WO2023180602A1

WO2023180602A1 - Grinder

Info

Publication number: WO2023180602A1
Application number: PCT/ES2023/070164
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Verdú Francés
Original assignee: Proyectos Y Ejecuciones, S.A.
Priority date: 2022-03-22
Filing date: 2023-03-16
Publication date: 2023-09-28
Also published as: ES1289494Y; ES1289494U

Abstract

The present invention discloses a grinder made up of a static part, an actuator and a cover. The actuator includes a frustoconical recess on which protrusions are disposed, said protrusions being aligned with at least three of the generatrices of the recess, distributed equiangularly and having flat surfaces inclined in opposite directions; wherein the protrusions define a suitably shaped internal cavity that receives therein radial ribs which are provided in the central area of a cross-shaped part and also define two opposing inclined longitudinal flat surfaces that form automatic positioning and self-orienting means for the insertion of the actuator.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Grinder.

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present invention relates to a grinder for grinding spices of the type that includes a static part on which an actuator linked to a trim rotates.

The object of the invention is to provide a mounting system for the actuator-trim assembly of the grinder that significantly facilitates assembly maneuvers, by having a geometry that allows automatic positioning by gravity when one piece is placed on top of the other during assembly maneuvers. . Thus, the configuration of the present invention avoids having to face an exact mounting position in said assembly maneuvers, therefore simplifying the assembly process, with the consequent savings in time and costs that this entails. Additionally, the device allows you to stir and push the spices, understanding spices as aromatic vegetable substances or herbs, preferably long leaves that move from the inside of the jar or container of the grinder to the outside, without being dosed caked, as happens in grinders. conventional.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spice grinders for larger capacity containers (which normally have a storage capacity in their container equal to or greater than 200 ml) are known as “XXL grinders”. They involve a static piece, essentially annular, with an internal perimeter toothing, concentric to which an actuating element rotates in which a group of teeth or two groups of coarse and fine grinding teeth are established, respectively, a piece that is linked to a trim by means of four radial wings intended to fit into blade-shaped recesses established on an internal perimeter flange of the trim.

Thus, to assemble these two pieces it is necessary to face both elements in an exact relative position, which complicates the assembly maneuvers, since the The actuator must be inserted into the interior of the trim manually or by means of a robot arm, and its external body makes accessibility and visibility difficult due to the need for a possible angular readjustment between pieces so that they fit perfectly together.

Additionally, the problem that these types of devices present is that when spices materialize in herbs, they tend to clump inside the container, which very negatively affects the dispensing and grinding process.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The grinder that is recommended completely satisfactorily solves the previously mentioned problem, based on a simple but effective solution, which makes it possible to offer means that enable automatic positioning when the actuator falls by gravity on the trim, so as to facilitate the assembly of the parts and greatly reduce the operating times of said assembly. Additionally, the configuration of the grinder of the present invention prevents caking of the spices when they are long-leafed, contributing to their efficient grinding.

To do this, we start from the conventional structure described above, in which an annular static piece with an internal perimeter toothing participates in the grinder in which an actuator provided with complementary teeth plays concentrically and moves angularly within it, counting the element actuator with short radial wings emerging from its base finished with coupling means to the arms of an internal crosshead provided within the trim.

Optionally, the coupling means of the radial wings of the actuator are materialized in emerging lugs that can be coupled into complementary holes provided in the arms of the internal crosshead of the trim, so that the aforementioned lugs of the radial wings of the actuator are inserted into them. by gravity in the holes of the arms of the internal crosshead of the trim.

Thus, in the central area of the internal crosshead of the trim, radial ribs are defined, oriented in the same direction as the arms of the crosshead and in which They define two opposing and inclined longitudinal facets that are complementary to respective projections established on the base of the actuator.

Thus, the actuator has a truncated-conical central recess so that in correspondence with, at least, three of its equiangularly distributed generatrices, the aforementioned complementary projections are established, in which an end edge with two facets inclined in opposite directions is defined. In this way, regardless of the relative angular position between trim and actuator when the latter is inserted and dropped by gravity into the trim, the edges of the actuator projections will come into contact with the facets of the crosshead projections. of the trim, sliding along said inclined surface. This configuration causes an automatic rotation and reorientation of one piece with respect to another until the arms of the actuator are perfectly facing the arms of the crosshead of the trim, so that both pieces are coupled by simple gravity without having to carry any type of angular adjustment between them.

