GB2480448A

GB2480448A - Spice mill attachment for a food processor

Info

Publication number: GB2480448A
Application number: GB1008232A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Wade
Original assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Current assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-18
Filing date: 2010-05-18
Publication date: 2011-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-18
Also published as: GB2480448B; GB201008232D0

Abstract

In order to improve safety and hygiene in relation to a spice mill attachment for a food processor, a container 10 in which the milling process is carried out by means of a rotary, bladed tool 12 is constructed so as to be substantially smooth over its entire internal surface 14. The tool 12 is supported on a shaft 12a which runs in a bearing 42 at the base of the container, a cap 38 is provided to cover the bearing (42, Fig.5) to prevent bearing lubricants contacting the food being milled. The container is provided with a lid 26 that is intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating, and which is secured to the container by inter-engagement of respective latch components 28, 30 on the lid and on the container. The container's latch components are formed in a band of plastics material that is secured to the rim of the container.

Description

SPICE MILL ATTACHMENT FOR FOOD PROCESSOR

This invention relates to spice mill attachments for food processors; such attachments sometimes being alternatively called mixer/grinders.

Such attachments usually comprise a cup-like processing receptacle, or jar, containing at its base a bladed member that can rotate when coupled to a drive outlet presented by a food processor. The jar has a lid or cover which should be in place when the attachment is used, and the blade is supported for rotation on a drive shaft that passes through an aperture in the base of the jar, allowing it to be coupled to the drive outlet of the food processor; the shaft being mounted in a bearing that also passes through the base of the jar.

Various matters relating to health and safety of operation require significant attention in relation to these attachments, bearing in mind that they are used to process foodstuffs and that the processing receptacles tend to be relatively squat (i.e. shallow and wide), such that the rotating blades present potential hazards to users.

It is an object of this invention to provide a spice mill attachment with improved health and safety performance. In this regard, various aspects of the invention provide improvements which have individual merit and which can, if desired, be beneficially employed together in various combinations.

According to the invention from a first aspect, there is provided a spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a container which is substantially smooth over its entire internal surface. In this way, the internal surface of the container is rendered free from protuberances (such as the heads of screws used to secure rivets or the like to the base of the container) and depressions (such as may be associated with mouldings for interlock mechanisms) which are typically present in existing spice mill attachments.

Preferably the container is made from stainless steel.

In preferred embodiments, the container is affixed to a support member by means including connecting devices, such as rivets, welded to the outer surface of the container's base; thereby facilitating the provision of a clean and smooth internal container surface by avoiding the use of connecting devices attached to the container by means penetrating the base and secured to the container from its inside.

According to the invention from another aspect, there is provided a spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a bladed member supported on a shaft and in a bearing; the shaft and the bearing passing through an aperture in the base of the container, and wherein a cap is provided to cover the bearing, the cap being tubular and having an outwardly extending flange disposed beneath the container to hold the cap in place. In this way, it is ensured that the bearing, which is suffused with oil at manufacture, is no longer exposed within the container.

Preferably, a flexible sealing member is disposed between the flange on the cap and the underside of said container.

According to the invention from a further aspect, there is provided a spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a container with a bladed tool capable of being rotated therein when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and a lid intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating; the attachment further comprising a latching arrangement for the lid by inter-engagement of latch components on said lid with complementary latch components supported by said container and wherein the latch components supported by said container are formed in a band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container. By this means, the latch components may be accurately and economically formed, and those supported by the container can be securely mounted to the container without the need for indentations or protuberances on the inner surface of the container. Thus, the inner surface can be made beneficially smooth, avoiding food traps and the like. The band may be fonned by moulding or die-casting, for

example.

Preferably, the band of plastics material is secured to the container by rolling material at the rim of the container over the band. This provides a secure and economic fitment.

