Safety system for household food-processing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to household food-processing devices. In order to provide a household food-processing device with a mounting system ensuring that it is not possible to touch the processing tool in an operating state, a household food-processing device (10) is provided that comprises a base unit (12), a processing tool unit (14) with a processing tool (18) for processing supplied food, and a receiving unit (16) with a receiving volume (20) for receiving the processed food. The base unit provides a driving force for actuating the processing tool. The receiving unit is mountable to the processing tool unit, and the base unit is mountable to the processing tool unit. The processing tool unit is provided with a safety mounting mechanism (38) defining a mounting order, according to which the base unit is mountable to the processing tool unit only when the receiving unit is mounted to the processing tool unit; and according to which the de-mounting of the receiving unit from the processing tool unit is blocked when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit.

Claims

1. A household food-processing device, comprising: a base unit; a processing tool unit including a processing tool configured to process supplied food; and a receiving unit configured to receive the processed food from the processing tool unit; wherein the base unit is configured to provide a driving force to actuate the processing tool; wherein the receiving unit is mountable to the processing tool unit, and the base unit is mountable to the processing tool unit in a specific mounting order to ensure user safety; and wherein the processing tool unit is provided with a primary safety mounting mechanism defining the specific mounting order, according to which the base unit is first mountable to the processing tool unit only when the receiving unit is mounted to the processing tool unit; and according to which a de-mounting of the receiving unit from the processing tool unit is blocked when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit thereby providing a user safety feature.

2. The household food-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit, the processing tool unit and the base unit are mountable in the specific order of mounting order, which constitutes a reverse direction from a feed-through direction of foodstuff to be processed.

3. The household food-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit with a first interlocking mechanism; wherein the base unit is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit with a second interlocking mechanism; and wherein the primary safety mounting mechanism comprises a safety locking device with at least one safety latch acting between the first and the second interlocking mechanisms.

4. The household food-processing device according to claim 3, wherein the safety locking device is provided to detect the receiving unit mounted to the processing tool; and wherein the safety locking device is configured to release a blocking feature of the second interlocking mechanism directed to block the mounting of the base unit, the release occurring in the case where the receiving unit mounted to the processing tool is detected by the safety locking device.

5. The household food-processing device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one safety latch is retractable from a passive state to an activated state by mounting the receiving unit to the processing tool unit by the first interlocking mechanism; wherein in the passive state, the second interlocking mechanism is blocked thereby preventing a mounting of the base unit to the processing tool unit; and wherein in the activated state, the second interlocking mechanism allows the base unit to be mounted to the processing tool unit.

6. The household food-processing device according to claim 5, wherein, in the passive state, the safety latch is projecting from a contacting face of the processing tool unit for an abutment of a contacting face of the base unit; and wherein, when mounting the receiving unit to the processing tool unit, the safety latch is retracted such that it is less projecting from the contacting face of the processing tool allowing the abutment of the contacting face of the base unit.

7. The household food-processing device according to claim 6, wherein the secondary lever is movable between a start position, in which the first lever is in the passive state, and an end position, in which the first lever is in the activated state; and wherein the secondary lever is provided with a biasing mechanism for biasing the secondary lever in the start position.

8. The household food-processing device according to claim 3, wherein the safety latch is maintained in an activated state when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit; and wherein, in the activated state, the safety latch blocks the first interlocking mechanism thereby preventing a demounting of the receiving unit when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit.

9. The household food-processing device according to claim 3, wherein the safety latch is moveable to a locking state by mounting the receiving unit to the processing tool unit; and wherein in the locking state, the first interlocking mechanism is blocked from de-mounting the receiving unit from the processing tool unit when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit.

10. The household food-processing device according to claim 3, wherein the safety latch is movable in a latch direction transverse to a locking direction of the first interlocking mechanism; and wherein a gear mechanism is provided for transforming an activating movement of the first interlocking mechanism in the locking direction into a retracting movement of the safety latch in the latch direction for retracting the safety latch.

11. The household food-processing device according to claim 10, wherein the safety latch is provided as a first lever, which is movable in an assembly direction; wherein, as the gear mechanism, the safety locking device comprises at least one secondary lever, which is movable in the locking direction of the first interlocking mechanism; and wherein the first lever is movably guided within a protrusion in a guiding slot of the secondary lever, which slot is at least slightly inclined to the locking direction such that, when the secondary lever is moved, the first lever is displaced in the assembly direction.

12. The household food-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided with: i) a drive unit comprising a drive unit mount for receiving a handblender main part; or ii) a drive unit comprising a motor.

