FOOD PREPARATION APPLIANCE WITH A WEIGHING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a food preparation apparatus comprising a housing (1) including a base (2) intended to rest on a work surface and a head (3) mounted movable relative to the base (2), the base (2) forming a plinth (4) configured to receive a work container (5), the head (3) extending above the plinth (4), the head (3) having a drive arranged above the plinth (4), the drive being configured to be coupled to a food processing accessory, the food preparation apparatus comprising a weighing device (8) and having a weighing support (9) arranged on an upper part (10) of the housing (1). According to the invention, the weighing device (8) is arranged in the base (2) and the weighing support (9) is formed by an upper face (21) of a weighing mat (20) resting on the housing (1). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: FOOD PREPARATION APPLIANCE COMPRISING A WEIGHING DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of food preparation equipment.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to food preparation appliances comprising a base forming a plinth configured to receive a working container and a head having a drive arranged above the plinth and configured to be coupled to a food processing accessory extending into the working container. State of the art

[0003] It is known in the prior art to make food preparation appliances incorporating a weighing device. One particular embodiment consists of providing a weighing area arranged on the upper part of the housing of the food preparation appliance. Document CN206641780U discloses an appliance of the aforementioned type in which a removable electronic scale is arranged on the head of the appliance. Such an embodiment facilitates weighing operations by providing a weighing area that is clearly visible and easily accessible to the user. Such an embodiment also allows the use of an existing part of the food preparation appliance, without requiring a separate weighing area that would increase the appliance's footprint on a work surface.One drawback of this type of design, however, lies in the fact that the weighing device is arranged in a part of the apparatus that can be subjected to strong vibrations during operation of the apparatus, such vibrations potentially contributing to altering the performance of the weighing device. Description of the invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to address the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a food preparation device comprising a weighing device, which offers satisfactory weighing ergonomics, which allows good weighing performance, and which does not require the use of additional work surface space to carry out the weighing operations.

[0005] To this end, one aspect of the invention relates to a food preparation appliance, comprising a housing including a base intended to rest on a work surface and a head mounted movable relative to the base, the base forming a configured plinth To receive a work container, the head extends above the base, the head having a drive arranged above the base, the drive being configured to be coupled to a food processing accessory. The food preparation appliance includes a weighing device and a weighing support arranged on the upper part of the housing, characterized in that the weighing device is arranged in the base and the weighing support is formed by the upper face of a weighing mat resting on the housing. Arranging the weighing device in the base reduces the vibrations experienced by the weighing device during operation of the food preparation appliance, compared to an arrangement of the weighing device in or on the head. The addition of the weighing mat on the upper part of the housing does not alter the overall footprint of the food preparation appliance on the work surface.Using the upper surface of a weighing belt resting on the housing facilitates weighing operations while offering a simple and efficient design.

[0006] The invention can be better defined by the following features, taken individually or in combination.

[0007] The weighing belt can be removed from the housing. This arrangement makes it easier to clean the weighing belt.

[0008] The weighing belt can rest on a non-planar surface of the upper part of the housing. This arrangement makes it possible to limit the adaptations necessary to create a food preparation appliance incorporating a weighing device.

[0009] The non-planar surface of the upper part of the housing may have a first area inclined towards a first lateral wall of the housing and a second area inclined towards a second lateral wall of the housing. Such a curved shape of the upper part of the housing is in fact more common than a flat shape.

[0010] The weighing conveyor belt can be made of a flexible material. Such a design facilitates the installation of the weighing conveyor belt and also allows the user to benefit from the cushioning properties of said material.

[0011] The weighing conveyor can be made of elastomeric material.

[0012] The upper surface of the weighing conveyor may have raised bumps. This arrangement improves the retention of food or containers placed on the weighing conveyor.

[0013] The upper part of the housing may have a protrusion, and the weighing mat may have a notch configured to accommodate the protrusion when the weighing mat rests on the upper part of the housing. This arrangement facilitates securing the weighing mat to the housing.

[0014] The notch can form a through opening. This arrangement makes it easier to install the weighing belt on the housing.

[0015] The protrusion can laterally block the notch when the weighing belt rests on the upper part of the housing. This arrangement ensures proper positioning of the weighing belt.

[0016] The protrusion may have a non-circular geometry. This arrangement facilitates the orientation of the weighing belt on the housing.