Preferably, at least one of the latch components supported by the container also provides part of a safety device for preventing the rotation of said tool unless the lid is latched to cover the container. By this means, a safety interlock may be provided to disable the rotation of the tool unless safe operating conditions are satisfied.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of an open container for a spice mill in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows, in similar view to Figure 1, the container fitted with a lid; Figure 3 shows, in scrap cross-sectional view, details of the lid, the container and associated components; and Figures 4 and 5 show cross-sectional views of the attachment of this embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, these show a container 10 of a spice mill attachment in accordance with one example of the invention. The container 10, which is typically made of stainless steel, has a bladed tool 12 supported for rotation therein; the tool 12 being driven in conventional manner from a drive outlet presented by a food processor (not shown) which can take any convenient form, and to which the spice mill attachment is temporarily installed for use. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, and as can be seen from the drawing, the container 10 is formed with a smooth internal surface 14, uninterrupted by protrusions or depressions; thus presenting a working surface which is beneficially free from food-traps and which is easy to clean.

In part, the smoothness of the internal surface 14 of the container 12 is attributable to the fact that connecting devices, such as rivets as shown at 16 in Figures 4 and 5, are welded to the outer surface 18 of the base of the container 10, rather than being secured to the base by screws or by means of other invasive fasteners passing through the base. These rivets 16 or other connecting devices are used to affix the container 10 firmly to a support member including a die cast bearing housing 50 (see Figures 4 and 5).

Another contribution to the smoothness of the surface 14 is provided by utilising an externally supported collar 20, of moulded or die-cast plastics material, mounted just beneath the rim of the container 10 and providing bayonet forms such as 22 to receive complementary lid-mounted latch components, such as that shown at 24 in Figure 2; thus permitting latching attachment of a lid 26 to the container 10. The lid 26 is intended to be secured in place on the container 10 when the spice mill attachment is in use, so as to protect the user from potential contact with the rapidly rotating tool 12.

In this embodiment of the invention, therefore, one of the bayonet forms, 28, is also constructed to house an actuating element 30 of a safety interlock designed to prevent rotation of the tool 12 unless the lid 26 is securely latched in place to cover the container 10. The safety interlock may be constructed in accordance with any convenient principle, but typically will comprise a rod-like actuator 40 (see Figure 4) which is normally urged to an inactive position by means of a spring, but which can be pressed downwards by means of an actuating member provided on the lid, against the spring pressure, to operate (directly or indirectly) an electrical switch enabling the power supply to the food processor's motor, when the lid is correctly latched to the container.

The lid 26 is, in this example, made of substantially transparent plastics material, and its rim is overmoulded with a rubber, or rubberised, grip and seal 32.

Reference has been made already to a benefit, in terms of promoting the desirable degree of smoothness of the internal surface 14 of the container 10, provided by supporting the bayonet forms such as 22 and the interlock components 28 and 30 externally of the container 10 by means of the collar 20. Further benefits also flow from this arrangement, however, in that the moulding or die-casting process used to form the collar and its attachments cost-effectively provides positive, well-defined and well-toleranced features.

A particularly effective way of securing the collar 20 to the container 10 is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the collar 20 is shown as having an undercut form 34 on its outer surface, over which the rim of the container 10 is rolled, as shown at 36, to clamp the collar 20 in position. Figure 3 also illustrates the grip and seal 32 overmoulded on the rim of the plastics lid 26.

Another area of health-related concern which is addressed by this embodiment of the invention relates to a bearing used to support the tool 12 for rotation in the container 10. Hitherto, this bearing, which is typically a phosphor-bronze bearing, suffused during manufacture with oil intended to provide lubrication throughout an extended period of usage, has been exposed within the container 10; thus potentially contaminating with oil the spices processed in the attachment. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the bearing is capped by means of a fully-sealed bearing cover 38, thereby eliminating, or at least substantially reducing, the risk of contaminating the processed spices with oil from the bearing.

The health and safety-related features provided by certain aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the cross-sectional views of Figures 4 and 5.

From these drawings, it can be seen that the container 10 has a smooth inner surface 14 which is substantially free of potential food traps, and is thus easy to clean. In part, the smoothness of surface 14 is attributable to the attachment of the rivets such as 16 (or other connecting devices) by welding to the outside surface 18 of the base of the container 10. In this example of the invention, three rivets such as 16 are provided at equally spaced angles on the underside 18 of the container 10, and they are peened over in usual fashion to secure the container firmly to the die-cast bearing housing 50. If desired, washers may be used in addition to the rivets. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, connecting devices other than rivets can be used if desired; the important feature being that, whatever connection technique is used, the elements of the connecting device associated with the container 10 are secured directly to the outside surface 18 of its base, thereby avoiding any perforation or distortion of the internal surface 14 container which could lead to the production of food and/or dirt traps. Maintenance of a smooth inner surface 14 to container 10 is a significant feature of this aspect of the invention.

