Dough cutting device and corresponding kit

Abstract

Dough Cutting Device and Corresponding Kit. The invention relates to a device (1) for cutting dough into dough pieces, comprising: - a base (2) having a main upper surface (4), and - peripheral walls mounted on the base, so as to form a closed peripheral contour (13) extending at least partially above the main upper surface (4). Each wall is removably mounted on the base (2), and at least two of said peripheral walls have longitudinal slots (22) opening onto an upper edge (16) and extending to the main upper surface (4) of the base, so as to allow, in use, the insertion of a blade into two longitudinal slots (22) of two opposite walls until reaching the main upper surface (4). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for cutting food dough, and corresponding kit. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of kitchen utensils, particularly cutting utensils in the field of baking. More specifically, the invention relates to devices for dividing, in particular, dough to obtain dough balls. Previous technique

[0002] Usually, after kneading, the resulting mass of dough must be cut into portions, for example long and thin, called dough pieces.

[0003] For cutting these dough pieces, an automated press tank called a "compactor" or "divider" can be used, in a known manner. This tank consists of a tank with a lid that locks in the closed position on top of the tank. Such a press tank is described in particular in document FR 2 916 321. A mass of dough to be divided into portions is introduced into this tank. The bottom of the tank, combined with pressure means, has a vertically movable section that pushes the dough towards the top of the tank to level or even it out against a closed lid. Then, a metal cutter, consisting of a frame and parallel, possibly sharp, blades, is positioned on top of the tank, and the movable section is raised to the top of the tank and against the cutter to cut the dough into portions or dough pieces of square, rectangular, or longitudinal shape, depending on the cutter's geometry.

[0004] However, such press tanks are generally bulky and energy-intensive, resulting in significant acquisition and operating costs, as well as considerable space requirements. Furthermore, they are not always safe and can cause personal injury if the user is not careful about hand position during operation.

[0005] There are also manual devices for cutting dough into pieces. Such devices are described, for example, in documents FR 2 641 945, FR 2718 611 or FR 2 969 903. The devices generally comprise a receiving tray for the dough to be cut, then a cutter, consisting of a plurality of sharp blades arranged according to the desired size of the dough pieces, is applied to the exposed face of the dough down to the bottom of the hopper in order to carry out the division.

[0006] However, such manual devices remain cumbersome to use, particularly due to the force required to make the cuts. Furthermore, the geometry The cutter isn't always suitable, so you either need several cutters of different shapes or an adaptable cutter that requires assembly. As a result, such devices remain bulky and impractical for everyday use due to their limited adaptability. Furthermore, being manual, they require considerable force from the user to achieve a complete cut of each piece of dough. Finally, the cutter blades wear out and need regular replacement, which can also lead to additional costs for the user over time. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems stated above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a cutting device that is both compact and allows for the easy production of dough pieces of different sizes. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a manual cutting device that is both cost-effective and compact, while also being easy and versatile to use.

[0008] Thus, according to one aspect, a device for cutting food dough, and in particular for cutting dough into dough pieces, is proposed, comprising a base having a substantially horizontal upper principal surface, and peripheral walls mounted substantially vertically on the base, preferably along a peripheral perimeter of the base, so as to form a closed peripheral contour extending at least partially above the upper principal surface of the base and within which the food dough to be cut can be positioned. Each wall is removably mounted on the base.At least two walls of said peripheral walls, intended to be positioned on opposite edges of the closed peripheral contour, have substantially vertical longitudinal slots opening onto an upper edge of said walls and extending, on the side of a lower edge of said walls, to a height located below or at the same level as the upper principal surface of the base, so as to allow, in use, the insertion of a blade into two longitudinal slots of two opposite walls until reaching the upper principal surface of the base.

[0009] Thus, the device according to the invention does not include a cutting means formed of several blades arranged according to the geometry of the desired dough pieces, but can instead be used with a single standard blade to cooperate with the various pairs of slots provided along the closed peripheral contour of the device. Furthermore, since the peripheral walls are mounted removablely on the base, it is also easy to disassemble the cutting device to reduce its size for storage, or to exchange the peripheral walls for others having a set of longitudinal slots positioned differently. The user simply chooses the appropriate slots or peripheral walls to obtain the desired shape for the dough pieces, while maintaining a compact and easy-to-disassemble device for storage.

