Patent Publication Number: US-2021187514-A1

Title: Dual-purpose grinder and operating method thereof

Description:
The present application is based on a Chinese patent application No. 201910161100.5 filed on Mar. 4, 2019, and claims its priority. The entire disclosure of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to a grinder, and particularly to a dual-purpose grinder and an operating method thereof. 
     BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY 
     The grinder and refiner used in real life, no matter a steel grinder or a ceramic grinder, usually make a material finer and finer by grinding and pressing the material between a moving grinding plate and a stationary grinding plate, so the production efficiency of the grinder and the fineness of ground material both depend on the degree of fitting between the moving grinding plate and the stationary grinding plate. 
     Existing grinders generally operate manually or automatically. Manual grinders can produce finer ground powder and can control the grinding speed, but the work efficiency is low, while automatic grinders can increase the work efficiency, but the cost is high. At present, there is no grinder that can realize both modes of manual grinding and automatic grinding, thus cannot meet different requirements of users at the same time. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to design a grinder, which can realize manual grinding, and can also be used with a driving piece to form an automatic grinder, possessing manual and automatic modes to meet the different requirements of users. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of the present application is to provide a dual-purpose grinder and an operating method thereof to overcome defects in the prior art. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present application provides a dual-purpose grinder, which includes a material container assembly. The material container assembly includes a grinding head fixedly connected to a material container body, and a grinding sleeve rotatably connected to the grinding head. The grinding head is fitted into the grinding sleeve, and the grinding head and the grinding sleeve define therebetween a material compartment for accommodating a material. A connecting structure capable of being connected to an external power assembly is arranged at an upper end of the material container body. When manual grinding is required, the material container body is rotated, and drives the grinding head to rotate, the grinding sleeve moves relative to the grinding head, such that the material between the grinding head and the grinding sleeve is ground into powder. When automatic grinding is required, the material container body is connected to the external power assembly through the connecting structure, and is driven to rotate by the external power assembly, so that the grinding head is driven to rotate, the grinding sleeve moves relative to the grinding head, so that the material between the grinding head and the grinding sleeve is ground into powder. 
     Further, the connecting structure includes a connecting column, which includes a protruding pillar. A tapered platform is provided on a top end of the protruding pillar, and a diameter of a bottom surface of the tapered platform is larger than a diameter of a cross-section of the protruding pillar. 
     Further, the connecting structure is further provided with a first recess, and the connecting column is located in the first recess. 
     Further, a transmission frame is disposed in the material container body, a connecting rod connected to the grinding head is provided on the transmission frame. 
     Further, the grinding head includes a truncated cone body and a plurality of grinding plates, the plurality of grinding plates are arranged at intervals around a lower end surface of the truncated cone body. The truncated cone body is provided therein with a slot for inserting therein the connecting column. The lower end surface of the truncated cone body is recessed inward to form an adjusting recess, and the adjusting spring is fitted in the adjusting recess. 
     Further, the material container assembly further includes a fixing frame with positioning columns provided thereon, and positioning grooves into which the positioning columns are inserted are provided on the grinding sleeve. The positioning columns are fitted into the positioning grooves. 
     Further, the connecting structure includes a lock switch, which includes two inverted buckle sections for clamping the external power assembly. 
     Further, a connecting frame is disposed in the material container body, and the connecting frame is connected to the grinding head through a grinding head rotating shaft, a second through groove is provided in the connecting frame, and the lock switch is disposed in the second through groove. 
     Further, a lower end of the grinding head rotating shaft is connected to an adjusting structure for adjusting the size of a gap between the grinding head and the grinding sleeve, and the adjusting structure includes an adjusting spring sleeved on the grinding head rotating shaft and an adjuster connected to the grinding head rotating shaft. The adjusting spring is located between the grinding head and the connecting frame, and the adjuster is located below the grinding head. 
