Food comminution device

Abstract

The invention relates to a food comminution device having a base part, which bears a cutting part, and having an actuation part, which actuation part is articulatedly fixed to the base part and can be pivoted from a loading position toward the cutting part into a closed position in order to push food items for comminution through the cutting part and can subsequently be pivoted from the closed position into the loading position again. The food comminution device is characterized in that the base part has the outer contour of a cuboid as its outer contour, and in that the food comminution device has a collecting container, and in that, on one face surface of the base part, there is provided an opening for the sliding-in of the collecting container into the base part, and in that the cutting part is arranged on a first side surface of the base part, which side surface is adjacent to the face surface, and in that the cutting part and the actuation part are constituent parts of a first comminution tool, and in that the base part is a constituent part of a further comminution tool, and/or at least one further comminution tool is fixed to the base part, wherein the further comminution tool is arranged on a further side surface of the base part, which further side surface is adjacent to the face surface, and in that the collecting container can be arranged in the base part selectively in a first position, in which said collecting container collects food items comminuted by way of the first comminution tool, or in a second position, which differs from the first position and in which said collecting container collects the food items comminuted by way of the second comminution tool.

Claims

1. A food comminution device comprising: a base part, a cutting part supported by the base part, and an actuation part articulatedly fixed to the base part, wherein the actuation part can be pivoted from a loading position toward the cutting part into a closed position in order to push food items for comminution through the cutting part and can subsequently be pivoted from the closed position into the loading position again, wherein a. the base part has an outer contour of a cuboid, and b. the food comminution device has a collecting container, and, c. on one face surface of the base part, there is provided an opening for the sliding-in of the collecting container into the base part, and d. the cutting part is arranged on a first side surface of the base part, the first side surface being adjacent to the face surface, and e. the cutting part and the actuation part are constituent parts of a first comminution tool, and f. the base part is a constituent part of a further comminution tool, and/or at least one further comminution tool is fixed to the base part, wherein the further comminution tool is arranged on a further side surface of the base part, which further side surface is adjacent to the face surface, and g. the collecting container can be arranged in the base part selectively in a first position, in which said collecting container collects food items comminuted by way of the first comminution tool, or in a second position, which differs from the first position and in which said collecting container collects the food items comminuted by way of the second comminution tool.

2. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a slicer, and/or b. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a grater, and/or c. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a coarse grater, and/or d. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a fine grater as a further comminution tool, and/or e. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a spiral cutter as a further comminution tool, and/or f. the at least one further comminution tool of the food comminution device includes a pitting means for the pitting of stone fruit.

3. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. the at least one further comminution tool is formed from components which differ from the cutting part and the actuation part, or b. the at least one further comminution tool has no components in common with the first comminution tool, or c. the base part is simultaneously a constituent part both of the first comminution tool and of the second comminution tool, or d. the at least one further comminution tool has only the base part in common with the first comminution tool, or e. the first comminution tool and the at least one further comminution tool are operable independently of one another.

4. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part is in the form of a frame.

5. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a. the first comminution tool and the at least one further comminution tool are arranged or arrangeable separately from one another in each case on and in one of the different surfaces of the base part, and/or b. at least one comminution tool is arranged on or in one of the different surfaces of the base part, and that surface which is situated opposite the surface is formed as a setting-down surface which is equipped with supporting feet and onto which the base part can be set down in order for the comminution tool to be used, and/or c. at least one comminution tool is arranged on or in one of the different surfaces of the base part, and that surface which is situated opposite the surface is formed as a setting-down surface which is equipped with supporting feet and onto which the base part can be set down in order for the comminution tool to be used, wherein the setting-down surface has another comminution tool.

6. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. at least one comminution tool or at least a part of one comminution tool is fixed or fixable to the base part so as to be detachable, and/or b. multiple comminution tools or in each case at least parts of different comminution tools are detachably fixed or fixable, independently of one another, to the base part, and/or c. at least one further comminution tool or at least a part of one further comminution tool is detachably fixed or fixable to the base part.

7. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a. at least one detent element is provided for the detachable fixing of the first comminution tool or of the further comminution tool or of a component of the first comminution tool or of a component of the further comminution tool, and/or b. a locking device is provided by means of which the actuation part can be fixed in the closed position.

8. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one comminution tool is arranged non-detachably on the base part or is at least partially produced integrally with the base part.

9. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the food comminution device has a stone fruit holder for holding at least one piece of stone fruit, and has at least one pushing-out spike such that, by means of a pivoting movement of the pushing-out spike relative to the stone fruit holder, the stone of a piece of stone fruit held by the stone fruit holder can be pushed out of the stone fruit.

10. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a. the pushing-out spike is fixed to the actuation part or fixable to the actuation part, or b. a further actuation part is provided which has the pushing-out spike and which is articulatedly fixable to the base part instead of the actuation part.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part has a receptacle into which the cutting part or a stone fruit holder or a spiral cutter can be selectively inserted in an accurately fitting manner and/or with detent action.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spiral cutter has a holding plate which, in terms of shape and size, has the same outer contour as the cutting part, and/or in that the stone fruit holder has a holding plate which, in terms of shape and size, has the same outer contour as the cutting part.

13. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. the base part has a receptacle for the collecting container, which receptacle has a fastening device for the temporary fixing of the collecting container, and/or b. the collecting container can be arranged in the base part in such a way that it automatically collects the comminuted food items, and/or c. the collecting container can be arranged in the base part selectively in a first rotational position of the base part relative to the collecting container, in which said collecting container collects food items comminuted by way of the first comminution tool, or in a second rotational position of the base part relative to the collecting container, which differs from the first rotational position and in which said collecting container collects food items comminuted by way of the second comminution tool.

14. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part has at least one window through which the collecting container arranged in the base part, and/or the fill level of the collecting container arranged in the base part, can be viewed.

15. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. the food comminution device is designed to be set down on a worktop for a comminution process and/or b. the food comminution device is designed to be set down on a worktop selectively in one of several different setting-down orientations for a comminution process, and/or c. the food comminution device is designed to be set down on a worktop in a first setting-down orientation for a comminution process using the first comminution tool and in a further setting-down orientation, which differs from the first setting-down orientation, for a comminution process using the further comminution tool, and/or d. each comminution tool is assigned one of several different setting-down orientations, and in that the food comminution device is designed to be set down on a worktop in the setting-down orientation assigned to one of the comminution tools for a comminution process using that comminution tool.

16. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a. the base part has supporting feet which serve exclusively for setting down in a single one of the possible setting-down orientations, and/or b. the base part has supporting feet on at least one surface thereof.

17. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. the food comminution device has supporting feet for the setting-down of the food comminution device in different setting-down orientations, and/or b. the base part has supporting feet, and/or c. supporting feet are provided which are produced from an elastic material and/or from a material with high static friction, and/or d. the base part has supporting feet which project beyond the comminution tools.

18. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a. at least one supporting foot is arranged such that it can be used for different setting-down orientations, and/or b. the supporting feet are arranged at the edges and/or along the edges of the base part, which is in the form of a cuboid, and/or c. the supporting feet are arranged at the corners of the base part, which is in the form of a cuboid.

19. The food comminution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part is produced as an injection-moulded part, or the base part has at least one component produced as an injection-moulded part, or the base part is assembled from multiple components which are produced as injection-moulded parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

(1) The subject matter of the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing and will be described below on the basis of the figures, wherein identical elements or elements of identical action are normally denoted by the same reference signs. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention in a first setting-down orientation for the use of a first comminution tool,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the food comminution device in the first setting-down orientation with graters removed,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the food comminution device in a further setting-down orientation for the use of a further comminution tool,

(5) FIG. 4 shows, in a sectional illustration, another exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during a comminution process,

(6) FIG. 5 shows, in a sectional illustration, the other exemplary embodiment at the start of a pitting process,

(7) FIG. 6 shows, in a sectional illustration, the other exemplary embodiment after the stone has been pushed out,

(8) FIG. 7 shows, in a sectional illustration, a further exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, converted for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, designed for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons,

(11) FIG. 10 shows the fifth exemplary embodiment with the actuation part open, and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, designed for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention in a first setting-down orientation for the use of a first comminution tool 1. The food comminution device has a base part 2 which, as an outer contour, has the outer contour of a cuboid. The base part 2 bears a removable cutting part 3 which has multiple cutting blades 4. Also articulatedly fixed to the base part is an actuation part 5 which, for pushing food items for comminution through the cutting part 3, can be pivoted from a loading position toward the cutting part 3 into a closed position and subsequently from the closed position back into the loading position. The cutting part 3 and the actuation part are constituent parts of the first comminution tool 1. Further comminution tools, specifically a fine grater 6, a coarse grater 7 and, on the underside, a slicer 8, are arranged on the base part. A collecting container 10 can be slid in through an opening 9 in the square face side of the base part 2.