13. The household food-processing device according to claim 12, wherein in a case where the base unit is provided with the drive unit mount comprising a drive unit for receiving the hand-blender main part, a secondary safety mounting mechanism is provided in addition to the primary safety mounting mechanism, such that when the drive unit is received in the drive unit mount, the receiving unit in a mounted state is blocked from being de-mounted from the processing tool unit and the processing tool unit in the mounted state is also blocked from being de-mounted from the base unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a household food-processing device in a perspective view showing a receiving unit, a processing tool unit, and a base unit, when seen from below;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the receiving unit and the processing tool unit of FIG. 1 in a first, mounting state, wherein FIG. 2A shows a top view, FIG. 2B a cross-sectional view along cutting plane C-C, FIG. 2C a bottom view, and FIG. 2D detailed perspective illustration of the safety mechanism;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the receiving unit and the processing tool unit of FIG. 1 in a second, locking safety state, wherein FIG. 3A shows a top view, FIG. 3B a cross-sectional view along cutting plane C-C, FIG. 3C a bottom view, and FIG. 3D detailed perspective illustration of the safety mechanism;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detailed perspective illustration of the safety mechanism in a first state;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the safety mechanism of FIG. 4 in a further state;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the safety mechanism in a detailed perspective view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a further example of a processing tool unit in a perspective view;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further detailed perspective view of the safety mechanism with a biasing element in a first example;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a further example of a biasing element of the safety mechanism in a first state in FIG. 9A and in a second state in FIG. 9B; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows basic steps of an exemplary method for a safety assembly of a household food-processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(12) FIG. 1 shows a household food-processing device 10, comprising a base unit 12, a processing tool unit 14, and a receiving unit 16. The processing tool unit 14 comprises a processing tool 18 for processing supplied food, such as a rotating cutting knife 19. The receiving unit 16 comprises a receiving volume 20 for receiving the processed food. The base unit 12 provides, respectively transmits, a driving force for actuating the processing tool 18. The receiving unit 16 is mountable to the processing tool unit 14, and the base unit 12 is mountable to the processing tool unit 14, e.g. for example from two different sides. For example, a first bayonet-connection 24 is provided for connecting the processing tool unit 14 with the receiving unit 16; and a -second bayonet-connection 22 is provided for connecting the base unit 12 to the processing tool unit 14. The receiving unit 16 may be equipped with a handle 26.

(13) The base unit 12 may be equipped with a drive unit mount 28 for receiving a (not shown) hand-blender main part as a drive unit. A gearing mechanism 30 is provided inside a housing structure 32. The gearing mechanism 30 transmits forces for driving the processing tool 18 via a drive shaft 34 provided at the processing tool unit 14. Further, a food insertion opening 36 is provided for supplying food to be processed.

(14) The processing tool unit 14 is provided with a safety mounting mechanism 38 defining a mounting order, according to which the base unit 12 is mountable to the processing tool unit 14 only when the receiving unit 16 is mounted to the processing tool unit 14, and according to which the de-mounting of the receiving unit 16 from the processing tool unit 14 is blocked when the base unit 12 is mounted to the processing tool unit 14. This shall be explained in the following with reference to the following drawings in more detail.

(15) The receiving unit 16, the processing tool unit 14 and the base unit 12 are mountable in an order of mounting, namely from the bottom to the top, which is in a direction reverse from a feed-through direction 39 of foodstuff to be processed, which in FIG. 1 is directed from top to bottom, i.e. in a vertical downwards direction. The direction of the order of the mounting is also referred to as mounting direction, indicated with an arrow 37. An order of de-mounting is arranged in a revers manner.

(16) The receiving unit 16 is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit 14 with a first interlocking mechanism 40, for example the above-mentioned first bayonet-connection 24, also referred to as first bayonet-locking The base unit 12 is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit 14 with a second interlocking mechanism 42, for example the above-mentioned second bayonet-connection 22, also referred to as second bayonet-locking. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the first bayonet-connection 24, i.e. the first interlocking mechanism 40 comprises first protrusions 44 on the receiving unit 16, respectively at the inner edge of the container. The processing tool unit 14 comprises first receiving openings 46 for inserting the first protrusions 44 and sidewards directed first slot portions 48 for inserting the first protrusions 44 in a sidewards directed relative movement to temporarily secure and fasten the processing tool unit 14 to the receiving unit 16.

(17) A similar second connection is provided as the second interlocking mechanism 42. Second protrusions 50 are provided on the inner side of the upper edge of the processing tool unit 14 to be inserted into second receiving openings 52 provided on the outer edge of the base units lower portion, and to be moved into and along sidewards directed second slot portions 54, e.g. horizontally arranged slots, for temporarily locking the base unit 12 to the processing tool unit 14.

