High volume grinder

• US 5,865,383 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Ephraim, Daniel R., Ford, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/854,120
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 241/100, 241/33, 241/36, 241/79.1, 241/81, 241/260.1, 241/606
• US Class Current: 241/36
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/40 relating to discharge, receiving container or the like; Bag clamps, e.g. with means for actuating electric switches

Abstract

A grinder for grinding materials to produce a ground substance. The grinder includes a cabinet, a grinder motor retained in the cabinet, and a grinder mechanism coupled to the motor to grind the materials. A hopper is positioned in communication with the grinder mechanism to deliver materials for grinding. The container retainer is attached to the grinder for retaining a container in close proximity for capturing ground material dispensed thereby. An activation switch assembly is included with the grinder to selectively control the grinder and activate the grinder when a container is placed in a desired location. A substance settling assembly is included with the grinder for removing a container retained by the grinder to settle the substance as it is dispensed from the grinder to the container. A chaff retainer is provided for maintaining chaff included with the ground substance in mixture with the ground substance. A clean-out member is operatively attached to the grinder and selectively engageable with the chaff retainer for removing chaff from the grinder. A magnetic collection device is positioned in the hopper for capturing magnetic pieces which may be deposited in the hopper. An active ventilation system is also included with the grinder for actively and controllably removing heat from the grinder cabinet.

Claims

1. A grinder for grinding materials to produce a ground substance, said grinder comprising:

a cabinet, a grinder motor retained in said cabinet, a grinder mechanism coupled to said motor for grinding said material, and a hopper communicating with said grinder mechanism to deliver said material for grinding therein;

a discharge assembly positioned proximate to said grinder mechanism having a chute extending therefrom for discharging ground substance therethrough;

a container retaining assembly attached to said grinder for retaining a container in close proximity to said chute from which said ground material is dispensed from said grinder mechanism, said container retaining assembly including a cam body positioned between said grinder mechanism and said chute and pivotable away from and toward said chute between a releasing position and a retaining position, in said releasing position a container may be positioned between said chute and said cam body, in the retaining position, the cam body is pivoted towards said chute for retaining the container between said cam body and said chute;

an activation switch assembly attached to said grinder in close proximity to said container retainer and coupled to said grinder motor to selectively control said grinder wherein said grinder is activated when a container is placed and retained proximate to said grinder and said grinder motor is deactivated when said container retaining container proximate to said grinder;

a substance settling assembly attached to said grinder in proximity to said container retaining assembly for moving a container retained by container retaining assembly to setting said substance as it is dispensed from said grinder mechanism into said container, said substance settling assembly having a shaker plate attached to said grinder inside said cabinet and included an agitating device for acting on said shaker plate, said agitating device being positioned in said cabinet;

a chaff retaining plate pivotably positioned proximate to a grinder discharge passage for maintaining chaff in a ground substance;

a clean-out member attached to said grinder and selectively engageable with said chaff retaining plate for pivoting said chaff retaining plate to allow chaff and ground substance to be exhausted from said grinder;

a magnetic collection device positioned in said hopper for capturing magnetic pieces to prevent such pieces from entering said grinder mechanism; and

an active ventilation system providing passages in an upper portion of said cabinet and a fan in a lower portion of said cabinet for moving air through said through said cabinet and out through said passages for actively and controllably removing heat from said grinder.

2. A grinder as recited in claim 1, said substance settling assembly further comprising an arm extending from said grinder to a position spaced away from said grinder mechanism;

and

an agitating device coupled to said grinder and operatively coupled to said arm for moving said arm and a container retained by said container retaining assembly to settle ground substance dispensed into said container.

3. A grinder as recited in claim 2, said agitating device further comprising:

a cam carried on said grinder motor for acting on said arm to translate eccentric movement of said cam by said grinder motor to move said arm for inducing settling of ground substance dispensed into a container.

4. A grinder as recited in claim 3, said substance settling assembly further comprising:

a spring having a first end and a second end, said first end of said spring attached to said grinder and said second end of said spring attached to said settling arm, said spring facilitating movement of said arm relative to said grinder upon action of said agitating device on said arm.

