FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEM PRESENTING AN INTEGRATED WEIGHING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The present invention refers to a food processing system presenting a recipient adapted for receiving food ingredients, and a driving arrangement adapted for driving a tool support provided inside of the recipient, and at least one weighing arrangement adapted for weighing the food ingredients. In particular, the weighing arrangement has an elongated structural member and at least one weighing member provided as a single piece that can be directly attached to the recipient or to the driving arrangement thereof.

Claims

1. A food processing system comprising a recipient for processing food ingredients and at least one weighing arrangement adapted for weighing the food ingredients inside said recipient, and further comprising a casing adapted to support said recipient and confining said weighing arrangement, a heating arrangement adapted to provide heating to said recipient, and a driving arrangement adapted to provide driving actuation to a tool support provided so as to drive a tool disposed inside said recipient, wherein said weighing arrangement presents an elongated form extending in a first direction along at least most of an extension of said casing, and comprises a structural member and at least one weighing member provided as a single piece, wherein said structural member extends along said first direction thereby defining the overall volume of said weighing arrangement, and wherein said weighing member is provided as a cutout within the total extension of said structural member.

2. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said structural member and said weighing member both present an elongated form along said first direction of said weighing arrangement, wherein the total extension of said at least one weighing member is of at least 10%, advantageously at least 20%, and at most 70%, advantageously at most 50% of the total extension of said structural member along said first direction.

3. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said structural member presents a total extension along said first direction that is at least similar, advantageously bigger than a characterizing maximum dimension, such as the maximum diameter, of the cross-section of said recipient.

4. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing member is disposed at least approximately centered within the total extension of said structural member along said first direction, or in that said two weighing members are disposed symmetrically in respect of the total extension of said structural member and advantageously closer to the center than to the edges of said structural member.

5. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing member is provided as a cutout form arranged in said structural member extending through across opposing longitudinal side faces thereof.

6. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing member is provided as a single cut in an elongated open form, such as a U-like form, or in an elongated closed form, such as a generally elliptical form, or in a double cut in an elongated H-like form.

7. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing member comprises a load-detecting element, advantageously by means of measuring the deflection of said load-detecting element, adapted so that it can measure weight variations occurring in said recipient.

8. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said structural member of said weighing arrangement provides direct support at least to said actuation arrangement or to a support element thereof, advantageously in a rigid structural arrangement with all components of said food processing system arranged above thereof.

9. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing arrangement is directly attached to said driving arrangement or to a support element thereof.

10. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said weighing arrangement is directly attached to at least two bearing elements of said food processing system, such as two bearing feet.

11. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said structural member presents engagement support elements, such as screwed holes, disposed in the central region thereof and advantageously also in the region of opposing edges along said first direction, adapted for providing support to the engagement elements, such as screws, adapted for directly attaching said weighing arrangement to said driving arrangement or to a direct support element thereof, and advantageously also to two respective bearing feet.

12. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said recipient is structurally supported by one weighing arrangement disposed at a lower level relative to said recipient and advantageously also relative to said driving arrangement.

13. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided one said weighing arrangement extending along a generally centered extension or along a diagonal extension in respect of said casing.

14. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said recipient is structurally supported by two of said structural weighing arrangements disposed at an angle or in parallel along two mutually opposing edge regions in respect of said casing.

15. The food processing system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one weighing arrangement is provided so as to measure weight variations inside of said recipient and to communicate said weight variations in the form of an electrical signal via wire or wirelessly, to a control device adapted to control operations of said food processing system and to a display device adapted to display data to users of said food processing system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention shall now be explained in greater detail based upon the attached Figures. The Figures show, in schematic representations:

[0025] FIG. 1: a side view of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention, and comprising a weighing arrangement (3);

[0026] FIG. 2: a side view of a first embodiment of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 3: a side view of a second embodiment of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4: a side view of a second embodiment of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 5: a bottom view of a first embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 6: a bottom view of a second embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention; and

[0031] FIG. 7: a bottom view of a third embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 8: a food processing system (1) according to the present invention, whereby there are provided two weighing arrangements (3) arranged according to the embodiment represented in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a food processing system (1) according to the present invention. Said food processing system (1) comprises a recipient (2) adapted for collecting food ingredients. Moreover, said food processing system (1) comprises at least one weighing arrangement (3) adapted for weighing the food ingredients inside said recipient (2), and a casing (4) adapted to support said recipient (2) and confining said weighing arrangement (3), a heating arrangement (5) adapted to provide heating to said recipient (2), and a driving arrangement (6) adapted to provide driving actuation to a tool support (7) provided so as to drive a tool (8) disposed inside said recipient (2).

[0034] This type of food processing systems is generally known in conventional technology and some provide a scale adapted to measure weight variations associated with food ingredients being provided to said recipient (2). Notwithstanding, there are different technologies, configuration of devices and arrangements of said devices within the overall food processing system.

[0035] In particular, in the case of the food processing system (1) according to the present invention and represented in FIG. 1, there is provided at least one weighing arrangement (3) presenting an elongated form extending along at least most of an extension of said casing (4) and advantageously presenting an integrated design of structural support and weighing device, as it shall be described hereinafter in greater detail.

