MEATGROUNDER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a meat grinder with cutting elements and a feed screw rotatably mounted in a housing, which is connected to a blade. The various cutting elements include, for example, a perforated disc, a knife, and / or a pre-cutter.

[0002] In a known meat grinder, the knife pin is fixedly connected at one end to the auger and has an axially extending support section extending from the connection point with the auger, on which the knives are mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. This ensures that the knives rotate at the same speed for every revolution of the auger. The perforated discs mounted adjacent to the knives are held in place against the meat grinder housing during such rotation and have a central hub through which the knife pin passes. Known knife pins have different cross-sections, e.g., according to DE 26 49 305 C3 and US 4,018390 A, a square-shaped support section for the knife, and according to DE 20 2020 102 505 U1, a support section in the form of a two-flat surface with a chamfer on one edge for coding. Furthermore, it is known from DE 809 769 B to use a knife pin with a cross-section in the form of an asymmetrical polygon.

[0003] From the prior art, namely documents DE 26 49 305 C3, DE 20 2020 102 505 U1 and US 4,018390 A, it is known to provide a detachable connection between the screw conveyor and the cutter pin. The detachable connection shown is a screw connection, which has the advantage that the cutting elements and cutter pin can be replaced. Here, the cutter pin has an external threaded section that is screwed into a threaded bushing on the screw conveyor. In practice, however, it has been shown that such a screw connection has the disadvantage that it is difficult or even impossible to loosen after prolonged use. Applying high torques when loosening the screw connection can lead to damage to the components. Furthermore, with a screwed cutter pin, reverse rotation of the screw is not possible or only possible to a limited extent. This reverse rotation, however, offers technological advantages.This allows the material from the auger to be fed into the hopper during the mixing process in the meat grinder; without this feature, the material would remain unmixed in the auger. A brief reverse run before a planned interruption is also advantageous when using frozen meat in a meat grinder, as it frees the cutting unit and prevents it from freezing during the stoppage. This minimizes the risk of a cutting element breaking when the meat grinder is restarted.

[0004] Other connections between the screw conveyor and the cutter pin are shown in document DE 100 26 825 C2, namely a keyway connection, or in document DE 80 32 323 U1, namely a press fit. These connections also allow for easy assembly of the cutter pin, but cannot be disassembled after prolonged use.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a meat grinder with a driven auger in which the blade shaft can be easily connected to and detached from the auger. During operation of the meat grinder, it should be ensured that the torque of the auger is transmitted to the blade shaft and thus to the blades.

[0006] This problem is solved with a meat grinder having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] This meat grinder, in a known manner, has a feed screw mounted within the grinder housing, which can be driven, in particular, by an electric motor. A knife pin is mounted on this feed screw in a rotationally fixed manner, with one end of the pin being detachably attached to the feed screw. The meat grinder further comprises at least one cutting set, whereby a cutting set can include various cutting elements. Such cutting elements are, for example, perforated discs and pre-cutters that are fixedly supported on the grinder housing. These cutting elements also include knives mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on a support section of the knife pin, which interact with adjacent perforated discs to grind the meat. The novel aspect is that one end of the knife pin, the insertion end, is inserted into a bearing bore in the feed screw.To ensure torque transmission from the auger to the cutter pin, the insertion end of the cutter pin is adapted to the shape of the bearing bore.

[0008] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cutter pin remains unchanged in the axial direction, i.e., in the conveying direction. However, the cross-section of the support section of the cutter pin, as well as the connection section with the auger at the insertion end of the cutter pin, can be any polygonal cross-section, for example, a so-called double-flat cross-section with two parallel transmission surfaces for the torque.

[0009] The cross-sectional shape of the support section and the connecting section at the insertion end of the knife pin can be the same or different.

[0010] In one embodiment, the insertion end of the knife pin and the support section of the knife pin have the same cross-sectional shape. However, the insertion end has a larger circumference than the support section on which the knives rest. The insertion end projects radially beyond the support section. Due to the larger cross-section at the insertion end, a stop surface is formed circumferentially in the transition area between the insertion end and the support section. This stop surface serves as a stop for a retaining ring. This retaining ring has a sufficiently large opening so that it can be pushed from the rear end of the support section up to the stop surface. This opening of the retaining ring is large enough that it does not impede rotation of the knife pin. However, the opening is small enough that the retaining ring cannot fit over the insertion end of the knife pin.

[0011] In another embodiment, the support section of the knife pin and the insertion end of the knife pin have different cross-sectional shapes. In yet another embodiment, the support section of the knife pin and the insertion end of the knife pin have the same cross-sectional shapes, but in a radially offset arrangement, so that the insertion end projects beyond the support section, if not circumferentially, then at least at several circumferential points or sections, and one or more stop surfaces for the separate retaining ring are formed circumferentially in the transition area between the insertion end and the support section.

