Universal kitchen machine

• US 4,863,278 A
• Filed: 06/03/1985
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A. Stephan U. Soehne GmbH & Co.
• Original Assignee: A. Stephan U. Soehne GmbH & Co.
• Inventors: Otto, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haugland, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US06/740,833
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 366/143, 366/185, 366/247, 366/251, 366/314, 366/601, 366/205, 366/309, 366/347, 241/199.7, 241/199.12, 241/282.1, 241/282.2, 241/285 R, 241/135, 241/101 R, 241/101 B, 241/98, 241/37.5, 220/254, 220/336, 220/337, 220/344, 220/378, 220/342, 220/343
• US Class Current: 366/143
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/231 with a variable orientation during mixing operation, e.g. with tiltable rotor axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/808 with stirrers driven from the bottom of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3213 at the lower side of the axis, e.g. driving the stirrer from the bottom of a receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/75 Discharge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7548 using tilting or pivoting means for emptying the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 13/16 Pivoted closures F16J13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/601 Motor control

Abstract

The invention relates to a universal machine for the comminution, cutting, mixing, kneading, emulsifying, etc., of foods. The machine comprises a bowl with a circular cross section. The bowl according to the invention is supported on a supporting stand, and may be tipped around a tilting axle arranged horizontally under the bottom of the bowl. The bowl may be arrested in any desired tipped position. The machine further comprises a closable lid, a plurality of centered, rotating tools mounted on a tool shaft, and a motor for driving the tools disposed under the tilting axle and flanged onto the bottom of the bowl. Switching means for the motor are provided laterally on the machine. To simplify the handling of the machine and facilitate its cleaning, the switching means are housed in a control box which functions as a component of a stand for the bowl. The control box also contains the bearing for one end of the pivot axle and the electric lines to the motor.

Claims

1. A universal kitchen machine for the comminution, mixing, kneading, emulsifying and the like of foods, comprising:

a bowl with a generally circular cross-section, and including a bottom and an open top;

a hollow tilting axle having first and second ends, disposed horizontally beneath the bottom of the bowl, connected with the bowl, and functioning to tip the bowl;

a support stand for supporting the second end of the tilting axle;

a closable lid for closing the top of the bowl and having a center;

tool means for processing food disposed within the bowl;

a first drive motor for driving the tool means, connected to the bottom of the bowl and disposed beneath the tilting axle;

a control box integral with the support stand and for supporting the first end of the tilting axle;

switching means for switching the drive motor, disposed in the control box;

a first plurality of electric lines from the motor to the switching means, disposed in the hollow tilting axle; and

a first bearing for rotatably supporting the first end of the tilting axle, disposed in the control box.

2. A machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second bearing for rotatingly supporting the second end of the tilting axle disposed in the support stand opposite the control box; and

means for arresting the bowl in any selected tipped position.

3. A machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said support stand includes a base section and said base section of the support stand includes a front part, a rear part and a support member that extends diagonally upwardly from the rear part of the base section toward the front of the machine, wherein the support member of said support stand further comprises a free end for containing said second bearing.

4. A machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for arresting comprise a fixed first toothed wheel, a second toothed wheel attached to said hollow tilting axle, a tension lever for engaging the first and second toothed wheels, a spring for biasing the tension lever away from engaging said toothed wheels.

5. A machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said tool means comprises a tool, and a tool shank for supporting the tool.

6. A machine as recited in claim 5, further comprising a drive shaft having a free end for supporting said tool shank and for extending into said bowl, wherein said free end includes an undercut radial slot, wherein said tool shank comprises a transverse bolt for engaging said slot, and wherein said tool is interchangeably mounted on said tool shank.

7. A machine as recited in claim 6, wherein said undercut radial slot is sized to allow a slight relative rotation between said tool shank and said drive shaft, which produces a reverse grip between said transverse bolt and said undercut radial slot.

8. A machine as recited in claim 5, wherein said tool shank has a square cross-section.

9. A machine as recited in claim 8, further comprising a second bushing having an upper and a lower end and being connected with said first drive motor, wherein said tool shank comprises a square, steel pipe welded to both ends of said second bushing.

10. A machine as recited in claim 9, wherein said second bushing is provided with an external thread on its lower end;

and further comprising a tension nut for fastening said tools, threaded onto said external thread, and having spinning blades on its outer edges.

11. A machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said support stand includes a base section, and wherein said control box is interchangeably connected with the base section.

12. A machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said base section of said support stand comprises at least two feet having square cross-sections;

and further comprising a rubber bumper and a roller, corresponding to each foot.

13. A machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the control box includes a first side facing away from the bowl, wherein the machine further comprises a second drive motor for accessories, and wherein the second drive motor is independent from said first drive motor and extends out of said first side of the control box.

14. A machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electronic brake device for said first drive motor disposed in said control box.