(14) The collecting container 10 is preferably always slid in such that its filling opening 11 faces toward the comminution tool which is respectively to be used and which is directed upward. In the setting-down orientation of the base part shown, the collecting container is inserted such that its filling opening faces toward the cutting part 3, such that the food items that are pushed through the cutting part and comminuted automatically fall into the collecting container 10.

(15) If it is sought to use a further comminution tool instead of the first comminution tool 1, the collecting container 10 is firstly removed from the base part 2, the base part is rotated such that the further comminution tool to be used is oriented upward, and subsequently, the collecting container 10 is inserted again with its filling opening oriented upward. FIG. 3 shows this, by way of example, with regard to the use of the further comminution tool in the form of a slicer 8.

(16) FIG. 2 shows the food comminution device with fine grater 6 removed and coarse grater 7 removed. The fine grater 6 and the course grater 7 can be temporarily detached from the base part 2 preferably without the use of tools and non-destructively, for example for a cleaning process.

(17) Also visible in FIG. 2 is the further comminution tool in the form of a slicer 8, which in this setting-down orientation is situated at the bottom and which has a slicer blade 12 and a slide path 13, this being clearly visible in particular in FIG. 3.

(18) The base part 2 has, on the face side situated opposite the face side with the insertion opening 9, a window 14 through which the fill level of the preferably translucent collecting container 10 can be inspected, without the need to remove the collecting container 10 from the base part 2.

(19) The base part 2 preferably has, at its corners, in each case one supporting foot which protrudes in all three spatial directions. For better clarity, the supporting feet are however not shown.

(20) FIG. 4 shows, in a sectional illustration, another exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention during a comminution process. For better clarity, the further comminution tools that are arranged on their surfaces of the base part 2 are not shown. The food comminution device illustrated in FIG. 4 has a base part 2 which has a receptacle 15 for a cutting part 3. The base part 2 is articulatedly connected to an actuation part 5 by way of an articulated connection 16, in such a way that, in order to push through food items 17 for comminution, the actuation part 5 can be pivoted toward the cutting part 3. The cutting part 3 has multiple cutting blades 4, between which pressing plungers 35 of the actuation part 5 protrude during the comminution process. At the free end of the actuation part 5 there is arranged a handle 18.

(21) FIG. 5 shows the device at the start of a pitting process. To be able to perform a pitting process, the actuation part 5 has been replaced with a further actuation part 19, which has a pushing-out spike 24. For this purpose, the articulated connection 16 of the actuation part 5 to the base part 2 has been released, and instead, the further actuation part 19 has been articulatedly connected to the base part 2. Furthermore, a stone fruit holder 20 has been inserted, instead of the cutting part 3, into the receptacle 15, which stone fruit holder is designed to hold a piece of stone fruit 21, such as for example a cherry 22, which has a stone 23 to be pushed out, in a pitting position.

(22) During the pitting process, the further actuation part 19 is pivoted in the direction of the base part 2, such that, by way of the pivoting movement of the pushing-out spike 24 relative to the stone fruit holder 20, the stone 23 of the piece of stone fruit 21 held in the stone fruit holder 20 is pushed out of the stone fruit 21, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Here, the stone 23 that has been pushed out falls into the collecting container 10. After the pitting process, the further actuation part 19 can be pivoted upward again, and the pitted piece of stone fruit 21 can be removed.

(23) FIG. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the pushing-out spike 24 for carrying out a pitting process is fastened by way of a plug-type connection (not illustrated in any more detail) to the base part 5 which has the pressing plunger 35. In this exemplary embodiment, the pitting process itself is performed analogously to that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(24) FIG. 8 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, converted for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons, In terms of basic construction, the fourth exemplary embodiment may in particular be designed similarly to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

(25) For conversion for the cutting of spiral-shaped ribbons, the cutting part 3 has been removed from the receptacle 15 and, instead, a spiral cutter 25 in the form of a sharpener has been inserted into the receptacle 15. The spiral cutter 25 has a holding plate 27 which, in terms of shape and size, has the same outer contour as the cutting part 3. This makes it possible for the spiral cutter 25 to be temporarily fixed, instead of the cutting part 3, in the receptacle 15 of the base part 2 without the need for additional fixing components. Furthermore, a further spiral cutter 26 is held in the holding plate 27 of the spiral cutter 25.

