Grinding mechanism for mills
The separable grinding mechanism in spice mills uses independent ceramic millstones and counter-millstones for improved performance and longevity, addressing the limitations of plastic-integral designs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE212024000261
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-04-03
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-22
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-03-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing spice mills with integral millstones and counter-millstones made of plastic suffer from reduced performance due to lower hardness, and using ceramic materials is complex and costly.
A separable grinding mechanism where the millstone and counter-millstone are independent components made of harder materials like ceramic, connected via coupling and decoupling means, allowing easy assembly and disassembly.
Enhances the performance and service life of the spice mill by using ceramic millstones, while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
AREA OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present invention relates to a separable grinding mechanism for spice mills, comprising a fixed housing for fixing to the opening of the container which holds the product to be ground, on which a rotating part with its corresponding closing lid is angularly movable, such that the movable part includes a grinding stone which rotates on a counter-grinding stone which is associated with the fixed housing.
[0002] The object of the invention is to provide a separable grinding mechanism in which the grinding stone and the counter-grinding stone are independent of the parts with which they are associated, so that these can be made of harder materials than the rest of the parts of the device, which are normally made of plastic, such as ceramic parts, which substantially improve the performance of the device and extend its service life, all with a structure that is easy to assemble and disassemble. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the field of practical application of the invention, mills are known which include a fixed housing for fixing to the opening of the container which holds the product to be ground, on which a rotating part with its corresponding closing lid can be moved angularly, so that the movable part includes a grinding stone which rotates on a counter-grinding stone which is associated with the fixed housing.
[0004] Both the millstone and the counter-millstone are integral components of their respective parts (rotating part and fixed housing), meaning they are made from the same material, as they are each produced in a single part. This reduces costs but negatively impacts the device's performance because it is made of plastic. Therefore, although plastics exist with very different hardnesses, the hardness values obtained for the millstones and counter-millstones are much lower than those that could be achieved with ceramic materials.
[0005] Obviously, manufacturing the integral part from ceramic material would be extremely complex and costly due to the complexity of the shapes that these types of parts have, and is practically impossible since some zones of these parts need to offer a certain degree of flexibility. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The proposed mill fully satisfactorily solves the problem outlined above, based on a highly effective solution.
[0007] For this purpose, the mill of the invention starts from the conventional structuring of this type of device, in which a fixed housing or static part participates, which is linked to the opening of the container of the product to be ground, and on which a rotating part is arranged, which is angularly movable in relation to this (i.e., rotatably movable) and which is closed off at the top with the complementary closure lid.
[0008] As already stated in the core of the invention, the fixed housing includes a part which acts as a support for the counter-millstone, which forms an independent element, made of a material with greater hardness than the rest of the parts which do not participate in grinding the spices, and which may be made of ceramic or another material, which counter-millstone is operationally connected to the said support for the counter-millstone, which in turn is connected to the fixed housing via coupling and decoupling means, wherein the assembly of these three parts has a static character.
[0009] More specifically, the counter-millstone preferably has a ring-shaped design, smooth on the outside and with a toothed internal profile, in accordance with this type of grinding element, having recesses in one of its ends which are intended to prevent the rotation of this part in the mounting position and to facilitate its coupling in the support for the counter-millstone.
[0010] The support for the counter-millstone preferably has a cylindrical, tubular form with an inner annular extension that serves as a base for the counter-millstone. This extension has projections that fit into the recesses described above, thus preventing relative rotation between these parts. The support also features an upper, elastically deformable opening that incorporates a small restrictor. Due to the elastic nature of the part, this restrictor allows the counter-millstone to be coupled within it, and it holds the part vertically within this opening.
[0011] According to another feature of the invention, the support for the counter-millstone includes externally and on the underside a pair of elastically deformable tabs, which provide means for coupling and decoupling the support with the fixed housing, which are preferably realized in coupling grooves in horizontal partitions which internally contain the fixed housing.
[0012] Starting from these partition walls, the construction and dismantling maneuver of the support for the counter-millstone in the fixed housing is extremely quick and easy, while the insertion and removal maneuvers of the counter-millstone in the aforementioned support are accomplished by simply inserting and pressing it through its upper opening.