[0012] During assembly, the cutter pin is inserted into the bearing bore of the screw conveyor with its prong end. The retaining ring, which is pushed onto the cutter pin and rests against the stop surface of the cutter pin, is then connected to the screw conveyor. This connection is detachable, with the retaining ring and the screw conveyor having matching connecting elements. A force-fit and / or form-fit connection, e.g., a screw connection, is preferred.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining ring has an external thread on its circumferential surface, and the auger has a matching internal thread. For this purpose, a cylindrical bushing with a corresponding internal thread is provided at the output end of the auger, upstream of the bearing bore. In this embodiment, the retaining ring is pushed over the support section up to the stop surface, and the insertion end of the cutter pin is inserted into the bearing bore. Since the opening of the retaining ring is smaller than the diameter of the insertion end, the cutter pin is held axially in position by the screw connection between the retaining ring and the auger. Mounting the cutter pin to the auger is straightforward. Torque transmission between the auger and the cutter pin is ensured by the matched cross-sections of the insertion end and the bearing bore.

[0014] Advantageously, such a cutter pin is easier to remove from the conveyor screw than conventional cutter pins. During disassembly, damage to the cutter pin is avoided, as the forces required to loosen the screw connection act exclusively on the retaining ring. To further facilitate loosening the screw connection, an advantageous embodiment features grooves on the retaining ring, providing engagement points for suitable tools.

[0015] In another embodiment, the retaining ring has a circumferential rib on its surface, which interacts with an annular groove in the cylindrical bushing at the output end, upstream of the bearing bore in the screw conveyor. Other force-fit and / or form-fit connections for attaching the retaining ring are also possible, such as interlocking mechanisms. Bayonet fittings, as known from attaching a lens to a camera, can also be used, namely by providing lugs on the retaining ring and corresponding recesses in the cylindrical bushing.

[0016] Additionally, a seal using sealing rings can be provided at the connection between the knife pin and the auger to prevent the ingress of shredded material into the area of ​​the screw connection and the bearing bore.

[0017] The new meat grinder, in a known manner, has a driven auger and a rotating blade pin mounted on the auger, which can advantageously be easily connected to the auger by means of a retaining ring. This connection is equally easy to detach, and damage to the blade pin is avoided during detachment. Furthermore, this connection of the blade pin to the auger advantageously allows the auger to rotate in reverse.

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing.

[0019] For better clarity, the Fig. 1 Only those parts of the meat grinder to which the new invention relates are shown. The auger 10, the blade pin 20, and the retaining ring 30 used to connect the blade pin 20 to the auger 10 are shown in perspective view. In this embodiment, two sealing rings 40 and 41 are also provided. Fig. 1 The direction of flow of the material being ground in the meat grinder is shown.

[0020] The cutter pin 20, viewed in the conveying direction FR, has a front insertion end 21, a transition area 26, and a support section 23 on which cutters can be mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. The auger 10 has a bearing bore 11 for the insertion end 21 of the cutter pin 20. The cross-section of this bearing bore 11 is adapted to the cross-section of the insertion end 21, which serves as a connecting section. In this example, it is a two-flat shape with two straight side surfaces, which are arranged parallel to each other both at the insertion end 21 of the cutter pin 20 and in the bearing bore 11 of the auger 10. These straight side surfaces serve for torque transmission and are each connected to each other via an outwardly curved side surface. The support section 23 also has a two-flat shape in this example.The coordinated cross-sections of the insertion end 21 and the bearing bushing 11, as well as the support section 23 and the recess in the knife, ensure that when the conveyor screw 10 rotates, the knife pin 20 and the knife itself rotate with it. The knife is not shown here. During such rotation, the knife pin 20 is held axially in position by means of the retaining ring 30.

[0021] Before mounting the cutter pin 20, the retaining ring 30 is placed onto the cutter pin 20 from the rear end of the cutter pin 20 (in the conveying direction FR). The retaining ring 30 is slid over the support section 23 of the cutter pin 20 to the transition area 26, where its front surface abuts a stop surface 22. This is because the opening 31 of the retaining ring 30 is smaller than the cross-section of the insertion end 21 of the cutter pin 20. The transition area 26 between the insertion end 21 and the support section 23 of the cutter pin 20 has a round cross-section. The diameter of the transition area 26 is adapted to the diameter of the opening 31 of the retaining ring 30 so that rotation of the cutter pin 20 is not impeded.

[0022] For assembly, the blade pin 20 is inserted with its insertion end 21 into the bearing bore 11, and the retaining ring 30, which rests on the transition area 26, is connected to the auger 10. For this purpose, the auger 10 has a cylindrical bushing with an internal thread 13 in front of the bearing bore 11. This internal thread 13 engages with an external thread 32 on the circumferential surface of the retaining ring 30. The screw connection between the retaining ring 30 and the auger 10 simultaneously establishes a connection between the blade pin 20 and the auger 10. When the blade pin 20 is installed, it supports the meat grinder blades in the support section 23 and, via a rotationally fixed connection with these blades, ensures that they rotate with the auger 10.

