Mill with grinding control system
The mill's grinding control system addresses blockages and damage issues by isolating the millstone position adjustment mechanism from the ground product, ensuring efficient and durable operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE212024000262
- 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 mills for grinding spices are prone to blockages and inefficiencies due to the ground product interfering with the mechanism, and they often contain metallic components that can damage plastic parts.
A grinding control system where the mechanism for adjusting the millstone and counter-millstone position is isolated from the ground product, using a rotating part with guide elements and a regulator to control the vertical distance between the stones, preventing blockages and damage.
Ensures perfect operation and longer service life by keeping the grinding mechanism isolated from the product, preventing blockages and protecting against premature wear.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
AREA OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present invention relates to a mill for grinding spices, comprising a grinding control system in which the millstone and the counter-millstone of the mill include means for relative position control, which make it possible to adjust the size of the ground product.
[0002] The invention relates to providing a gradual control system for the space defined between the millstone and the matching millstone, wherein said control system is manufactured externally to these elements (millstone / counter-millstone) in order to prevent the spices, once ground, from interfering with the proper functioning of the parts involved by restricting their access to areas prone to causing blockages or poor operation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the field of practical application of the invention, mills are known which include means for regulating the separation between the millstone and the counter-millstone, which therefore allow a finer or coarser grinding to be offered depending on the degree of separation / approximation.
[0004] These mechanisms, however, remain exposed to the ground product itself, meaning that once ground, the product can become lodged between the various parts of the mechanism, causing blockages, jerking, and ultimately less efficient operation, which is clearly undesirable. Furthermore, commonly known mills contain metallic components, such as springs, which could damage the plastic parts. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The proposed mill fully satisfactorily solves the problem outlined above, based on a highly effective solution in which the gradual control mechanism of the relative position between the millstone and the counter-millstone remains completely isolated from the product to be milled, thus ensuring perfect operation of the mill and a longer service life.
[0006] 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 (or “grip” in English) is arranged, which is angularly movable in relation to this (i.e., rotatable) and which is closed off at the top with the complementary closure lid.
[0007] A counter-millstone, static both horizontally and vertically, is installed in the fixed housing, along with an optional support for the counter-millstone. The rotating part includes a millstone holder with openings for the discharge of the ground product, to which a millstone is integrally linked. This millstone holder is associated with means for adjusting the vertical distance between the millstone and the counter-millstone, forming a mechanism for adjusting the height of the millstone relative to the counter-millstone.
[0008] More specifically, the millstone holder is linked to the rotating part by a vertical coupling via complementary guide elements. These guide elements prevent relative angular movement between the two elements in the horizontal plane, thus ensuring they function in a cohesive manner during angular operation or rotation of the rotating part. However, they allow vertical movement between the parts, which is directly transferred to the space defined between the millstone and the counter-millstone. For this purpose, the aforementioned guide elements are implemented in outer vertical guides of the millstone holder, which are linked to inner vertical guides provided in the rotating part.
[0009] To regulate this relative vertical position between the millstone and the counter-millstone, it was provided that the millstone holder part is externally connected to a regulator, implemented in part as the upper casing of the millstone holder. This regulator includes a disc-shaped base with openings for the passage of the ground product, as well as with protrusions for its angular movement by the user's fingers. It is also provided with a circumferential skirt designed to conform externally to the millstone holder part. Internal pins move in inclined grooves arranged on the outer surface of the millstone holder part. These grooves contain a series of vertical partitions that define different stable positions for the regulator pins, corresponding to different relative positions between the millstone and the counter-millstone.so that the vertical movement between the regulator and the rotating part is prevented by stops.
[0010] Thus, based on this structure, when the regulator is rotated, the pins will move through the aforementioned inclined grooves, which inclination causes a vertical movement of the millstone holder part with respect to the regulator, either in a positive or negative direction, which regulator will preferably include a complete or partial annular projection which fits into the corresponding seat of the rotating part, preventing this part from moving vertically with respect to the actuator, and therefore the millstone holder part is the part which moves vertically within the rotating part, and consequently with respect to the counter-millstone, which, as previously mentioned, will remain fixed at all times.
[0011] Therefore, since the mechanism is placed externally to the millstone holder part, the ground product will never reach this mechanism, thus preventing blockages or poor operation of the mill. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] 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 a profile view of the different parts which participate in a mill for grinding spices with a gradual grinding control system which is implemented according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an initial assembly phase of the device of the invention, namely the counter-millstone and the support of said counter-millstone. Fig. Figure 3 shows a profile and section view of the two parts. Fig. 2, already assembled. Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 3 able to be mounted on the fixed housing of the mill. Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows two views from different perspectives of the assembly. Fig. 4, properly assembled. Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the millstone holder part and the millstone itself in a pre-assembly position. Fig. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 7, properly installed. Fig. 9 and Fig. Figure 10 shows two views from different perspectives of the assembly. Fig. 8 in a pre-assembly position on the part which acts as a regulator of the grinding size. Fig. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, properly installed. Fig. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 11 able to be mounted on the rotating part. Fig. 13 and Fig. Figure 14 shows two views from different perspectives of the assembly. Fig. 12, properly installed. Fig. Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 able to operate on the assembly of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 to be assembled. Fig. Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 15, properly assembled, on which the mill's closure lid is shown. Fig. Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the assembly. Fig. 16, properly installed. Fig. Figure 18 shows, finally, a diametrical sectional view of the mill of the invention. PREFERRED FORM OF EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In view of the characters described, and especially the Fig. 1, one can observe how the following components participate in a preferred embodiment of the mill of the invention: - A sealing lid (1). - A part that acts as a regulator (2). - A millstone holder part (3). - 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).
