WO2024231822A1

WO2024231822A1 - A stirring blade assembly and a food processor

Info

Publication number: WO2024231822A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/054402
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wancai HU; Xihao NIU; Bang Li
Original assignee: Zhejiang Shaoxing Supor Domestic Electrical Appliance Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Shaoxing Supor Domestic Electrical Appliance Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-05-11
Filing date: 2024-05-07
Publication date: 2024-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-11
Also published as: CN219895495U

Abstract

The present invention provides a stirring blade assembly and a food processor The stirring blade assembly comprises: a primary cutter assembly (10) comprising a cutter shaft (11) and a primary cutter (12) arranged at the cutter shaft (11); and, a secondary cutter assembly (20) comprising a mounting sleeve (21) sleeved to the cutter shaft (11) and a secondary cutter (22) arranged on the mounting sleeve (21); wherein, one of the cutter shaft (11) and the mounting sleeve (21) is provided with an undulating ring-shaped guide slot (111) extending circumferentially, while the other is provided with a protruding pin (211) that cooperates with the guide slot (111); wherein when the cutter shaft (11) rotates, the pin (211) slides in the guide slot (111) so that the secondary cutter assembly (20) moves up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft (11) while rotating around the rotation axis of the cutter shaft (11). Thus, during the vertical reciprocal movement of the secondary cutter assembly (20), the secondary cutter (22) can cut a food material at different heights into pieces.

Description

A Stirring Blade Assembly and a Food Processor

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of food processing, and in particular, a stirring blade assembly and a food processor.

Background of the Invention

As people’s quality of life keeps improving, many different kinds of food processors have emerged in the market. Functions of a food processor can mainly include, but are not limited to: making soy milk, juicing, grinding meat, making shaved ice, making coffee, and/or preparing face masks, etc. A food processor, such as a meat grinder, comprises a food container, a cover covering the food container, a stirring blade assembly located in the food container, and a main machine arranged at the cover. When the food processor operates, the main machine drives the stirring blade assembly to rotate in the food container to cut a food material into pieces. However, with existing food processors, one of the problems is that a food material is cut into pieces of non-uniform sizes.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to provide a stirring blade assembly and a food processor that allows cutting a food material into pieces of a more uniform size.

One aspect of the present invention provides a stirring blade assembly. The stirring blade assembly comprises: a primary cutter assembly comprising a cutter shaft and a primary cutter arranged on the cutter shaft; and, a secondary cutter assembly comprising a mounting sleeve sleeved to the cutter shaft and a secondary cutter arranged on the mounting sleeve; wherein, one of the cutter shaft and the mounting sleeve is provided with an undulating ring-shaped guide slot extending circumferentially, while the other is provided with a protruding pin that cooperates with the guide slot; when the cutter shaft rotates, the pin slides in the guide slot so that the secondary cutter assembly moves up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft while rotating around a rotation axis of the cutter shaft. When the cutter shaft rotates, a component force exerted by the wall of the guide slot along the rotation direction of the cutter shaft on the pin, an upward component force exerted by the wall of the guide slot on the pin, and the gravity of the secondary cutter assembly itself, together cause the secondary cutter assembly to move up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft while rotating around the rotation axis of the cutter shaft. Thus, during the vertical reciprocal movement of the secondary cutter assembly, the secondary cutter can cut a food material at different heights into pieces. Due to the cooperation between the primary cutter assembly and the secondary cutter assembly, a food material can be cut into pieces of more uniform sizes.

Further, the guide slot extends in the form of a sine or cosine curve. Thus, the movement of the pin in the guide slot is smoother and produces less noise.

Further, the mounting sleeve is provided with a slide slot in communication with the guide slot and the pin enters the guide slot via the slide slot. With the pin entering the guide slot via the slide slot, the secondary cutter assembly can be more conveniently mounted to the primary cutter assembly, facilitating its use.

Further, the cutter shaft comprises a first shaft and a second shaft assembled with the first shaft, the first shaft comprising a lower wall face extending in an undulating shape, the second shaft comprising an upper wall face extending in an undulating shape and arranged opposite to the lower wall face, the guide slot being delimited by the lower wall face and the upper wall face, the pin being arranged inside the mounting sleeve. By providing the cutter shaft as separate first and second shafts, the upper and lower faces of the guide slot may be separately provided at the ends of each shaft parts. The manufacturing of the guide slot of undulating shape can thus be facilitated. Once the second shaft is assembled with the first shaft, the lower wall face of the first shaft and the upper wall face of the second shaft form the guide slot.

Further, the guide slot comprises an ascending section extending upward and a descending section extending downward, the slide slot being in communication with the ascending section. Thus, when the cutter shaft rotates, the pin slides in the guide slot against the lower wall face and, which prevents the pin from being stuck in the slide slot.

