Kitchen appliance arrangement

Abstract

Kitchen appliance arrangement comprising an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element (2) which can be driven by a drive (1) and a comminuting device (3) which can be coupled to the rotary element (2) in a rotationally fixed manner for comminuting a foodstuff, characterized by a pre-comminuting device (4) which is arranged upstream of the comminuting device (3) in terms of processing technology and is arranged in such a way as to pre-comminute the foodstuff before comminution by the comminuting device (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance arrangement comprising an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element drivable by a drive and a chopping device for chopping a foodstuff which can be coupled to the rotary element in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0002] Electric food processors are well-known in the art. For example, they are sold by the company Vorwerk under the "Thermomix®" brand. Such an electric food processor can be used to chop food. There are chopping attachments specifically designed for chopping foods such as fruit and vegetables, which can be used as accessories with the electric food processor. While they can be used to chop food, they generally cannot be used to shape it (e.g., into cubes).

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a kitchen appliance arrangement and a pre-shredding device with which food can be shredded more flexibly.

[0004] This object is achieved with a kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 1 and a pre-shredding device according to claim 13.

[0005] Such a kitchen appliance arrangement comprises an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element that can be driven by a drive and a chopping device that can be coupled to the rotary element in a rotationally fixed manner for chopping a foodstuff.

[0006] The kitchen appliance arrangement is characterized by a pre-shredding device which is arranged upstream of the shredding device in terms of processing technology and which is arranged in such a way that the food is pre-shredded before being shredded by the shredding device.

[0007] Pre-shredding allows the food to be shredded to be pre-shaped.

[0008] Further embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. According to one embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized by a collecting pot, comprising a pot base and a pot casing adjacent to the pot base, which delimits a pot interior (to the outside) and forms a pot opening on a side opposite the pot base, wherein the collecting pot and the chopping device can be arranged relative to one another in such a way that the food chopped by the chopping device is collected by the collecting pot. The collecting pot can be a preparation pot of the kitchen appliance, which can be positioned and received in a pot receptacle of a kitchen appliance base station.However, the collection pot can also be a pot that can be inserted into such a preparation pot or placed on the preparation pot (in particular, on a rim of the preparation pot or a lid of the preparation pot). The collection pot can be made entirely or partially from one of the materials plastic or stainless steel. The collection pot can also comprise plastic components and stainless steel components, i.e., be made of both materials.

[0009] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the pre-shredding device has a cutting element, which is preferably sharp-edged, for pre-shredding the food. The cutting element is preferably made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the cutting element is a cutting grid. This allows food to be cut into shapes with a rectangular or square cross-section.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the pre-shredding device is arranged or can be arranged in a collecting pot lid suitable for covering the pot opening of the collecting pot.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the collecting pot lid has a feed chute, which is preferably tubular in shape. The feed chute can extend at right angles to a lid surface of the collecting pot lid.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the pre-shredding device has a holding socket in which the cutting element is accommodated. The holding socket is preferably made of plastic.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the holding nozzle can be inserted into the feed shaft.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the retaining piece—when inserted into the feed chute—can be locked in the feed chute by positive and / or frictional engagement. This prevents any translational and / or rotational movement of the retaining piece relative to the feed chute.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the retaining piece has a material reinforcement in the area of ​​the cutting element. This results in a more stable attachment of the cutting element, which is particularly advantageous due to the compressive forces that occur during pre-shredding.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized by a feed aid that can be inserted into the feed chute and by means of which the food can be pressed onto the pre-shredding device. The feed aid is designed in the manner of a ram or plunger.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the kitchen appliance assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the holding piece has a guide structure along which - provided the holding piece is inserted into the feed chute - the feed aid is guided when inserted into the feed chute. The guide structure can be provided multiple times and redundantly. The guide structure can be, for example, a groove or a guide rib. A complementary structure is provided on the feed aid. This prevents the feed aid from twisting relative to the holding piece.

[0019] The invention further relates to a pre-shredding device for a kitchen appliance arrangement described here, wherein the kitchen appliance arrangement comprises an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element that can be driven by a drive and a shredding device that can be coupled to the rotary element in a rotationally fixed manner for shredding a foodstuff, characterized in that the pre-shredding device is designed to be arranged upstream of the shredding device in terms of processing technology, in order to thus pre-shred the foodstuff before shredding by the shredding device.

[0020] Embodiments of the described kitchen appliance arrangement can be embodiments of the described pre-shredding device and vice versa.