[0014] So, as in Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be observed in section 3, the counter-millstone (7) is statically coupled within a support (8), and which, in turn, how Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6 shows that it is also linked in solidarity with the fixed housing (6), although this structuring is only exemplary, since the core of the invention focuses exclusively on how the part which acts as a regulator (2) is linked with the millstone holder part (3) within the rotating part (5).
[0015] In this sense, and already according to Fig. 7, such that the millstone holder part (3) includes coupling means (31) for the millstone (4) so that the latter is integral with the said part, wherein the millstone holder part (3) is provided with openings (32) for the passage of the ground product.
[0016] Additionally, the millstone holder part (3) includes outer vertical guides (33) which are complementary to inner vertical guides (51) which are provided in the rotating part (5) which is discussed below.
[0017] Inclined grooves (34) are also placed on the outer surface of the millstone holder part (3), so that vertical partitions (35) are preferably placed within the said inclined grooves (34), which define different stable grinding positions for the mill, as will be explained below.
[0018] More specifically, the millstone holder part (3) couples with the part which acts as a regulator (2), as Fig. 9, Fig. 10 to Fig. Figure 11 shows which part (2) has a disc-shaped discoidal design with openings (21) for the passage of the ground product, protrusions (22) for manual rotation of the same, and a circumferential skirt (23) designed to externally conform to the grinding stone holder part (3), which skirt (23) internally contains pins (24) designed to selectively engage in the spaces defined between partitions (35) of the inclined grooves (34) of the grinding stone holder part (3). Thus, the relative position of the pins (24) in the spaces defined by the partitions (35) determines different stable grinding positions, which can be selected by the user, who can manually rotate the regulator (2) in one direction or the other by pressing the protrusions (22).
[0019] To facilitate this coupling, the circumferential skirt (23) can optionally include vertical cuts (25) on each side of each pin (24) to define elastically deformable areas to facilitate coupling between parts.
[0020] Thus, one observes in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 the millstone holder (3), among other components, while in Fig. 11, Fig. 14 and Fig. 18 The assembly consisting of the millstone holder (3) with its corresponding millstone (4) and regulator (2) is shown, wherein the aforementioned assembly is coupled in the rotating part (5) so that the outer vertical guides (33) of the millstone holder part (3) fit into the inner vertical guides (51) of the rotating part (5), so that the rotation of the latter is transmitted to the aforementioned part (3), wherein the vertical movement between the regulator (2) and the rotating part (5) is prevented by stops. In this sense, in Fig. 10 and Fig.18. It can be observed that the stops are preferably formed from a continuous or segmental circumferential groove (53) which is arranged in the inner circumferential wall (52) of the rotating part (5), in which groove (53) an annular projection (26) fits, which is present in the regulator (2) which prevents it from moving vertically, so that the rotation of said regulator (2) due to the arrangement of the inclined grooves (34) does not cause a vertical movement upwards or downwards of the millstone holder part (3) and consequently of the millstone (4), which results in a relative vertical movement between the millstone (4) and the counter-millstone (7), which regulation is carried out from outside the said assembly, so that the mechanism remains outside the grinding area, thus preventing it from clogging or being damaged prematurely.
[0021] As previously mentioned, the partitions (35) for the pins (24) define different stable grinding positions which can be selected by the user, who can manually rotate the control (2) by pressing the protrusions (22) in one or the other direction of rotation for the said control (2).
Claims
[1] Mill with grinding control system, comprising a fixed housing (6) which is connected to the opening of a container which carries the product to be ground, in which fixed housing (6) a counter-millstone (7) is also statically positioned, wherein this assembly is linked to a rotating part (5) which is angularly movable on the fixed housing (6), rotating part (5) in which a millstone holder part (3) is positioned, to which a millstone (4) is solidly linked, wherein the millstone holder part (3) includes openings (32) for the discharge of the ground product, a closure cover (1), and means for controlling the relative vertical distance between the millstone (4) and the counter-millstone (7), characterized by, that the control means are implemented in a regulator (2) with a disc-shaped design, which is placed in one of the ends of the millstone holder part (3), regulator (2) with openings (21) for the passage of the ground product, with protrusions (22) for the manual rotary actuation thereof, as well as a circumferential skirt (23) which is designed to adapt externally to the millstone holder part (3), which skirt (23) internally includes pins (24) which move in inclined grooves (34) which are provided on the outer surface of the millstone holder part (3), and which regulates the position between the millstone (4) and the counter-millstone (7), with the special feature that the millstone holder part (3) includes external vertical guides (33) via which the rotating part (5) is linked by means of internal vertical guides (51) which are provided in the latter,wherein the millstone holder part (3) is integral with the angular movement of the rotating part (5), and is vertically movable with respect to it via the inner vertical guides (51), wherein the vertical movement between the regulator (2) and the rotating part (5) is prevented by stops. [2] Mill with grinding control system according to claim 1, characterized by , that within the inclined grooves (34) which are provided on the outer surface of the millstone holder part (3) vertical partitions (35) are set which define different stable grinding positions for the mill depending on the relative position of the pins (24) in the spaces defined between the said partitions (35). [3] Mill with grinding control system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by, that the circumferential skirt (23) of the part which acts as a regulator (2) includes vertical cuts (25) on each side of each pin (24), wherein elastically deformable areas are determined to facilitate coupling between parts. [4] Mill with grinding control system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the stops are formed from a circumferential groove (53) which is arranged in the inner circumferential wall (52) of the rotating part (5) in accordance with an annular projection (26) of the regulator (2).