Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • A47J43/04—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
  • A47J43/07—Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
  • A47J43/0716—Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools for machines with tools driven from the lower side
  • A47J43/0722—Mixing, whipping or cutting tools
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • A47J43/04—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
  • A47J43/046—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • A47J43/04—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
  • A47J43/06—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with a plurality of interchangeable working units, e.g. with a single driving-unit

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a combination tool, and more specifically a combination tool for food processing.
• the present invention also relates to a food processing appliance incorporating the combination tool.
• Food processing tools are typically rotary tools having appendages of various shapes designed, as they rotate, to process food in various ways.
• a typical food processing appliance normally has a motor-base either providing a driven drive-shaft, or to which a drive-shaft may be attached to receive drive.
• Containers including tools may be attached to the motor-base to receive drive of a user-selected speed.
• the containers normally function to retain the food being processed within a particular volume within which the tools rotate to process the food.
• FIG.1 shows an emulsifying tool 1 having a central stem 2 arranged to receive a drive-shaft in its centre 3 so as to be rotated by the drive-shaft.
• a discoidal emulsifying flange 4 extends radially from its base, the flange 4 is tilted relative to the horizontal.
• the flange 4 has holes 5 defined axially through it which, when the emulsifying tool is rotated, cause emulsification of the food material within which the tool is immersed due to the flow of material through the holes 5, which is enhanced by the tilt of the flange 4.
• This tool 1 can thus carry out e.g., the making of mayonnaise, the whipping of cream, and other emulsification tasks. Emulsification is further enhanced by the notch 6 provided in the peripheral skirt 7 of the flange 4.
• the holes, the tilt, nor the notch are essential elements of an emulsifying tool, as other discoidal emulsifying tools are known having, for example, a wave-like pattern in the periphery of the flange.
• the tools provided within the container of a food processing appliance are usually releasably attached to it, and may be swapped for other tools depending on the desired food processing activity. Where multiple tools are provided, these can create a space issue, as each tool takes up more space. Stored loosely in kitchen drawers and cupboards, tools may suffer damage from collisions with other items.
• a variant of the container solution is to provide a cassette to cover the blades of the bladed tools during loose storage.
• this suffers from the same problem of being wasteful as the container solution.
• the present invention aims to at least partially ameliorate the above-described problems of the prior art.
• a rotary tool for food processing comprises a first tool element configured to carry out a first food processing task when rotated, and a second tool element configured to carry out a second food processing task different to the first food processing task when rotated.
• the second tool element is releasably attachable to the rotary tool in combination with the first tool element, and preferably releasably attachable directly to the first tool element to save space, to configure the rotary tool to carry out the second food processing task.
• a tool for food processing comprises a first tool element configured to carry out a first food processing task and a second tool element configured to carry out a second food processing task.
• the second tool element is attachable to the tool in combination with the first tool element.
• the first processing task involves performing a different type of food processing or a different food processing operation to the type of food processing or food processing operation performed in the second food processing task.
• the first processing task is wholly different to the second food processing task - that is, the first processing task does not involve performing the second food processing task as part of performing the first processing task, and vice versa.
• one task involves the use of blades, and the other task does not (and more preferably involves the use of a planar or discoidal tool) - for example, one task may be ‘cutting’, and another task may be ‘emulsifying’.
• the above-described rotary tools are advantageous as they increase the functionality of the tool, permitting more tasks to be carried out using a single tool with a removable tool element.
• a further advantage is that it means that the second tool element can be attached to and stored on the tool together with the first tool element even when in use thus saving storage space.
• the second tool element is configured, on attachment to the tool, to convert the tool to carry out the second food processing task instead of the first food processing task.
• the second tool element can be configured, on attachment to the first tool element, to configure the rotary tool to carry out the second food processing task instead of the first food processing task.
• attachment of the second tool element may stop the first food processing task and start the second food processing task, permitting totally different tasks to be undertaken.
• the second tool element is configured, on attachment to the tool, to negate the first food processing task and/or to mask (that is, to restrict reversibly) the ability of the first tool element to carry out the first food processing task
• the first tool element includes an operative portion that is configured to carry out the first food processing task and the second tool element is configured, on attachment to the tool, to mask said operative portion.