     The present application further provides an operating method of a dual-purpose grinder, including: 
     rotating the material container body when manual grinding is required, thus the grinding head is driven to rotate, and the grinding sleeve and the grinding head move relative to each other so that a material is ground and pressed into powder therebetween; 
     connecting an external power assembly with a connecting structure when automatic grinding is required, the external power assembly drives the material container body to rotate, in order to drive the grinding head to rotate, and the grinding sleeve and the grinding head move relative to each other so that the material is ground and pressed into powder therebetween. 
     The present application has the following advantageous effects compared with the prior art: by providing a connecting structure on the material container body, an external power assembly may be connected through the connecting structure. The material container assembly may be used alone for manual grinding, or may be matched with the external power assembly to become an automatic grinder. The grinding head and the grinding sleeve move relative to each other via rotation of the material container body. Both manual and automatic modes may be achieved to meet different user requirements. 
     The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application more clearly, the drawings mentioned in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described. Apparently, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application, those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative work. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective structural view of the grinding head provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective structural view of the grinding sleeve provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective structural view of the transmission frame provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective structural view of the fixing frame provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective structural view of the material container body provided by a specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional structural view of the dual-purpose grinder provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective structural view of the connecting frame provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective structural view of the grinding head provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective structural view of the grinding sleeve provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective structural view of the connecting base provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective structural view of the fixing base provided by another specific embodiment of the present application; and 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective structural view of the lock switch provided by another specific embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Apparently, the described embodiments are some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application. 
     It should be understood that when used in the specification and the appended claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” indicate the existence of the described features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or collections thereof. 
     It should also be understood that the terms used in the specification of the present application are only for describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the present application, unless indicated otherwise in the context, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include plural forms. 
     It should be further understood that the term “and/or” used in the specification and appended claims of the present application refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes these combinations. 
     As in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-17 , the dual-purpose grinder provided in the present embodiment is capable of using indoors or outdoors for dual-purpose grinding, including manual grinding and automatic grinding, thereby meeting different user requirements. 
     The dual-purpose grinder includes a material container assembly. The material container assembly includes a grinding head  12 ,  27  fixedly connected to a material container body  10 ,  20 , and a grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  rotatably connected to the grinding head  12 ,  27 . The grinding head  12 ,  27  is fitted into the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26 , and the grinding head  12 ,  27  and the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  define therebetween a material compartment for accommodating a material. A connecting structure capable of being connected to an external power assembly is arranged at an upper end of the material container body  10 ,  20 . When manual grinding is required, the material container body  10 ,  20  is rotated, and drives the grinding head  12 ,  27  to rotate, the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  moves relative to the grinding head  12 ,  27 , such that the material between the grinding head  12 ,  27  and the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  is ground into powder. When automatic grinding is required, the material container body  10 ,  20  is connected to the external power assembly through the connecting structure, and is driven to rotate by the external power assembly, so that the grinding head  12 ,  27  is driven to rotate, the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  moves relative to the grinding head, so that the material between the grinding head  12 ,  27  and the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  is ground into powder. 
     By arranging a connecting structure on the manual grinding structure, the external power assembly may be connected. The external power assembly supplies power to switch to automatic grinding, which is convenient for conversion and has good practicability. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , an embodiment of a dual-purpose grinder is provided. In this embodiment, the connecting structure includes a connecting column, and the connecting column includes a protruding pillar  102 . A tapered platform  103  is provided on a top end of the connecting column, and a diameter of a bottom surface of the tapered platform  103  is larger than a diameter of a cross-section of the protruding pillar  102 . The protruding pillar  102  and the tapered platform  103  form a step shape. The external power assembly may be a power assembly with a lock switch. The power assembly can be started by locking the lock switch and the connecting column, thereby supplying power to the grinder. In addition, by providing the connecting column and forming the step shape between the protruding pillar  102  and the tapered platform  103 , the lock switch may be locked with the connecting column. 
