A scraper arrangement pertaining to food processors

Abstract: The present invention thus relates to a scraping arrangement in food processors of the kind in which the processor is a cutting appliance which cuts or chops the foodstuffs to be prepared, and which includes a container (2) fitted with a lid (3) which has an inlet opening (4) through which foodstuffs can be introduced into the container as the appliance operates, wherein the container (2) is stationary while the appliance operates and in which rotating cutting means are located above the container bottom. The invention is characterized in that the scraper arrangement (1) includes two or more scrapers (6-9) which are attached to an annulus (10) which is intended to be placed in the upper part of the container (2) with the scrapers extending down from the annulus along the inner surface of the container; in that the annulus (10) includes radially and outwardly extending projections (11-13) which are intended to be located between the lid (3) and the upper container edge (14); and in that the lid (3) includes downwardly directed shoulders (15-17) which are intended to lie against the upper container edge (14); and in that the shoulders (15-17) define therebetween a gap (18, 19) into which the radially directed projections (11-13) are intended to run when the annulus (10) is rotated relative to the container (2).

Description: The present invention relates to a scraper arrangement pertaining to food processors of the kind in which the processor is a cutting appliance for cutting or chopping, hacking, the foodstuffs to be prepared. Such appliances are available for use in large commercial kitchens and also for use in domestic kitchens. One common feature of such appliances is that they include a container which is fitted with a lid, and that the lid is provided with an inlet opening through which the foodstuffs can be inserted into the container while the appliance is at work. The container bottom has an upstanding tube through which a drive shaft extends. Fitted to the shaft is a cutter which includes a sleeve which runs on the upstanding tube and the bottom end of which carries the cutting tool. The cutting tool may consist of one or more knives which extend radially from the sleeve. The cutting tool may also include cutting discs, of varying kinds. When the appliance is being used, the container is stationary while the cutting tool rotates. The lid must be in position on the container, before the appliance can be started and used. One problem with appliances of this kind is that when a foodstuff, for instance a leaf vegetable or a root vegetable are pushed down through the container inlet opening and disintegrated by the cutting tool, the disintegrated foodstuff is thrown out onto the vertical container walls and sticks thereto. This also applies, for instance, to sauce ingredients or dough ingredients introduced into the container through its inlet opening. As the ingredients are introduced into the container and come into contact with the rapidly rotating cutting tool, the ingredients are thrown vigorously onto the container walls. There is thus a need to be able to scrape the inner surfaces of the container wall as the appliance operates. One problem in this respect is that the lid cannot be removed, because removal of the lid will result in the stopping of the appliance to stop. A scraping arrangement considering this object, but limiting the access of the foodstuffs to the interior of the container, is known from US-A-3,373,975. The scraping arrangement described there comprises two scrapers which are attached to an annulus which is placed in the centre of the lid covering the container. This problem is solved by the present invention, which provides an arrangement by means of which the inner surface of the container can be scraped clean as the appliance operates. The present invention thus relates to a scraping arrangement in food processors of the kind in which the processor is a cutting appliance which cuts or chops the foodstuffs to be prepared, and which includes a container fitted with a lid which has an inlet opening through which foodstuffs can be introduced into the container as the appliance operates, wherein the container is stationary while the appliance operates and in which rotating cutting means are located above the container bottom, wherein the scraper arrangement includes two or more scrapers which are attached to an annulus which is placed in the upper part of the container with the scrapers extending down from the annulus along the inner surface of the container characterized in that the annulus includes radially and outwardly extending projections which are located between the lid and the upper container edge; and in that the lid includes downwardly directed shoulders which lie against the upper container edge; and in that the shoulders define therebetween a gap into which the radially directed projections run when the annulus is rotated relative to the container. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a container fitted with an inventive arrangement; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of said arrangement; Figure 3 illustrates a container fitted with the arrangement and also with a lid, as seen from above; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 3; and Figure 7 illustrates a food processor of a kind with which the invention is intended for use. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an inventive scraper arrangement 1. The scraper arrangement 1 is intended for food processors, see Figure 7, of the kind in which the processor is a cutting appliance which cuts or chops the foodstuffs to be prepared, and which includes a container 2 fitted with a lid 3 which includes an inlet opening 4 through which the foodstuffs can be introduced into the container as the appliance operates. The container 2 is stationary while the appliance is at work. Located above the container bottom is a rotary cutting means 5. The food processor illustrated in Figure 7 is provided with an arm 30 having a head 31 which must be swung in over the container lid before the appliance can be started. Many different kinds of such food processors are commercially available. The invention can be applied to all known food processor designs. With regard to appliances of this kind intended for large commercial kitchens, the appliances are normally