(18) FIG. 2A shows a top view of the processing tool unit 14 placed on top of the receiving unit 16. In this state, the protrusions 44 are inserted into the opening 46. The processing tool unit 14 is provided with a moving knob 56 for providing a rotating relative movement between the receiving unit 16 and the processing tool unit 14, for example by moving the knob 56 and the handle 26 towards each other.

(19) The safety mounting mechanism 38 is provided in the processing tool unit 14, and comprises a safety locking device 58 with at least one safety latch 60 acting between the first interlocking mechanism 40 and the second interlocking mechanism 42. The safety mounting mechanism 38 is shown in more detail in a perspective view in FIG. 3D.

(20) The safety locking device 58 is provided to detect a mounted receiving unit and to release a locking of the second interlocking mechanism 42 for mounting of the base unit 12 in case of a detected mounted receiving unit 14. Thus, the detection of the receiving unit can also be referred to as bowl detection.

(21) The at least one safety latch 60 can be retracted from a passive state 62, see FIG. 2B and 2D for example, to an activated state 64, see FIG. 3B and 3D for example. This is achieved by mounting the receiving unit 16 to the processing tool unit 14 by the first interlocking mechanism 40, as indicated in FIG. 3A and 3B. It is noted that FIG. 3A shows the top view of FIG. 2A, in which, however, the knob 56 and the handle 26 are aligned, i.e. the receiving unit 16 and the processing tool unit 14 are rotated in relation to each other such that the protrusions 44 are arranged in the slots 48 of the bayonet-locking Simultaneously, i.e. while rotating the two units in relation to each other, the safety latch 60 is brought into the activated state 64, as mentioned above.

(22) In the passive state 62, the second interlocking mechanism 42 is blocked preventing a mounting of the base unit 12 to the processing tool unit 14. In the activated state 64, the base unit 12 is mountable to the processing tool unit 14 by the second interlocking mechanism 42. Hence, the receiving unit the safety latch blocks the second the interlocking mechanism, and with mounted base unit, the safety latch also blocks the first interlocking mechanism.

(23) For example, in the passive state 62, the safety latch 60 is projecting from a contacting face 66 of the processing tool unit 14 for an abutment of a contacting face (not further shown in FIG. 2B) of the base unit 12. When mounting the receiving unit 16 to the processing tool unit 14, the safety latch 60 is refracted such that it is less projecting from the contacting face 66 allowing an abutment of the contacting face of the base unit, which is shown in FIG. 3B, however without the base unit 12. The reduced protrusion or projecting of the safety latch 60 is also visible in FIG. 2D and 3D in comparison.

(24) The safety latch 60 is maintained in the activated state 64, i.e. in the retracted state, by mounting the base unit 12. Thus, in the activated state 64, the safety latch 60 blocks the first interlocking mechanism 40, preventing a demounting of the receiving unit 16, when the base unit 12 is mounted to the processing tool unit 14.

(25) According to a further example (not shown), the safety latch is movable to a lockable state by mounting the receiving unit to the processing tool unit. In the lockable state, the first interlocking mechanism is blocked from de-mounting the receiving unit from the processing unit when the base unit is mounted. The base unit locks the latch.

(26) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in addition to FIGS. 2D and 3D, a gearing mechanism 68 is provided for transforming an activating movement in a locking direction 70 (rotation), into a retracting movement (translation) in the latch direction, indicated with a double-arrow 74, for retracting the safety latch 60. The safety latch is thus movable in the latch direction 74 transverse to the locking direction 70 of the first interlocking mechanism 40. As the gear mechanism 68, the locking device 58 comprises at least one secondary lever 76, which is movable in the locking direction 70 of the first interlocking mechanism 40. The safety latch 60 is thus provided as a first lever 78, which is movable in an assembly direction, indicated in FIG. 1 with arrow 80. The first lever 78 is movably guided with a protrusion 82 in a guiding slot 84 of the secondary lever, which slot 84 is provided at least slightly inclined to the locking direction 70 such that, when the secondary lever 76 is moved, the first lever 78 is displaced in the assembly direction 80, or the latch direction 74 respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the secondary lever 76 is moved by an engagement of a protrusion 86 of the receiving unit 16 with a recess 88 of the secondary lever 76. Thus, while rotating the receiving unit 16 and the processing tool unit 14 at least a certain degree in relation to each other, the secondary lever 76 is also rotated and thus the guiding of the protrusion 82 of the safety latch 68 in the inclined slot 84 leads to a vertical retraction of the safety latch 60.

