Juicer module for a preparation container, kitchen appliance and gearbox unit

Abstract

Juicer module (1) for interaction with a preparation vessel (3) having at least one rotatable tool holder (2), having at least one drive interface (8) and at least one juicer tool (9), wherein the juicer tool (9) can be connected to the drive interface (8) so that a rotation of the drive interface (8) can effect a rotation of at least one part of the juicer tool (9), characterized by the fact that the juicer tool (9) at least one guide body (9b) and at least one sieve unit (9a) has such that a relative movement between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) can be effected by a rotation of the drive interface (8), and that the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) are designed and arranged in such a way that a food to be juiced can be conveyed into a tapered gap (14) between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) by a relative movement between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) in order to exert a pressing force on the food to be juiced.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a juicing module for interaction with a preparation vessel having at least one rotatable tool holder. The preparation vessel is, for example, part of a kitchen appliance for preparing food. The juicing module has at least one drive interface and at least one juicing tool. The juicing tool is connectable or connected to the drive interface, so that rotation of the drive interface can cause rotation of at least part of the juicing tool.

[0002] Healthy eating is a central part of many people's daily routine. A variety of tools are known in the art for making juices, especially fruits and vegetables. Typically, hand-operated tools are used for this purpose, such as juicing cones for citrus fruits or manual graters, e.g., for apples or vegetables. Furthermore, a variety of electrically operated juicing devices are known that chop or crush the food to be juiced and essentially separate the resulting liquid from the solid components of the food.

[0003] However, the aids or devices known from the state of the art have the disadvantage that either an enormous amount of effort and time must be spent on the part of the user, or - in the case of electric centrifugal juicers - a device that can only be used for juicing purposes, for example as disclosed in KR 2006 / 0101848 A, must always be stored.

[0004] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an aid for juicing foodstuffs, the handling of which requires less effort from the user and at the same time does not require an additional device.

[0005] The problem is solved in a generic juicer module by the feature content of the characterizing part of claim 1, namely in that the juicer tool has at least one guide body and at least one sieve unit. The drive interface and the juicer tool are connectable or connected in such a way that a rotation of the drive interface can bring about a relative movement between the guide body and the sieve unit. The guide body and the sieve unit are designed and arranged in such a way that this relative movement can be used to exert a pressing force acting between the guide body and the sieve unit on a food to be juiced, whereby liquid components are pressed out of the food to be juiced.In particular, with a relative movement between the guide body and the sieve unit, a food to be juiced can be conveyed into a tapered gap, preferably an annular gap, between the guide body and the sieve unit in order to exert a pressing force on the food to be juiced.

[0006] Many households already use kitchen appliances that feature a preparation vessel with at least one rotating tool holder. These include, for example, kitchen appliances designed for preparing food. The preparation vessel has a volume into which the prepared food is placed. The rotating tool holder, or the tool attached to the rotating tool holder, is typically located at the bottom of the preparation vessel. When the preparation vessel is inserted into the kitchen appliance, the tool holder can be driven in rotation, particularly at variable speeds, by a motor of the kitchen appliance.

[0007] The tool holder, for example, has a shaft that passes through the preparation vessel. In particular, the shaft can be coupled at least indirectly, preferably positively, to a motor of a kitchen appliance outside the preparation vessel. It is advantageous for a tool to be fixedly or detachably connected to the tool holder or the shaft. Alternatively, it is also provided that the tool holder can be rotatably magnetically coupled to a motor.

[0008] The preparation vessel comprises, for example, a tool attached to the tool holder for stirring and / or chopping food. Furthermore, it is particularly provided that the preparation vessel comprises at least one heating device, in particular an electric one, with which food that can preferably be placed in the preparation vessel can be heated. The preparation vessel comprises, for example, at least one electrical interface to the kitchen appliance for the heating device.

[0009] The juicer module is designed to interact with a preparation vessel, for example, by being able to be placed onto a preparation vessel, in particular onto an upper edge of the preparation vessel. It is also provided that the juicer module can be inserted at least partially, in particular completely, into the preparation vessel, preferably into the space intended for food.

[0010] The juicer module has at least one drive interface and at least one juicing tool. The drive interface is configured and designed such that, for transmitting a torque, it can be coupled at least indirectly to the tool holder and / or the tool of the preparation vessel arranged on the tool holder. The drive interface can therefore be coupled at least indirectly to the rotatable tool holder present in the preparation vessel, so that when the tool holder rotates, the drive interface also rotates. It is provided that, for transmitting a torque, the drive interface interacts only with the tool holder, or only with the tool, or with the tool and the tool holder.

[0011] The drive interface is connected to at least part of the juicing tool in a rotationally fixed manner, so that a rotation of the drive interface can effect a relative movement between the guide body and the sieve unit. The drive interface has, for example, at least one drive shaft. The drive shaft is preferably coupled or can be coupled to the guide body or the sieve unit. For example, the drive interface is connected to the juicing tool in such a way that the guide body is rotatable. Alternatively, it is also provided that the drive interface is connected to the juicing tool in such a way that the sieve unit is rotatable.

[0012] The drive interface, in particular the drive shaft, and / or the sieve unit and / or the guide body are made, for example, of a plastic or a metal, in particular a stainless steel.