(26) The spiral cutter 25 has a conical receiving chamber 28 for the insertion of food items such as for example a carrot or a radish or a cucumber, on the wall of which receiving chamber there is arranged a cutting blade 29. By rotating the food item that has been inserted into the receiving chamber 28, the tip of said food item comes into operative connection with the cutting blade 29, whereby a spiral-shaped ribbon (not illustrated) is separated off by way of a cutting action. Furthermore, the wall of the receiving chamber 28 has an opening (not illustrated) through which the spiral-shaped ribbon can pass out of the receiving chamber 28. The spiral-shaped ribbon is automatically collected in the collecting container 10.

(27) The further spiral cutter 26 in the form of a sharpener is of a different size than the spiral cutter 25. Furthermore, the further receiving chamber 30 of the further spiral cutter 26 has a different wedge angle than the receiving chamber 28 of the spiral cutter 25. On the wall of the further receiving chamber 30 there is arranged a further cutting blade 31 which projects into the further receiving chamber 30 and which separates off a spiral-shaped ribbon (not illustrated) from a food item that is rotated in the further receiving chamber about the central axis of rotation of the further receiving chamber 30. The wall of the further receiving chamber 30 also has an opening through which the spiral-shaped ribbon that is separated off there can emerge from the further receiving chamber 30 and thus passes into the collecting container 10.

(28) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fifth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, designed for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons. In this embodiment, the spiral cutter 25 in the form of a sharpener is arranged in the actuation part 5.

(29) The actuation part 5 has a first section with pressing plungers 35 which serve for pushing food items for comminution through a cutting part 3, which is equipped with cutting blade parts 4, by virtue of the actuation part 5 been pivoted toward the cutting part 3. The spiral cutter 25 is arranged in a second section of the actuation part 5.

(30) In this exemplary embodiment, the cutting part 3 has a passage opening 32 which is free from cutting blade parts 4. When the actuation part 5 is closed, a part of the spiral cutter 25 projects through the passage opening 32. Furthermore, the spiral-shaped ribbon (not illustrated) that is cut off can pass through the passage opening 32 into the collecting container 10.

(31) The spiral cutter 25 has a conical receiving chamber 28 for the insertion of food items such as for example a carrot or a radish or a cucumber, on the wall of which receiving chamber there is arranged a cutting blade 29. By rotating the food item that has been inserted into the receiving chamber 28, the tip of said food item comes into operative connection with the cutting blade 29, whereby the spiral-shaped ribbon (not illustrated) is separated off by way of a cutting action. Furthermore, the wall of the receiving chamber 28 has an opening (not illustrated) through which the spiral-shaped ribbon can pass out of the receiving chamber 28.

(32) FIG. 11 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a food comminution device according to the invention, designed for cutting spiral-shaped ribbons. In this exemplary embodiment, the spiral cutter 27 has a holding plate 27 into which at least one of several different cutting inserts 33 can be selectively inserted. The cutting inserts 33 have in each case a conical receiving chamber 28 for the insertion of food items, on the wall of which receiving chamber there is arranged in each case one cutting blade 29, and in which receiving chamber the food item can be rotated. The cutting inserts 33 may differ in particular in terms of their shape and/or size and/or in terms of the thickness and/or width of the spiral-shaped ribbons that can be cut therewith and/or in terms of the number of spiral-shaped ribbons produced simultaneously during a cutting process.

(33) The cutting insert 33 inserted in each case into the holding plate 27 may be fixed for example by way of a detent device or a bayonet fastening so as to be detachable again, in particular without the use of tools.

(34) The holding plate 27 has, in terms of shape and size, the same outer contour as a cutting part 3 that can be inserted into the receptacle. This makes it possible for the spiral cutter 25 to be temporarily fixed, instead of a cutting part 3, in the receptacle 15 of the base part 2 without the need for additional fixing components. Furthermore, the holding plate has a cylindrical projection 34 into which in each case one cutting insert 33 can be inserted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(35) 1 First comminution tool 2 Base part 3 Cutting part 4 Cutting blades 5 Actuation part 6 Fine grater 7 Coarse grater 8 Slicer 9 Insertion opening 10 Collecting container 11 Filling opening 12 Slicer blade 13 Slide path 14 Window 15 Receptacle 16 Articulated connection 17 Food items 18 Handle 19 Further actuation part 20 Stone fruit holder 21 Stone fruit 22 Cherry 23 Stone 24 Pushing-out spike 25 Spiral cutter 26 Further spiral cutter 27 Holding plate 28 Receiving space 29 Cutting blade 30 Further receiving space 31 Further cutting blade 32 Passage opening 33 Cutting insert 34 Cylindrical projection 35 Pressing plunger