used to chop and disintegrate foodstuffs, such as root vegetables for instance. In accordance with the invention, the scraper arrangement 1 includes two or more scrapers 6-9 which are attached to an annulus 10 which is intended to be placed in the upper part of the container 2, with the scrapers 6-9 extending down from the annulus 10 and along the inner surface of the container, as illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the actual scraper arrangement, removed from the container, for the sake of illustration. The annulus 10 includes radially directed projections 11-13 which are intended to be located between the lip 3 and the upper edge or lid 14 of the container 2. These projections thus rest on the lip of the container, and the height position of the annulus 10, and therewith the height position of the scrapers in the container will be determined by the height position of the projections in relation to the annulus. The arrangement may include two scrapers, although preferably at least three scrapers are provided. As will also be seen from Figure 3, the lid 3 includes downwardly extending shoulders 15-17 which are intended to lie against the container lip 14. Defined between these shoulders 15-17 is a gap 18, 19 between the container lip 14 and the edge 20, 21 of the lid 3 between the shoulders. As will best be seen from Figure 2, the radially directed projections 11-13 are intended to run in the gap as the annulus 10 is rotated relative to the container 2. When the annulus, or more specifically the scraper arrangement shown in Figure 2, is rotated in the plane of the annulus relative to the container, the scrapers 6, 9 will therewith slide against the inner surface of the container and scrape away foodstuff that has adhered to said surface. Because the projections 11-13 slide in the gap 18, 19, the scrapers can be rotated while the container and the lid are both stationary, by moving a projection 11-13 backwards and forwards in the gap 18, 19 in which the projection runs. According to one preferred embodiment, however, one of the projections 13 is provided with a manoeuvering device 22 which projects radially out from the annulus, this manoeuvering device preferably having the form of an outwardly projecting wing-like part which is intended to be moved forwards and backwards manually around the peripheral edge of the lid. The wing-like part projecting radially from the annulus is preferably an integral part of one of said radially directed projections. However, if desired, and if the construction of the appliance will allow, the lid 3 can be rotated so that the projections 11-13 will abut with respective shoulders 15-17 and therewith be dogged as the lid rotates relative to the container. According to a greatly preferred embodiment of the invention, two or more of the radially directed projections 11-13 are provided with an attachment means, preferably a hook 23-25, by means of which the annulus can be detachedly connected to the lid 3. In this case, the hooks 23-25 engage with an outwardly projecting flange 26-27 on the lid, between the lid shoulders. The scraper arrangement is preferably constructed from a high-grade plastic material, although it may also conceivably be made of metal. In both instances, the annulus, the projections and the hooks are dimensioned so that the hooks can be readily sprung outwards, so as to enable the scraper arrangement to be removed from the lid. This is appropriately done when the processor components are to be washed. Furthermore, an advantage is afforded when it is possible to choose whether the scraper arrangement shall be fitted to the processor or not, depending on the foodstuff to be prepared. Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate different sectional views of the Figure 3 illustration, with the intention of illustrating one embodiment of the invention more clearly. The scrapers 6-9 themselves may have any configuration suitable for the intended purpose. In Figure 3, the scrapers have a V-shaped cross-section, with the free ends of the V running against the inner container wall. In this embodiment, the scrapers will have the same function irrespective of the direction in which they are moved by the manoeuvering device 22. It was mentioned earlier that as the annulus is rotated backwards and forwards, each projection runs between two adjacent shoulders on the lid. This means that the annulus has a limited angle of rotation V, see Figure 3, which is determined by the number of projections and their positions, and also by the number of shoulders and their positions. The number of scrapers is chosen on the basis of this limited angle of rotation, so that the number of scrapers in combination with the positioning of the scrapers along the tangential direction of the annulus will cause scraping to be effected along the whole of the inner surface of the container as seen peripherally, as the projections run between two adjacent shoulders on the lid. According to one preferred embodiment, the number of scrapers and their mutual positions is such that as the radially directed projections move between two adjacent shoulders on the lid, with corresponding rotation of the annulus relative to the container, the scrapers will together move around at least one full turn of the container. According to one greatly preferred embodiment, namely the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the scraper arrangement includes four scrapers 6-9 which are spaced mutually equidistantly in the tangential direction of the annulus 10. Furthermore, the arrangement includes three shoulders 23-25 on the lid 3, these shoulders being placed mutually equidistantly in the tangential direction of the lid 3. Figure 3 illustrates the rotational angle V and the two limit positions of the projection 11 between the adjacent shoulders 16, 17, where the projection 11 is referenced 11 at its one limit position and is referenced 111 at its other limit position, shown in broken lines. It will be evident that the number of scrapers and their positions, the number of projections and their positions, and the number of shoulders and their positions can be varied in many ways, where all variations provide a well-functioning arrangement. For instance, each of the scrapers may comprise a short stem which extends down from the annulus 2 and from which there extends two or more vertical parts, each corresponding to the vertical parts of the scrapers shown in Figure 2, said vertical parts being parallel to and spaced from one another in the tangential direction of the annulus. The scrapers of this embodiment will each scrape clean a larger angular area of the container inner wall than that corresponded by the angle of rotation V. The main purpose of the shoulders 15-17 is to form the gaps 18-19, so as to enable the projections to move freely in the gaps, and therewith minimize the frictional forces acting between the projections and the upper container lip and the bottom edge of the lid respectively. These frictional forces would be much greater if the lid were to rest with the whole of its weight on the projections. The projections are therefore given a smaller height than the height of the gap. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the annulus is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the container, for friction reasons. A gap shall therefore be found between the lid and the upper container edge. In order to prevent food stuff from exiting from the container as the foodstuff is processed, a collar 28 is preferably provided circumferentially around the bottom part of the lid, said collar having a height such that the bottom edge of the collar will lie against, or be located very close to the upper surface of the annulus 10 when the lid is fitted to the container, see Figures 4-6. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the annulus 10 is provided with a wing-like part 29 which projects upwards and inwards in the use position of the scraper arrangement 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This wing-like part 29 is configured and arranged so that in a predetermined rotational position of the annulus 10 relative to the lid 3, the wing-like part will overlap the inlet opening 4 in the lid on the underside of said lid. When the annulus shown in Figure 3 is turned through roughly one-quarter (1/4) turn in an anti-clockwise direction, the wing-like part 29 will overlap the inlet opening 4. When the container wall is not being scraped, the annulus is conveniently turned so that the inlet opening will be covered in the aforesaid manner and therewith prevent material from escaping from the container. This is achieved in Figure 3 when the annulus is rotated by the manoeuvering device to a position in which the projection 11 takes its second limit position 111. It will be obvious that the present invention can be achieved in many ways without departing from its function. The present invention shall not therefore be considered restricted to the aforedescribed exemplifying embodiments thereof, since variations can be made within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims: A scraping arrangement in food processors of the kind in which the processor is a cutting appliance which cuts or chops the foodstuffs to be prepared, and which includes a container (2) fitted with a lid (3) which has an inlet opening (4) through which foodstuffs can be introduced into the container as the appliance operates, wherein the container (2) is stationary while the appliance operates and in which rotating cutting means are located above the container bottom, wherein the scraper arrangement (1) includes two or more scrapers (6-9) which are attached to an annulus (10) which is placed in the upper part of the container (2) with the scrapers extending down from the annulus along the inner surface of the container; characterized in that the annulus (10) includes radially and outwardly extending projections (11-13) which are located between the lid (3) and the upper container edge (14); and in that the lid (3) includes downwardly directed shoulders (15-17) which lie against the upper container edge (14); and in that the shoulders (15-17) define therebetween a gap (18, 19) into which the radially directed projections (11-13) run when the annulus (10) is rotated relative to the container (2). A scraper arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that two or more of the radially directed projections (11-13) are provided with attachment means (23-25), preferably a hook, by means of which the annulus (10) can be detachably connected to the lid (3). A scraper arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a manoeuvering device (22) which projects out radially from the annulus (10), preferably in the form of an outwardly projecting wing-like part, said manoeuvering device being intended to be moved backwards and forwards manually around the peripheral edge of the lid (3). A scraper arrangement according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the number of scrapers (6-9) and their mutual positions is such that as the radially directed projections (11-13) are moved between two mutually adjacent shoulders (15-17) on the lid, with corresponding rotation of the annulus relative to the container, the scrapers (6-9) will move together at least around one full turn of the container (2). A scraper arrangement according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said radially directed projections (11-13) are hooked onto a radially and outwardly projecting flange (26, 27) on the lid (3). A scraper arrangement according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the arrangement includes four scrapers (6-9) which are spaced equidistantly in the tangential direction of the annulus (10); and in that the arrangement includes three shoulders (15-17) on the lid (3), said shoulders being spaced equidistantly in the tangential direction of the lid. A scraper arrangement according to Claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the manoeuvering device (22) projecting radially out from the annulus (10) has the form of an outwardly projecting wing-like part which forms an integral part of one (13) of said radially directed projections. A scraper arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized by a wing-like part (9) which projects upwardly and inwardly from the annulus (10) in the in use position of the scraper arrangement and which is so configured and arranged as to overlap the inlet opening (4) in the lid at the underside of said lid when the annulus (10) is rotated to a predetermined position in relation to the lid (3).

Inventors: SUNDQUIST JARL, SUNDQUIST, JARL
Applicants: HAELLDE MASKINER AB, AB HAELLDE MASKINER
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47J43
IPC codes: A47J43