[0013] Cleaning is simplified in particular by the fact that the drive interface, in particular the drive shaft, the guide body, and / or the sieve unit can be disassembled from one another, in particular without the use of tools. In particular, at least the guide body and / or the sieve unit are mounted interchangeably. It is also provided that the drive interface, in particular the drive shaft, and the guide body are connected to one another in a non-removable manner.

[0014] The juicer module is preferably intended for use in preparation containers of kitchen appliances whose motors can be operated at a speed in the range of less than 200 revolutions per minute, in particular less than 150 revolutions per minute. The motor of the kitchen appliance is preferably designed to apply a minimum torque of 12 Nm, in particular 15 Nm, particularly preferably 18 Nm, for example at a speed of less than 200 revolutions per minute, in particular less than 150 revolutions per minute.

[0015] The invention has the advantage over the prior art of enabling gentle juicing of a wide variety of foods. By applying a pressing force between the guide body and the sieve unit, a good juice yield is achieved. The fact that at least some of the components are detachable from one another reduces cleaning effort.

[0016] According to a first embodiment of the juicer module, the guide body is connectable or connected to the drive interface in such a way that rotation of the drive interface causes rotation of the guide body, in particular relative to the sieve unit. Preferably, the sieve unit is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. For example, the drive interface, in particular the drive shaft, is connectable or connected to the guide body in a form-fitting manner.

[0017] For example, the guide body has a substantially convexly curved outer contour. For example, the diameter of the guide body increases continuously from an upper end in the assembled state up to a maximum diameter. The maximum diameter is, for example, approximately 1 / 3 of the height of the guide body. In particular, the smallest gap width of the gap between the guide body and the sieve unit is formed at the maximum diameter of the guide body. Below the maximum diameter, the diameter of the guide body advantageously decreases again in order to be able to advantageously convey out pressed residues of food. For example, the conveyor body has a drop or pear shape. The shape of the conveyor body preferably corresponds to the shape of a Fig. 4 or Fig. 7 with the reference number 20 disclosed conveying body.

[0018] It is also intended that the conveying body essentially has the shape of a cone, a cylinder, a sphere or an ellipsoid.

[0019] For example, the guide body has at least one, preferably a plurality of conveying projections on a lower end face in the assembled state in order to convey press residues to a pulp opening in the housing of the juicer module.

[0020] Preferably, the conveying body has at least one conveying contour, in particular on its outer contour. The conveying contour preferably has helically extending webs. The distance between the webs decreases downwards, starting from an upper end of the guide body in the assembled state. Consequently, the thread pitch reduces in the direction of the larger diameter of the guide body. As a result, introduced foodstuffs can be conveyed downwards through the webs into the gap, in particular the annular gap between the sieve unit and the guide body, and are compressed more strongly and consequently pressed out with increasing conveying distance. The guide body is preferably designed as a press screw with one or more of the features described above.

[0021] The sieve unit has, at least on its inner circumference, a truncated cone shape that tapers downwards in the assembled state. Particularly preferably, the sieve unit is arranged such that the diameter of the sieve unit tapers as the diameter of the guide body increases.

[0022] It is particularly preferred that the screening unit has a truncated cone shape at least on its inner circumference, and that the conveying contour has an outer contour such that it has a constant radial distance from the screening unit. The conveying contour is designed such that the conveying contour complements the basic shape of the conveying body - for example, drop-shaped or pear-shaped - to form a shape with an essentially truncated cone-shaped - imaginary - envelope contour. In this way, when the conveying body is inserted into the screening unit, the conveying contour has a substantially constant radial distance from the screening unit. At the same time, the distance between the basic shape of the conveying body - e.g., drop-shaped or pear-shaped - and the screening unit varies, in particular in order to realize the tapered gap for the pressing process.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the juicer module, the sieve unit comprises at least a first sieve with first sieve openings and at least a second sieve with second sieve openings. The first sieve can be arranged within the second sieve. It is particularly advantageous for the first sieve and the second sieve to be conical. Preferably, the first sieve and the second sieve have a truncated cone shape. This results in advantageous interaction with a guide body described above to form a tapered gap for squeezing food.

[0024] For example, the first sieve and the second sieve are designed such that they can be arranged one inside the other in at least two different orientations. The overlap of the first sieve openings and the second sieve openings differs from one another at least in the two different orientations, so that the size of the resulting sieve openings and thus the sieving degree of the sieve unit can be adjusted, in particular depending on the food to be squeezed. Preferably, the sieve openings in the first sieve and in the second sieve are designed as essentially horizontally arranged sieve slots. For example, by rotating the first sieve relative to the second sieve, the length of the resulting horizontal sieve slots can then be adjusted. Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the overlap of the sieve slots can also be adjusted by different penetration depths of the first sieve into the second sieve.

[0025] For example, the second screen has at least one support step in its lower area, preferably a plurality of support steps with different step heights. The first screen has support pockets in its lower area into which the support steps of the second screen can engage. These defined, different supports allow two different alignments with predefined gaps for the horizontal screen slots to be set. Advantageously, the pairing of the support pockets and support steps can be changed by rotating the first screen relative to the second screen, whereby the overlap of the screen slots of the first screen and the second screen can be adjusted. In this way, different screening degrees can be achieved with the screening unit without the need for additional components.