[0021] The invention will be further explained with reference to the figures, which show: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a kitchen appliance arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 which in Fig. 1 detail marked with a circle in a schematic detailed view; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of individual parts of the kitchen appliance arrangement according to Fig. 1, or their assembly, namely the retaining nozzle, the collecting pot lid including the feed shaft, and the feed aid; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of the retaining piece from Fig. 3 and the feeding aid from Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a sectional view of the Fig. 4 details marked with a circle.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a kitchen appliance arrangement comprising an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element 2 which can be driven by a drive 1 and a chopping device 3 which can be coupled to the rotary element 2 in a rotationally fixed manner for chopping a foodstuff, as well as a pre-chopping device 4 which is arranged upstream of the chopping device 3 in terms of processing technology and is arranged in such a way that the foodstuff is pre-chopping by the chopping device 3 before it is chopping it.

[0023] The rotating element 2 comprises a shaft section 5 and a mixing blade 6 arranged thereon, which rotates in the base region of a mixing bowl 100 (indicated in dashed lines) during operation of the food processor (i.e., when chopping a food with the chopping device 3). The shaft section 5 is set in rotation by the drive 1, whereby the rotation is transmitted to the mixing blade 6. The shaft section 5 projects through an opening in the base 101 of the mixing bowl 100. A wall 102 adjoins the base 101 of the mixing bowl 100. The mixing bowl 100 is covered with a lid 103 opposite the base 101. The lid 103 has a central feed opening 104.

[0024] A collecting pot 7, which has a pot base 8, is placed on the mixing bowl 100, as well as a pot shell 9 adjacent to the pot base 8, which delimits a pot interior 10 to the outside. A pot opening 11 is formed on a side opposite the pot base 8. A central insertion section 12 is formed in the area of ​​the pot base 8 of the collecting pot, wherein the insertion section 12 protrudes into the central feed opening 104 of the lid 103 when the collecting pot 7 is placed on the mixing bowl 100. The collecting pot 7 can also stand on an edge of the mixing bowl 100 or on the lid 103.

[0025] The chopping device 3 is a rotatable cutting disc, whereby during operation of the food processor, the rotation of the rotating element 2 is transmitted to the chopping device 3 via an adapter shaft 15. The rotating element 2 and the chopping device 3 rotate at the same speed. The adapter shaft 15 has a lower coupling interface for rotationally fixed coupling to the rotating element 2, as well as an upper coupling interface for rotationally fixed coupling to the chopping device 3 (cutting disc). The lower coupling interface can also be supported on the mixing blade 6 or carried along by it. The adapter shaft 15 extends through the mixing bowl 100 into the collecting bowl 7. A free end of the adapter shaft 100 is rotatably mounted and received in the collecting bowl lid 14. The adapter shaft 100 is made up of several parts.The comminution device 3 (cutting disc) is arranged in an upper region of the collecting container 7 below the collecting container lid 14.

[0026] The collecting container lid 14 has a feed shaft 16, which is tubular in shape, the feed shaft 16 having a first opening 17 and a second opening 18, opposite the first opening 17 and facing the bottom 8 of the collecting container 7 when the collecting container lid 14 is placed on the collecting container 7.

[0027] The pre - comminution device 4 has a support stub 19 in which the cutting element 13 is received. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the holding piece 19 has a U-shape. The holding piece 19 comprises two opposing legs 22, 23 and webs 24, 25 connecting the legs 22, 23 at one end, which webs are also opposite one another. The cutting element 13 is arranged between the legs 22, 23 and the webs 24, 25. The cutting element 13 is a cutting grid with which a food item (e.g., fruit or vegetables) can be pre-chopped into a square or rectangular cross-section. The pre-chopping device 4 can provide bar-shaped food items with a square or rectangular cross-section. By subsequent chopping with the chopping device 3, cube-shaped food items can be provided.

[0028] As in Fig. As indicated in Figure 3, the retaining piece 19 can be inserted into the feed chute 16. The legs 22, 23 can exhibit a certain degree of flexibility and can be pressed together before being inserted into the feed chute 16. After being inserted into the feed chute 16, the legs 22, 23 press against an inner wall of the feed chute 16, but allow relative displacement thereto.