[0017] The protrusion may have an elongated geometry. This arrangement makes it even easier to orient the weighing belt on the housing.

[0018] The weighing support can be arranged on the head. This arrangement allows for a particularly ergonomic weighing configuration for the user.

[0019] The weighing support is arranged above the base. This arrangement provides an even more ergonomic weighing configuration for the user, as the weighing support is thus positioned above the work container.

[0020] The weighing device can be arranged in a lower part of the base. This arrangement facilitates the implementation of the weighing device, and in particular allows for a weighing module to be used on only certain versions of the food preparation appliance. Description of the figures

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a food preparation device according to the invention, comprising a weighing support arranged on an upper part of a housing.

[0023] [Fig.2] represents a partial perspective view of the housing of the food preparation device illustrated in [Fig.1], when the weighing support has been removed from the upper part of the housing.

[0024] [Fig.3] represents a partial front view of the housing of the food preparation device illustrated in [Fig.1], when the weighing support has been removed from the upper part of the housing.

[0025] [Fig.4] represents a side view of the weighing support removed from the upper part of the housing.

[0026] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view from below of the weighing support removed from the upper part of the housing.

[0027] [Fig.6] represents a top perspective view of the weighing support removed from the upper part of the housing.

[0028] Detailed description of embodiments

[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates a food preparation appliance, comprising a housing 1 including a base 2 intended to rest on a work surface and a head 3 mounted movable relative to the base 2.

[0030] The base 2 forms a plinth 4 configured to receive a work container 5. The work container 5 is preferably removable from the base 2. The head 3 forms an upper arm 30 extending above the plinth 4 in an extension direction to an end 31. The head 3 has a drive unit, not shown in the figures, arranged above the plinth 4. The drive unit is arranged below the upper arm 30. The drive unit is configured to be coupled to a food processing accessory extending into the work container 5.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the head 3 is pivotally mounted relative to the base 2. The head 3 is pivotally mounted between a lowered position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], and a raised position, not shown. When the head 3 is in the raised position, the work container 5 can be placed on or removed from the base 4, and the food processing attachment can be placed on or removed from the drive unit. The lowered position of the head 3 corresponds to the working configuration of the food preparation appliance used to prepare food in the work container 5.

[0032] The food preparation apparatus illustrated in [Fig. 1] comprises a weighing device 8 arranged in the base 2. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the weighing device 8 is arranged in a lower portion 16 of the base 2. The weighing device 8 may, in particular, include load cells mounted in support feet of the base 2 not shown in the figures. According to a preferred embodiment, the base 2 has four support feet, each support foot being associated with a load cell.

[0033] The weighing device 8 is associated with a control device 17 arranged on the housing 1. The control device 17 is for example arranged on an upright 18 rising from the base 2. The control device 17 may include a display.

[0034] As clearly shown in [Fig. 1], the food preparation appliance has a weighing support 9 arranged on an upper part 10 of the housing 1. More particularly, the weighing support 9 is arranged on the head 3. Advantageously, the weighing support 9 is on a part of the head 3 extending above the base 4. Thus, the weighing support 9 is particularly accessible to the user.