[0026] A further embodiment of the juicing module provides for at least one housing. Preferably, at least the sieve unit and the guide body are arranged in the housing. The housing has at least one lid opening, at least one juice outlet and at least one pulp opening as well as a lid. The lid is designed such that the lid opening can be closed with the lid. In order to be able to absorb axial forces of the juicing tool in the lid, it is provided in particular that a positive connection can be formed between the lid and the housing in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the juicing tool. It has proven particularly advantageous if a bayonet lock is formed between the housing and the lid.

[0027] In order to advantageously fix the juicer module, in particular the housing, on or in the preparation vessel or on the kitchen appliance, it is provided that the juicer module is designed for positive engagement with the preparation vessel and / or the kitchen appliance base, in particular, in the assembled state, it interacts positively with the preparation vessel or the kitchen appliance base. For example, the juicer module, in particular the housing and / or a pulp container, has at least one fixing means or a plurality of fixing means for fixing the juicer module to a handle of the preparation vessel and / or a carrying handle of the kitchen appliance base.The fixing means or means is / are preferably designed to cooperate in a form-fitting manner with a handle of the preparation vessel and / or a carrying handle of the kitchen appliance base, in particular to prevent the juicer module from migrating out of the preparation vessel during operation.

[0028] In particular, it is provided that the juicer module, in particular the housing and / or a pulp container, is designed to positively engage behind a contour on the preparation vessel, for example, an upper edge of the preparation vessel, advantageously to prevent axial displacement. Alternatively, it is preferably provided that the juicer module, in particular the housing and / or a pulp container, has fixing means with which the juicer module, in particular the housing and / or a pulp container, can be clamped force-fittingly against an inner wall of the preparation vessel.

[0029] The juice outlet is preferably arranged such that it extends laterally out of the housing. The juice outlet has, for example, at least one juice flap to close the juice outlet. At least one seal, for example, is arranged between the juice outlet and the juice flap. The bottom of the housing preferably has a slope that directs the juice toward the juice outlet when mounted on the preparation vessel.

[0030] At least one pulp opening is arranged at the bottom of the housing, for example, through which press residues can be discharged from the housing, in particular into a pulp container arranged below the housing. The pulp opening can be partially or completely closed or partially or completely opened, for example, by means of a pulp opening slide. A seal is preferably located between the pulp opening slide and the housing to prevent unwanted escape of juice and pulp from the housing. The pulp opening slide is preferably mounted or guided on the pulp container, in particular pivotably or translationally movable.

[0031] For example, it is provided that the guide body is supported on the cover for rotation; in particular, the guide body is rotatably mounted in the cover, e.g., with a plain bearing. For example, the guide body has a bearing projection that engages with a bearing recess on the cover of the housing.

[0032] The lid preferably has at least one filling spout with a filling funnel. The filling spout is positioned so that the food to be juiced can be placed between the guide body and the sieve unit. By rotating the guide body, the food to be juiced is conveyed into the tapered gap between the sieve unit and the guide body, where it is juiced by a pressing force.

[0033] In particular, to increase the safety of a user during use of the juicer module, a further embodiment provides that the lid is designed to interact with at least two lid holders. The lid holders can preferably each be arranged in a side region of the housing of the juicer module. In the assembled state, the lid holders are preferably supported at least partially on an upper side of the lid and on an edge of the pulp container. The lid holders can be arranged, for example, opposite one another on the housing. The lid holders are designed to interact with holding rollers of a kitchen appliance. The holding rollers typically serve to lock a preparation lid to the preparation container.In conjunction with the lid holders, the lid holders offer the holding rollers a defined resistance so that the kitchen appliance can detect whether the lid holders are mounted using the holding rollers.

[0034] It is intended that the lid brackets can only be mounted on the lid if the lid is correctly installed, in particular, locked to the housing. It is intended that the kitchen appliance may, for example, issue an error message and / or prevent the juicer module from operating with the kitchen appliance if the presence of the lid brackets is not detected.

[0035] The juicer module preferably has at least one pulp container. The pulp container is arranged, for example, below the juicing tool, namely below the guide body and the sieve unit. For example, the pulp container can be arranged below the housing. In particular, the housing can be placed on the pulp container. The pulp container is designed, for example, such that it can be inserted at least partially, in particular completely, into the preparation vessel, in particular into the volume of the preparation vessel intended for food.

[0036] The pulp container advantageously has at least two handles that extend outside the preparation vessel when assembled. The handles are preferably arranged opposite one another.

[0037] In particular, the pomace container has a shape such that it extends over part of the height of the preparation vessel, preferably approximately over half the height of a preparation interior of the preparation vessel. The pomace container preferably rests circumferentially over at least part of its height against an inner wall of the preparation vessel. For example, the pomace container has at least one recess which interacts with at least one projection on an inner wall of the preparation vessel in order to prevent rotation of the pomace container in the preparation vessel by form-fitting. The pomace container preferably has a plurality of recesses which interact in a form-fitting manner with a plurality of projections on the inner wall of the preparation vessel. The pomace container has, for example, a central passage through which the drive interface, in particular the drive shaft, can pass through the pomace container.