[0010] Preferably, the base includes, on at least one peripheral edge, a first mechanical cooperation means, for example a first lateral stop, and in which at least one peripheral wall has, along the lower edge, a second mechanical cooperation means configured to cooperate with the first mechanical cooperation means of the base, in particular to hold said peripheral wall against said peripheral edge of the base.

[0011] In order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the peripheral walls on the base, the base and the peripheral walls may include mechanical cooperation means with stops, to allow the peripheral walls to be held on the base, in particular when the paste is packed in the device and then exerts pressure on the inner face of the peripheral walls, and to allow their quick and easy removal for storage, cleaning or replacement with other peripheral walls.

[0012] Preferably, the peripheral walls comprise, along at least one lateral edge, third means of mechanical cooperation configured to cooperate with the third means of a neighboring peripheral wall.

[0013] In addition to the means of cooperation provided between the peripheral walls and the base, the device according to the invention also provides means of mechanical cooperation between the peripheral walls themselves, in particular between two adjacent peripheral walls. This limits the concentration of stresses solely on the lower part of the peripheral walls, at the level of the means of mechanical cooperation with the base, and distributes them onto other mechanical means arranged higher up, at the interface between the peripheral walls. This improves the robustness of the device and allows for thinner mechanical cooperation means, as they are more numerous and better distributed to withstand the stresses exerted during the use of the device.

[0014] Preferably, the device comprises several sets of peripheral walls, each set having a number and / or positions of longitudinal slots corresponding to different sizes and / or shapes of dough pieces.

[0015] As previously stated, the device may comprise several sets of peripheral walls, each set having pairs of slots distributed differently. The user can then easily identify, according to the desired size and shape of the dough pieces, the set of peripheral walls to use, ensuring that no mistake is made. This simplifies the user's work, compared to a single set of peripheral walls comprising several groups of pairs of slots, and for which the user must be able to identify the group of pairs of slots to be used according to the desired shape and size of the dough pieces, without confusing it with a pair of slots from another group.

[0016] Preferably, the device also includes a means for compacting the paste on the base, configured to position itself opposite the main upper surface of the base and to slide vertically towards said main upper surface, inside the peripheral contour formed by the peripheral walls.

[0017] In order to pack the dough in the device, the latter may also include a packing means configured to exert a force on the free face of the dough, in the direction of the upper main surface of the base.

[0018] Preferably, the compaction means comprises a main surface having holes for evacuating residual air.

[0019] The compaction means thus advantageously comprises a main surface of shape and size substantially equal to those of the upper main surface of the base, but with holes to evacuate the air remaining trapped in the paste before its compaction.

[0020] Preferably, the compaction means also includes an actuation means configured to cooperate with the base and / or one or more peripheral walls, so as to allow the compaction means to be brought closer to the main upper surface of the base by lever effect.

[0021] In order to maintain a compact and lightweight compaction means, while remaining effective in exerting significant pressure on the paste, the compaction means includes an actuation means that cooperates with the base. Thus, compaction is achieved not only by applying a force to the upper surface of the paste, but also by bringing the upper surface of the base closer to the main surface of the compaction means.

[0022] Preferably, the actuation means includes handles and at least one pivot joint.

[0023] In other words, each handle, with its associated pivot joint, forms a lever that increases the pressure exerted by the tamping device on the dough, for the same force applied by the user. The device according to the invention thus facilitates the user's work and allows them to efficiently tamp the dough without requiring heavy or bulky equipment, or electrical means.

[0024] According to another aspect, a kit is also proposed for cutting pasta, and in particular for cutting pasta into dough pieces, comprising in particular a base, one or more sets of peripheral walls, and optionally a compaction means, in which the kit is configured to allow the mounting of a cutting device as described above.