5. A grinder as recited in claim 1, said container retaining assembly further comprising:

a cam body retained on said grinder selectively pivotable between a retaining position and a releasing position, said cam body abutting a portion of said grinder in a retaining position to retain a portion of a container between said cam body and said portion of said grinder, said cam body being pivotable away from said portion of said grinder to release a container therefrom.

6. A grinder as recited in claim 5, said container retaining assembly further comprising:

an activation switch coupled to said motor, said activation switch being selectively controllable upon movement of said cam body for activating and deactivating said motor in response to the position of said cam body, whereby said activation switch allows operation of said motor when said cam body is in a container retaining position and said activation switch assembly prevents operation of said motor when said cam body is in a releasing position.

7. A grinder as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a hopper associated with said grinder for retaining a quantity of material in a gravity feed relationship with said grinder mechanism, a throat portion of said hopper in communication with said hopper and said grinder mechanism; and

said magnetic device being positioned relative to said throat for capturing magnetic pieces to prevent said pieces from entering said grinder mechanism, said magnetic device being sized and dimensioned to facilitate movement of material around said magnetic device and into said throat of said hopper.

8. A grinder as recited in claim 1, said active ventilation system further comprising:

a thermostatic control coupled to said grinder;

a fan attached to said grinder and coupled to said thermostatic control, said fan being operated responsive to at least a range of predetermined temperatures sensed by said thermostatic control; and

vents formed in said cabinet for passage of air from said cabinet therethrough;

whereby said fan is operated responsive to at least a range of temperatures sensed by said thermostatic control for moving air through said cabinet to cool said grinder, air moving through said vents in said cabinet under the influence of said fan.

9. A grinder as recited in claim 8, wherein said vents and said thermostatic control are positioned in an upper portion of said cabinet and said fan is positioned in a lower portion of said cabinet, said thermostatic control sensing the temperature in the upper portion of said cabinet, said fan operating in response to said thermostatic control to draw air into said cabinet and force said air upwardly through said cabinet and out through said vents in said upper portion of said cabinet.

10. A coffee settling assembly for use with a coffee grinder, said coffee grinder including a grinder mechanism and a discharge assembly coupled with said grinding mechanism for directing the discharging of a ground substance from said grinding mechanism, said coffee settling assembly comprising:

a shaker arm retained by the coffee grinder proximate to said discharge assembly, said shaker arm having a portion thereof spaced from the grinder abutting a container positioned proximate to the discharge assembly, which container is positioned for receiving ground coffee from the discharge assembly;

an agitating device positioned proximate to said discharge assembly for acting on said shaker arm for moving said shaker arm to facilitate settling of ground coffee dispensed into a container positioned against said shaker arm; and

a container retaining assembly for retaining a mouth portion of a container proximate to the discharge assembly and abutting said shaker arm for translating movement of said shaker arm to move the container positioned proximate to and abutting said shaker arm.

11. A coffee settling assembly in claim 10, said agitating device further comprising:

a cam attached to the coffee grinder, said cam acting on said shaker arm for moving said shaker arm.

12. A coffee settling assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

an actuator rod positioned between said cam and said arm for translating eccentric motion of said cam coupled to a drive shaft in the coffee grinder for reciprocally moving said shaker arm to facilitate settling of ground coffee dispensed into the container positioned thereagainst.

13. A coffee settling assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

said arm extending from the grinder to a position below the discharge assembly; and

the grinder further includes a grinder motor and a drive shaft attached thereto, the drive shaft being rotated by the grinder motor, said agitating device being coupled to the drive shaft for translating the motion of the grinder to move said shaker arm.

14. A coffee settling assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a spring having a first end attached to the grinder and a second end attached to said shaker arm, said shaker arm being coupled to the grinder by said spring, said spring facilitating movement of said shaker arm relative to the grinder.