(27) FIG. 6 shows the secondary lever 76 together with the safety latch 60 as the first lever, wherein the secondary lever can also be referred to as rotary lever and the safety latch as linear lever. The guiding slot 84 can be referred to as motion link.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a further example of the safety mounting mechanism 38. A counter protrusion 61 on the base unit is provided abutting the upper edge of the safety latch 60.

(29) As can be understood from the above-mentioned figure descriptions of FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, for de-mounting the receiving unit 16, the safety latch 60 would have to be brought into the initial starting position due to the coupling of the protrusion 86 and the recess 88. Thus, the safety latch would be protruding above the surface. However, if a base unit 12 is mounted, the safety latch 60 would be prevented from projecting of the abutting surface, since the counter protrusion (or counter abutting surface) is blocking the safety latch from moving upwards again.

(30) FIGS. 4 and 5 also show that the secondary lever 76 is movable between a start position P.sub.S, in which the first lever 78 is in the passive state, and an end position P.sub.E, in which the first lever 78 is in the activated, i.e. the retracted state.

(31) As shown in FIG. 8, a biasing mechanism, for example in form of a spring element 90 is provided for biasing the secondary lever 76 in the start position.

(32) FIGS. 9A and 9B show a snap hook connection as a biasing mechanism in form of a snap hook 92 that can engage recesses 94.

(33) As a further option, in case of the drive unit mount 28, a secondary safety mounting mechanism 96 is provided, according to which, when a drive unit (not shown) is received in the drive unit mount 28, in the mounted state the receiving unit is blocked from being de-mounted from the processing tool unit and in the mounted state, the processing tool unit is blocked from being de-mounted from the base unit. For example, the secondary safety mounting mechanism 96 may comprise a vertically extending rod that is interacting with the first and second interlocking mechanisms 40, 42.

(34) FIG. 10 shows a method 100 for a safety assembly of a household food-processing device, comprising the following steps. In a first step 110, a processing tool unit with a processing tool for processing supplied food is provided. In a second step 112, a receiving unit with a receiving volume for receiving the processed food is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit. In a third step 114, a base unit, which provides a driving force for actuating the processing tool is detachably mounted to the processing tool unit. The processing tool unit is provided with a safety mounting mechanism defining a mounting order, according to which the base unit is mountable to the processing tool unit only when the receiving unit is mounted to the processing tool unit. Further, according to the mounting order, the de-mounting of the receiving unit from the processing tool unit is blocked when the base unit is mounted to the processing tool unit. The first step 110 may also be referred to as step a), the second step 112 as step b), and the third step 114 as step c).

(35) According to the above-mentioned examples, different, exchangeable tooling inserts, such as a cube-cutter grid 97 can be provided. However, this allows the user to come into an unintended interaction with the rotating knife (not further shown) inside the processing tool unit 14. Thus, an activation of the rotating knife is only possible by mounting the base unit to the processing tool, which on the other hand is only possible when the receiving unit 16 has been mounted to the processing tool unit, so that any access to the rotating knife is prevented for those states, in which the knife or the like may be operated.

(36) Thus, it is possible to provide a number of replaceable grids to choose different cube size, for example. In other words, the bowl detection avoids injury of the user. With the bowl detection unit, it is guaranteed that the user can only switch on the device when the bowl is attached to the tool unit.

(37) The gear mechanism described above may also be referred to as motion link that converts the rotary movement of the bowl into a linear movement of the linear lever, for example during the assembling and disassembling phase.

(38) The linear lever, i.e. the safety latch 60, may be self-locking against vertical force on it, for example because of the small angle in the motion link. Thus, it is possible to operate the system without additional spring per se. The rotary lever describes a rotary movement, because linked to the receiving unit 16, and converts it into the necessary linear movement of the linear lever, i.e. the safety latch 60.

(39) According to an example, as the logical order of assembling process, it is provided to mount the bowl, or receiving unit, and the processing unit together. Thereby, the linear lever releases the bayonet-closure between processing unit and base unit. As a second step, the base unit is mounted to the processing unit. Now it is not possible any more to dissemble the bowl, i.e. the receiving unit, from the processing tool unit. As a further step, a hand-blender or the like can be mounted on the base unit. The disassembling is provided in a reverse order (not further shown).

(40) Instead of a bayonet locking also other connection mechanisms are provided, such as a screw-type, snap-type, latch type or the like. Further, also other mechanisms are provided for moving, or activating, the safety latch.

(41) It has to be noted that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

(42) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

(43) In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.