[0029] The retaining piece 19 can be locked in the feed chute 16 by positive and / or frictional engagement once it has been inserted into the feed chute 16. In particular, locking means that the retaining piece 19 can assume a position in the feed chute 16 in which relative displacement between the retaining piece 19 and the feed chute 16 is prevented. This can be achieved, for example, by lugs 24 arranged at the upper end of the legs 22, 23, which, when the retaining piece 19 is inserted into the feed chute 16, engage over an upper edge 25 of the feed chute 16. To release the retaining piece 19 from the locked position relative to the feed chute 16, the legs 22, 23 can be pressed together so that the retaining piece 19 can be displaced relative to the feed chute 16 and is released.

[0030] The holding socket 19 has a material reinforcement 26 in the area of ​​the cutting element 13, i.e. the cutting grid ( Fig. 5). The material reinforcement 26 can be embodied in the form of an increased wall thickness in the legs 22, 23 and / or the webs 25, 26.

[0031] By means of a feed aid 20, which can be inserted into the feed chute 16, the food can be pressed onto the pre-shredding device 4. The feed aid 20 is a plunger. The retaining piece 19 has a guide structure on the inside of the legs 22, 23, along which – provided the retaining piece 19 is inserted into the feed chute 16 – the feed aid 20 is guided when inserted into the feed chute 16. This prevents the feed aid 20 from twisting.

[0032] The collecting pot 7 is arranged in such a way that a food which has been pre-shredded by the pre-shredding device 4 and then shredded by the shredding device 3 is picked up by the collecting pot 7 due to gravity, i.e. falls into it. List of reference symbols 1 drive 2 rotation element 3 Shredding device 4 Pre-shredding device 5 wave section 6 mixing knives 7 collection pot 8 Pot base 9 Pot cover 10 Pot interior 11 Pot opening 12 Insert section 13 Cutting element 14 collection pot lids 15 adapter axle 16 Feed chute 17 first opening 18 second opening 19 retaining brackets 20 Feeding aid 21 Management structure 22 legs 23 legs 24 Nose 25 Rand 26 Material reinforcement 100 mixing bowl 101 Floor 102 Wall 103 lids 104 Feed opening

Claims

[1] Kitchen appliance arrangement comprising an electric kitchen appliance with a rotary element (2) which can be driven by a drive (1) and a chopping device (3) which can be coupled to the rotary element (2) in a rotationally fixed manner for chopping a foodstuff, characterized by a pre-shredding device (4) which is arranged upstream of the shredding device (3) in terms of processing technology and which is arranged in such a way as to pre-shred the food before it is shredded by the shredding device (3). [2] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bya collecting pot (7) comprising a pot base (8) and a pot shell (9) adjacent to the pot base (8), which delimits a pot interior (10) to the outside and forms a pot opening (11) on a side opposite the pot base (8), wherein the collecting pot (7) and the comminution device (3) can be arranged relative to one another in such a way that the food comminuted by the comminution device (3) is collected by the collecting pot (7). [3] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pre-shredding device (4) has a cutting element (13), which is preferably sharp-edged, for pre-shredding the food. [4] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by that the cutting element (13) is a cutting grid. [5] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the pre-shredding device (4) is arranged or can be arranged in a collecting pot lid (14) suitable for covering the pot opening (11) of the collecting pot (7). [6] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by that the collecting pot lid (14) has a feed shaft (16) which is preferably tubular. [7] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pre-shredding device (4) has a holding socket (19) in which the cutting element (13) is received. [8] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the retaining piece (19) can be inserted into the feed shaft (16). [9] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to claim 8, characterized by that the retaining piece (19) - if it is inserted into the feed shaft (16) - can be locked in the feed shaft (16) by positive and / or non-positive locking. [10] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the holding socket (19) has a material reinforcement (26) in the area of the cutting element (13). [11] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a feeding aid (20) which can be inserted into the feed shaft (16) and by means of which the food can be pressed onto the pre-shredding device (4). [12] Kitchen appliance arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by that the holding nozzle (19) has a guide structure along which - if the holding nozzle (19) is inserted into the feed shaft (16) - the feeding aid (20) is guided when inserted into the feed shaft (16). [13] Pre-shredding device (3) for a food processor assembly according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the food processor assembly comprises an electric food processor with a rotary element (2) drivable by a drive (1) and a shredding device (3) for shredding a food product that can be coupled to the rotary element (2) in a rotationally fixed manner, characterized by that the pre-shredding device (4) is designed to be arranged upstream of the shredding device (3) in terms of processing technology, in order to thus pre-shred the food before shredding by the shredding device (3).

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