[0038] A further embodiment of the juicer module provides for at least one separate juice container. For example, the juice container can be mounted on the pulp container, e.g., by hooking the juice container onto the pulp container with two hooks. For example, the juice container is hooked onto the pulp container or the housing, or snapped into place, or fastened with a force and / or form fit. Preferably, the juice container is designed such that, when mounted on the pulp container, it rests at least partially on a handle of the preparation vessel. The juice container can preferably be arranged such that it is located below a juice opening in the housing of the juicer module.

[0039] In order to advantageously improve use with kitchen appliances in which the speed of a motor cannot be adjusted or can only be adjusted within narrow limits, it has proven advantageous according to a further embodiment if at least one gear unit is provided. The gear unit has at least one adapter element for at least indirect interaction with the tool holder of the preparation vessel and at least one output interface. The gear unit is designed to convert a high speed at the adapter element to a lower speed at the output interface. The output interface has, for example, at least one shaft.

[0040] The gear unit has, for example, a housing with which it can be at least partially inserted into the preparation vessel. Advantageously, the gear unit can be fully inserted into the preparation vessel, so that it is arranged, for example, in the preparation vessel between the tool holder and the pulp container of the juicer module. The housing of the gear unit preferably has at least one recess on its outer circumference, which can interact positively with projections in the inner wall of the preparation vessel in order to prevent the gear unit from twisting relative to the preparation vessel during operation. The housing of the gear unit preferably has a plurality of recesses that can interact with a plurality of projections in the inner wall of the preparation vessel.

[0041] The adapter element can be connected directly or indirectly to the tool holder of the preparation vessel. If the tool can be removed from the preparation vessel, it is preferably provided that the adapter element can be coupled directly to the tool holder, in particular in a form-fitting manner. If it is provided that the tool cannot be removed from the preparation vessel, it is preferably provided that the adapter element interacts with the tool in a form-fitting manner, so that the rotation can be transferred from the tool to the adapter element.

[0042] The output interface is designed to be positively coupled to the drive interface, in particular for transmitting torque. For example, an external square is formed on the output interface, in particular a shaft of the output interface, and an internal square is formed on the drive interface of the juicer module. The gear unit is thus arranged in the chain of rotating components between the tool or tool holder and the juicer tool.

[0043] Preferably, the coupling point between the drive interface and the output interface of the gear unit is arranged at least partially in the central passage in the pulp container. This ensures a very compact arrangement in the preparation vessel.

[0044] A further embodiment of the juicer module provides that the gear unit has at least one housing and at least two gears. The gears are arranged in the housing and are each coupled to the adapter element or the output interface. The size ratio of the gears is selected such that a high speed at the adapter element is converted to a lower speed at the output interface.

[0045] It has proven particularly advantageous if at least one gear is designed as a sun gear and at least three gears as planet gears. In total, the transmission advantageously has at least four gears. The planet gears have a larger diameter than the sun gear. The adapter element preferably has a drive shaft to which the sun gear is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner so that the sun gear can rotate at the speed of the tool holder or the tool of the preparation vessel. The sun gear is arranged centrally between the three planet gears and drives them. The planet gears run in a ring gear. The planet gears are connected via domes to an upper planet carrier and a lower planet carrier. The connection is preferably fixed by retaining rings. The upper planet carrier is coupled to the output interface.The adapter element and the output interface are preferably mounted in the housing by plain bearings. A radial shaft seal is preferably provided at the upper end of the output shaft to prevent dripping juice from entering the housing of the gear unit. The gear unit is preferably designed to convert a torque of approximately 2 Nm at approximately 1100 revolutions per minute into approximately 18 Nm at 122 revolutions per minute.

[0046] The aforementioned object is further achieved by a kitchen appliance, in particular for preparing food, as described in the exemplary embodiments. The kitchen appliance comprises at least one kitchen appliance base with at least one control device, at least one motor, in particular for driving a tool in a preparation vessel, and at least one preparation vessel and at least one juicer module according to one of the described exemplary embodiments. The preparation vessel can advantageously be arranged in or on the kitchen appliance base.

[0047] According to a first embodiment of the kitchen appliance, the kitchen appliance comprises at least two retaining rollers. The retaining rollers are movable between an open position and a locked position. At least two lid holders can be arranged on the lid of the juicer module such that, in the locked state, each lid holder interacts with one of the retaining rollers. When the retaining rollers are moved from their open position to their locked position, they automatically come into contact with the respective lid holder, with the lid holder forming a resistance for the retaining rollers.

[0048] Preferably, the control device of the kitchen appliance is configured and designed such that an error message is output to a user, for example, on a display device, if the absence of the lid holders is detected with the holding rollers in the locking position. This occurs in particular if the holding rollers do not offer sufficient mechanical resistance in the locking position when pivoting into the locking position. A display device is, for example, a display on the kitchen appliance or a user's mobile data processing device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer.

[0049] A further embodiment of the kitchen appliance provides that the control device is configured and designed to display, based on recipe data, setting parameters relating to the juicing tool, in particular relating to the sieve unit and / or the pulp opening, in particular a position of the pulp opening slider, to a user. It is not previously known to perform recipe-controlled juicing of food. It is also provided that setting parameters relating to the motor power level to be selected are displayed to the user based on recipe data.

