Device for grinding food

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for mincing foodstuffs, comprising at least one mincing tool and a first storage container designed to hold a liquid, and a transport device for transporting the liquid from the first storage container to the food to be minced and / or to the mincing tool. The device for mincing foodstuffs is characterized by at least one further liquid-filled storage container, which is designed and can be arranged in the first storage container such that the transport device transports the liquid from the further storage container to the food to be minced.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for chopping foodstuffs, comprising a first storage container designed to hold a liquid, and a transport device for transporting the liquid from the first storage container to the material to be cut.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for operating a device for chopping foodstuffs, comprising at least one chopping tool and a first storage container designed to hold a liquid, and a transport device for transporting the liquid from the first storage container to the material to be cut and / or to the chopping tool.

[0003] A cutting tool for cutting fruit, vegetables, or the like is known from international patent application WO 2015 070837 A2. The cutting tool has an applicator that supplies a fluid to a blade of the cutting tool, preferably to a cutting edge of the blade. The fluid can be a liquid, particularly oil. This provides the advantage that the blade exposed to the fluid exhibits lower friction with the material being cut, since the fluid itself exhibits lower frictional resistance with respect to the surface of the material being cut and the blade.

[0004] International patent application WO 2017 137024 A1 discloses a kitchen slicer for cutting food such as fruit, vegetables, or the like. The kitchen slicer has a guide surface along which the food can be guided to a blade. Furthermore, the kitchen slicer has an applicator designed to directly or indirectly supply a fluid to the blade and is housed in the kitchen slicer, acting through the guide surface.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset for chopping foodstuffs, which can be used more flexibly and in which waste of liquid is avoided or at least reduced.

[0006] The object is achieved by a device for chopping foodstuffs, which is characterized in that at least one further storage container filled with liquid is present, which is designed and can be arranged in the first storage container in such a way that the transport device transports the liquid from the further storage container to the material to be cut.

[0007] According to the invention, it was initially recognized that the liquid transported by the transport device from the storage container to the product to be cut and / or to the shredding tool can be designed not only to reduce the friction between the shredding tool, in particular a blade of the shredding tool, and the product to be cut, but can also (alternatively or additionally) be designed as a marinade, dressing, or salad dressing. This has the very particular advantage that the user does not have to add the marinade, dressing, or salad dressing in an additional step after the shredding process; instead, the marinade, dressing, or salad dressing is automatically added during the shredding process.

[0008] If, after comminuting a first product to be cut that was brought into contact with a first liquid, the user wishes to comminute a different type of product to be cut that is to be brought into contact with a different liquid, the prior art devices require the user to remove the storage container after comminuting the first product to be cut, empty it, clean it, and then fill it with the other liquid before commencing comminuting the other type of product to be cut. This is not only very time-consuming, but also results in the liquid remaining in the storage container after the first comminution process being wasted or at least partially having to be laboriously transferred to another container for further storage.

[0009] The device according to the invention for chopping food, however, has the very special advantage that, for a first chopping process, the user can insert an additional storage container filled with the desired liquid for the first chopping process, for example, salad dressing, into the first storage container. This allows the transport device to transport the liquid from the additional storage container to the product to be cut, for example, one or more cucumbers. The user can then first chop all the pieces of the first product to be cut, for example, several cucumbers, with the cut pieces being brought into contact with the first liquid, for example, salad dressing.The user can then remove the additional storage container from the first storage container and insert another storage container filled with a different liquid, such as a dressing, into the first storage container, for example, if they now want to chop a different type of food, such as tomatoes. The previously removed additional storage container can be stored, preferably sealed, until the next use. This way, little or no liquid is lost.

[0010] The invention has the further very special advantage that several of the additional storage containers can be pre-filled and stored with the same or different liquids, for example, marinades, dressings, or salad dressings. This eliminates the need to refill the first storage container immediately before performing a chopping process. Instead, only the one of the additional storage containers containing the desired liquid needs to be inserted into the first storage container. The preparation time immediately preceding a cutting process can therefore be significantly reduced.

[0011] The invention has the very special further advantage that it is alternatively possible for the user to fill a liquid directly into the first storage container and use the device for chopping food without a further storage container filled with liquid. In this respect, the device for chopping food is preferably designed to be operated either with the further storage container inserted into the first storage container such that liquid is transported from the further storage container to the material to be cut, or alternatively, to be operated without the further storage container such that liquid is transported directly from the first storage container to the material to be cut.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the first storage container and the additional storage container are designed such that the additional storage container can be inserted into the first storage container in a form-fitting manner. This advantageously ensures that the additional storage container can be positioned in its desired position by simply inserting it and can be reliably held there. For this purpose, it can be advantageously provided that the outer shape of the additional storage container and the inner shape of the first storage container are identical.