Further, the number of the pin equals to the number of the ascending section. Thus, the secondary cutter assembly can rotate more smoothly and steadily.

Further, the first shaft and the second shaft are fixed together by means of a fixing member. Thus, the mounting is convenient and reliable.

Further, the first shaft comprises a first part, a second part protruding radially outward relative to the first part, and a third part protruding radially outward relative to the second part, the lower wall face being arranged at a top end of the second part, the primary cutter being arranged on the third part; the second shaft is arranged over the first part and comprises a sleeve part sleeved to the first part, the upper wall face being arranged at a bottom end of the sleeve part. Thus, the first shaft and the second shaft are easier to manufacture, and the assembly of the first part and the second part is convenient and reliable. Further, the second part comprises a step part protruding radially outward, and the mounting sleeve is provided with a groove that cooperates with the step part. The step portion fits into the groove to prevent the secondary cutter assembly from being mounted upside down.

Further, one of the first part and the sleeve part is provided with a protrusion, while the other is provided with a snap-fit groove that correspondingly cooperates with the protrusion. By means of the cooperation between the protrusion and the snap-fit groove, relative rotation between the first shaft and the second shaft can be prevented.

Further, the mounting sleeve is provided at the outer side with a marker member that corresponds to the location of the pin in the circumferential direction of the mounting sleeve. Thus, when mounting the secondary cutter assembly to the primary cutter assembly, a user can conveniently align the pin with the slide slot, making it easier to use.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a food processor. The food processor comprises: a food container comprising a container body and a cover covering the container body; a main machine arranged at the cover; and, the stirring blade assembly described above, mounted inside the container body.

Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of an embodiment of the food processor the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the food processor shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the stirring blade assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the stirring blade assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the primary cutter assembly shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the primary cutter assembly shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the second shaft 114 shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an unrolled, schematic view of the guide slot and the slide slot shown in Fig. 3.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail here, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings refer to the same or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The modes of realization described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all modes of realization consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of means consistent with some aspects of the present invention as detailed in the appended claims.

The terminology used in the present invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, technical terms or scientific terms used in the present invention shall have the usual meaning understood by a person with ordinary skills in the field to which the present invention belongs. Words such as "a" and "an" used in the specification and claims of the present invention do not indicate a quantitative limit, but indicate the presence of at least one. "Comprise" or "include" and other similar words mean that the elements or objects appearing before "comprise" or "include" cover the elements or objects listed after comprise" or "include" and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. Words such as "connect" or "connected" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the present invention, the singular forms "a," "said" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In reference to Figs. 1 to 8, a food processor 100 comprises a food container 50 comprising a container body 51 and a cover 52 covering the container body 51 , a main machine 40, and a stirring blade assembly 60. The food container 50 can be used for accommodating a food material to be processed, for example, meat and vegetables. The food material is cut into pieces in the food container 50. The stirring blade assembly 60 is mounted inside the container body 51 and used for stirring and cutting the food material into pieces.

The main machine 40 is arranged at the cover 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the main machine 40 comprises a housing 41 , an electric motor 42 and a reduction gear box 43 arranged in the housing 41. The electric motor 42 comprises an electric motor shaft 421. The reduction gear box 43 comprises a driving gear 431 connected with the electric motor shaft 421 , a driven gear 432 that engages with the driving gear 431 , and an output end 433 connected with the stirring blade assembly 60. In another embodiment, the main machine 40 comprises a housing 41 and an electric motor 42 arranged in the housing 41 but does not comprise a reduction gear box. In this case, the electric motor shaft 421 of the electric motor 42 is connected with the stirring blade assembly 60.

The stirring blade assembly 60 comprises a primary cutter assembly 10 and a secondary cutter assembly 20. The primary cutter assembly 10 comprises a cutter shaft 11 and a primary cutter 12 arranged on the cutter shaft 11. The primary cutter 12 is used for stirring and cutting a food material into pieces, for example, stirring meat into ground meat, stirring vegetables into vegetable cubes or puree. The secondary cutter assembly 20 comprises a mounting sleeve 21 sleeved to the cutter shaft 11 and a secondary cutter 22 arranged on the mounting sleeve 21. The secondary cutter 22 is also used for stirring and cutting a food material into pieces.

One of the cutter shaft 11 and the mounting sleeve 21 is provided with the undulating ring-shaped guide slot 111 extending circumferentially and a slide slot 112 in communication with the guide slot 111 , while the other is provided with a protruding pin 211 that cooperates with the guide slot 111 and enters the guide slot 111 via the slide slot 112. When the cutter shaft 11 rotates, the pin 211 slides in the guide slot 111 so that the secondary cutter assembly 20 moves up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft 11 while rotating around the rotation axis of the cutter shaft 11 .