[0023] In this embodiment, the interior of the auger can be sealed by sealing rings 40, 41. The interior of the auger 10 is sealed from the grinding chamber of the meat grinder and thus against the ingress of material being ground. A sealing ring 40 is preferably accommodated in an annular groove inside the retaining ring 30.

[0024] After inserting the cutter pin 20 and screwing the retaining ring 30 into the cylindrical bushing of the auger 10, the cutter pin 20 is held axially fixed to the auger 10 and is rotationally fixed to it. This screw connection can be loosened without damaging the cutter pin 20, as no torque is exerted on the cutter pin 20 when the retaining ring 30 is loosened. For both tightening and loosening the screw connection, grooves 33 are provided on the side surface of the retaining ring 30 facing the conveying direction. A suitable tool can engage in these grooves 33 to apply the necessary rotation to loosen the screw connection.

[0025] In this embodiment, the detachable connection between the retaining ring 30 and the auger 10 is a screw connection. Other embodiments of the invention utilize other known force-fit and / or form-fit connections. Reference symbol list

[0026] 10 Conveyor screw 11 Bearing bore 12 Mounting surface 13 Internal thread 20 Cutter pin 21 Insertion end 22 Stop surface 23 Support section 24 Coding element 25 Axial bore 30 Mounting ring 31 Opening 32 External thread 33 Groove 35 Edge FRFungrichtung

Claims

1. Meat mincer with a drivable feed worm (10), with a blade shaft (20) mounted non-rotatably on the feed worm (10) and with at least one cutting set, - wherein a cutting set comprises at least one perforated disc supported in a stationary manner on the mincer housing and a blade mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on a support section (23) of the blade shaft (20), - whereby the blade shaft (20) is held at the feed worm (10) with one end, characterised in that - the blade shaft (20) is inserted into a bearing bore (11) of the feed worm (10), whereby the cross-section of the bearing bore (11) is adjusted to the cross-section of the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20), - the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20) projects the support section (23) of the blade shaft (20) in a radial direction and that there is a stop section (22) on the transition area (26) between the end of the shaft (21) and the support section (23), - a detachable coupling of the blade shaft (20) with the feed worm (10) is achieved by means of a mounting ring (30) which is pushed to the stop section (22) on the one hand over the support section (23) of the blade shaft (20), and on the other hand is connectable to the feed worm (10), whereby the mounting ring (30) and the feed worm (10) have matching joints.

2. Meat mincer as defined in claim 1, characterised by the presence of a detachable coupling between the mounting ring (30) and the feed worm (10) by means of a positive and / or positive coupling.

3. Meat-mincer according to claim 2, characterised by a screw connection or a spring-groove connection or an interlocking or a bayonet connection, preferably a screw connection, between the mounting ring (30) and the feed worm (10).

4. Meat mincer according to claim 3, characterised by the mounting ring (30) having an external thread (32) at its peripheral area (26) and the feed worm (10) having a suitable internal thread (13) for the screw connection, with a cylindrical bushing with corresponding internal thread (13) at the output end before the bearing bore (11).

5. Meat mincer according to claim 1, characterised in that the diameter of an opening (31) in the mounting ring (30) is adapted to the diameter of the transition area (26) of the blade shaft (20), namely between the insertion end (21) and the support section (23), and this diameter of the opening (31) in the mounting ring (30) is smaller than the diameter of the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20).

6. Meat mincer according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterised by the presence of sealing rings (40, 41) in the connection area between the mounting ring (30) and the feed worm (10).

7. Meat mincer according to claim 6, characterised by a front sealing ring (41) in the direction of delivery at one end of the screw connection and a rear sealing ring (40) in the direction of the screw connection.

8. Meat mincer according to claim 7, characterised by the front sealing ring (41) being attached to a contact surface (12) which limits the cylindrical bushing with the internal thread (11) to the front.

9. Meat mincer according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by the mounting ring (30) having handling means, for example, in the form of grooves (33) or notches.

10. Meat-mincer according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by the cross-section (23) of the blade shaft (20) having a comparable cross-sectional shape to the connector section at the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20), preferably with the shape of a dihedron.

11. Meat-mincer according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by the cross-section (23) of the blade shaft (20) having a cross-sectional shape other than the connector section at the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20).

12. Meat-mincer according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised by the insertion end (21) of the blade shaft (20) completely projecting the support section (23) of the blade shaft (20) in a radial direction or in sections extensively, and by the transition area (26) between the insertion end (21) and the support section (23) having one or more stop sections (22).