[0035] The weighing support 9 is formed by an upper face 21 of a weighing belt 20 resting on the housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the weighing belt 20 is removable from the housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper part 10 of the housing 1 intended to receive the weighing belt 20 is not flat, as better seen in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, the weighing mat 20 rests on a non-planar surface of the upper part 10 of the housing 1. As better seen in [Fig. 3], the non-planar surface of the upper part 10 of the housing 1 has a first zone 11 inclined towards a first lateral wall 13 of the housing 1 and a second zone 12 inclined towards a second lateral wall 14 of the housing 1. As better seen in Figures 4 and 5, the weighing mat 20 has a variable thickness, with a curved lower face 24 designed to follow the shape of the non-planar surface of the upper part 10 of the housing 1. As shown in [Fig. 4], the upper face 21 of the weighing mat 20 is flat.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the weighing mat 20 is made of a flexible material. The weighing mat 20 may, in particular, be made of an elastomeric material, for example, silicone. A Shore A hardness of approximately 55 is suitable for the weighing mat 20. As shown in [Fig. 6], the upper surface 21 of the weighing mat 20 may have studs 22. These studs 22 improve the retention of food placed directly on the upper surface of the weighing mat 20 for weighing. These studs 22 also improve the retention of a receptacle placed directly on the upper surface of the weighing mat 20 for holding food to be weighed. These studs 22 also improve the retention of a support placed directly on the upper surface of the weighing mat 20 for holding food to be weighed.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper part 10 of the housing 1 has a protrusion 15, visible in Figures 1, 2, and 3. As more clearly seen in [Fig. 3], the protrusion 15 extends between the first zone 11 and the second zone 12, which are inclined respectively towards the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14 of the housing 1. The protrusion 15 is designed to facilitate the positioning of the weighing belt 20 and to ensure that the weighing belt 20 remains in contact with the housing 1. To this end, the weighing belt 20 has a notch 23, more clearly seen in Figures 1, 5, and 6. The notch 23 is configured to accommodate the protrusion 15 when the weighing belt 20 rests on the upper part 10 of the housing 1. More specifically, the notch 23 forms an opening through 25, as seen in figures 1, 5 and 6.The protrusion 15 is dimensioned to laterally block the notch 23 when the weighing belt 20 rests on the upper part 10 of the housing 1. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the protrusion 15 has a non-circular geometry, more specifically an elongated geometry. According to a preferred embodiment, the geometry of the protrusion 15 allows the weighing belt 20 to be positioned in two orientations arranged at 180°.

[0038] The food preparation appliance and the weighing stand illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 are used as follows. The user sets up the weighing mat 20 on the upper part 10 of the housing 1 by inserting the protrusion 15 provided on the upper face of the head 3 into the notch 23 of the weighing mat 20. The variable thickness of the weighing mat 20 compensates for the curvature of the upper face of the head 3 which receives the weighing mat 20. The user can place the food to be weighed directly on the weighing mat 20 if its consistency allows, or in a weighing receptacle placed on the weighing mat 20. The use of the proposed kitchen appliance is therefore particularly simple and intuitive. Industrial application

[0039] A food preparation apparatus comprising a weighing device and having a weighing support is suitable for industrial application.

[0040] As an alternative, the head 3 is not necessarily mounted pivoting relative to the base 2. The head 3 could in particular be mounted sliding relative to the base 2, to occupy a raised position allowing the installation or removal of the work container 5 as well as the installation or removal of the accessory for food processing, or a lowered position allowing the processing of a preparation in the work container 5.

[0041] Various modifications and / or improvements obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made to the embodiment of the invention described in this description without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Food preparation apparatus, comprising a housing (1) including a base (2) intended to rest on a work surface and a head (3) mounted movable relative to the base (2), the base (2) forming a plinth (4) configured to receive a work container (5), the head (3) extending above the plinth (4), the head (3) having a drive arranged above the plinth (4), the drive being configured to be coupled to an accessory for food processing, the food preparation apparatus comprising a weighing device (8) and having a weighing support (9) arranged on an upper part (10) of the housing (1), characterized in that the weighing device (8) is arranged in the base (2) and in that the weighing support (9) is formed by an upper face (21) of a weighing mat (20) resting on the housing (1).

2. Food preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the weighing belt (20) is removable from the housing (1).

3. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the weighing belt (20) rests on a non-planar surface of the upper part (10) of the housing (1).

4. Food preparation apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the non-planar surface of the upper part (10) of the housing (1) has a first zone (11) inclined towards a first lateral wall (13) of the housing (1) and a second zone (12) inclined towards a second lateral wall (14) of the housing (1).

5. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the weighing belt (20) is made of flexible material.

6. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the weighing belt (20) is made of elastomeric material.

7. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper face (21) of the weighing belt (20) has studs (22).

8. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper part (10) of the housing (1) has a protrusion (15) and in that the weighing belt (20) features a notch (23) configured to accommodate the protrusion (15) when the weighing belt (20) rests on the upper part (10) of the housing (1).

9. Food preparation apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the notch (23) forms a through opening (25).

10. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the protrusion (15) laterally blocks the notch (23) when the weighing belt (20) rests on the upper part (10) of the housing (1).

11. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the protrusion (15) has a non-circular geometry.

12. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the protrusion (15) has an elongated geometry.

13. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the weighing support (9) is arranged on the head (3).

14. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the weighing support (9) is arranged above the base (4).

15. Food preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the weighing device (8) is arranged in a lower part (16) of the base (2).

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