FOOD COMMINUTION DEVICE

Abstract

The food comminution device includes a cutting part (3), a spiral cutting part (6) and a rotary drive (5), wherein food items (4) for comminution can, in order to be comminuted, be selectively pushed through the cutting part (3) or rotated by means of the rotary drive relative to a spiral cutting part (6). The food comminution device further includes an actuating part (1) and a base part (2) which has a cutting part (3), wherein the actuating part (1) is movably connectable to the base part (2) such that food items (4) for comminution can be pushed through the cutting part (3) by means of a movement of the actuating part (1) relative to the base part (2). The actuating part (1) has a rotary drive by means of which a food item (4) for comminution can be rotated relative to a spiral cutting part (6).

Claims

1. A food comminution device comprising a cutting part (3), a spiral cutting part (6) and a rotary drive (5), wherein food items (4) for comminution can, in order to be comminuted, be selectively pushed through the cutting part (3) or rotated by means of the rotary drive relative to a spiral cutting part (6).

2. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an actuating part (1) and a base part (2), wherein the actuating part (1) is movably connectable to the base part (2) such that food items (4) for comminution can be pushed through the cutting part (3) by means of a movement of the actuating part (1) relative to the base part (2).

3. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating part (1) has a rotary drive (5) by means of which a food item (4) for comminution can be rotated relative to a spiral cutting part (6).

4. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the food comminution device has a receptacle (9) into which selectively the cutting part (3) or the spiral cutting part (6) can be inserted, or wherein the base part (2) has a receptacle (9) into which selectively the cutting part (3) or the spiral cutting part (6) can be inserted.

5. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the food comminution device has a container (7), or wherein the base part (2) has a container (7).

6.-9. (canceled)

10. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a. the cutting part (3) can be inserted into the receptacle (9) without the use of tools, and/or wherein b. the cutting part (3) can be removed from the receptacle (9) again without the use of tools and non-destructively, and/or wherein c. the spiral cutting part (6) can be inserted into the receptacle (9) without the use of tools, and/or wherein d. the spiral cutting part (6) can be removed from the receptacle (9) again without the use of tools and non-destructively, and/or wherein e. the cutting part (3) can be inserted with latching and/or clamping action into the receptacle (9), and/or wherein f. the spiral cutting part (6) can be inserted with latching, and/or clamping action into the receptacle (9).

11.-12. (canceled)

13. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a. the base part (2) has a non-circular outer contour in horizontal cross section, and/or wherein b. the base part (2) is of rectangular, in particular square, configuration in horizontal cross section.

14. (canceled)

15. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base part (2) and/or the actuating part (1) are of cylindrical configuration at least in certain sections, and/or wherein the base part (2) and/or the actuating part (1) are of cylindrical configuration at least in certain sections, wherein the base area is non-circular, and/or wherein the base part (2) and/or the actuating part (1) are of cuboidal configuration.

16.-19. (canceled)

20. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a. the actuating part (1) is linearly displaceably connectable to the base part (2), and/or wherein b. the actuating part (1) is movably connectable to the base part (2) by being configured to be slidable onto the base part (2).

21. (canceled)

22. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuating part (1) has a receiving space (12) into which the base part (2) can at least partially be slid, wherein the receiving space (12) is delimited by a wall (13), and wherein the shape of the inner contour of the wall (13) of the receiving space (12) and the shape of the outer contour of the base part (2) are a. identical in a plane perpendicular to the sliding-in direction and/or b. non-circular in a plane perpendicular to the sliding-in direction.

23.-27. (canceled)

28. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the food comminution device has a pressing plunger (15) against which the food item (4) for comminution bears during a movement of the actuating part (1) relative to the base part (2) for the purposes of pushing said item through the cutting part (3), or wherein the actuating part (1) has a pressing plunger (15) against which the food item (4) for comminution bears during a movement of the actuating part (1) relative to the base part (2) for the purposes of pushing said item through the cutting part (3).

29. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the pressing plunger (15) has grooves (16) into which the cutting blades (17) of the cutting part (3) protrude during the movement of the actuating part (1) relative to the base part (2).

30.-31. (canceled)

32. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotary drive (5) has a transmission (19).

33. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotary drive (5) is configured as a manually actuatable drive.

34. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 33, wherein a. the rotary drive (5) is configured as a crank drive, or wherein b. the rotary drive (5) has a hand crank (11) which is removable, or wherein c. the rotary drive (5) is configured as a pull cord drive.

35.-36. (canceled)

37. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotary drive (5) is configured as an electric drive.

38. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the food comminution device has a driver (21) which is couplable or coupled to the rotary drive (5) and by means of which a rotational movement can be transmitted to a food item (4) for comminution.

39.-41. (canceled)

42. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a. the cutting part (3) has at least one cutting blade (17), and/or wherein b. the cutting part (3) has a cutting grid, and/or wherein c. the cutting part (3) has multiple mutually parallel cutting blades (17).

43.-44. (canceled)

45. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one further cutting part (3) is provided which differs from the cutting part (3) in the number of cutting blades (17) and/or in the arrangement of the cutting blades (17) and/or in the shape of the cutting blades (17) and/or in the configuration of the cutting edge.

46. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 45, wherein a further pressing plunger is provided which is adapted to the further cutting part (3).

47. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spiral cutting part (6) has at least one cutting blade (24) which is positioned and oriented so as to cut at least one spiral-shaped garland from a food item (4) that is set in rotation by means of the rotary drive (5).

48.-49. (canceled)

50. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spiral cutting part (6) has a conical spiral cutting part receiving space for the introduction of food items (4), on the receiving space wall of which the at least one blade (24) is arranged.

51. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spiral cutting part (6) is configured to simultaneously cut multiple spiral-shaped garlands from a food item (4).

52. (canceled)

53. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one further spiral cutting part (6) is provided which differs from the spiral cutting part (6) in the number of blades (24) and/or in a cone angle of the spiral cutting part receiving space and/or in the shape of the blades (24).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The drawing illustrates the subject matter of the invention by way of example and schematically, and will be described below on the basis of the figures, wherein elements which are identical or of identical action are normally denoted by the same reference designations even in different exemplary embodiments. In the drawing:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention before the utilization thereof using a cutting part,

[0054] FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during the utilization thereof using the cutting part,

[0055] FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during conversion for use of the spiral cutting part,

[0056] FIG. 4 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention before the utilization thereof using a spiral cutting part,

[0057] FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during the utilization thereof using the spiral cutting part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0058] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention in different situations. The food comminution device has an actuating part 1 and a base part 2 with a cutting part 3. The actuating part 1 is movably connectable to the base part 2 such that a food item 4 for comminution can be pushed through the cutting part 3 by means of a movement of the actuating part 1 relative to the base part 2, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 and discussed in detail further below.

[0059] The actuating part 1 has a rotary drive 5, by means of which a food item 4 for comminution can be rotated relative to a spiral cutting part 6 and thus comminuted, which is illustrated in particular in FIG. 5 and discussed in detail further below.

[0060] FIG. 1 shows the exemplary embodiment of the food comminution device according to the invention before the utilization thereof using the cutting part 3.

[0061] The base part 2 has a container 7. The container 7 serves for collecting the comminuted food item. The container 7 is preferably of translucent or transparent configuration, but this is not illustrated in the figures. If the container is translucent or transparent, the user can directly visually monitor the fill level.

[0062] The base part 2 has a receptacle 9 into which selectively the cutting part 3 or the spiral cutting part 6 can be inserted. The receptacle 9 is formed at least partially by the edge region of the container 7, which surrounds an opening of the container 7. The cutting part 3, when inserted into the receptacle 9, lies on an edge 8 of the container 7, whilst a part of the cutting part 3 projects into the container 7. For this purpose, the cutting part 3 has an encircling rabbet 26.

[0063] The spiral cutting part 6 has the same outer contour as the cutting part 3. If the spiral cutting part 6 is inserted instead of the cutting part 3 into the receptacle 9, said spiral cutting part is supported on the edge 8 of the container 7, whilst at the same time a part of the spiral cutting part 6 projects into the container 7. For this purpose, the spiral cutting part 6, like the cutting part 3, has an encircling rabbet 26.

[0064] The base part 2 has an anti-slip element 10, which is formed from an O-ring, preferably composed of rubber or silicone, at a placement surface. The anti-slip element 10 prevents slippage of the food comminution device relative to a placement surface and in particular makes it possible for the torque that is introduced by way of the hand crank 11 during use of the rotary drive to be supported on the placement surface.

[0065] The actuating part 1 has a receiving space 12 into which the base part 2 can at least partially be slid. The receiving space 12 is delimited laterally by a wall 13 that has two apertures 14. The apertures 14 make it possible for a food item 4 for comminution to be introduced into the receiving space 12 before a comminution process, and/or for a food item 4 that is already situated in the receiving space 12 (which food item has for example been introduced through the slide-in opening) to be oriented and positioned.

[0066] The shape of the inner contour of the wall 13 of the receiving space 12 and the shape of the outer contour of the base part 2 are identical in a plane perpendicular to the sliding-in direction. In this way, it is advantageously achieved that the actuating part 1 cannot rotate relative to the base part 2 during use of the rotary drive 5. There is merely a degree of play between the base part 2 and the actuating part 1 in order to allow the actuating part 1 to be easily placed over the base part 2 without becoming jammed, and at the same time to allow a food item 4 for comminution to be pushed through the cutting part 3, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0067] The actuating part 1 has a pressing plunger 15 against which the food item 4 for comminution bears during the movement of the actuating part 1 relative to the base part 2 for the purposes of pushing said item through the cutting part 3. The pressing plunger 15 has grooves 16 into which the cutting blades 17 of the cutting part 3 protrude towards the end of the movement of the actuating part 1 relative to the base part 2. It is hereby ensured that the food item 4 for comminution is completely cut and does not remain stuck between the cutting blades 17.

