Patent Publication Number: US-2022211216-A1

Title: Sifter scale attachment for stand mixer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/061,896, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/243,412, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,827,881, filed on Jan. 9, 2019, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/627,958, filed on Feb. 8, 2018, all of which are entitled “SIFTER SCALE ATTACHMENT FOR STAND MIXER,” the entire disclosures of each are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present device generally relates to a combination sifter and scale assembly for use as an attachment for a mixer or similar appliance. 
     SUMMARY 
     In at least one aspect, a food-product handling device includes a housing defining an open upper side, a mount extending outwardly from a first housing along a first axis, and a lower side opposite the open upper side, a sifter basket having an interior aligned with and inset within the open upper side, at least one weight sensor operably supported on the housing over the open upper side of the housing, and a hopper defining a lower open end mountable over the housing with at least a portion of the lower open end bearing on the at least one weight sensor and with the lower open end in communication with the open upper side of the housing. 
     In at least another aspect, a food-product handling device includes a housing defining an open upper side, a mount extending outwardly from the housing along a first axis, and a lower side opposite the upper side, at least one weight sensor operably supported on the housing over the upper side of the housing, a hopper defining a lower open end mountable over the housing with at least a portion of the lower open end bearing on the at least one weight sensor and with the lower open end in communication with the open upper side of the housing, and a chute extending from the lower side of the housing, the chute defining a conduit from an interior of the housing to a location external to the housing. 
     In at least another aspect, a food product handling device includes a sifter-unit housing defining an open upper side, a lower side opposite the upper side, and a mount extending outwardly from the first housing along a first axis, the mount being configured to couple the device to a motor-driven mixing device and support the device on the motor-driven mixing device, a sifter basket having an interior aligned with and inset within the open upper side, and a sweeper crank unit mounted within the housing, having a first arm and a second arm, each generally following a contour of a cross-section of the sifter basket and being rotationally coupled with a fitting extending from the mount of the housing, the second arm being coupled with the first arm at the fitting, and the first and second arms extending angularly away from each other away from the fitting. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front-perspective view of a combination sifter and scale device; 
         FIG. 2  is a front-perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  in an aligned condition with a stand mixer for attachment therewith; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-section view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing internal components thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative sweeper crank usable in a variation of a combined sifter and scale device; 
         FIG. 6  is a housing of a sifter portion of the variation of the combined sifter and scale device; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the sifter portion of  FIG. 6  showing an output chute thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is a side cross-section view of the sifter portion of  FIG. 6  showing internal features thereof; 
         FIG. 9  is a side cross-section detail view of the sifter portion of  FIG. 6  showing a clutch mechanism included therein; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a scale portion of the variation of the combined sifter and scale device in use with a weight plate as a stand-alone scale. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the device may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , reference numeral  2  generally designates a food-product handling device in the form of a combined sifter and scale attachment for a motor driven device such as the stand mixer M shown in  FIG. 2 . Device  2  includes a sifter unit  4  having a housing  46  defining an open upper side  48  and a lower side  50  opposite the upper side. The housing is further structured to define a mount portion  6  extending outwardly from the housing  46  along a first axis  52 . The sifter unit  4  also includes a sifter basket  20  ( FIG. 3 ) having an interior  54  ( FIG. 3 ) aligned with and inset within the open upper side  48 . Device  2  also includes a scale assembly  10  having a body  56  defining an upper opening  58  and an opposite lower opening  60  and having an annular weight-sensing unit  62  ( FIG. 3 ) surrounding the upper opening  58 . The body  56  of the scale assembly  10  is positionable on the housing  46  of the sifter unit  4  with the lower opening  60  in communication with the open upper side  48  of the housing  46  and a hopper  12  positionable on the weight-sensing unit  62 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the mount  6  of sifter portion  4  is receivable in the device connection port P of stand mixer M ( FIG. 2 ). The mount  6  further includes an input shaft  8  that couples with a connection within the port P for driving operation of the