     When the connecting column is inserted into the lock switch and contacts the center of the lock switch for the first time, a pair of inverted buckle sections of the lock switch is engaged with the connecting column, so that the grinder is integrated with the external power assembly to form a complete automatic grinder. When the connecting column is pushed further into the lock switch and contacts the center of the lock switch for the second time, the pair of inverted buckle sections of the lock switch is released, and the grinder is separated from the external power assembly, thus the external power assembly can be combined with other grinders containing different materials, and the same steps are carried out to form another automatic grinder. Conversion to the external power assembly requires only one step which is simple and efficient, and the grinder that is not connected with the external power assembly may be used as a manual grinder. 
     Additionally, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the connecting structure further includes a first recess  101 , and the connecting column is located in the first recess  101 . A strut may be provided on the external power assembly to be inserted into the first recess  101 , in order to form a stable connecting structure with connections both in the center and the periphery and guide the external power assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a transmission frame  11  is disposed in the material container body  10 , a connecting rod  111  connected to the grinding head  12  is provided on the transmission frame  11 . The transmission frame  11  is driven to rotate by the rotation of the material container body  10 . Since the grinding head  12  is connected to the connecting rod  111 , the grinding head  13  is rotated along with the rotation of the transmission frame  11 . 
     Preferably, a protruded ring  112  is provided on an outer periphery of the transmission frame  11 , a snapping groove is provided on the above-mentioned material container body  10 , and the protruded ring  112  is inserted into the snapping groove so that the transmission frame  11  is connected with the material container body  10 , so as to drive the transmission frame  11  to rotate by rotation of the material container body  10 . 
     Preferably, the lower end of the above-mentioned connecting rod  111  is in threaded connection with an adjusting structure for adjusting the size of the gap between the grinding head  12  and the grinding sleeve  15 . The adjusting structure includes an adjusting rod  14  and an adjusting spring sleeved on the adjusting rod  14 , and the adjusting spring is fitted into the grinding head. 
     When the adjusting rod  14  is rotated to move upwards, the adjusting spring is compressed by the adjusting rod  14  and the grinding head is forced to move upwards, thus the gap between the grinding head and the grinding sleeve becomes smaller, and the ground powder is finer. When the adjusting rod  14  is rotated to move downwards, the compressing force exerted on the adjusting spring by the adjusting rod  14  is reduced, the grinding head moves downwards, and the gap between the grinding head and the grinding sleeve becomes larger, thus the ground powder is coarser. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the grinding head  12  includes a truncated cone body  121  and a plurality of grinding plates  122 , the plurality of grinding plates  122  are arranged at intervals around a lower end surface of the truncated cone body  121 . The truncated cone body  121  is provided therein with a slot for inserting therein the connecting rod  111 . The lower end surface of the truncated cone body  121  is recessed inward to form an adjusting recess  124 , and the adjusting spring is fitted in the adjusting recess  124 . The material is ground and pressed into powder through the cooperation of the grinding plates  122  and the grinding sleeve  15 . 
     In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned connecting rod  111  has a cuboid shape. In other embodiments, the above-mentioned connecting rod  111  may also have other shapes, such as a pentagonal shape. The shape of the slot matches with the shape of the connecting rod  111  for ease of installation. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the above-mentioned material container assembly  10  further includes a fixing frame  13 , positioning columns  132  are provided on the fixing frame  13 , and positioning grooves  151  into which the positioning columns  132  are inserted are provided on the grinding sleeve  15 . The fixing frame  13  is connected with the control structure. 