[0013] With regard to the structure of the rotating part, it will preferably be formed from a rotating part, provided with means for coupling and rotation in relation to the opening of the fixed housing, internally open, comprising a double-wall structure in which the inner wall defines a receiving chamber for the millstone holder part, which is coupled under pressure in said chamber via a circumferential rim, and preferably provided with complementary ribs or vertical guides that prevent the relative rotation between parts.
[0014] This millstone holder part could include a mechanism for regulating the grinding degree (regulating the distance between the millstone and the counter-millstone), although the said mechanism is not the subject of the present application.
[0015] In each case, the millstone holder, which is equipped with means for coupling and decoupling both the millstone and the rotating part, is preferably formed from a body that is essentially tubular with a cylindrical cross-section, open at one end, and has a circular base at the opposite end, which is provided with openings for the passage of the milled product. From the aforementioned circular base, a pair of facing projections protrude from the underside, in which respective inclined planes, defined as harpoons, are defined for locking the corresponding millstone by sliding it. The millstone preferably has a central opening with a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section formed by the pair of projections beneath its locking area.
[0016] In this way, millstones made of ceramic material can be used, which will be easy to insert and remove from the millstone holder part, since the extensions protruding from this part are elastically deformable, so that by pressing on their inclined surfaces they are brought closer together and the assembly and disassembly of the aforementioned millstone is facilitated.
[0017] It can only be suggested that the rotating part, as previously mentioned, will be supported by the corresponding cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] To supplement the following description and to aid in a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of the aforementioned description, in which the following has been depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner: Fig. Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the different parts which participate in a mill for grinding spices, which is provided with a separable grinding mechanism which is implemented according to the subject matter of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view from above of the fixed housing. Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view from above of the support for the counter-millstone. Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the counter-millstone in the position to be mounted on the counter-millstone support. Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the assembly made of Fig. 4, assembled. Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 5 able to be mounted on the fixed lower housing of the mill. Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows two views from different perspectives of the assembly. Fig. 4, properly assembled. Fig. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the rotating part which participates in a mill for grinding spices, which is provided with a separable grinding mechanism which is implemented according to the subject matter of the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 shows a view from a different perspective of the grinding rotary part, which is located in Fig. 9 is shown in the assembly position in relation to the millstone. Fig. Figure 11 shows a view from a different perspective of the rotating part and the millstone, in Fig. 10 are shown already assembled. Fig. Figure 12 shows a view of the rotating part and the fixed housing in the mounting position. Fig. Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 12, properly assembled, on which the mill's closure lid is shown. Fig. Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 13, properly installed. Fig. Figure 15 shows, finally, a diametrical sectional view of the mill of the invention. PREFERRED FORM OF EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] In view of the characters described, and especially the Fig. 1 and Fig. 15, one can observe how the following components participate in the mill of the invention: - A lid (1). - A millstone (4). - A turned part (5). - A fixed housing (6) for fixing to the opening of the container which holds the product to be ground. - A counter-millstone (7). - A support (8) for the counter-millstone (7).
[0020] So, as in Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be observed in Figure 5, the counter-millstone (7) has a ring-shaped form, smooth on the outside and with a toothed internal profile (71) and (72), in accordance with this type of grinding element, having recesses (73) in one of its ends which are intended to prevent the rotation of this part in the assembly position.
[0021] The aforementioned counter-millstone (7) is statically coupled within a support (8), which, in turn, as Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 to Fig. Figure 8 shows that it is also solidly linked to the fixed housing (6). More specifically, the support (8) of the counter-millstone (7) has a cylindrical, tubular form with an inner annular extension (81) which serves as a base for the counter-millstone (7), whereby the recesses (73) of the counter-millstone (7) remain fitted into the projections (82) of the inner annular extension (81) of the support (8), thus preventing relative rotation between these parts.
[0022] At the top, the opening of the support (8) includes a small throttle (83), so that, due to the elastic nature of the part, it allows the counter-millstone (7) to be coupled in it and that the aforementioned throttle (83) holds this part vertically in it.