In an embodiment, the guide slot 111 is arranged on the cutter shaft 11 , and the pin 211 is arranged in the mounting sleeve 21. In another embodiment, the guide slot 111 is arranged in the mounting sleeve 21 , and the pin 211 is arranged on the cutter shaft 11 .

In the stirring blade assembly 60 of the present invention, the undulating ring-shaped guide slot 111 extending circumferentially and the corresponding pin 211 are respectively provided on the cutter shaft 11 and the mounting sleeve 21. Thus, when the cutter shaft 11 rotates, a component force exerted by the wall of the guide slot 111 along the rotation direction of the cutter shaft 11 on the pin 211 , an upward component force exerted by the wall of the guide slot 111 on the pin 211 , and the gravity of the secondary cutter assembly 20 itself together cause the secondary cutter assembly 20 to move up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft 11 while rotating around the rotation axis of the cutter shaft 11 . Thus, during the vertical reciprocal movement of the secondary cutter assembly 20, the secondary cutter 22 can cut a food material at different heights into pieces. Due to the cooperation between the primary cutter assembly 10 and the secondary cutter assembly 20, a food material can be cut into pieces of more uniform sizes. In addition, with the pin 211 entering the guide slot 111 via the slide slot 112, the secondary cutter assembly 20 can be more conveniently mounted to the primary cutter assembly 10, facilitating its use.

In some preferred embodiments, the guide slot 111 extends in the form of a sine or cosine curve. Thus, the movement of the pin 211 in the guide slot 111 is smoother and produces less noise.

In some embodiments, the cutter shaft 11 comprises a first shaft 113 and a second shaft 114 assembled with the first shaft 113. The first shaft 113 comprises a lower wall face 1131 extending in an undulating shape. The second shaft 114 comprises an upper wall face 1141 extending in an undulating shape and arranged opposite to the lower wall face 1131. The guide slot 111 is delimited by the lower wall face 1131 and the upper wall face 1141. The pin 211 is arranged inside the mounting sleeve 21. By providing the cutter shaft 11 as separate first shaft 113 and second shaft 114 the upper and lower faces of the guide slot 111 may be separately provided at the ends of each shaft parts. The manufacturing of the undulating shaped guide slot 111 can thus be facilitated. Once the second shaft 114 is assembled with the first shaft 113, the lower wall face 1131 of the first shaft 113 and the upper wall face 1141 of the second shaft 114 form the guide slot 111. During assembly of the stirring blade assembly 60, the secondary cutter assembly 20 is first assembled to the first shaft 113, with the pin 211 placed above the lower wall face 1131 , and then the second shaft 114 is assembled to the first shaft 113, with the upper wall face 1141 located above the pin 211. Thus, the assembly of the stirring blade assembly 60 is made easy.

In some other embodiments, the cutter shaft 11 may be a single piece, with the guide slot 111 and the slide slot 112 provided at an outer face of the cutter shaft 11 .

The guide slot 111 comprises an ascending section 1119 extending upward and a descending section 1118 extending downward. The slide slot 112 is in communication with the ascending section 1119. Thus, when the cutter shaft 11 rotates, the pin 211 slides in the guide slot 111 against the lower wall face 1131 , which prevents the pin 211 from being stuck in the slide slot 112.

The number of the pin 211 equals to the number of the ascending section 1119. Thus, the secondary cutter assembly 20 can rotate more smoothly and steadily. In the illustrated embodiments, the guide slot 111 comprises two ascending sections 1119 and two descending sections 1118. Two slide slots 112 are respectively in communication with the two ascending sections 1119. Two pins 211 are provided correspondingly inside the mounting sleeve 21.

The first shaft 113 and the second shaft 114 are fixed together by means of a fixing member 116. Thus, the mounting is convenient and reliable. Specifically, the first shaft 113 is provided with a threaded hole 1136 and the second shaft 114 is provided with a threaded post 1147. The fixing member 116 is a screw that passes through the threaded hole 1136 to lock with the threaded post 1147, thereby fixing the first shaft 113 and the second shaft 114 together. The first shaft 113 is provided at the bottom with a shaft lid 117. The shaft lid 117 is provided with a bowl shaft hole 115 and cooperates with a position limiting shaft 511 arranged at the bottom of the container body 51 by means of the bowl shaft hole 115.

The first shaft 113 comprises a first part 1139, a second part 1138 protruding radially outward relative to the first part 1139, and a third part 1137 protruding radially outward relative to the second part 1138. The lower wall face 1131 is arranged at a top end of the second part 1138. The primary cutter 12 is arranged on the third part 1137. The second shaft 114 is arranged over the first part 1139 and comprises a sleeve part 1149 sleeved to the first part 1139. The upper wall face 1141 is arranged at a bottom end of the sleeve part 1149. Thus, the first shaft 113 and the second shaft 114 are easier to manufacture, and the assembly of the first part 113 and the second part 114 is convenient and reliable. The outer diameter of the second part 1138 is equal to the outer diameter of the second shaft 114. Thus, there is not a large gap between the mounting sleeve 21 and the second part 1138 or the second shaft 114.