This, obviously, significantly simplifies assembly operations, reducing operating times.

As detailed above, the static piece includes a series of interior teeth. These interior teeth collaborate with the complementary teeth of the actuator, constituting the grinding means of the device, and define a grinding area. Well, it has been planned that the static piece has internally and in correspondence with the area immediately preceding the grinding area a plurality of radial arms that rest on a concentric ring, so that the radial arms allow the spices to be conveyed with a flow rate. considerable towards the area in which the cutting or grinding of the spices occurs, avoiding their caking. It should be noted that we must understand spices as those vegetable substances or aromatic herbs, preferably long leaves.

Thus, when reversing the position of the grinder container for dosing spices by grinding, the caked herbs first hit against those radial arms, which stir the spices prior to grinding, causing the They are separated or loosened, facilitating their flow to the grinding mechanism or media.

Optionally, it has been planned that, in the area of confluence of the radial arms with the internal wall of the fixed or static piece, wedge-shaped partitions are established that reduce the space or clearance defined between the complementary teeth of the actuator and the teeth. interiors of the static piece, that is, between the elements or grinding media, which favors cutting the herbs to a smaller size.

These partitions would act directly in conjunction with the complementary teeth of the actuator in chopping the herbs, as an additional and complementary element of the interior teeth arranged on the internal face of the static piece, which protrude a smaller amplitude but participate in a greater number

Finally, it only remains to be noted that the use of two pieces in this mobile assembly (actuator/trim) allows the use of different materials for each piece (harder for the actuator, and lower cost for the trim), with the consequent cost savings that this entails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that will be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of its practical implementation, a set of plans is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective and exploded view of a grinder for grinding spices made in accordance with the object of the present invention.

Figure 2.- Shows an alternative perspective view to that of the assembly in figure 1. Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the actuator at the level of its base in which the coupling and self-orientation means are arranged for coupling to the trim.

Figure 4.- Shows a perspective view of the trim on which the device of Figure 3 is integrally coupled.

Figure 5.- Shows a perspective view of the trim duly assembled with the actuator, ready to be mounted on the static piece or third piece that participates in the grinder.

Figure 6.- Shows an alternative perspective view to that of the assembly in figure 5.

Figure 7.- Shows a bottom plan view of the device assembled together with the trim, the actuator and the static part.

Figure 8.- Shows a diametrical section view of the assembled device of Figure 7.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures outlined, it can be seen how the grinder for grinding spices of the invention is constituted, as is conventional, from three pieces, a static piece (1), an actuator (2) and a trim ( 3).

The static piece (1) has an annular configuration, with interior teeth (4), a piece on which the actuator (2) is concentrically movable. Thus, the actuator (2) is provided with complementary teeth (6) that are responsible for grinding the spice by operating with the interior teeth (4) of the static piece (1). Thus, the complementary teeth (6) of the actuator (2) with the collaboration of the interior teeth (4) of the static piece (1) constitute the grinding means, defining a grinding area. Optionally, the actuator (2) is provided with blades (5) that emerge from its base and are responsible for forcing or dragging the spice so that it is ground between all the interior teeth (4) of the static piece (1) and the complementary teeth (6) of the actuator (2). In any case, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures outlined, the actuator (2), as is also conventional, includes four radial wings (7) emerging from its base, finished with emerging lugs (8) that are intended to engage in holes (9) provided in the arms of an internal crosshead (10) of the trim (3), crosshead (10) that defines windows (11) for the passage of the spices once ground through the set of teeth, namely : the interior teeth (4) and the complementary teeth (6).

Well, in accordance with the essence of the invention, it has been planned that in the central area of the crosshead (10) radial ribs (12) are established, oriented in the same direction as the arms of the crosshead (10). and in which two opposing and inclined longitudinal facets (13) are defined that are complementary to respective projections (14) established on the actuator (2).

The actuator (2), as shown in Figure 2, has a truncated-conical recess (16) on which four projections (14) are preferably established, and more specifically arranged in correspondence with four of its generatrices, being equiangularly distributed. in diametrically opposed arrangements two by two.