Another feature contributing to the smoothness of the surface 14 is the use of the plastics collar 20 which supports the latches such as 22 and the latch/safety interlock feature 28, 30, and the attachment of the collar 20 to the container 10 by rolling the rim of the container over the collar as previously described.

It will be appreciated that the use of externally welded rivets 16 (or other connecting devices), on the one hand, and the separately formed but securely attached collar, on the other hand, can be used individually to enhance the smoothness of the surface 14, but it is preferred to use both features together.

Referring now to the use of the bearing cap 38 to cover the oil-suffused bearing 42 for the tool drive shaft 12a, this is used in conjunction with a shaft seal 44 to seal the operating volume of the container 12 against the potential influx of oil from the bearing 42. The cap 38 is tubular, partially closed at one end where the shaft 12a passes through and open at the other end, where it is formed with an outwardly facing shoulder 46 which plays a significant role in retaining the cap 38 in place; the shoulder 46 being located between an up-turned portion 52 of the container 10, into which the bearing cap 38 is a tight fit, and the die cast bearing housing 50. A rubber container seal 48 is provided between the shoulder 46, the base of the container 10 and the die-cast housing 50.

Essentially, it will be appreciated that a sandwich-like construction is set up by riveting (or otherwise firmly securing) the container 10 to the die-cast housing 50, trapping the shoulder 46 and the seal 48 in place.

An elastomeric member 54 is, in this example, located on the shaft 12a, between the top of the bearing cap 38 and the underside of the bladed tool 12, to permit the blade 12 a degree of vertical motion sufficient to allow it to ride over materials being ground which may become stuck beneath it.

The bearing cap 38 can be used individually if desired, but it is particularly preferred to use it in conjunction with the externally welded connector devices, such as rivets 16, and/or the plastics collar 20.

Claims

Claims: 1. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a container which is substantially smooth over its entire internal surface.
2. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein the container is made from stainless steel.
3. An attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said container is affixed to a support member by means including connecting devices, such as rivets, welded to the outer surface of the container's base.
4. An attachment according to any preceding claim, further including a bladed member supported within the container on a shaft and in a bearing; the shaft and the bearing passing through an aperture in the base of the container, and wherein a cap is provided to cover the bearing, the cap being secured relative to the container by means including an outwardly extending flange disposed beneath the container.
5. An attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein the attachment comprises a bladed tool capable of being rotated within the container when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and wherein the attachment further comprises a lid intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating, and a latching arrangement for latching the lid to the container by inter-engagement of latch components on said lid with complementary latch components supported by said container and wherein the latch components supported by said container are formed in a band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container.
6. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a container, a bladed member supported within the container on a shaft and in a bearing; the shaft and the bearing passing through an aperture in the base of the container, and wherein a cap is provided to cover the bearing, the cap being secured relative to the container by means including an outwardly extending flange disposed beneath the container.
7. An attachment according to claim 6, wherein the attachment comprises a bladed tool capable of being rotated within the container when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and wherein the attachment further comprises a lid intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating, and a latching arrangement for latching the lid to the container by inter-engagement of latch components on said lid with complementary latch components supported by said container and wherein the latch components supported by said container are formed in a band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container.
8. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a container with a bladed tool capable of being rotated therein when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and a lid intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating; the attachment further comprising a latching arrangement for the lid by inter-engagement of latch components on said lid with complementary latch components supported by said container and wherein the latch components supported by said container are formed integrally with a band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container.
9. An attachment according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the band is formed by moulding or by die-casting.
10. An attachment according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the band of plastics material is secured to the container by rolling material at the rim of the container over the band.
ii. An attachment according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein at least one of the latch components supported by the container also provides part of a safety device for preventing the rotation of said tool unless the lid is latched to cover the container.
12. A spice mill attachment for a food processor; the attachment being substantially as herein described with reference to, and/or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.