[0013] The device is preferably designed such that the additional storage container can be inserted into the first storage container without the need for tools. This advantageously allows the user to insert and / or replace the additional storage container quickly and easily without having to use a tool. For example, it can advantageously be provided that the first storage container can be temporarily secured to another component of the device, for example a base body or a guide plate, by a locking process after the additional storage container has been inserted into the first storage container.

[0014] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the additional storage container has an opening through which a component of the transport device protrudes into the interior of the additional storage container when the additional storage container is arranged in the first storage container. For example, the component protruding into the interior of the additional storage container can be a rotatably mounted roller. In particular, it can advantageously be provided that the component of the transport device protruding through the opening closes the opening to such an extent that leakage of the liquid is prevented when the transport device is not active.

[0015] Preferably, a closure is provided by which the opening of the additional storage container can be closed when it is not needed. For example, an additional storage container removed after a comminution process can be closed by means of the closure and then stored until the next use. The closure can, for example, comprise a film, in particular a transparent film, which covers the opening when closed and which can be attached, in particular non-destructively, to the edge of the wall of the additional storage container surrounding the opening by means of an adhesive.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous design, the cap is transparent. This design has the distinct advantage that the user can check the fill level without having to open the other storage container.

[0017] Preferably, the additional storage container is designed to be liquid-tight, except for the opening. This advantageously prevents the liquid from leaking into the first storage container.

[0018] As already mentioned, the liquid in the additional storage container can be, for example, a marinade, a dressing, or a salad dressing. However, there are no fundamental restrictions regarding the type of liquid in the additional storage container.

[0019] It has been shown that the liquid in the additional storage container, in particular marinade, dressing, or salad dressing, preferably has a viscosity of more than 100 mPas (millipascals per second), in particular more than 200 mPas or more than 500 mPas, so that a sufficient amount of the liquid reaches the material to be cut, for example via a rotating roller, and adheres to the material to be cut and / or reaches the shredding device. Advantageously, the liquid in the additional storage container can contain a thickener to achieve the aforementioned viscosity.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transport device is designed to be driven by a movement of the material to be shredded. For example, the transport device can have a component, such as a rotatably mounted roller, which extends into the first storage container or the additional storage container on the one hand and extends into a path of movement of the material to be shredded on the other hand, so that the component is driven by a movement of the material to be shredded.

[0021] The device for chopping food can, for example, be designed as a kitchen slicer having a guide surface on which the material to be cut can be moved back and forth. The guide surface can be designed as a feed surface that is or can be arranged offset from a blade. The guide surface can, for example, be formed by the upper side of a guide plate. The transport device and / or the first storage container can be arranged on and / or in the guide plate. In particular, the guide plate can have an opening through which a rotatably mounted roller protrudes. In particular, the roller can, on the one hand, protrude into the first storage container or the further storage container and, on the other hand, protrude into the path of movement of the material to be cut to be moved back and forth on the guide surface, such that the roller is driven to rotate by the back and forth movement of the material to be cut.A portion of the liquid adheres to the section of the roller that extends into the further storage container. This liquid is transported by the rotation of the roller to the material to be shredded, to which it then adheres.

[0022] The device for chopping food can alternatively be designed, for example, as a spiral cutter for cutting material into spiral garlands. The spiral cutter can have a conical receiving space in which the material to be cut can rotate, in particular manually or by an electric motor. Alternatively, it can also be provided that a part of the spiral cutter, for example a conical cutting part, is driven to rotate manually or by an electric motor, while the material to be cut is held relative to the space in which the device is installed. In particular, it can advantageously be provided that each cutting insert has a, in particular conical, receiving space for introducing material to be cut, on the wall of which a blade is arranged.In addition, the wall of the receiving space preferably has an opening through which a spiral-shaped garland can emerge from the receiving space. The blade is preferably arranged such that, during a rotational movement - similar to sharpening a pencil - a spiral-shaped layer is severed from the rotating food item at the end. For this purpose, the blade can be arranged such that it projects into the receiving space, with the parallel distance of the blade to the receiving space wall determining the thickness of the severed layer. Even in a version designed as a spiral cutter, the transport device can have a rotatably mounted roller which, on the one hand, projects into the interior of the additional storage container when the additional storage container is arranged in the first storage container.In this case, it can advantageously be provided that the roller extends into the receiving space, so that it is driven into rotation by the rotational movement of the material to be shredded. A portion of the liquid adheres to the portion of the roller extending into the further storage container, which is transported by the rotation of the roller to the material to be shredded, to which it then adheres.