[0050] The recipe data are stored, for example, on a data storage device readable by the kitchen appliance and / or can be received or retrieved by the kitchen appliance via a data interface, for example, via a local data connection from a user's mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, or retrieved from a server via the Internet.

[0051] For example, the user is shown setting parameters related to the sieve unit, such as the orientation of the first sieve relative to the second sieve to adjust the sieving degree. Furthermore, the system provides for the user to be shown a predefined pomace opening position for the specific food.

[0052] For example, the kitchen appliance can be controlled with a preparation program for preparing a meal according to a specified recipe based on recipe data. The kitchen appliance informs the user about the next steps in the preparation process. In this case, the user could be prompted to insert the juicing module with a specific juicing tool. If the kitchen appliance detects the insertion or if the user confirms insertion, the motor is driven at a predetermined speed, which is determined by the control instructions of the preparation program depending on the recipe.

[0053] It is further provided that a pomace opening slide, with which a degree of opening of the pomace opening can be adjusted, is provided with an actuator so that the size of the pomace opening can be regulated by the control device on the basis of recipe data.

[0054] A further embodiment of the kitchen appliance provides that the control device is configured and designed to display updated setting parameters for the juicing tool, in particular for the sieve unit and / or for a pulp opening, to a user on a display device when a blockage of the rotation of the juicing tool by a food to be juiced is detected, in particular based on monitoring the motor current. For example, the user is prompted to enlarge the pulp opening or to select larger openings in the sieve unit by reorienting the first sieve and the second sieve relative to each other.

[0055] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the kitchen appliance, the control device is configured and designed to operate the motor of the kitchen appliance using recipe data for a juicing process at a predetermined motor power, i.e., at a predetermined motor power level. Recipe data includes, for example, control instructions for the control device to operate the motor or other components with defined parameters.

[0056] In particular, the control device is configured and designed to increase the motor power when a blockage in the rotation of the juicing tool is detected, for example, based on monitoring the motor current. If the control device detects, for example, that the motor current is at a very high level for an extended period of time, which indicates high resistance / pressure in the juicing tool, the motor power is automatically increased.

[0057] The invention further relates to a preparation vessel for a kitchen appliance, with at least one rotatable tool holder and a juicer module that can be at least partially inserted into the preparation vessel according to one of the described embodiments.

[0058] The invention also relates to a gear unit for insertion into a preparation vessel having a tool holder. The preparation vessel is preferably a preparation vessel for a kitchen appliance. The gear unit has at least one adapter element for at least indirect mechanical interaction with the tool holder of the preparation vessel. The gear unit is designed in particular according to one of the described exemplary embodiments. In order to advantageously convert a rotation on an adapter element into a rotation at an output interface, the gear unit has at least two gears and is designed to convert a high speed at the adapter element to a lower speed at the output interface. A kitchen appliance orA preparation vessel whose motor delivers a high speed but only a low torque and / or the speed is not adjustable or can only be adjusted within narrow limits can be used for applications that require a low speed and high torque, for example, in the range of 15 Nm to 20 Nm. Such applications include, for example, the juicer module described here, a pasta press, a meat grinder, etc.

[0059] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the following description of the figures and the dependent subclaims.

[0060] They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a juicer module in at least partially sectioned side view, Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a juicer module in at least partially sectioned side view, Fig. 3a to an embodiment of a screening unit, 3d Fig. 4 a perspective view of a juicer module, Fig. 5a an embodiment of a gear unit from the outside, Fig. 5b an exploded view of the gear unit according to Fig. 5a, and Fig. 6 a schematic representation of the control sequences of the control device of a kitchen appliance.

[0061] In the various figures of the drawing, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols.

[0062] With regard to the following description, it is claimed that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and not to all or several features of described combinations of features, but rather each individual partial feature of the / each exemplary embodiment is also important for the subject matter of the invention, even independently of all other partial features described in connection therewith, and also in combination with any features of another exemplary embodiment.

[0063] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a juicer module 1 for interaction with a preparation vessel 3, which has at least one rotatable tool holder 2. In this embodiment, the preparation vessel 3 has a tool 4 in the form of a stirring and cutting blade that is permanently mounted on the tool holder 2. The preparation vessel 3 can be at least partially inserted into a kitchen appliance base 5 of a kitchen appliance 6. The kitchen appliance 6 has a motor 7 for rotating the tool holder 2 and thus the tool 4 when coupled to the kitchen appliance base 5. The kitchen appliance 6 has a connection plug 6a for supplying power. The kitchen appliance 6 can be controlled, for example, via an input device 6b, here in the form of a push-and-turn knob.

[0064] The juicer module 1 has at least one drive interface 8 and at least one juicing tool 9. The juicing tool 9 is connected to the drive interface 8 such that rotation of the drive interface 8 causes rotation of at least part of the juicing tool 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the drive interface 8 has a drive shaft 10 and a tool adapter 11. The drive shaft 10 of the drive interface 8 is rotatably mounted in the housing 25 and is positively connected to the juicing tool 9. The tool adapter 11 is also connected to the drive shaft 10 and interacts positively with the tool 4, such that rotation of the tool 4 causes rotation of the juicing tool 9.

