WO2013097702A1

WO2013097702A1 - Food processor

Info

Publication number: WO2013097702A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/087408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chin Pang Kwok; Jihua Li; Weihua JI
Original assignee: Hop Shing Metal & Plastic Manufactory Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-12-26
Filing date: 2012-12-25
Publication date: 2013-07-04
Also published as: DE112012005464T5; DE112012005464B4; CN202426373U

Abstract

A modular food processor (10) comprises a hand-held motor module (11) holding a motor (19) having a spindle (20) that directly drives a motor output (21). A gearbox module (12) is releasably attachable to the housing (18), and includes an input (36) for engagement with the motor output (21), and a plurality of driven couplings (36-38) disposed for rotation about respective driven axes (36a-38a). A speed reduction gear train (39) in the body for transmits torque between the input (36) and the driven couplings (36-38), and a rotary tool (13-15) may be connected to one of the driven couplings (36-38).

Description

FOOD PROCESSOR

Technical field

The present invention relates to motorised food processors for kitchen use, particularly of the type that employ a hand-held motor module for selectively driving a plurality of food processing attachments removably connected to the motor module.

Background of the Invention

Hand-held motor modules of this type can be used with attachments, such as immersion blenders, whisks and dough hooks, to allow the user to perform multiple different kitchen tasks. An advantage of this type of appliance is that it can be operated with a single hand, so for satisfactory ergonomic performance it is therefore a requirement for the motor modules to be compact and light weight.

In addition, there is a need to accommodate the different speed and torque requirements of these different attachments. The immersion blender is a small, sharp blade driven at high speed, but a dough hook must be driven at low speed with a high torque. These hand-held motor modules are called upon to drive tools enclosed in a food-processing bowl by a lid, as by connection between the motor module and drive tool that extends through the lid. The tools may be driven at an intermediate speed, achieved via a reduction gear train. To address these requirements, one prior art solution has been to provide a speed- change gearbox in the motor module housing, however this adversely affects compactness and weight and increases manufacturing costs. Another prior art solution has been to provide the reduction gear train in the attachment, for example, mounted inside the lid assembly that closed the top of the food-processing bowl. Advantageously, this allows a lightweight and compact motor module, as with an output directly coupled to the motor and driven at motor speed. However, all food processor attachments must be able to be readily cleaned, and the requirement to seal the gear train within the lid assembly so that it is not vulnerable to water ingress during cleaning serves to increase manufacturing costs or else risk hygiene problems. It will therefore be understood that there is a need for a more optimal solution, which allows the food processor for use with multiple attachments to be manufactured cost effectively with a compact and light weight motor module. It is an object of the present invention to address this need or, more generally, to provide an improved food processor.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular food processor comprising: a hand-held motor module with a housing holding a motor having a spindle that directly drives a motor output; a gearbox module releasably attachable to the housing, the gearbox module including a body with opposing ends, an input for engagement with the motor output disposed in one of the ends, and a plurality of driven couplings disposed in the other of the ends for rotation about respective driven axes, a speed reduction gear train in the body for transmitting torque between the input and the driven couplings, and at least one rotary tool adapted for connection to one of the driven couplings.

The gearbox module is preferably releasably attachable to the housing, by means of complementary coupling components formed on the body and the housing (such as screw threads or bayonet type coupling components) arranged for rotation relative to one another about an axis of the spindle.

Preferably the modular food processor further comprises a bowl for receiving a product to be processed and the at least one rotary tool, journal means in a base of the bowl for supporting the tool for rotation about a tool axis; a lid for closing a top of the bowl, and at least one opening in the lid that is aligned with the tool axis for receiving the tool, or one of the driven couplings.

Preferably the lid further comprises locating means including one of a projection and complementary projection-receiving recess, the gearbox body including the other of the projection and complementary projection-receiving recess, and wherein the at least one opening is disposed in the locating means. Preferably the housing of the motor module is elongated parallel to the spindle, and the motor output is recessed within a first axial end of the housing.

Preferably the housing comprises a handle with a neck portion, and a button disposed at a second axial end and operable to control the motor.

Preferably the speed reduction gear train provides one or more different fixed ratios between the input and the driven couplings.

Preferably the driven couplings comprise a first driven coupling driven at a first angular speed, and second and third couplings both driven at a second angular speed in opposite directions. Preferably each of the driven couplings rotates about respective parallel driven coupling axis that is eccentric to an axis of the input.

This invention provides a food processor which is effective and efficient in operational use, and which by its modular construction provides for versatile operation. The device has an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs and but without the higher manufacturing costs or risk of hygiene problems of old devices.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views from the side and below of a gearbox module of Fig.1 ;

Figure 4 is a section in an upright plane through the gearbox module of the food processor of Fig.1 ;

Figure 5 is a elevation of the motor and gearbox modules of Fig. 1 connected for use with two dough hooks, and Figure 6 is a section in an upright plane through the motor module, gearbox module and food processor attachment of Fig.1 when aligned for assembly. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 illustrates the components of a modular food processor 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, which includes a hand-held motor module 10 for transmitting torque via a gearbox module 12 to rotary tools, such as a chopping blade 13, dough hooks 14 and a whisk 15. The chopping blade 13 is, in use, received in an open-top bowl 16 closed by a lid 17.

Referring to the drawings, and as best seen in Figs 1 and 6, the motor module 10 has a hollow housing 18 holding a motor 19 having a spindle 20 that directly drives a rotary motor output 21 that provides a high-speed drive to the gearbox module 12. The housing 18 may be elongated parallel to the spindle axis 22, and circular in cross section. The motor output 21 may be disposed in concavity 23 at one axial end of the housing 18, such that it is recessed within the boundary of the housing 18. A button 24 may be disposed at the opposing axial end for controlling the motor 19. A handle or grip may be provided by a neck portion 25 intermediate the axial ends. Tabs 26 may be diametrically opposite one another and project inwardly from an annular wall 27 of the concavity 23.