[0023] In a special design, the first storage container is rigid and / or the second storage container is rigid. This design is particularly robust. Furthermore, such a second storage container and its contents can be stored particularly easily and safely, especially in the refrigerator.

[0024] Preferably, the first storage container is designed to be liquid-tight, except for an opening through which the transport device transports liquid out of the first storage container. Such a design has the particular advantage that the device can also be used without an additional storage container, by pouring liquid, in particular marinade, dressing, or salad dressing, directly into the first storage container.

[0025] A particularly advantageous device system comprises a device according to the invention for chopping foodstuffs and several additional storage containers that can contain different liquids. Such a device system has the very particular advantage that, immediately before performing a chopping process, only the one of the additional storage containers containing the desired liquid needs to be inserted into the first storage container, and the chopping process can then be started immediately, with the liquid automatically being brought into contact with the foodstuff during the chopping process.

[0026] Of particular advantage is also a storage container which is filled with a liquid and which is designed and intended to be inserted as a further storage container into the first storage container of a device according to the invention.

[0027] The subject matter of the invention is illustrated schematically and by way of example in the drawing and is described below with reference to the figures, wherein identical or similarly acting elements are generally provided with the same reference numerals even in different embodiments. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device system according to the invention, which comprises a device designed as a kitchen slicer for chopping food and several further storage containers containing different liquids, Fig. 2 a detailed cross-sectional view of the device for chopping food of the first embodiment of a device system according to the invention, when using a further storage container, Fig. 3 a detailed cross-sectional view of the device for chopping food of the first embodiment of a device system according to the invention, without the use of an additional storage container, Fig. 4 shows a further storage container of the device for chopping foodstuffs of the first embodiment, Fig. 5 is a perspective detailed view of the device for chopping food of the first embodiment, Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a device system according to the invention, which has a device designed as a spiral cutter for chopping food and several further storage containers containing different liquids, Fig. 7 a detailed cross-sectional view of the device for chopping food of the second embodiment of a device system according to the invention, when using a further storage container, Fig. 8 a detailed cross-sectional view of the device for chopping food of the second embodiment of a device system according to the invention, without the use of an additional storage container.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device system according to the invention, which has a device 1 designed as a kitchen slicer for chopping food.

[0029] The device 1 for chopping food has a chopping tool 2 designed as a blade. The chopping tool 2 is arranged directly adjacent to an outlet surface 3, wherein the chopping tool 2 and the outlet surface 3 are arranged in the same plane. The device 1 for chopping food also has a guide surface 4 designed as a feed surface, on which the material to be cut can be guided to the blade 2 arranged parallel to the guide surface 4. The guide surface 4 is formed by the upper side of a guide plate 5. The parallel distance of the guide surface 4 relative to the blade 2 is preferably adjustable in order to be able to adjust the cutting thickness.

[0030] The device 1 for chopping foodstuffs further comprises a first storage container 6 which is designed to contain a (in Fig. 1 not shown) liquid 7. The first storage container 6 is designed to be fastened to the underside of the guide plate 5, preferably in a liquid-tight manner and detachable without tools, in particular after one of several further storage containers 8 has been inserted into the first storage container 6 or after a (in Fig. 1 not shown) liquid 7 has been filled directly into the first storage container 6.

[0031] The device 1 for chopping food also has a transport device 9. By means of the transport device 9, liquid can be transported from the first storage container 6 or from the additional storage container 8 inserted into the first storage container 6 to the material to be cut and thus to the chopping tool 2.

[0032] The guide plate 5 has an opening 10 through which a rotatably mounted roller 11 projects. The roller 11 projects on the one hand into the first storage container 6 and (if inserted into the first storage container 6) the further storage container 8 and on the other hand into the path of movement of the roller 11 to be moved back and forth on the guide surface 4 (in Fig. 1 not shown) material 12 to be cut, so that the roller 11 is driven to rotate by the back-and-forth movement of the material 12 to be cut.