• the second tool element covers at least part of the first tool element so as to mask the ability of the first tool element to carry out the first food processing task.
• the tool is a rotary tool and the tool elements are configured to carry out the food processing tasks when rotated. Many food processing tasks are most efficiently performed by rotary motion.
• the tool comprises a spindle/stem, more preferably wherein the first tool element is integral with the spindle/stem; yet more preferably wherein the second tool elements fits around the spindle/stem.
• the second tool element does not include a spindle/stem.
• the second tool element is releasably, reversibly, or replaceably attachable to the tool.
• This advantageously provides an easily adaptable food processing tool, which can be used to perform different food processing tasks.
• the second element is releasably attachable directly to the first tool element, to further save space.
• the tool further comprises a (bayonet) engagement mechanism for the releasable coupling of the second tool element.
• the engagement mechanism is preferably a rotatable mechanism by which the coupling is formed by a snap fit or pressure fit. This advantageously provides an easily releasable attachment, which is also capable of withstanding the rotational force acting upon the tool when it is rotating during use.
• the second tool element further comprises a collar proximal to the attachment to the tool, wherein the collar preferably includes a bevel.
• the collar preferably includes a bevel.
• the first tool element may have extending appendages, preferably forming the operative portion of that tool element.
• the first tool element may have radially-extending appendages. Such appendages may further facilitate attachment of the second tool element.
• the appendages may be blades. Blades can facilitate cutting, blending, chopping and other mechanical separation activities.
• the second tool element preferably comprises recesses configured to receive the appendages of the first tool element on attachment of the second tool element to the first tool element. Such recessing of the appendages can protect them/the user from accidental contact between the appendages and other objects. Additionally, the recesses perform the task of negating the first food processing task.
• the recesses are preferably larger than the appendages thereby to allow space within the recesses to allow for the appendages’ movement when the second tool element is coupled to or uncoupled form the tool, more preferably wherein said movement is by way of rotation relative to the second tool element.
• the second tool element is planar.
• a flat tool may be easier to store.
• the second tool element is discoidal.
• Discoidal tools can fit more easily within the typically cylindrical containers used in food processors, and are efficiently shaped for rotary operation.
• the discoidal second tool element comprises recesses and/or a cover portion formed therein for receiving and/or covering at least part of the first tool element.
• an operative part of the discoidal second tool element is located away from the recesses.
• the second tool element is an emulsifying tool.
• Emulsifying tools can carry out a range of food processing activities, including whisking, stirring, beating eggs etc.
• the second tool element can comprise a discoidal emulsifying surface with holes defined therethrough, the surface being tilted so as to form a non-right-angle to an axis of rotation of the rotary tool. This angling can enhance emulsification by driving food material through the holes during rotation.
• the discoidal emulsifying surface may comprise an axially-extending peripheral skirt, the skirt having a gap defined therein for a part of a periphery of the discoidal emulsifying surface. This gap may enhance mixing and/or emulsification.
• the discoidal emulsifying surface has a chord-shaped gap corresponding to the gap in the skirt. This gap may similarly enhance mixing and/or emulsification.
• the first tool element is a dough-kneading tool.
• Dough kneading may be an important food processing task.
• a second tool element that is a whisking/emulsifying tool element this may render the tool particularly convenient for baking, as it means that potentially all the food processing tasks needed for e.g., preparing a cake for baking, can be performed using a single tool.
• a tool element attachable to a tool for food processing is disclosed.
• the tool element is configured to convert the tool to carry out an alternative food processing task.
• the tool element is the second tool element as aforesaid.
• a tool element for a tool for food processing is disclosed.
• the tool element is configured for the attachment of a further tool element so as to convert the tool to carry out an alternative food processing task.
• the tool element is the first tool element as aforesaid.
• a food processing appliance comprising the rotary tool as aforesaid is disclosed.
• a food processing appliance comprising the rotary tool and/or tool element as aforesaid is disclosed.