The gearbox module 12 has a body 28 with opposing ends 29, 30, the first end 29 facing the motor module 10 and the projection or second end 30 of the body facing the rotary tools 13-15. The first end 29 may have a generally circular form, and the second end 30 an oblong form. A sleeve portion 31 complementary to the concavity 23 projects from the first end 29 and may have, on its outer face 33, two circumferentially elongated ridges 34 that cooperate with the tabs 26 to provide a bayonet-type push-and-turn coupling between the gearbox module 12 and motor module 1 1. In this manner, gearbox module 12 and motor module 1 may be securely connected together, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide a hand-held mixing or cutting tool. A shaft 35 is assembled coaxially with the spindle axis 22 and has at one end an input 36 for engagement with the motor output 21. The input 36 may be recessed within the sleeve portion 31 and integrally formed with the shaft 35. The shaft 35 may drive three driven couplings 36, 37, 38 disposed in end 30 by way of fixed ratio speed reduction gear train 39. The driven couplings 36, 37, 38 have respective axes 36a, 37a, 38a which are parallel and eccentric to an axis of the input 36, or shaft 35. The driven coupling 36 may be driven at a first angular speed, and couplings 37, 38 may both be driven at a second angular speed in opposite directions. The couplings 37, 38 are alike, and adapted to receive and releasably fix the stems of tools, such as the blender blade dough hooks 14 and whisk 15. The driven coupling 36 may have a hexagonal recess for receiving the hexagonal end of a stem 40 of the blade 13. Latches may be provided proximate the second end 30 of the body, each comprising an arm 42 mounted on a live hinge (not shown) and including an outwardly biased projection 43

The bowl 16 has a central axis 50 with coaxial annular walls 51 jointed to a base 52. A stub axle 55 in the base 52 extends upwardly in the direction of the axis 50, and journals the blade 13. The bowl 16 may further include an integral handle 53 opposite a spout 54.

The lid 17 may generally close the top of the bowl 16. The lid 17 may include an elongated feed inlet 56 in which a pusher 57 of like cross-sectional shape may be received. A recess 58 in the outer side of the lid 17 has an oblong shape complementary to that of the second end 30. Indents 59 in the boundary of the recess 58 cooperate with the latches for receiving the projections 43. The recess 58 thus serves to locate the gearbox module 12 where it is secured by the latches. An opening 60 may be located in the recess 58 and extending through the lid 17 to provide for connection to the driven coupling 36. Both the driven coupling 36 and the stem 40 of the blade 13 may extend through the opening 60.

To perform bench top food processing the gearbox module 12 may be inserted into the recess 58 and which locates the gearbox module, ensuring proper axial registration between the driven coupler 36 and the opening 60. The gearbox module 12 is lowered until the second end 30 abuts the bottom of the recess 58, in which position the projections 43 snap into the indents 59. The motor module 10 is fixed by aligning the sleeve portion 31 and concavity 23, and pushing the motor module 10 axially to move the tabs 26 past the ridges 34, before turning the motor module 10 to complete the connection. Other attachments may advantageously be used with the motor module 10, in particular for hand-held operation an immersion blender attachment (not shown) may be fixed to the motor module 10 and directly driven at high speed. By employing a gearbox module that incorporates a reciprocating drive, a reciprocating blade attachment may be releasably connectable to the gearbox module.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

A modular food processor (10) comprising: a hand-held motor module (11) with a housing holding a motor having a spindle (20) that directly drives a motor output (21); a gearbox module (12) releasably attachable to the housing, the gearbox module including a body (28) with opposing ends (29, 30), an input (36) for engagement with the motor output disposed in one of the ends, and a plurality of driven couplings (36-38) disposed in the other of the ends for rotation about respective driven axes (36a-38a), a speed reduction gear train (39) in the body for transmitting torque between the input and the driven couplings, and at least one rotary tool (13-15) adapted for connection to one of the driven couplings.

The modular food processor of claim 1 wherein the gearbox module is releasably attachable to the housing, by means of complementary coupling components (23, 26, 31 , 34) formed on the body and the housing arranged for rotation relative to one another about an axis (22) of the spindle.

The modular food processor of claim 1 wherein further comprising a bowl (16) for receiving a product to be processed and the at least one rotary tool, journal means (55) in a base of the bowl for supporting the tool for rotation about a tool axis; a lid (17) for closing a top of the bowl, and at least one opening (60) in the lid that is aligned with the tool axis for receiving the tool, or one of the driven couplings. The modular food processor of claim 3 wherein the lid further comprises locating means including one of a projection (30) and complementary projection- receiving recess (58), the gearbox body including the other of the projection and complementary projection-receiving recess, and wherein the at least one opening (60) is disposed in the locating means.

The modular food processor of claim 1 wherein the housing (18) of the motor module is elongated parallel to the spindle, and the motor output is recessed within a first axial end of the housing.

The modular food processor of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the speed reduction gear train provides one or more different fixed ratios between the input and the driven couplings.

The modular food processor of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the driven couplings (36-38) comprise a first driven coupling (36) driven at a first angular speed, and second and third couplings (37, 38) both driven at a second angular speed in opposite directions.

The modular food processor of claim 7 wherein each of the driven couplings rotates about respective parallel driven coupling axis that is eccentric to an axis of the input.