[0025] Such a kit has the advantage, on the one hand, of remaining compact and space-saving, since the different dough configurations that can be obtained by the cutting device are determined solely by the sets of peripheral walls. Furthermore, such a kit facilitates the use of the device by providing, for each set of peripheral walls, a single group of slot pairs to be used. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 represents a schematic view of a cutting device for a paste according to the invention, according to a first perspective;

[0027] [Fig.2] Fig.2 represents a schematic view of the device of Fig.1, from a second perspective;

[0028] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] represents an enlarged schematic view of the means of cooperation between a peripheral wall and the base of the device of the [Fig.1];

[0029] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] represents a schematic view of a compaction means for a device of the [Fig.1];

[0030] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents a schematic view of a knife for a device of [Fig. 1]; and

[0031] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] represents a schematic view of a multi-knife for a device of the [Fig.1]. Description of the implementation methods

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an example of a pasta cutting device 1 according to the invention. The purpose of the cutting device 1 is to allow the division of pasta into portions, or dough balls, of the same shape and / or weight.

[0033] The cutting device 1 thus comprises a base 2 having, in particular, a main upper surface 4 and a peripheral rim 6. More specifically, the base 2 is intended to be placed on a support, such as a work surface, and the main upper surface 4 of the base 2 is intended to be raised relative to the support on which the base 2 is placed. Thus, the base 2 includes a substantially vertical peripheral rim 6 which, on the one hand, raises the main upper surface 4, which is substantially horizontal, and on the other hand, provides a support surface for the rest of the cutting device 1, as will be described below. The base 2 may, in particular, include openings in the peripheral rim 6, possibly through openings, to cooperate with a compaction means, as described below.

[0034] The base 2 may include first mechanical cooperation means 8, intended to cooperate with peripheral walls of the cutting device 1. Thus, the base 2 may include, for example at the lower end of the peripheral rim 6 or mounted on the peripheral rim 6, first lateral stops. More specifically, the first lateral stops may have a general horizontal surface shape with a free edge curved upwards, intended to cooperate with an L-shaped lower edge of a peripheral wall.

[0035] The first lateral stops may be present on all four sides of the base 2, or only on two opposite sides of the base 2.

[0036] Similarly, the base 2 can also include, for example at the lower end of the peripheral rim 6 or mounted on the peripheral rim 6, second lateral stops 10 substantially parallel to the peripheral rim 6 and positioned at a distance from the peripheral rim 6. More specifically, the second lateral stops 10 make it possible to create, with the peripheral rim 6, a notch intended to cooperate with a flat lower edge of a peripheral wall.

[0037] The second lateral stops 10 may be present on all four sides of the base 2, or only on two opposite sides of the base 2, for example on the two opposite sides of the base 2 which are not first lateral stops.

[0038] The cutting device 1 also includes one or more sets of peripheral walls 12. The peripheral walls 12 are designed and configured to be positioned along the peripheral perimeter 6 of the base 2, so as to form a closed peripheral contour 13 around the base 2. The peripheral walls 12 and the base 2 thus define a volume in which a paste can be positioned for cutting.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 4, the cutting device 1 comprises a rectangular or square base 2, and four peripheral walls 12.

[0040] The peripheral walls 12 extend substantially vertically, when mounted on the base 2, with a lower edge 14 intended to come into contact with the base 2, and an upper edge 16. The peripheral walls 12 are thus configured to cooperate on the one hand with the base 2, and more specifically with the first or second lateral stops of the base 2, via their lower edge 14, and on the other hand with each other, in particular via their upper edge 16.

[0041] Thus, the peripheral walls 12 can include second mechanical cooperation means intended to cooperate with the first cooperation means 8 of the base 2. As illustrated in [Fig.3], the peripheral walls 12 can include a tab 18 mounted perpendicularly on the lower edge 14, so as to form an L configured to cooperate with the first lateral stops of the base 2.

[0042] When the first lateral stops are present on all four sides of the base 2, then the four peripheral walls 12 will include an L-shaped lower edge 14, and when the first lateral stops are present only on two opposite sides of the base 2, then only two peripheral walls 12 of the same size will include an L-shaped lower edge 14.

[0043] Similarly, the peripheral walls 12 may also have a lower edge 14 at least partially straight and configured to fit into the gap formed between the peripheral perimeter 6 and a second lateral stop 10.

[0044] It is thus possible to secure and maintain the peripheral walls in contact with the base 2 and more precisely the peripheral perimeter 6.