[0065] The juicing tool 9 has a guide body 9b and at least one sieve unit 9a. If the drive interface 8 is rotated by the tool 4 or the tool holder 2, the guide body 9b rotates about a rotation axis R, while the sieve unit 9a does not rotate. The resulting relative movement between the guide body 9b and the sieve unit 9a exerts a pressing force on a food to be juiced. For this purpose, the food is introduced through a filling funnel 13 connected to the lid 12 into a gap 14 between the sieve unit 9a and the guide body 9b. The guide body 9b has an external conveying contour 15 and is designed as a pressing screw. The conveying contour 15 is helical and extends like a thread around the guide body 9b with a thread pitch decreasing downwards.

[0066] The sieve unit 9a has a truncated cone shape in cross-section. Due to the rotation of the guide body 9b, the food to be juiced is conveyed by the conveyor contour 15 into the tapered gap 14 between the guide body 9b and the sieve unit 9a, where it is freed of juice by the pressure exerted there.

[0067] The guide body 9b has a substantially convex outer contour, the diameter of which is determined according to the Fig. 1, the diameter increases from the upper area downwards. The maximum diameter is reached approximately at the lower third of the height. Below the maximum diameter, the diameter of the guide body 9b decreases again to allow the discharge of press residues. Conveying projections 17 are formed on the lower end face 16 of the guide body 9b for this purpose, with which the press residues can be conveyed into a pomace container 18 arranged below.

[0068] The pulp container 18 is at least partially inserted into the preparation vessel 3. The pulp container 18 has a central passage 19 for the passage of the drive shaft 10. The pulp container 18 also has recesses 20 on its outer circumference, which interact with projections (not shown) on an inner wall of the preparation vessel 3 to prevent rotation of the pulp container 18 during operation.

[0069] The screening unit 9a is, for example, in the Fig. 3a to 3d are shown in detail. According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3a to 3d, the sieve unit 9a has a first sieve 21 with first sieve openings 22 and a second sieve 23 with second sieve openings 24.

[0070] The first sieve 21 and the second sieve 23 are conical in the shape of a truncated cone, with the diameters of the sieves 21, 23 tapering towards the sieve bottom. The first sieve 21 can be arranged in the second sieve 23. The sieve openings 22, 24 are designed such that by a relative movement of the first sieve 21 relative to the second sieve 23—in particular a rotation—the overlap of the first sieve openings 22 and the second sieve openings 24 can be adjusted in at least two orientations relative to one another. The first sieve openings 22 and the second sieve openings 24 are designed as essentially horizontally arranged sieve slots. By changing the alignment of the first sieve 21 to the second sieve 23, the overlap of the first sieve openings 22 and the second sieve openings 24 and thus the size of the resulting sieve passages - the sieving degree - can be adjusted.Depending on the food to be juiced, the sieve can be adjusted to be finer or coarser without the need for additional components.

[0071] Fig. Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a juicer module 1 in a perspective external view. The juicer tool 9 is arranged in a housing 25. The housing 25 has at least one lid opening 26, which can be closed with the lid 12. The housing 25 has a juice outlet 27 extending laterally from the housing 25 in the lower region. The juice outlet 27 has a juice flap 27a. The juice flap 27a has a seal (not shown) and serves to close the juice outlet 27. On the underside of the housing 25, an at least partially Fig. 1, a visible pomace opening 28 is provided through which the press residues can be conveyed into the pomace container 18. To enable force transmission parallel to the rotation axis R between the cover 12 and the housing 25, a bayonet lock 29 is formed between the cover 12 and the housing 25.

[0072] According to Fig. 4, cover holders 30 are arranged on opposite sides of the housing 25, which can only be mounted if the cover 12 is properly placed on the housing 25 and in particular the bayonet lock 29 (see Fig. 1) is locked. In the assembled state, the lid holders 30 are supported on an upper side of the lid 12 and at least partially on an edge of the pulp container 18. The lid holders 30 are arranged opposite one another on the housing 25 and extend at least partially parallel to the housing 25 in the vertical direction. The lid holders 30 are designed to interact with holding rollers (not shown) of a kitchen appliance 6 in order to detect the presence of the lid holders 30 and thus the proper closure of the housing 25 by means of the holding rollers.

[0073] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a juicer module 1, which is essentially according to the embodiment of Fig. 1. The corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals. The kitchen appliance 6 has a power connector 6a. The kitchen appliance 6 can be controlled, for example, via an input device 6b, here in the form of a push-and-turn knob.

[0074] In the embodiment of the Fig. 2, a gear unit 32 is arranged below the pulp container 18 in the preparation vessel 3, which Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b is shown again separately. The gear unit 32 has at least one adapter element 33 for positive engagement with the tool holder 2 or the tool 4 of the preparation vessel 3. By means of the adapter element 33, the rotation of the tool holder 2 or the tool 4 is transmitted to the gear unit 32. The gear unit 32 further has an output interface 34, which is coupled to the drive interface 8 of the juicer module 1 on the drive shaft 10. For this purpose, the drive interface 8 on the drive shaft 10 has, for example, an internal square and the output interface 34 has an external square.

[0075] The gear unit 32 is designed to convert a high speed at the adapter element 33 to a low speed at the output interface 34. The gear unit 32 can be fully inserted into the preparation vessel 3. To prevent rotation of the gear unit 32 in the preparation vessel 3, the gear unit 32 has recesses 35 in an outer circumference, which interact in a form-fitting manner with associated projections (not shown) on the inner surface of the preparation vessel 3. Fig. 5a shows the external square at the output interface 34.