[0068] The pressing plunger 15 is fastened to the upper end of the receiving space 12 and can be removed without the use of tools. A removal of the pressing plunger 15 is necessary if it is intended to use the spiral cutting part 6 instead of the cutting part 3 or if it is intended to use a further cutting part (not illustrated) instead of the cutting part 3. The further cutting part (not illustrated) may differ from the cutting part in particular in the number of cutting blades and/or in the arrangement of the cutting blades and/or in the shape of the cutting blades. Preferably, a further pressing plunger (not illustrated) is provided which is adapted to the further cutting part, such that the cutting blades of the further cutting part can protrude into the grooves of the further pressing plunger. The pressing plunger 15 may however also be configured to be used with different cutting parts. For this purpose, the pressing plunger 15 may have different sets of grooves.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during conversion for use of the spiral cutting part 6 instead of the cutting part 3.

[0070] If it is intended to use the spiral cutting part 6 instead of the cutting part 3, the cutting part 3 is removed from the receptacle 9, and the spiral cutting part 6 is instead inserted into the receptacle 9.

[0071] The spiral cutting part 6 has a conical spiral cutting part receiving space for the introduction of the food item 4 for comminution, on the wall of which receiving space there is arranged at least one blade 24. The at least one blade 24 is positioned and oriented so as to cut at least one spiral-shaped garland from the food item 4 that is set in rotation by means of the rotary drive 5. Extending adjacent to the blade 24 is an opening 25 through which the spiral-shaped garland passes out of the spiral cutting part receiving space into the container 7.

[0072] It is furthermore also necessary for the actuating part 1 to be converted if it is intended to use the spiral cutting part 6 instead of the cutting part 3. As already mentioned, the actuating part 1 has a rotary drive 5 with a hand crank 11. The rotary drive 5 is situated partially in a rotary drive housing 18. A (highly schematically illustrated) transmission 19 is situated in the rotary drive housing 18, to the drive input of which transmission the hand crank 11 can be coupled in torque-transmitting fashion by simply being plugged on by way of a mechanical coupling interface 20.

[0073] A driver 21 is couplable to the output of the transmission 19, by means of which driver a rotational movement can be transmitted to a food item 4 for comminution. For coupling onto the output of the transmission 19, the driver 21 preferably has a coupling element 22 configured as a plug-type element. The plug-type element can preferably be plugged with latching and/or clamping action into a counterpart coupling element (not illustrated) of the output of the transmission 19.

[0074] The driver 21 has at least one projection 23, specifically spikes, which engage into the food item 4 for comminution in order to establish a rotationally conjoint connection in order that a torque can be transmitted to the food item 4 for comminution.

[0075] As an aside: the counterpart coupling element (not illustrated) may in particular also serve for holding the pressing plunger 15 if it is intended to use the cutting part 3 instead of the spiral cutting part 6. For this purpose, the pressing plunger 15 may have a coupling element 22 which is configured to interact with the counterpart coupling element of the output of the transmission 19. The output of the transmission 19 in this case does not transmit any torque to the pressing plunger 15. The coupling element 22 may in particular be configured such that it can be plugged in irrespective of the rotational orientation of the output of the transmission 19.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention before the utilization thereof using a spiral cutting part 6. In the setting shown, a food item 4 for comminution (not illustrated in this figure) can be inserted and oriented between the driver 21 and the spiral cutting part 6 whilst the actuating part 1 is placed onto the base part 2.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during the utilization thereof using the spiral cutting part 6. Rotary actuation of the hand crank 11 causes the food item 4 for comminution to be set in rotation, and at the same time, the food item 4 for comminution is pushed into the spiral cutting part 6 by virtue of the user exerting a correspondingly directed force from the top downwards onto the actuating part 1 of the food comminution device, which has been placed on a placement surface (not illustrated). In particular, the user can use one hand to hold the actuating part 1 and push downwards whilst at the same time actuating the hand crank 11 using the other hand. As a result of the rotational movement, the blade 24 cuts a spiral-shaped garland from the food item 4 that is set in rotation by means of the rotary drive 5, which garland passes directly into the container 7.

[0078] When the food item 4 for comminution has been completely comminuted, the actuating part 1 can be pulled entirely or partially from the base part 2 in order to repeat the process with a further food item 4 for comminution.

[0079] If it is intended to use the cutting part 3 again instead of the spiral cutting part 6, another conversion can be performed, in the case of which the steps discussed with regard to FIG. 3 are reversed.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0080] 1 Actuating part [0081] 2 Base part [0082] 3 Cutting part [0083] 4 Food item [0084] 5 Rotary drive [0085] 6 Spiral cutting part [0086] 7 Container [0087] 8 Edge [0088] 9 Receptacle [0089] 10 Anti-slip element [0090] 11 Hand crank [0091] 12 Receiving space [0092] 13 Wall [0093] 14 Aperture [0094] 15 Pressing plunger [0095] 16 Grooves [0096] 17 Cutting blades [0097] 18 Rotary drive housing [0098] 19 Transmission [0099] 20 Coupling interface [0100] 21 Driver [0101] 22 Coupling element [0102] 23 Projection [0103] 24 Blade [0104] 25 Opening [0105] 26 Rabbet