15. A grinder for grinding a material to produce a ground substance including a grinder motor for driving a grinder mechanism, a discharge assembly is positioned proximate to said grinder mechanism and includes a chute extending therefrom for discharging ground substance therethrough, said grinder further including:

a container retaining assembly for retaining a container proximate to said discharge assembly to receive a ground substance therefrom, said container retaining assembly including a cam body positioned between said grinder and said chute and pivotable away from and toward said chute pivotable between a releasing position and a retaining position, in said releasing position a container may be positioned between said chute and said cam body, in the retaining position, the cam body is pivoted towards said chute for retaining the container between said cam body and said chute.

16. A grinder as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

an activation switch assembly attached to said grinder and coupled to said grinder motor, said activation switch assembly being operated by movement of said container retaining assembly to permit activation of said grinder motor when said cam body of said container retaining assembly is positioned in a retaining position and said activation switch assembly disabling said grinder motor when said cam body of said container retaining assembly is positioned in a releasing position.

17. A grinder as recited in claim 16, said activation switch assembly further comprising:

a cam pivoting member, said cam body being attached to said cam pivoting member, said cam pivoting member extending from said grinder to facilitate movement of said cam body by an operator of said grinder from a position displaced from said cam body, said cam pivoting member having a portion acting on said activation switch assembly for selectively engaging and operating said switch.

18. A grinder as recited in claim 17, said cam pivoting member further comprising:

a flat area which allows said switch to move relative to said cam pivoting member; and

a curved protruding portion which generally extends away from said flat area for operating said switch upon movement of said cam body.

19. A grinder as recited in claim 15, said cam body further comprising:

means for gripping a container attached to said cam body, said gripping means gripping and engaging a surface of a container positioned relative to said discharge assembly for resisting removal of said container from said discharge assembly.

20. A coffee grinder having a motor, a grinding mechanism coupled to said motor and said motor and grinding mechanism being retained in a cabinet, said coffee grinder further comprising:

an active ventilation system having a fan retained in a lower portion of said cabinet and vent passages in an upper portion of said cabinet, a thermostatic device retained relative to said grinder, said fan moving air through said cabinet in response to said thermostatic device for removing heated air from said cabinet through said vent passages to facilitate operation of said grinding motor and said grinding mechanism.

21. A coffee grinder as recited in claim 20, wherein said thermostatic device is positioned proximate to said grinder mechanism for sensing the temperature of said grinder mechanism.

22. A coffee grinder as recited in claim 21, wherein said vents are positioned above the thermostatic device for removing heated air from the cabinet.

23. A coffee grinder as recited in claim 22, wherein said fan is positioned in lower area of the cabinet, said fan forcing air upwardly through said cabinet and out through said vents to induce movement of heated air upwardly through said cabinet away from said motor and said grinding mechanism and out through said vents.

24. A coffee grinder having a grinder motor and a grinder mechanism coupled thereto, a discharge assembly is positioned proximate to said grinding mechanism for receiving and directing ground substance dispensed from said grinding mechanism away from said grinder, said grinding mechanism having a passage therein for moving ground substance from said grinding mechanism to said discharge assembly, a chaff retaining plate positioned over an end of said passage for retaining chaff in the ground coffee produced by the coffee grinder, a clean-out member attached to said discharge assembly for selectively engaging said chaff retaining plate to move said chaff retaining plate away from said passage in order to facilitate dispensing of chaff from said grinding mechanism and said passage;

and

a channel chute attached to said grinder, a pivot cover positioned over an open portion of said channel chute for directing ground coffee therethrough, said clean-out member moving said chaff retaining plate and rotating opposite relative to said chaff retaining plate for abutting and moving the pivot cover for removing chaff therefrom.

25. A coffee grinder as recited in claim 24, said discharge assembly comprising:

a channel chute defining a channel therein attached to said grinder proximate to said passage, a deflector positioned relative to said channel chute and over an open end of said passage for deflecting ground coffee dispensed through said passage downwardly into said channel of said channel chute, and a pivoting cover attached to said discharge assembly proximate to both said deflector and said channel chute for preventing escape of ground coffee from said discharge assembly, said clean-out member being attached to said discharge assembly for selectively contacting said chaff retaining plate and said pivoting cover for removing chaff from both of said chaff retaining plate and said pivoting cover.