sifter unit  4 , as described further below. Scale portion  10  is positioned on the top of the main body  4  and supports a hopper  12  over the main body  4 . In this manner, the entire device  2  is supported by the mixer M with hopper  12  open to and in communication with sifter screen  20  by way of alignment of the lower opening  60  of scale assembly  10  with the open upper side  48  of sifter portion  4 . The above-mentioned sensor unit  62 , which may include a plurality of sensors  14  ( FIG. 3 ) arranged around a periphery of upper opening  58  of scale assembly  10 , can be used to indicate the weight of ingredients added to the hopper  12  prior to sifting thereof. Device  2  also includes an output chute  16  arranged on and extending from the lower side  50  of sifter portion  4 . As described further below, chute  16  can be configured to collect a food product passing through sifter basket  20  and to direct the sifted ingredients, including to a mixing bowl B ( FIG. 4 ) positioned on mixer  4 . In this manner, ingredients can be weighed, sifted, and added to mixing bowl B solely by device  2  for further mixing using stand mixer M or to another container adjacent mixer M but not coupled with or supported on mixer M. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lower end  64  of hopper  12  is open and at least partially received within the body  56  of scale portion  10  when the hopper  12  is positioned on the weight-sensing unit  62 . In this manner, hopper  12  is supported in a desired position on body  56  with opening  64  aligned with lower opening  60  of body  56 . As further shown, both the lower opening  60  of body  56  and the sifter screen  20  can be larger than the lower end  64  of hopper  12  so that ingredients exiting hopper  12  can fall out of body  56  and be collected by sifter screen  20 . Hopper  12  has a butterfly valve  18  rotatably mounted within the lower open  64  end to selectively open and close the lower open end  64 . In particular butterfly valve  18  can be controlled by a user by a knob coupled with butterfly valve  18  and externally positioned on device  2 . In this manner, the hopper  12  may be closed as ingredients are added thereto so that they can be weighed as they accumulate in hopper  12 . Subsequently, valve  18  can be selectively opened and closed so that the ingredients can be transferred to the sifter basket  20  in controlled amounts. 
     Continuing with respect to  FIG. 3 , sifter basket  20  is positioned below hopper  12  by being internally supported within main body  4 . As is generally known, a majority of sifter basket  20  is defined by a mesh or perforated material with openings of a size sufficiently small to separate dry, powdered ingredients for improved mixing, such as with wet ingredients. A sweeper crank  22  is rotatably supported within main body  4  so as to rotate within the interior  54  space defined by screen  20  (where ingredients exiting hopper  12  collect) and to move closely to or in contact with the mesh or screen portion of sifter basket  20  during at least a portion of rotation to both break up any clumps within the ingredients and to urge the powdered ingredients released from hopper  12  through sifter basket  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the sweeper crank  22  includes ends  68  supported on housing  46  so as to be rotatable about a second axis  70  parallel to the first axis  52 . A central portion  72  of sweeper crank  22  is offset from ends  68  and forms a generally arcuate profile that generally matches the concave profile defined by sifter basket  20 . As further shown, the sweeper crank  22  can have a generally circular cross-section and can define a relatively thin element of wire or the like. 
     The sweeper crank  22  is operably coupled with input shaft  8  by a reduction mechanism  24  such that the power coupling P of the mixer M ( FIG. 3 ), which provides rotational movement, drives oscillation (or in some implementations, continuous rotation) of sweeper crank  22  (it is noted that the scale assembly  10  is powered by its own batteries, including for sensing unit  62  and the included display  66  and, accordingly, operates independently of the sifter). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , chute  16  extending from the lower side  50  of the housing  46  and defines a conduit  74  from the interior of the housing  46  below the sifter basket  20  to a location external to the housing  46 . Chute  16  is coupled with the housing  46  of sifter unit  4  by a mounting unit  26  that is rotatably coupled within housing  4  and positioned beneath sifter basket  20 . Mounting unit  26  allows for rotation of chute  16  along a plane parallel to the counter surface on which mixer M is positioned such that chute  16  can be directed into a mixing bowl B supported by the stand mixer M or positioned in another location adjacent to the mixer M. Mounting unit  26  also defines a generally conical shape that sifter basket  20  is set into. This shape allows mounting unit  26  to collect the sifted ingredients falling from sifter basket  20  and to direct them into the interior conduit  74  of chute  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , chute  16  is also pivotally coupled with mounting unit  26  along a hinge  28  parallel to the counter to allow vertical rotation of chute  16  relative to housing  46 . This rotation can allow chute  16  to be angled to accommodate bowls B or other receptacles of different heights and to facilitate movement into and out of the desired bowl B or receptacle. 