[0045] In order to secure the peripheral walls 12 together, these walls may also include, at their upper edge 16 and more specifically at the distal ends of the upper edge 16, third means of cooperation 20. The third means of cooperation 20 are configured to allow a connection, at their upper edge 16, between two adjacent peripheral walls 12. To this end, the third means of configuration 20 may be formed by the association of two partially split tabs extending beyond the rest of the peripheral wall 12 and configured to cooperate together via their partial splits.

[0046] In particular, the third mechanical cooperation means 20, and in particular the partially split tabs, are advantageously provided to allow mounting of peripheral walls without tabs 18 on their lower edge 14, on peripheral walls 12 having tabs 18 on their lower edge 14 and already positioned on the base 2.

[0047] Indeed, the first and second mechanical cooperation means 8, 18 can be configured to allow the peripheral wall 12 to be held substantially vertically on the base 2, even when the other peripheral walls 12 are not all present. It is then possible, during assembly, to start with the peripheral walls 12 having a lower edge 14 with a tab 18, then finish with the peripheral walls 12 without a tab 18 but which are mounted directly onto the base 2, and the peripheral walls 12 already present via their third mechanical cooperation means 20. The first and second mechanical cooperation means 8, 18 therefore also serve as means for holding the corresponding peripheral walls 12 in position on the base 2.

[0048] To allow the dough to be cut, the peripheral walls 12 have longitudinal slots 22 extending from the upper edge 16 to the lower edge 14 of the peripheral wall 12. In particular, since the main upper surface 4 of the base 2 is raised, the longitudinal slots 22 can stop at a distance of the lower edge 14, while having a bottom located below the main upper surface 4.

[0049] The peripheral walls 12 are arranged to be identical in pairs, such that their longitudinal slots 22 are positioned opposite each other. The longitudinal slots 22 then allow the use of a knife 24 as illustrated in [Fig. 5], with a blade 26 and a handle 28, and are configured to allow the insertion of said blade 26 for cutting dough pieces. The longitudinal slots 22 are therefore positioned accordingly on the peripheral walls 12 so as to obtain the desired shapes and sizes for the dough pieces.

[0050] In order to be able to select different shapes and sizes of dough pieces, the cutting device 1 may include a set of peripheral walls 12 having several groups of pairs of slots 22, each group of pairs of slots 22 corresponding to a specific shape and size of dough pieces. Alternatively, the cutting device 1 may include several sets of peripheral walls 12, each set of peripheral walls 12 comprising pairs of slots 22 corresponding to a specific shape and size of dough pieces.

[0051] Some or all of the peripheral walls 12, in particular those provided with tabs 18 at their lower end 14, may also include support means 30 in the form of through openings positioned to correspond to the openings present on the peripheral perimeter 6 of the base 2. The support means 30 are intended to cooperate with a settling means 32 described below.

[0052] It is also possible to use the cutting device 1 with a multi-knife 124 as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. The multi-knife 124 comprises, for example, two blades 26, mounted in parallel, and a handle 28. The two blades 26 are configured and spaced so that they can be inserted simultaneously into two different pairs of slots 22, for cutting dough pieces. The spacing of the blades 26 of the multi-knife 124 is therefore designed to correspond to the positions of the longitudinal slots 22 of the peripheral walls 12. For this purpose, the blades 26 include, for example, at each end, sliding connection means and can be mounted, by said sliding connection means, on two rails 29 parallel and perpendicular to said blades 26. The blades 26 can thus be freely spaced by the required distance, and fixed in position by a locking means, for example a bolt (not shown), while remaining parallel to each other.

[0053] Fig. 6 represents a multi-knife 124 with two blades 26, but it is obviously quite possible to add additional blades 26, in particular as many blades 26 as there are pairs of slots 22 in the peripheral walls 12: it is then possible, in a single pass of knife 124, to make all the cuts in one direction of the cutting device 1.

[0054] In [Fig.6], a single blade 26 includes a handle 28. However, the multi-knife 124 may include only blades 26 with associated handles 28, or two blades 26 with associated handles 28 and additional blades 26 without associated handles.

[0055] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of a compaction means 32 according to the present invention. The compaction means 32 is intended to allow the spreading and compaction of a paste positioned, in bulk, on the main upper surface 4 of the cutting device 1.