     A sealed space is formed between the grinding sleeve  15 , the fixing frame  13  and the transmission frame  11  when feeding the material, thereby preventing the introduction of other particles, so that the taste of the material is ensured. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 17 , in another embodiment of the dual-purpose grinder, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the connecting structure includes a lock switch  30 , which includes two inverted buckle sections for clamping the external power assembly. The external power assembly may have a connecting column which is to be clamped by the inverted buckle sections. The structure of the connecting column is consistent with the structure of the connecting column in the previous embodiment. 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a connecting frame is disposed in the material container body  20 , and the connecting frame is connected to the grinding head  27  through a grinding head rotating shaft  23 . A second recess  213  is provided in the connecting frame. The external power assembly drives the connecting structure to rotate, and the connecting structure drives the connecting frame to rotate, and the grinding head  27  is driven to rotate by the connecting frame through the grinding head rotating shaft  23 , thereby carrying out automatic grinding. 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 10 and 12 , a second through groove  212  is provided in the connecting frame, and the lock switch  30  is disposed in the second through groove  212 . 
     The control structure and the material container assembly are connected using the lock switch  30 , so that the control structure drives the material container assembly to carry out grinding. 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 12 , the above-mentioned connecting frame includes a first connecting frame  21  and a second connecting frame  22 . The material container body  20  is provided with a mounting hole with a snapping ring  201  provided therein, and an upper end of the first connecting frame  21  is provided with a snapping edge, which is connected with the snapping ring  201 . The above-mentioned second recess  213  is provided on the first connecting frame  21 , the second through groove  212  penetrates the first connecting frame  21 , and the first connecting frame  21  is connected to the second connecting frame  22 . An extending column  223  extends downward from a lower end of the second connecting frame  22 , and a rotating shaft slot is provided in the extending column  223 , the grinding head rotating shaft  23  is fitted in the rotating shaft slot. Therefore, the rotation of the first connecting frame  21  drives the second connecting frame  22  to rotate, and the rotation of the second connecting frame  22  drives the grinding head rotating shaft  23  to rotate, which in turn drives the grinding head  27  to rotate, thereby carrying out automatic grinding. A compact structure and stable transmission process may be achieved. 
     Furthermore, specifically, the upper end of the first connecting frame  21  is further provided with a guiding groove, which is arranged adjacent to the first recess  101 . The external power assembly and the connecting structure are pressed against and cooperate with each other when mounting the material container body and the external power assembly. Moreover, the guiding groove can drive the grinding head  27  such that the material container body  20  can rotate without moving upwards and downwards, and the grinding head  27  is rotated clockwise when the material container body  20  is rotated clockwise. 
     In addition, a lower end of the first connecting frame  21  is also provided with a plug  214  and a hook  211 , and the second connecting frame  22  is provided with a socket  221  and a hook groove  222 . The plug  214  is inserted in the socket  221 , and the hook  211  is fitted in the hook groove  222  so as to connect the first connecting frame  21  and the second connecting frame  22 . 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIG. 10 , a lower end of the grinding head rotating shaft  23  is connected to an adjusting structure for adjusting the size of a gap between the grinding head  27  and the grinding sleeve  26 , and the adjusting structure includes an adjusting spring  24  sleeved on the grinding head rotating shaft  23 , and an adjuster  28  connected to the grinding head rotating shaft  23 . The adjusting spring  24  is located between the grinding head  27  and the connecting frame, and the adjuster  28  is located below the grinding head  27 . Specifically, the adjusting spring  24  is located between the grinding head  27  and the second connecting frame  22 . 
     The grinding head rotating shaft  23  is provided with threads so as to fix the adjuster  28  after rotation. 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIG. 13 , the grinding head  27  includes a truncated cone body  271  which is provided with ridged teeth  272 . 
     When the adjuster  28  is rotated to move upwards, the adjusting spring  24  is compressed by the adjuster  28  and the grinding head  27  is forced to move upwards, thus the gap between the grinding head  27  and the grinding sleeve  26  becomes smaller, and the ground powder is finer. When the adjuster  28  is rotated to move downwards, the compressing force exerted on the adjusting spring by the adjusting rod  14  is reduced, the grinding head  27  moves downwards, and the gap between the grinding head  27  and the grinding sleeve  26  becomes larger, thus the ground powder is coarser. 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a lower end of the material container body  20  is connected with a connecting base  25  provided with a first through-hole  253 . The grinding head  27  is placed in the first through-hole  253 , and an upper end of the grinding sleeve  26  is fitted in the first through-hole  253 . A lower end of the connecting base  25  is connected with a fixing base  29  having a first through groove, and first fixing blocks  291  are provided on two sides of the first through groove. An outer periphery of the grinding sleeve  26  is provided with notches  261  into which the first fixing blocks  291  are fitted. 