     An additional embodiment of the device  102 , including various alternative features thereof, is shown in  FIGS. 5-10 . In general, device  102 , is similar in structure and operation to device  2 , described above and includes a sifter unit  104  having a housing  146  defining an open upper side  148  and a lower side  150  opposite the upper side  148 . The housing  146  is structured to define a mount portion  106  extending outwardly from the housing  146  along a first axis  152 . The sifter unit  104  also includes a sifter basket  120  having an interior  154  aligned with and inset within the open upper side  150 . Device  102  also includes a scale assembly  110  having a body  156  defining an upper opening  158  and an opposite lower opening  160  and having an annular weight-sensing unit  162  surrounding the upper opening  158 . The body  156  of the scale assembly  110  is positionable on the housing  146  of the sifter unit  104  with the lower opening  160  in communication with the open upper side  148  of the housing  146  and a hopper  112  positionable on the weight-sensing unit  162 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , sweeper crank  122  includes two arcuate wires  132  supported on an axial body  134  in an angularly-spaced manner with respect to each other. Wires  132  can be affixed with body  134  at common points  176  offset from the axis  170  of rotation of body  134  and can extend from points  176  at an angle of between 10° and 45° with respect to each other. The sweeper crank  122  is rotated in an oscillating manner with respect to the sifter basket  120  by a cam mechanism  183  that converts the continuous rotational movement of the input shaft  108  to the desired oscillating movement. The amount of rotation of crank  122  for each oscillation can vary depending, for example, on the spacing of wires  132  such that the sweeper crank traverses sifter basket  120  fully with each oscillation. In particular, in the illustrated arrangement, each of the wires  132  traverses a respective portion of the sifter basket  120  that is less than the entire basket by the angle between the wires  132  with the portions traversed by the respective wires  132  overlapping such that the entire sifter basket  120  is traversed by at least one of the wires  132 . Sifter basket  120  may include a solid upper portion  178  that surrounds and extends upwardly from a mesh portion  180  of basket  120 . As shown, sweeper crank  122  can be mounted within upper portion  178 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the mounting of sweeper crank  122  with upper solid portion  178  of sifter basket  120  can facilitate configuration of sifter portion  104  with a removable sifter assembly  138  by which the sifter basket  120  and sweeper crank  122  collectively are removable from housing  104  by way of a spring loaded drive shaft  140  and a clip  142 . This arrangement allows the scale  110  to be used in connection with chute  116  for large ingredients that do not require sifting, with ingredients dispensed from hopper  112  passing directly through the housing  146  of sifter portion  104  and into chute  116 . In particular, sweeper crank  122  is rotatably coupled at the ends  168  thereof with the sifter basket  122 . Sweeper crank  122  further includes an input end  182  operably coupleable with an output  184  mounted on an interior of the housing  146  and rotationally driven by the input shaft  108 . Input end  182  is biased outwardly with respect to sifter basket  120  by a spring  186  internal to body  136 . In this manner, sifter assembly  138  can be assembled with housing  146  by aligning input end  182  with output  184  and pressed inwardly until sifter basket  120  can be lowered into housing  146 , at which point an outer periphery of upper solid portion  178  can be secured within clip  142 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , device  2  also includes a clutch assembly  136  coupled between the input shaft  108  and the sweeper crank  122  (including between input shaft  108  and output  184 ). The clutch assembly  136  shown in the example is a ball-and-spring design that is automatically resettable and prevents damage to the sifter portion  104  of device  102  (including sweeper crank  122  and or reduction mechanism  124 ), if the sweeper crank  122  is jammed by a foreign or other large object in the sifter basket  120 . Other types of clutch assemblies may be substituted. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , chute  116  of device  102  can be mounted in a telescoping manner (rather than the previously-disclosed upwardly-pivoting arrangement). As discussed above, chute  116  is rotatably coupled with housing  146  (in a plane parallel with the counter) by way of a mounting unit  126 . As further shown, chute  116  is coupled with mounting unit  126  in a sliding manner. As above, chute  116  defines the conduit  174  of the relative extension thereof allowing vertical movement and/or extension of chute  116  to accommodate bowls B or other receptacles of different heights and to facilitate movement into and out of the desired bowl B or receptacle. Chute  116  may further include a tab  188  for gripping to facilitate movement thereof with respect to mounting unit  126 , as well as rotation of chute  116 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an auxiliary weight plate  144  can be included with device  102 . 
     Weight plate  144  can be configured to mount to the scale assembly  110  in place of the hopper  112 . This mounting may be done by including a mounting portion on the underside of weight plate  144  that is similar to the lower portion of hopper  112 , including the above described lower end  64  thereof to rest on the above-described weight sensing unit  62  of scale assembly  110 . As discussed above, because, scale assembly  110  is powered separately from sifter unit  104 , the scale  102  can be used separately therefrom. Accordingly, scale assembly  110  can be configured to be removed from sifter unit  104  and positioned on a countertop. Similarly, hopper  112  can be removed and replaced with weight plate  144  so that scale assembly  110  can be used as a stand-alone kitchen scale, when the remainder of device  102  is out of use. 
     It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described device and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the device disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
     It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
     It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present device. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
     It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 
     The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.