[0023] As in Fig. As can be observed in Figure 3, the support (8) for the counter-millstone (7) includes, externally and on the underside, a pair of elastically deformable tabs (84) which include grooves (85) for coupling in horizontal partitions (61) which secure the fixed housing (6), in Fig. 2 and Fig. 15 evident, internally contained.
[0024] Starting from these partition walls (61), the construction and dismantling maneuver of the support (8) for the counter-millstone in the fixed housing (6) is extremely quick and easy, while the insertion and removal maneuvers of the counter-millstone (7) in the aforementioned support (8) are accomplished by simply inserting and pressing it through its upper opening.
[0025] In parallel, the rotating part (5) is in Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, as can be seen, being formed from a rotating part, provided with means for coupling (51) and rotation in relation to the opening of the fixed housing (6), as Fig. Figure 11 shows an internally open part that defines a receiving chamber for the millstone (4).
[0026] As in Fig.As can be observed in Figure 10, in which the rotating part (5) appears in reverse, the said part is formed from a body which is essentially tubular with a cylindrical cross-section, open at one of its ends, the lower end, and with a circular base (32) in the opposite end, which is provided with openings (33) for the passage of the ground product, annular base (32) from which a pair of facing extensions (31) protrude, in which respective inclined planes (34) are defined as harpoons, for locking by means of sliding the corresponding grinding stone (4), which preferably includes a central opening (41) with a cross-section in accordance with the cross-section formed by the pair of extensions (31) under its locking area, which grinding stone (4) is obtained from a harder material, such as ceramic.
[0027] Based on this structuring, a mechanism is achieved in which the millstone (4) and the counter-millstone (7) have an independent character with respect to the rest of the components of the device, and can be made of harder materials, all with a structuring which allows for easy assembly of the different components participating in the mechanism.
Claims
[1] Grinding mechanism for mills, comprising a fixed housing (6) which is connected to the opening of a container which holds the product to be ground, in which fixed housing (6) a counter-millstone (7) is also statically placed, wherein this assembly is linked to a rotating part (5) which is angularly movable on the fixed housing (6) in which a millstone (4) is placed, comprising an opening for the discharge of the ground product and a closure cover (1), which characterized by , is that; - the counter-millstone (7) is linked to the fixed housing (6) by means of a support (8), wherein this support (8) has means for coupling and decoupling with the fixed housing (6), and - the millstone (4) is linked to the rotating part (5), the rotating part (5) being provided with means for coupling and decoupling both to the millstone (4) and to the fixed housing (6), the counter-millstone (7) and the millstone (4) forming independent parts which can be obtained from materials of greater hardness than the rest of the components of the mechanism. [2] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claim 1, characterized by , that the counter-millstone (7) has a ring-shaped form, smooth on the outside and with a toothed internal profile [(71), (72)], having recesses (73) in one of its ends which provide means for coupling and stabilization by means of rotation in relation to the support (8). [3] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by, that the support (8) of the counter-millstone (7) has a cylindrical tubular form, with an inner ring-shaped extension (81) with protrusions (82) which serve as a support for the counter-millstone (7), so that the recesses (73) of the counter-millstone (7) remain fitted into the protrusions (82). [4] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the support (8) has an opening with an elastically deformable character, which includes a throttle (83) as a vertical retaining element for the counter-millstone (7) therein. [5] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the support (8) of the counter-millstone (7) includes a pair of elastically deformable tabs (84) which include grooves (85) for coupling in horizontal partitions (61) which contain the fixed structure (6) internally. [6] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claim 1, characterized by, that the rotating part (5) is formed from a rotating part which is provided with means for coupling (51) and rotation in relation to the opening of the fixed housing (6), which part (5) is internally open and defines a receiving chamber for the millstone (4). [7] Grinding mechanism for mills according to claims 1 and 6, characterized by, that the rotating part (5) is formed from a body which is essentially tubular with a cylindrical section, open at one of its ends and with a circular base (32) in the opposite end, which is provided with openings (33) for the passage of the ground product, tubular base (32) from which a pair of facing extensions (31) protrude, in which respective inclined planes (34) are defined, for the locking by means of sliding the corresponding millstone (4), which includes a central opening (41) with a section in accordance with the section formed by the pair of extensions (31) under its locking area.