[0033] The device 1 for chopping foodstuffs is designed to be operated selectively with the further storage container 8 inserted into the first storage container 6 in such a way that liquid 7 is transported from the further storage container 8 to the material to be cut (which in Fig. 2), or alternatively to be operated without the further storage container in such a way that liquid is transported directly from the first storage container to the material to be cut (which is shown in Fig. 3 is shown).

[0034] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the device 1 for chopping food of the first embodiment when using an additional storage container 8 inserted into the first storage container 6. A portion of the liquid 7 adheres to the portion of the roller 11 extending into the additional storage container 8. This portion is transported by the rotation of the roller 11 to the material 12 to be chopped, to which it then adheres. In this way, a portion of the liquid also reaches the chopping device 2.

[0035] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the device 1 for chopping food of the first embodiment when used without an additional storage container 8. A portion of the liquid 7 adheres to the portion of the roller 11 extending into the first storage container 6. This portion is transported by the rotation of the roller 11 to the material 12 to be chopped, to which it then adheres. In this way, a portion of the liquid also reaches the chopping device 2.

[0036] Fig. Figure 4 shows a further storage container 8 of the device 1 for chopping food of the first embodiment. The further storage container 8 has an opening 13 through which the roller 11 of the transport device 9 extends into the interior of the further storage container 8 when the further storage container 8 is arranged in the first storage container 6.

[0037] A closure 14 is provided by means of which the opening 13 of the additional storage container 8 can be closed when it is not needed. For example, an additional storage container 8 removed after a shredding process can be closed by means of the closure 14 and then stored until the next use. The closure 14 has a film, in particular a transparent film, which covers the opening 13 when closed and which can be fastened, in particular non-destructively detachable, to the edge of the wall of the additional storage container 8 surrounding the opening 13 by means of an adhesive (not shown). The closure 14 has a tab 15 which enables easy opening and closing.

[0038] Fig. 5 shows a perspective detailed view of the device 1 for chopping food of the first embodiment, in which a further storage container 8 (shown in dashed lines) is arranged in the first storage container 6.

[0039] The Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a device system according to the invention, which has a device 1 for chopping food, designed as a spiral cutter, in particular for cutting material into spiral garlands 18, and several further storage containers 8 containing different liquids 7.

[0040] The spiral cutter has a conical receiving chamber 16 in which the material 12 to be cut can be rotated, particularly manually or by electric motor. For the sake of clarity, possible additional components of the spiral cutter, such as holders, supports, and collecting containers, are not shown.

[0041] A blade 17 is arranged on the wall of the conical cutting part. Furthermore, the wall 19 has an opening (not shown) through which the spiral garlands 18 can emerge from the receiving space 16. The blade 17 is arranged such that, during a rotational movement—similar to sharpening a pencil—a spiral layer is severed from the end of the rotating food 12. For this purpose, the blade is arranged such that it protrudes into the receiving space 16, with the parallel distance of the blade 17 to the receiving space wall determining the thickness of the severed layer.

[0042] The device 1 for chopping food further comprises a first storage container 6, which is designed to hold a liquid 7. The first storage container 6 is designed to be attached to the outside of the wall 19, preferably in a liquid-tight manner and detachable without tools, in particular after one of several additional storage containers 8 has been inserted into the first storage container 6 or after a liquid 7 has been directly poured into the first storage container 6.

[0043] The device 1 for chopping food also has a transport device 9. By means of the transport device 9, liquid can be transported from the first storage container 6 or from the additional storage container 8 inserted into the first storage container 6 to the material to be cut and thus to the chopping tool 2.

[0044] The wall 19 has an opening 10 through which a rotatably mounted roller 11 protrudes. The roller 11 protrudes, on the one hand, into the first storage container 6 and (if inserted into the first storage container 6) the additional storage container 8, and, on the other hand, into the path of movement of the rotating material 12 to be shredded, so that the roller 11 itself is driven to rotate by the rotation of the material 12 to be shredded.