[0076] A rotation of the tool 4 caused by the motor 7 of the kitchen appliance 6 is transmitted to a first shaft 36 of the adapter element 33. The first shaft 36 is coupled to a gear configured as a sun gear 37. The sun gear 37 therefore rotates at the same speed as the adapter element 33. The sun gear 37 is arranged centrally between three gears configured as planetary gears 38, so that the sun gear 37 meshes with all three planetary gears 38. The planetary gears 38 are guided in a ring gear 39.

[0077] The planet gears 38 are rotatably mounted in an upper and a lower planet carrier 41 by means of pins 40. The connection is secured by retaining rings 40a. The first shaft 36 and the output interface 34 are mounted in the housing 46 of the gear unit 32 via plain bearings 42. The output interface 34 has a shaft 34a that extends at least partially in a cylindrical projection 46a of the housing 46. The upper planet carrier 41, oriented toward the output interface 34, is connected to the output interface 34 and drives it. A radial shaft seal 43 between the drive interface 34 and the housing 46 prevents fluid from entering the gear unit 32.

[0078] The gear unit 32 enables according to Fig. 2, the rotation of the guide body 9b occurs at a significantly lower speed than that at which the adapter element 33 is driven by the tool holder 2 or the tool 4 by means of the motor 7 of the kitchen appliance 6. The juicer module 1 can therefore also be used with kitchen appliances 6 whose motor 7 is not adjustable in terms of speed or is adjustable only within narrow limits.

[0079] According to Fig. 4, a juice container 44 can be arranged on the outside of the preparation vessel 3, which is suspended from the pulp container 18 and is supported at least partially on a handle 45 of the preparation vessel 3. The pulp container 18 has two handles 31 arranged opposite one another, which are located outside the preparation vessel 3 in the operating state. The juice container 44 has a holding arm 44a, which can be fastened, in particular suspended, to a handle 31 of the pulp container 18. The juice container 44 can thus be arranged below the juice outlet 27 in order to discharge juice into the juice container 44 by opening the juice flap 27a.

[0080] According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the guide body 9b is rotatably mounted between the housing 25 and the cover 12. For mounting in the cover 12, the guide body has a bearing projection 48, and the cover 12 has a bearing recess 49. A plain bearing is formed between the bearing projection 48 and the bearing recess 49.

[0081] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of the control sequences of an embodiment of a control device 100 of a kitchen appliance 6. The control unit 100 of the kitchen appliance 6 is designed and configured to display 101 updated setting parameters for the juicing tool 9 to a user on a display device 47 when a blockage in the rotation of the juicing tool 9 is detected 103, in particular based on monitoring 102 of the motor current. The updated setting parameters contain, for example, the information for a user to adjust the sieve unit 9a and / or a pulp opening 28, for example to enlarge the resulting sieve passages or to open the pulp opening further.

[0082] According to Fig.6, the control device 100 is further configured and designed to operate 105 the motor 7 using recipe data 104 for a juicing process with a predetermined motor power. The control device 100 is also configured and designed to increase 106 the motor power of the motor 7 when a blockage of the rotation of the juicing tool 9, for example of the conveyor body 9b, is detected 103, in particular by monitoring 102 the motor current.

[0083] The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments, but also encompasses all equivalent embodiments within the meaning of the invention. It is expressly emphasized that the embodiments are not limited to all features in combination; rather, each individual partial feature can also have an inventive significance in itself, independently of all other partial features. Furthermore, the invention is not yet limited to the combination of features defined in claim 1, but can also be defined by any other combination of specific features of all the individual features disclosed as a whole. This means that, in principle, practically every individual feature of claim 1 can be omitted or replaced by at least one individual feature disclosed elsewhere in the application. List of reference symbols 1 juicer module 2 tool holders 3 Preparation vessel 4 tools 5 Kitchen appliance base 6 kitchen appliances 6a connection plug 6b Input devices 7 Engine 8 Drive interface 9 Juicer tool 9a Sieve unit 9b Guide body 10 Drive shaft 11 tool adapters 12 lids 13 filling funnel 14 gap 15 Conveyor contour 16 end face 17 funding advantage 18 pomace containers 19 Implementation 20 return 21 First sieve 22 First sieve openings 23 Second sieve 24 Second sieve openings 25 housings 26 Lid opening 27 Juice outlet 27a Juice flap 28 Pomace opening 29 bayonet lock 30 lid holder 31 handles of 18 32 Gear unit 33 Adapter element 34 Output interface 34a wave 35 recesses 36 First Wave 37 Sun gear 38 planetary gears 39 ring gear 40 thorn 40a retaining rings 41 planet carrier 42 plain bearings 43 Radial shaft seal 44 juice containers 44a Holding arm 45 handle 46 cases out of 32 46a Cylindrical projection of 46 47 Display device 48 bearing projection 49 Bearing return 100 control device 101 ads 102 Monitoring the motor current 103 Recognize 104 recipe data 105 Operating the engine 7 with an engine power 106 Increasing engine performance R rotation axis 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] KR 2006 / 0101848 A [0003, 0017]