[0056] The compaction means 32 thus comprises a main surface 34 of similar, or even identical, shape to the upper main surface 4 of the base 2. The main surface 34 of the compaction means 32 may nevertheless also include openings allowing the evacuation of air released during the spreading and compaction of the paste.

[0057] The compaction means 32 also includes an actuation means 36 mounted on a rear face of the main surface 34. The actuation means 36 includes in particular handles 38, for example two, and arms 40 connected, by pivot links 42, to the main surface 34.

[0058] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the arms each have a first end on which a handle 38 is mounted, and a second end 44 intended to cooperate with the base 2 and / or a peripheral wall 12, in particular via a support means 30 of a peripheral wall 12 and / or via an opening in the peripheral perimeter 6 of the base 2. The arms 40 thus allow a mechanical connection between the compaction means 32 and the base 2, during the compaction of the paste.

[0059] Each arm 40 finally has, between its two ends, a sliding connection 46, for example a groove, in which the pivot connection 42 linking it to the actuation means 36 can slide.

[0060] Thus, in use, the user places the main surface 34 of the compacting means 32 on the dough to be spread and compacted, then slides the pivot joints 42 in the corresponding guides 46 of the arms 40, so as to be able to insert the ends 44 into the support means 30 and the opening of the peripheral perimeter 6. Once the ends 44 are cooperating with the base 2 and / or the peripheral walls 12, the arms 40 then form a lever in which the fulcrum is the end 44. It then becomes possible to increase, at the level of the main surface 34, the force exerted by the user on the handles 38. The compacting means 32 therefore makes it possible to spread and compact the dough efficiently and easily on the upper main surface 4 of the base 2.

[0061] Thus, thanks to the cutting device according to the present invention, it becomes possible and easy to cut a dough into balls of similar shape and size, while having a compact device adapted to different sizes and shapes of dough balls.

Claims

Demands

1. A device (1) for cutting food dough, and in particular for cutting dough into dough pieces, comprising: - a base (2) having a horizontal upper principal surface (4), and - peripheral walls (12) mounted vertically on the base (2), preferably along a peripheral perimeter (6) of the base (2), so as to form a closed peripheral contour (13) extending at least partially above the upper principal surface (4) of the base (2) and within which the food dough to be cut can be positioned, characterized in that: - each wall (12) is removably mounted on the base (2), - at least two walls of said peripheral walls (12), intended to be positioned on opposite edges of the closed peripheral contour (13), have vertical longitudinal slots (22) opening onto an upper edge (16) of said walls and extending, on the side of an edge lower (14) of said walls,up to a height below or at the same level as the upper main surface (4) of the base, so as to allow, in use, the insertion of a blade (26) into two longitudinal slots (22) of two opposite walls (12) until it reaches the upper main surface (4) of the base.

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the base (2) comprises, on at least one peripheral edge, a first mechanical cooperation means (8), for example a first lateral stop, and wherein at least one peripheral wall (12) comprises, along the lower edge (14), a second mechanical cooperation means (18) configured to cooperate with the first mechanical cooperation means (8) of the base, in particular to hold said peripheral wall (12) against said peripheral edge of the base (2).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral walls (12) comprise, along at least one lateral edge, third mechanical cooperation means (20) configured to cooperate with the third means (20) of a neighboring peripheral wall.

4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising several sets of peripheral walls (12), each set having a number and / or positions of longitudinal slots (22) corresponding to different sizes and / or shapes of dough pieces.

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a means for compacting (32) the paste on the base, configured to position itself opposite the upper principal surface (4) of the base and to slide vertically towards said upper principal surface (4), inside the peripheral contour (13) formed by the peripheral walls.

6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the compaction means (32) comprises a main surface (34) having residual air evacuation holes.

7. Device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the compaction means (32) also comprises an actuating means (36) configured to cooperate with the base (2) and / or one or more peripheral walls (12), so as to allow the compaction means (32) to be brought closer to the main upper surface (4) of the base by lever action.

8. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuation means (36) comprises handles (38) and at least one pivot linkage (42).

9. Kit for cutting food dough, and in particular for cutting dough into dough pieces, comprising in particular a base (2), one or more sets of peripheral walls (12), and optionally a compaction means, wherein the kit is configured to allow the mounting of a cutting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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