15. A machine as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

a first box hinge welded to said closable lid;

a second box hinge associated with said first box hinge;

an electronic safety device associated with said second box hinge;

a second plurality of electrical lines for the electrical safety device; and

a water-tight electrical conduit for conducting the second plurality of electrical lines into said hollow tilting axle, wherein said electronic safety device activates said electronic brake via said second plurality of electrical lines whenever said closable lid is opened while said first drive motor is running.

16. A machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said closable lid comprises a drawn part having an edge region, a punched-out section, and a cast segment having viewing orifices and being connected to said punched out section.

17. A machine as recited in claim 16, wherein said drawn part comprises chromium-nickel steel, and wherein said cast segment is welded to said punched-out section.

18. A machine as recited in claim 16, further comprising a first box hinge welded to said drawn part.

19. A machine as recited in claim 18, further comprising a second box hinge associated with said first box hinge, an electrical safety device associated with the second box hinge, a second plurality of electrical lines for the electrical safety device, and a water-tight electrical conduit for conducting the second plurality of electrical lines into said hollow tilting axle.

20. A machine as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a first rope seal; and

a ring for containing said seal having an approximately U-shaped cross section, wherein the ring is welded to said edge region of the drawn part.

21. A machine as recited in claim 16, further comprising a viewing-cover for closing said cast segment, wherein the viewing-cover is bearingly supported on said center of said closable lid.

22. A machine as recited in claim 21, further comprising a second rope seal for sealing said viewing-cover onto said cast segment in a water-tight and vacuum-tight manner.

23. A universal kitchen machine for the comminution, mixing, kneading, emulsifying and the like of foods, comprising:

a bowl with a generally circular cross-section, and including a bottom and an open top;

a hollow tilting axle having first and second ends, disposed horizontally beneath the bottom of the bowl, connected with the bowl, and functioning to tip the bowl;

a support stand for supporting the second end of tilting axle;

a closable lid for closing the top of the bowl and having a center comprising;

a drawn part having an edge region, a punched out section, and a cast segment having viewing orifices and being connected to said punched out section, and a viewing-cover for closing said cast segment, wherein the viewing-cover is bearingly supported on said center of said closable lid;

a hub located in the center of said closable lid and having first and second ends, wherein said viewing-cover further comprises a central bearing bushing for slipping onto the first end of said hub;

a pin disposed on one of said hub and said bearing bushing; and

a groove on the second end of said hub and said bearing bushing, wherein said groove includes an initial vertical section and a circumferential section having a thread-like rise directed against said closable lid, wherein the pin engages the vertical section of the groove when the viewing-cover is in a position exposing said cast segment, and wherein said pin engages the thread-like section of the groove when the viewing-cover is moved to a position covering said cast segment and creates a positive lock between the viewing-cover and the cast segment.

24. A machine as recited in claim 23, further comprising a conveyor blade for extending into said bowl;

and a manual crank supported on said bearing bushing, connected with the conveyor blade, and for manipulating the conveyor blade.

25. A machine as recited in claim 24, wherein said bowl lid comprises an eccentric toggle lever lock having a easily manually actuatable lever handle supported on a rotatable axle.

26. A machine as recited in claim 24, wherein said conveyor blade comprises a synthetic material.

27. A universal kitchen machine for the comminution, mixing, kneading, emulsifying and the like of foods, comprising:

a bowl with a generally circular cross-section, and including a bottom and an open top;

a hollow tilting axle having first and second ends, disposed horizontally beneath the bottom of the bowl, connected with the bowl, and functioning to tip the bowl;

a support stand for supporting the second end of the tilting axle;

a tool means for processing food and disposed within the bowl;

a first drive motor for driving the tool means, connected to the bottom of the bowl and disposed beneath the tilting axle;

a control box integral with the support stand and for supporting the first end of the tilting axle;

a switching means for switching the drive motor, disposed in the control box; and

a first plurality of electric lines from the motor to the switching means, disposed in the hollow tilting axle; and

a closeable lid for closing the top of the bowl;

an electrical safety means operatively connected to the closeable lid, the electrical safety means comprising a cover device, a brake device disposed in the control box for preventing operation of the first drive motor and a second plurality of electrical lines connecting the cover device to the brake device, whereby the cover device activates the brake device to prevent operation of the first drive motor whenever the closeable lid is open.

28. A universal kitchen machine as claimed in claim 27 wherein the cover device comprises a first box hinge connected to the closeable lid and a second box hinge associated with the first box hinge and connected to the second plurality of electrical lines.

29. A universal kitchen machine as claimed in claim 27, wherein the electrical safety means further comprises a watertight conduit enclosing the second plurality of electrical lines.

30. A universal kitchen machine as claimed in claim 27 wherein the second plurality of electrical lines enters the control box via the hollow tilting axle.