and pinion gearing engagement which transforms the belts linear movement into the grinding spindles rotational movement, which might have a geared ratio to assist further.

An object of this invention is to allow the granules, typically salt or pepper to be positioned on the inner sides of the belt and channelled down towards the grinding surfaces.

An object of this invention is to provide a conventional grinding mechanism, typically two conical shaped serrated surfaces, which trap gravity fed granules in them and eject the ground granules through the bottom. These grinding surfaces can be adjusted by a conventional tightening and loosening of a screw which holds the grinding spindle in the body and lid.

An object of this invention is to provide a lid which traps the granules and which the grinding spindle with adjustment screw is held.

An object of this invention is to have a main body in which this new grinding mechanism is contained.

Page 2 An object of this invention may be to include some form of mechanical advantage to the belt and runners which assists with the backward and forward action.

Accordingly, this invention is made of suitable materials to allow for continued and hard usage whilst understanding commercial implications.

Preferably the grinding mechanism will be of an appropriate size so as to provide necessary function.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a grinding mill with an integrated rack and pinion' grinding mechanism in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the grinding mill Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the grinding mill with the front removed to show the grinding mechanism Figure 3 shows a section from side to side of the grinding mill Figure 4 shows a plan section the grinding mill Figure 5 shows a plan section the grinding mill showing the belt moved forwards Figure 6 shows a plan section the grinding mill showing the belt moved backwards Page 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings the grinding mechanism I is contained within the mill body 2. The mill body 2 has a front component 3, a rear component 4, an inner component 5 and a lid component 6. The grinding mechanism 1 has a pinion' assembly 7 and a rack' assembly 8.

The pinion' assembly 7 has a fixed grinding surface component 9, which might be plastic or metal, held in the inner componentS of mill body 2, a central shaft 10 with an integrated moving grinding surface component 11, which might be plastic or metal, an adjustable screw 12 and a profiled sleeve 13.

The rack' assembly 8 has a belt component 14, which might be a rubber material, a left rotating runner 15 and a right rotating runner 16. The belt component 14 has a grip surface 17 on its outer surface and an inner interlocking detail 18 to engage with both the profiled sleeve 13 of the pinion' assembly 7 and interlocking details 19 integrated into the left and right rotating runners 15, 16.

Granules 20 are placed in the mill body 2 by unscrewing the adjustable screw 12 which releases the lid component 6. When the lid component 6 is replaced and the adjustable screw 12 screwed to the central shaft 10, the courseness' of the grinding mechanism can be controlled by how tightly the adjustable screw 12 is secured.

The granules 20 are ground by placing fingers 21 on the belt component 14 and moving the belt component 14 backwards and forwards with the aid of grip surface 17. The belt component 14, guided by the left and right rotating runners 15 16 engages with the profiled sleeve 13 with interlocking detail 18 as a rack and pinion' arramgement, transforming the linear movement into rotational movement and turning the central shaft 10. As the central shaft 10 rotates the grinding surfaces 9 11 grind the granules 20 and eject them out through the bottom in a conventional manner.

The left and right rotating runners 15, 16 might have a mechanical component 22 to aid with the backwards and forwards linear movement of the belt component 14.

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Claims

1 Food grinding apparatus which has a manualLy operated rack and pinion' grinding mechanism.

2 Food grinding apparatus according to claim 1 in which the operating component is manually moved in a linear direction, preferably horizontally, and which through a simple rack and pinion' arrangement, transfers this linear movement into a rotational movement subsequently rotating the grinding shaft which in turn grinds the food.

3 Food grinding apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating component is controlled by two rollers, which may be mechanically aided, where the movement is preferably backwards and forwards as opposed to a continuous direction.

4 Food grinding apparatus according to any claims of 1 to 3, that has a central grinding assembly with a conventional fixed and moving grinding surface arrangement, where the moving element is turned by engaging with the operating component.

Food grinding apparatus according to any claims of 1 to 4 in which the rack and pinion' details have a one to one ratio or a ratio geared in favour of the grinding shaft.

6 Food grinding apparatus according to any claims of 1 to S in which the operating component has an external grip feature to aid finger and thumb friction during operation.

7 Food grinding apparatus according to any claims of 1 to 6 in which the operating component is accessible to the outside for manual operation.

8 Food grinding apparatus according to claims 1 to 7 in which the pre ground food is held within the rack and pinion' assembly.

9 Food grinding apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in, figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

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