[0045] The device 1 for chopping foodstuffs is designed to be operated selectively with the further storage container 8 inserted into the first storage container 6 in such a way that liquid 7 is transported from the further storage container 8 to the material to be cut (which in Fig. 7), or alternatively to be operated without the further storage container in such a way that liquid is transported directly from the first storage container to the material to be cut (which is shown in Fig. 8 is shown). List of reference symbols: 1 device for chopping food 2 blades 3 Run-off area 4 Guide surface 5 Guide plate 6 First storage container 7 Liquid 8 Additional storage container 9 Transport device 10 Breakthrough 11 roll 12 Cutting material 13 Opening 14 Closure 15 tab 16 Recording room 17 blade 18 garlands 19 Wall QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2015 070837 A2

[0003] WO 2017 137024 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Device (1) for chopping foodstuffs with at least one chopping tool (2) and with a first storage container (6) which is designed to hold a liquid (7), and with a transport device (9) for transporting the liquid (7) from the first storage container (6) to the material to be cut (12) and / or to the chopping tool, characterized by that at least one further storage container (8) filled with liquid (7) is present, which is designed and can be arranged in the first storage container (6) in such a way that the transport device (9) transports the liquid (7) from the further storage container (8) to the material to be cut (12). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the device (1) is designed to be operated optionally with the further storage container (8) inserted into the first storage container (6) in such a way that liquid (7) is transported from the further storage container (8) to the material to be cut (12), or to be operated without the further storage container (8) in such a way that liquid (7) is transported from the first storage container (6) to the material to be cut (12). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that a. the further storage container (8) can be inserted into the first storage container (6) in a form-fitting manner, and / or that b. the outer shape of the further storage container and the inner shape of the first storage container are identical, and / or that c. the first storage container (6) and / or the further storage container (8) can be fixed without tools, in particular that the further storage container (8) can be inserted into the first storage container (6) without tools, and / or that d. the first storage container (6) is rigid and / or that e. the further storage container (8) is rigid, and / or that f. the first storage container (6) is designed to be liquid-tight, except for an opening (13) through which the transport device (9) transports liquid (7) out of the first storage container (6). [4] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that a. the further storage container (8) has an opening (13) through which a component of the transport device (9) projects into the interior of the further storage container when the further storage container (8) is arranged in the first storage container (6), and / or that b. the further storage container (8) has an opening (13) through which a component of the transport device (9) projects into the interior of the further storage container when the further storage container (8) is arranged in the first storage container (6), wherein the component of the transport device (9) projecting through the opening (13) closes the opening (13) to such an extent that leakage of the liquid (7) is prevented when the transport device (9) is not active, and / or that c. the further storage container (8) has an opening (13) and a closure (14), in particular a transparent closure, is provided by means of which the opening (13) can be closed, and / or that d. the further storage container (8) has an opening (13) and a closure (14) is provided by means of which the opening (13) can be closed, wherein the closure (14) has a film which, in the closed state, covers the opening (13) and which can be fastened by means of an adhesive to the edge of the wall of the further storage container surrounding the opening (13), in particular in a non-destructive manner, and / or that e. the further storage container (8) has an opening (13) and the further storage container (8), apart from the opening (13), is designed to be liquid-tight. [5] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that a. the liquid (7) in the further storage container (8) is a marinade, a dressing or a salad dressing, and / or that b. the liquid (7) in the further storage container (8) has a viscosity of more than 100 mPas, in particular more than 200 mPas or more than 500 mPas, and / or that c. the liquid (7) in the further storage container (8) contains a thickener. [6] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that a. the device (1) is designed as a kitchen slicer with a guide surface (4) on which the material to be cut (12) can be moved back and forth, or that b. the device (1) is designed as a spiral cutter for cutting material (12) into spiral garlands (18), or that c. the device (1) is designed as a spiral cutter for cutting material (12) into spiral garlands (18), which has a conical receiving space (16) in which the material (12) is rotatable. [7] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that a. the transport device (9) is designed to be driven by a movement of the material to be cut, and / or that b. the transport device (9) has a rotatably mounted roller (11) which projects into the interior of the further storage container (8) when the further storage container (8) is arranged in the first storage container (6), and / or that c. the transport device (9) has a rotatably mounted roller (11) which is designed and arranged to be driven to rotate by a movement of the material to be cut (12). [8] Device system comprising a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and several further storage containers (8) containing different liquids (7). [9] Storage container (8) which is filled with a liquid (7) and which is designed and intended to be inserted as a further storage container (8) into the first storage container (6) of a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7. [10] Method for operating a device (1) for chopping foodstuffs with at least one chopping tool (2) and with a first storage container (6) which is designed to hold a liquid (7), and with a transport device (9) for transporting the liquid (7) from the first storage container (6) to the material to be cut (12) and / or to the chopping tool, characterized by that at least one further storage container (8) filled with liquid (7) is arranged in the first storage container (6) in such a way that the transport device (9) transports the liquid (7) from the further storage container (8) to the material to be cut (12) during a comminution process.

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