     In addition, the grinding sleeve  26  is provided with a grinding groove, and the grinding head  27  is placed in the grinding groove of the grinding sleeve  26 . 
     Specifically, an inner side wall of the material container body  20  is provided with second fixing blocks, and the connecting base  25  is provided with connecting grooves  251 . The second fixing blocks are engaged into the connecting grooves  251  to connect the material container body  20  with the connecting base  25 . The grinding sleeve  26 , the grinding head  27  and the material container body  20  are formed into an independent structure through the connecting base  25 . 
     In addition, for ease of assembly of the material container body  20  and the connecting base  25 , the material container body  20  is provided with limiting bars, and the connecting base  25  is provided with limiting slots  254  into which the limiting bars are fitted for positioning. 
     In an embodiment, referring to  FIG. 15 , an annular groove  252  is provided on an outer periphery of the connecting base  25 , and protrusions  292  are provided inside the fixing base  29 , and the protrusions  292  are engaged into the annular groove  252 , thereby connecting the connecting base  25  with the fixing base  29 . With the cooperation between the notches  261  and the first fixing blocks  291 , the grinding sleeve  26  may stay stationary while the grinding head  27  is rotated clockwise, so that material can be ground into powder having the same size as the gap between the grinding head  27  and the grinding sleeve  26  through the ridged teeth  272 , and fall from the gap to complete the grinding process. 
     Specifically, a limiting ring  293  is provided in the first through groove, and the limiting ring  293  is located below the first fixing blocks  291  to position the grinding sleeve  26  during mounting. 
     In the above two embodiments, either the connecting column is arranged on the grinder and the lock switch is arranged on the external power assembly, or the lock switch is arranged on the grinder and the connecting column is arranged on the external power assembly. The lock switches and the connecting columns have the same structure in the two embodiments. 
     By providing the connecting structure on the material container body  10 ,  20  to connect with the external power assembly, the above-mentioned dual-purpose grinder may realize manual grinding by using the material container body  10 ,  20  alone, or form an automatic grinder by the cooperation between the material container body and the external power assembly. By rotating the material container body  10 ,  20 , the grinding head  12 ,  27  and the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  move relatively to each other, such that manual and automatic modes may be realized to meet different user requirements. 
     Furthermore, the present embodiment also provides an operating method of a dual-purpose grinder, which includes: 
     when manual grinding is required, rotating the material container body  10 ,  20  thus the grinding head  12 ,  27  is driven to rotate. The grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  and the grinding head  12 ,  27  move relative to each other, so that the material is ground and pressed into powder between the grinding head  12 ,  27  and the grinding sleeve  15 ,  26 ; 
     when automatic grinding is required, connecting an external power assembly with a connecting structure. The external power assembly drives the material container body  10 ,  20  to rotate, in order to drive the grinding head  12 ,  27  to rotate. The grinding sleeve  15 ,  26  and the grinding head  12 ,  27  move relative to each other so that the material is ground and pressed into powder therebetween. 
     It should be noted that those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the specific implementation process of the operating method of the above-mentioned dual-purpose grinder can refer to the corresponding description in the foregoing embodiment of the dual-purpose grinder, and will not be repeated herein for the purpose of brevity. 
     The technical content of this application is further explained by the above examples only for easier understanding of readers, but the implementation of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technical extension or re-creation made according to the present application is subject to the protection of the present application. The scope of protection of the present application is defined in accordance with the claims.