Claims

[1] Juicer module (1) for interaction with a preparation vessel (3) having at least one rotatable tool holder (2), having at least one drive interface (8) and at least one juicer tool (9), wherein the juicer tool (9) is connectable to the drive interface (8) so that rotation of at least part of the juicer tool (9) can be effected by rotation of the drive interface (8), characterized by , that the juicer tool (9) has at least one guide body (9b) and at least one sieve unit (9a) such that a relative movement between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) can be effected with a rotation of the drive interface (8), and that the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) are designed and arranged such that with a relative movement between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) a food to be juiced can be conveyed into a tapered gap (14) between the guide body (9b) and the sieve unit (9a) in order to effect a pressing force on the food to be juiced. [2] Juicer module (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one housing (25) is present, that the housing (25) has at least one cover opening (26) and at least one cover (12), that the lid opening (26) can be closed with the lid (12), and that the lid (12) has at least one filling nozzle, preferably with a filling funnel (13). [3] Juicer module (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that a positive connection can be formed between the cover (12) and the housing (25) in the axial direction of a rotation axis (R) of the juicer tool (9). [4] Juicer module (1) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized by that a bayonet lock (29) is formed between the housing (25) and the cover (12). [5] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the housing (25) has at least one juice outlet (27) and at least one pulp opening (28). [6] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that at least one pomace container (18) is present, and that the pulp container is arranged below the juicing tool, namely below the guide body and the sieve unit. [7] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the guide body (9b) can be connected to the drive interface (8) in such a way that a rotation of the drive interface (8) causes a rotation of the guide body (9b). [8] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the guide body (9b) has a substantially convexly curved outer contour, and / or that the guide body (9b) has at least one conveying contour (15). [9] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the screening unit (9a) comprises at least a first screen (21) with first sieve openings (22) and at least one second sieve (23) with second sieve openings (24). [10] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that at least one gear unit (32) is present, that the gear unit (32) has at least one adapter element (33) for at least indirect interaction with the tool holder (2) of the preparation vessel (3) and at least one output interface (34), and that the gear unit (32) is designed to convert a high speed at the adapter element (33) to a lower speed at the output interface (34). [11] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the juicer module is designed to interact with a preparation vessel, in that the juicer module is placed on a preparation vessel, in particular on an upper edge of the preparation vessel. [12] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized bythat the juicer module is designed for positive interaction with the preparation vessel and / or the kitchen appliance base. [13] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the drive interface (8), in particular the drive shaft (10), the guide body (9b) and / or the sieve unit (9a) can be dismantled from one another, in particular can be dismantled without tools. [14] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterized by that the juice outlet (27) is arranged such that it extends laterally out of the housing. [15] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterized by that the juice outlet (27) has at least one juice flap (27a). [16] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized by that at least one pomace opening (28) is arranged at the bottom of the housing (25). [17] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 6 to 16, characterized by that the pomace container (18) has at least two handles (31). [18] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized by that the adapter element (33) can be connected directly or indirectly to the tool holder of the preparation vessel. [19] Juicer module (1) according to one of claims 10 to 18, characterized by that the gear unit (32) has at least one housing (46) and at least two gears. [20] Juicer module (1) according to claim 19, characterized by that the gears are arranged in the housing (46) and are each coupled to the adapter element (33) or the output interface (34). [21] Juicer module (1) according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterized by , that at least one gearwheel is designed as a sun gear (37) and at least three gearwheels are designed as planetary gears (38), that the planet gears (38) have a larger diameter than the sun gear (37), and that the sun gear (37) is coupled to the adapter element (33) and the output interface (34) is coupled to the planet gears (38). [22] Kitchen appliance (6), comprising at least one kitchen appliance base (5), at least one control device (100), at least one engine (7), at least one preparation vessel (3), and at least one juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21. [23] Kitchen appliance (6) according to claim 22, characterized by in that the control device (100) is set up and designed to display to a user, on the basis of recipe data (104), setting parameters relating to the juicing tool (9), in particular relating to the sieve unit (9a) and / or a pulp opening (28), and / or setting information relating to a motor power level of the motor (7). [24] Kitchen appliance (6) according to claim 22 or claim 23, characterized by that at least two holding rollers are present, wherein the holding rollers are movable at least between an opening position and a locking position. [25] Kitchen appliance (6) according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized by that the preparation vessel has at least one, in particular electric, heating device with which foodstuffs which can preferably be introduced into the preparation vessel can be heated. [26] Kitchen appliance (6) according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized bythat the control device (100) is designed and configured to display (101) updated setting parameters for the juicing tool (9), in particular for the sieve unit (9a) and / or for a pulp opening (28), to a user on a display device (47) when a blockage of the rotation of the juicing tool (9) is detected (103), in particular based on monitoring (102) of the motor current, and / or that the control device (100) is designed and configured to operate the motor (7) using recipe data (104) for a juicing process with a predetermined motor power (105), in particular to increase the motor power of the motor (7) (106) when a blockage of the rotation of the juicing tool (9) is detected (103), in particular based on monitoring of the motor current. [27] Preparation vessel (3) for a kitchen appliance (6), with at least one rotatable tool holder (2) and a juicer module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21, which can be at least partially inserted into the preparation vessel (3).

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