• the food processing appliance may preferably comprise a control module, a sensor configured to detect the presence and/or absence and/or correct attachment of the first tool element to the second tool element, and a motor configured to drive the tool, preferably to drive rotation of the rotary tool.
• the control module may be provided in electronic communication with the sensor and be configured to limit and/or prevent energising of the motor responsive to feedback from the sensor. This means that the appliance can be configured to prevent unsafe/useless activation of the motor.
• control module can be configured to control the food processing appliance to limit rotation of the rotary tool to at least 800, and more preferably to within the range 800 - 2000 RPM responsive to feedback from the sensor.
• the appliance can be limited to operate within a speed range appropriate for particular food processing tasks.
• the invention also encompasses a kit of parts for constructing any of the apparatuses or apparatus elements herein described.
• Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa.
• means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.
• any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination.
• method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa.
• any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.
• the field of use includes the preparation and/or processing of: chemicals; pharmaceuticals; paints; building materials; clothing materials; agricultural and/or veterinary feeds and/or treatments, including fertilisers, grain and other agricultural and/or veterinary products; oils; fuels; dyes; cosmetics; plastics; tars; finishes; waxes; varnishes; beverages; medical and/or biological research materials; solders; alloys; effluent; and/or other substances, and any reference to “food” herein may be replaced by such working mediums.
• the invention described here may be used in any kitchen appliance and/or as a stand alone device.
• This includes any domestic food-processing and/or preparation machine, including both top-driven machines (e.g . stand-mixers) and bottom-driven machines (e.g . blenders). It may be implemented in heated and/or cooled machines. It may be used in a machine that is built-in to a work-top or work surface, or in a stand-alone device.
• the invention can also be provided as a stand-alone device.
• Food processing should be taken to encompass chopping, whisking, stirring, kneading, mincing, grinding, shaping, shredding, grating, cooking, freezing, making ice-cream, juicing (centrifugally or with a scroll), or other food processing activities involving the physical and/or chemical transformation of food and/or beverage material by mechanical, chemical, and/or thermal means.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective, partly see-through drawing of an emulsifying tool according to the prior art
• Fig. 2 is a perspective drawing of a bladed tool according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective drawing of the bladed tool of Fig. 2 together with a discoidal tool;
• Fig. 4 shows a perspective drawing of the bladed tool of Fig. 2 and the discoidal tool of Fig. 3 during the process of assembly of one to the other;
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective drawing of the bladed tool of Fig. 2 and the discoidal tool of Fig. 3 in a later stage of assembly to that of Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective drawing of the bladed tool of Fig. 2 and the discoidal tool of Fig. 3 in an assembled state
• Fig. 7 shows a simplified, schematic, cut-away side-on drawing of a food processing appliance incorporating the assembled tool of Fig. 6.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a bladed tool 100 having two blades, 110 and 120.
• the blades 110 and 120 extend bilaterally and symmetrically radially from a central hub 130.
• the central hub 130 has a stem 140 extending axially from one face of the hub 130.
• Both the central hub 130 and the stem 140 co-operatively define a shaft-alley 160 therethrough, with the shaft-alley 160 being dimensioned to receive and releasably lock on to a drive-shaft (not shown) for receiving rotational drive.
• a finger-grip 150 may be provided at an extreme end of the stem 140, the end opposite to that attaching to the hub 130, for facilitating user manipulation of the bladed tool 100.
• the blades 110, 120 form the operative portion of the bladed tool.
• the blades 110, 120 may be sharpened, for use in chopping/mincing etc.; however the blades being sharp is not a required feature.
• tasks like the kneading of dough may be carried out using a tool with unsharpened blades/extensions, which form the operative portion of the tool.
• Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5 show the bladed tool 100 being assembled with an emulsifying tool 200.
• the emulsifying tool 200 is a generally planar, discoidally-shaped tool, with a tilted discoidal surface 201 extending radially around a central aperture 230.
• the discoidal surface 201 has a peripheral skirt 202 extending axially from a periphery of the discoidal surface 202 except in a cut-away section 203 provided to enhance emulsification by allowing food material an easier path over the skirt 202.