In these projections (14), inclined facets (13') are also defined in opposite directions, said projections (14) defining an internal gap in correspondence with the base of the truncated-conical recess (16). Thus, the internal gap defined by the projections (14) is formally suitable to receive within it the radial ribs (12) provided in the crosshead (10) of the trim (3), without angular clearances. In this way, the facets (13) of the radial ribs (12) of the crosshead (10) determine automatic and self-oriented positioning means for the insertion of the actuator (2) within the trim (3).

Thus, and as previously mentioned, when the actuator element (2) is introduced into the trim (3), even if the crosshead (10) is not perfectly aligned with the radial wings (7) of the actuator (2), This will not be a problem, as shown in Figure 4, since in that position of angular offset, the edges that define the pairs of inclined facets (13) or (13') will come into contact with the facet of the complementary piece. , so that since they are inclined surfaces and smooth, will force the relative displacement of one piece and the other according to the direction of angular reorientation of these facets, causing the relative angular position between one piece and the other to self-adjust until the lugs (8) of the radial wings are perfectly facing each other ( 7) of the actuator (2) with the holes (9) of the crosshead arms (10) of the trim (3), so that the actuator (2) and trim (3) are perfectly joined in their exact relative position, all this through a simple and quick maneuver.

Additionally, the static piece (1) includes internally and in correspondence with the area immediately preceding the grinding area a plurality of radial arms (18) that rest on a concentric ring (17), the grinding area being defined by the area in which the interior teeth (4) of the static piece (1) coincide with the complementary teeth (6) of the actuator (2). When the container is overturned, the radial arms (18) determine prominent elements on which the spices, preferably long-leaf herbs, hit, if they are caked, before reaching the grinding area, thus producing their de-caking. or separation, and causing a more fluid and adequate flow of said herbs towards the grinding area.

As can be seen in the figures outlined, in a preferred embodiment of the invention it has been foreseen that, in the area of confluence of two or more of the radial arms (18) with the internal wall of the static piece (1), establish wedge-shaped partitions (19) that reduce the space or clearance defined between the complementary teeth (6) and the interior teeth (4), which favors the cutting of long-leaf herbs to a smaller size, determining a additional cutting or grinding element for this static piece (1) together with the inner teeth (4).

As previously mentioned, since the mobile element of the grinder is made up of two pieces such as the actuator (2) and the trim (3), this allows the use of different materials for both parts, so that the actuator (2) is obtained from a very hard material, while for the trim (3) less hard and consequently cheaper materials can be used without negatively affecting the functionality of the grinder.

Claims

1 ^a.- Grinder, which is of the type made up of three pieces, a static piece (1), an actuator (2) and a trim (3), where the static piece (1) has an annular configuration. , with interior teeth (4), a static piece (1) on which the actuator (2) is concentrically movable, provided with complementary teeth (6) that, with the collaboration of the interior teeth (4), constitute the grinding means. , defining a grinding area, as well as radial wings (7) emerging from its base, finished with coupling means to the arms of an internal crosshead (10) of the trim (3), characterized in that the actuator (2) It has a truncated-conical recess (16) on which projections (14) are established, arranged in correspondence with at least three of its generatrices, being equiangularly distributed, and which include inclined facets (13') in opposite directions, said projections (14) defining a formally suitable internal cavity that receives within it radial ribs (12) provided in the central area of the crosshead (10) in which two opposing and inclined longitudinal facets (13) are also defined, and that determine automatic and self-oriented positioning means for inserting the actuator (2) within the trim (3), so that the static piece (1) includes internally, and in correspondence with the area immediately preceding it. the grinding area, a plurality of radial arms (18) that determine prominent elements in the overturning of the grinder container that stir the spices prior to grinding.

2 ^a.- Grinder, according to claim ¹ , characterized in that the radial wings (7) of the actuator (2) have emerging lugs (8), attachable in holes (9) provided in the arms of the internal crosshead (10). of the trim (3).

3 ^a.- Grinder, according to claim ¹ , characterized in that the actuator (2) has four projections (14) arranged in correspondence with four of its generatrices, being equiangularly distributed in diametrically opposite arrangements two by two.

4 ^a.- Grinder, according to claim 1 ^a , characterized in that the actuator (2) is provided with blades (5).

5 ^a.- Grinder, according to claim 1 ^a , characterized in that in the area of confluence of two or more of the radial arms (18) with the internal wall of the static piece (1), wedge-shaped partitions (19) are established that reduce the space or clearance defined between the complementary teeth (6) and the internal teeth ( 4).