The second part 1138 comprises a step part 11388 protruding radially outward, and the mounting sleeve 21 is provided with a groove 218 that cooperates with the step part 11388. The step part 11388 fits into the groove 218 to prevent the secondary cutter assembly 20 from being mounted upside down.

One of the first part 1139 and the sleeve part 1149 is provided with a protrusion 11399, while the other is provided with a snap-fit groove 11499 that correspondingly cooperates with the protrusion 11399. By means of the cooperation between the protrusion 11399 and the snap-fit groove 11499, relative rotation between the first shaft 113 and the second shaft 114 can be prevented.

The mounting sleeve 21 is provided at the outer side with a marker member 219 that corresponds to the location of the pin 211 in the circumferential direction of the mounting sleeve 21. Thus, when mounting the secondary cutter assembly 20 to the primary cutter assembly 10, a user can conveniently align the pin 211 with the slide slot 112, making it easier to use.

The second shaft 114 comprises a holding part 1148 protruding radially outward from its top end. After the food processor 100 finishes operating, a user can remove the entire stirring blade assembly 60 for cleaning by holding the holding part 1148, which can prevent skidding between the user’s hand and the cutter shaft 11 , providing a better user experience. What has been described above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1 . A stirring blade assembly, characterized in that, it comprises:

- a primary cutter assembly (10), comprising a cutter shaft (11) and a primary cutter (12) arranged on the cutter shaft (11); and,

- a secondary cutter assembly (20), comprising a mounting sleeve (21) sleeved to the cutter shaft (11) and a secondary cutter (22) arranged on the mounting sleeve (21); wherein one the cutter shaft (11) and the mounting sleeve (21) is provided with an undulating ring-shaped guide slot (111) extending circumferentially, while the other is provided with a protruding pin (211) that cooperates with the guide slot (111); wherein when the cutter shaft (11) rotates, the pin (211) slides in the guide slot (111) so that the secondary cutter assembly (20) moves up and down in reciprocation along the cutter shaft (11) while rotating around the rotation axis of the cutter shaft (11).

2. The stirring blade assembly of claim 1 , characterized in that, the guide slot (111) extends in the form of a sine or cosine curve.

3. The stirring blade assembly of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting sleeve (21) is further provided with a slide slot (112) in communication with the guide slot (111), the pin (211) entering the guide slot (111) via the slide slot (112).

4. The stirring blade assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the cutter shaft (11) comprises a first shaft (113) and a second shaft (114) assembled with the first shaft (113), the first shaft (113) comprising a lower wall face (1131) extending in an undulating shape, the second shaft (114) comprising an upper wall face (1141) extending in an undulating shape and arranged opposite to the lower wall face (1131), the guide slot (111) being delimited by the lower wall face (1131) and the upper wall face (1141), the pin (211) being arranged inside the mounting sleeve (21).

5. The stirring blade assembly of claim 4, characterized in that, the guide slot (111) comprises an ascending section (1119) extending upward and a descending section (1118) extending downward, the slide slot (112) being in communication with the ascending section (1119).

6. The stirring blade assembly of claim 5, characterized in that, the number of the pin (211) equals to the number of the ascending section (1119).

7. The stirring blade assembly of any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, the first shaft (113) and the second shaft (114) are fixed together by means of a fixing member.

8. The stirring blade assembly of any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that, the first shaft (113) comprises a first part (1139), a second part (1138) protruding radially outward relative to the first part (1139), and a third part (1137) protruding radially outward relative to the second part (1138), the lower wall face (1131) being arranged at a top end of the second part (1138), the primary cutter (12) being arranged on the third part (1137); the second shaft (114) is arranged over the first part (1139) and comprises a sleeve part (1149) sleeved to the first part (1139), the upper wall face (1141) being arranged at a bottom end of the sleeve part (1149).

9. The stirring blade assembly of claim 8, characterized in that, the second part (1138) comprises a step part (11388) protruding radially outward, and the mounting sleeve (21) is provided with a groove (218) that cooperates with the step part (11388).

10. The stirring blade assembly of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, one of the first part (1139) and the sleeve part (1149) is provided with a protrusion (11399), while the other is provided with a snap-fit groove (11499) that correspondingly cooperates with the protrusion (11399).

11. The stirring blade assembly of any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that, the mounting sleeve (21) is provided at the outer side with a marker member (219) that corresponds to the location of the pin (211) in the circumferential direction of the mounting sleeve (21).

12. A food processor, characterized in that, it comprises:

- a food container (50), comprising a container body (51) and a cover (52) covering the container body (51);

- a main machine (40) arranged at the cover (52); and,

- the stirring blade assembly (60) of any one of claims 1 to 11 , mounted inside the container body (51).