[0036] According to an embodiment, said at least one weighing arrangement (3) is provided so as to measure weight variations inside of said recipient (2) and to communicate said weight variations in the form of an electrical signal via wire or wirelessly, to a control device adapted to control operations of said food processing system (1) and to a display device adapted to display data to users of said food processing system (1).

[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram of principle of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the invention, whereby it is generally supported by two respective support meansschematically represented in the drawing as upward oriented trianglesand supports a load acting thereupon along the direction of the gravity force (F.sub.G).

[0038] As represented, said weighing arrangement (3), extending in a first direction along at least most of an extension of said casing (4), comprises a structural member (31) and at least one weighing member (32) provided as a single piece. This significantly reduces construction complexity and enhances measuring responsiveness.

[0039] Moreover, said structural member (31) extends along said first direction thereby defining the overall volume of said weighing arrangement (3), and whereby said weighing member (32) is provided as a cutout within the total extension of said structural member (31).

[0040] According to an embodiment, said structural member (31) and said weighing member (32) both present an elongated form along said first direction of said weighing arrangement (3), whereby the total extension of said at least one weighing member (32) is of at least 10%, advantageously at least 20%, and at most 70%, advantageously at most 50% of the total extension of said structural member (31) along said first direction.

[0041] Moreover, it is of advantage when said structural member (31) presents a total extension along said first direction that is at least similar, advantageously bigger than the characterizing maximum dimension, such as the maximum diameter, of the cross-section of said recipient (2).

[0042] These dimensional proportions advantageously provide for an enhanced weight measuring sensitivity and, hence, precision.

[0043] According to another embodiment, said weighing member (32) is disposed at least approximately centered within the total extension of said structural member (31) along said first direction. Alternatively, in the case of two weighing members (32), these are disposed symmetrically in respect of the total extension of said structural member (31) and advantageously closer to the center than to the edges of said structural member (31).

[0044] This disposition further adds to an enhanced weight measuring precision, in particular in respect of relatively small loads, such as grams or tens of grams.

[0045] As depicted, said weighing member (32) is provided as a cutout form arranged in said structural member (31) and extending through across opposing longitudinal side faces thereof.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the invention.

[0047] As depicted, the structural member (31) in this case presents two weighing members (32) provided as a generally H-like cutout form thereof, and defining an overall symmetric distribution in respect of the extension of said structural member (31) along said first direction.

[0048] This arrangement provides for greater weight measuring precision, in particular in the case of relatively small loads, and quicker measuring responsiveness as a result of weight variations in said recipient (2).

[0049] According to an embodiment, said weighing member (32) comprises a load-detecting element, advantageously by means of measuring the deflection of said load-detecting element, adapted so that it can measure weight variations occurring in said recipient (2). This type of solution is known in conventional technology so that one abdicates from detailing it in the present document.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a weighing arrangement (3) comprised in a food processing system (1) according to the invention.

[0051] Again in the case of this embodiment, the structural member (31) presents two weighing members (32), in this case provided as a generally butterfly-like cutout form thereof, including two wider areas at the edges and a narrower region in the middle.

[0052] FIG. 5 represents bottom view of a first embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention, schematically depicting in particular the general disposition of a weighing arrangement (3).

[0053] In this embodiment, there is provided only one weighing arrangement (3) disposed along a substantially centered region in respect of the casing (4). In this case, the weighing arrangement (3) is supported by edge regions of said casing (4) and the latter is supported by a plurality of feet (9)in this example, four feet (9).

[0054] In such an embodiment, it is of advantage to use a weighing arrangement (3) comprising two weighing members (32).

[0055] According to an embodiment, said structural member (31) presents engagement support means (not represented in the drawing), such as screwed holes, disposed at the opposing edges along said first direction, adapted for providing support to engagement means, such as screws, of said weighing arrangement (3) to respective feet (9) of said casing (4).

[0056] Moreover, according to another embodiment, said structural member (31) provides direct support at least to said tool support (7) and to said recipient (2), advantageously to all components of said food processing system (1) arranged above thereof.

[0057] According to yet another embodiment, said structural member (31) and said weighing member (32) are disposed in said food processing system (1) along a first direction perpendicular to the gravity force direction.

[0058] FIG. 6 represents a second embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the invention, further comprising only one weighing arrangement (3), whereby in this case said weighing arrangement is disposed along a diagonal direction of a rectangular casing (4).

[0059] FIG. 7 represents a third embodiment of a food processing system (1) according to the present invention. In this case, there are provided two weighing arrangements (3) disposed along opposing side and in the relative proximity of the edge region of a respective casing (4).

[0060] Moreover, in this case, and according to an embodiment, that structural member (31) is directly attached to at least one bearing foot (9), advantageously to two bearing feet (9).

[0061] FIG. 8 represents a food processing system (1) according to the present invention, whereby there are provided two weighing arrangements (3) arranged according to the embodiment represented in FIG. 7.

[0062] Moreover, the structural member (31) of both said weighing arrangements (3) present engagement support means (not represented in detail), such as screwed holes, disposed in the central region thereof and advantageously also in the region of opposing edges along said first direction, adapted for providing support to engagement means (not represented in detail), such as screws, adapted for directly attaching said weighing arrangement (3) to a support element (8) directly supporting said driving arrangement (6), and advantageously also directly to two respective bearing feet (9).

[0063] While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which will be apparent to others skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.