A herb processor has an upper cutting element with blades extending downward, a circumferential groove in an inner diameter of the upper cutting element, and a first opening into the groove from the planar lower end, a lower cutting element with blades extending upward and a laterally-extending key that fits through the opening into the groove, locking the upper and lower cutting elements together.

A herb processor has an upper cutting element with blades extending downward, a circumferential groove in an inner diameter of the upper cutting element, and a first opening into the groove from the planar lower end, a lower cutting element with blades extending upward and a laterally-extending key that fits through the opening into the groove, locking the upper and lower cutting elements together.

A viscous food dispensing system includes a chute inlet configured to funnel particulate food product into a sleeve and a transport device having an over-center cutout. The transport device is configured to rotate within the sleeve to convey the particulate food product. A processing surface extends downward from the chute inlet towards a curved base of the sleeve along a portion of the transport device. The processing surface is spaced laterally apart from the transport device to define a processing zone between the processing surface and the transport device. The particulate food product is processed as the particulate food product is captured between a leading edge of the over-center cutout and the processing surface while the transport device is rotating.

A electronic grinder includes a main body removably attached to a grinding and dispensing chamber. The top of the main body is sealed by an upper cab and the bottom of the chamber is sealed by an openable lower cap. The main chamber includes a motor connected to a magnetically attached removable blade. The blade extends into the chamber when the grinder is assembled. When the lower cap is closed, the blade grinds material placed in the chamber. When the lower cap is opened, the blade functions as a fan to dispense ground material out of the chamber. The grinder also includes a display, an electronic scale, and an accessory cigarette lighter.

Apparatus for grinding a product initially in the form of granules, grains or suchlike, comprising: a receptacle to contain the product to be ground and provided with an unloading aperture; a fixed grinder; a mobile grinder connectable to a drive motor; a grinding chamber in which the fixed grinder and the mobile grinder are located and provided with a discharge aperture to discharge the ground product; the grinding chamber, the fixed grinder and the mobile grinder define a reception compartment, put in communication with the unloading aperture, and an unloading compartment, separated from the reception compartment by means of grinding teeth of the fixed and mobile grinders and put in communication with the discharge aperture; the grinding apparatus comprises at least a cleaning device, associated with the mobile grinder, and at least a control unit, provided with commutation means and associated with the drive motor so as to make said mobile grinder rotate in a first direction of rotation which is mainly for grinding or, alternatively, in a second direction of rotation for cleaning, opposite to the first direction of rotation and suitable to allow the discharge of ground residues present in the unloading chamber by means of the cleaning device (30).

Apparatus for grinding a product initially in the form of granules, grains or suchlike, comprising: a receptacle to contain the product to be ground and provided with an unloading aperture; a fixed grinder; a mobile grinder connectable to a drive motor; a grinding chamber in which the fixed grinder and the mobile grinder are located and provided with a discharge aperture to discharge the ground product; the grinding chamber, the fixed grinder and the mobile grinder define a reception compartment, put in communication with the unloading aperture, and an unloading compartment, separated from the reception compartment by means of grinding teeth of the fixed and mobile grinders and put in communication with the discharge aperture; the grinding apparatus comprises at least a cleaning device, associated with the mobile grinder, and at least a control unit, provided with commutation means and associated with the drive motor so as to make said mobile grinder rotate in a first direction of rotation which is mainly for grinding or, alternatively, in a second direction of rotation for cleaning, opposite to the first direction of rotation and suitable to allow the discharge of ground residues present in the unloading chamber by means of the cleaning device (30).

Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a coffee cartridge containing: (i) unground and (ii) unroasted or part-roasted coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a cartridge chamber in which the beans are confined, wherein part or all of at least one wall of the cartridge is openable, and the openable wall of the cartridge is opposed to a slidable wall thereof, said slidable wall comprising: inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being in contact with the beans; a peripheral sealing portion on the inner surface; and a central portion bounded by the peripheral sealing portion and comprising a screen for retaining the beans within the cartridge chamber while permitting a flow of coffee brew therethrough.

Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a coffee cartridge containing: (i) unground and (ii) unroasted or part-roasted coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a cartridge chamber in which the beans are confined, wherein part or all of at least one wall of the cartridge is openable, and the openable wall of the cartridge is opposed to a slidable wall thereof, said slidable wall comprising: inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being in contact with the beans; a peripheral sealing portion on the inner surface; and a central portion bounded by the peripheral sealing portion and comprising a screen for retaining the beans within the cartridge chamber while permitting a flow of coffee brew therethrough.

A coffee grinder, in particular for the installation in a fully-automatic coffee machine, including an electric drive motor (1) for driving a grinding unit, wherein a reduction gear (4) formed as a planetary gear is arranged between drive motor (1) and grinding unit, with the sun gear (3) of this planetary gear being drivable by the drive motor (1). The planetary gear includes multiple planetary rods (8) arranged in the circumferential direction around the sun gear (3), these rods including a first axial portion (7) meshing with the sun gear (3) as well as an axially neighboring, second axial portion (9) with a second diameter different from, preferably smaller than, a first diameter of the first axial portion (7), with this second axial portion meshing with a stationary ring gear (11). The toothed racks are arranged to drive an output element (15) with their first axial portions (7).

A coffee grinder, in particular for the installation in a fully-automatic coffee machine, including an electric drive motor (1) for driving a grinding unit, wherein a reduction gear (4) formed as a planetary gear is arranged between drive motor (1) and grinding unit, with the sun gear (3) of this planetary gear being drivable by the drive motor (1). The planetary gear includes multiple planetary rods (8) arranged in the circumferential direction around the sun gear (3), these rods including a first axial portion (7) meshing with the sun gear (3) as well as an axially neighboring, second axial portion (9) with a second diameter different from, preferably smaller than, a first diameter of the first axial portion (7), with this second axial portion meshing with a stationary ring gear (11). The toothed racks are arranged to drive an output element (15) with their first axial portions (7).