• the peripheral skirt 202 also features tabs 206, which further enhance emulsification by encouraging turbulence to the fluid flow.
• the tabs 206 also aid the user’s grip when assembling the emulsifying tool 200 on the blade tool 100.
• a chord-shaped gap is also formed in the discoidal surface 201 corresponding to the cut-away section 203 of the skirt 202 to further enhance emulsification.
• the tilted discoidal surface 201 emulsifies food material during rotation. This effect is enhanced by food/beverage material being driven through the holes 204 distributed about the surface of the discoidal surface 201 that extend axially through it.
• the attachment of the emulsification tool 200 and bladed tool 100 is advantageously easily achieved, and it also withstands the rotational force acting upon it when the tool is rotating in use. This is achieved through a (bayonet) attachment mechanism.
• Locking members 231 are provided in the central aperture 230 for removably latching/locking the emulsifying tool 200 to the bladed tool 100.
• the emulsifying tool 200 is attached to the bladed tool 100 by positioning it on the bladed tool 100, with the stem 140 extending through the aperture 230, with a collar 232 of the discoidal tool 200 surrounding the central aperture 230 resting on the hub 130.
• the emulsifying tool 200 is positioned such that the slots 233 in the collar 232 coincide with the protrusions 170 on the bladed tool. Once the discoidal tool 200 is positioned proximal to the hub 130 at the base of the stem 140, it is then rotated into position by turning it clockwise or anti-clockwise relative to the bladed tool 100. In the present exemplary embodiment, two slots 233 and two protrusions 170 are positioned on either side of the stem 140. However, there may be any number of slots 233 and protrusions 170.
• Rotation of the discoidal tool 200 when correctly located on the bladed tool 100 causes the locking members 231 to latch/lock within a gap 171 between a member in the form of a protrusion 170 of the bladed tool 100, and the hub 130.
• This locking may be either a snap-fitting (e.g., the locking members 231 form resilient elements that are deflected by the protrusions 170 during rotation and then latch behind them) or a pressure-fit (e.g., the locking member 231 presents a ramped surface which comes into increasingly tight abutment with the protrusions 170 as the discoidal tool 200 is rotated).
• the discoidal tool 200 is thus retained between the protrusions 170 and the hub 130.
• the locking member 231 having a ramped surface thereby to form a pressure fit is shown.
• the above-described process is reversed.
• the discoidal tool 200 is simply rotated in the opposite direction to that in which it was rotated during tightening.
• the user may simply deflect the locking members 231 with their fingers to allow it to be rotated into the free position, or the locking members 231 may deflect to the free position when pushed against the protrusions 170 by rotation.
• the collar 232 prevents lateral motion of the discoidal tool 200 relative to the stem 140 of the bladed tool 100. Additionally, the collar 232 provides abutment to the protrusion 170 during attachment of the discoidal tool 200 to the bladed tool 100. This aids in resisting lateral and rotary forces acting on the tool during use. A bevelled configuration of the collar also encourages the movement of foodstuffs outwardly during use.
• the discoidal tool 200 has recesses 210 and 220 formed in it such that it can accommodate and cover the blades 110 and 120 of the bladed tool 100 when it is positioned against the hub 130. These recesses 210 and 220 are dimensioned with sufficient rotational space within them that they accommodate the blades 110 and 120 both in the unlocked and locked positions. In this manner, the recesses mask the blades 110 and 120 so that the first tool does not perform the first food processing task. This can be considered to have the effect of negating the effect of the blades, and thereby negating the first food processing task. Additionally, the blades 110 and 120 provide structural support and stability to the emulsifying disk, allowing the design to achieve a robust and solid structure when assembled. This enables the discoidal tool 200 to have a more streamlined design than would be possible for a standalone emulsifying tool. This reduces the storage space required, and the volume of material used.
• the emulsifying tool 200 and bladed tool 100 have similar central features used to locate them to the drive shaft.
• the invention allows the central features on the bladed tool 100 to be shared with the emulsifying tool 200 allowing the emulsifying tool 200 to reduce in size to a flat easily storable disk.
• the similarity in shape of the two tools enables masking of the bladed tool 100 while achieving the food processing task of the emulsifying tool 200.
• both tools share a substantially flat operative portion, namely the blades 110, 120 of the bladed tool 100 and the generally planar, discoidally- shaped emulsifying tool 200.
• the tool 100 has been described as a bladed tool 100 with blades/appendages extending radially from it, it may instead simply be another discoidal tool (e.g., a disc- cutter, grater or the like) that is, on attachment, masked by the discoidal/planar tool 200.
• another discoidal tool e.g., a disc- cutter, grater or the like
• the combined assembly 300 can carry out the food processing tasks for which the planar tool 200 is designed when driven to rotate by a food processing appliance to which the combination tool is connected.
• any other conceivable task that may be carried out by a planar tool e.g., grating
• the need to provide two separate tools for carrying out two separate tasks is thus avoided, reducing costs and reducing the need for storage space.
• safety is increased as the bladed tool 100 will not be loosely stored. As the discoidal tool 200 has no sharp elements capable of causing significant harm, there is little danger in storing it loosely when not in use.
• the bladed tool 100 may be replaced with any tool having appendages extending preferably radially from a central axis, including ice-crushing blades, choppers, wire- whisks, dough-kneading tools etc.
• Fig. 7 shows a highly simplified drawing of a food processor appliance 600 with the combination tool 300 attached.
• the food processor appliance 600 has a container 400 comprising a hollow main body 410 enclosed by a removable lid 420.
• the container 400 is removably attached to a base unit 500 having a motor 510 that drives the tool 300 within the container 400 via a drive-shaft 520 to which the tool 300 is releasably attached.
• the base unit 500 may also include a control module 530.
• the control module 530 can include a user interface (e.g., a touch-screen interface), an electronic memory, a processor, and electronic data transmission/reception devices such as a Wi-Fi module.
• the control module 530 can prevent energising of the motor 510 to drive the tool 300 to rotate if it detects that the discoidal tool 200 is present but not correctly attached to the bladed tool 100.
• this may be achieved by associating an electronic tag such as an RFID tag with the discoidal tool 200, such that its presence may be detected by a suitable RFID transducer in the base 500 in electronic communication with the control module 530, and providing a micro-switch in the tool 300 that is depressed when discoidal tool 200 is rotated to the correct orientation.
• the control module 530 may control the user interface to display instructions to the user to properly attached the discoidal tool 200 to the bladed tool 100.
• control module 530 may also automatically configure the appliance 600 for carrying out different tasks based on the detected presence/absence of the discoidal tool 200 in combination with the bladed tool 100.
• the appliance 600 may enter a “emulsification mode” when the discoidal tool 200 is detected, constraining the motor 510 to drive the combination tool 300 to rotate within a specified number of RPM suitable for emulsification (for example, to at least 800 RPM, and more preferably within the range of 800 to 2000 RPM), and displaying a suitable range within which the motor may rotate to the user via the user interface.
• components such as sharp blades (e.g., the blades 110 and 120 if the bladed tool 100 is a chopping tool) may be formed from stainless steel.
• Other components, such as the discoidal tool 200, the stem 140, the hub 130, etc. may be formed from a food-safe, dishwasher-safe plastic such as Nylon.
• first tool element bladed tool 100 in the above exemplary embodiment
• the hub 130 and the blades etc. attached thereto may instead be releasably attachable to the stem 140 using snap- fittings or other similar releasable attachment means.
• both the hub 130 and the second tool element may be releasably attachable to the stem 140.
• the food processing tool may also utilise reciprocating motion.
• the first tool element may take the form of a knife blade
• the second tool element may be a slicer attachment.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=76444445

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (4)

• 2021
  • 2021-05-21 CN CN202180036931.5A patent/CN115697149A/zh active Pending
  • 2021-05-21 EP EP21732497.9A patent/EP4153012A1/en active Pending
  • 2021-05-21 WO PCT/GB2021/051250 patent/WO2021234417A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events