Mixer stand with integrated sensor and immersion blender including such a mixer stand

Abstract

A blending foot (20) for an immersion blender (1) intended to be immersed in a food preparation, comprising: a tubular barrel (21) having one end defining a bell (21a); ​​a sealing element (24) for the end of the barrel, defining a bottom of the bell; a drive shaft (22) extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis in a first central bore formed in the sealing element; and a blade (23) received inside the bell and fixed to one end of the drive shaft, characterized in that the blending foot further comprises at least one sensor (28, 28') for measuring a parameter of the food preparation, the sensor extending inside the bell to deliver a signal representative of the parameter of said food preparation. FIGURE IN ABRIDGED DIAGRAM: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Mixing stand with integrated sensor and immersion blender comprising such a mixing stand

[0001] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of kitchen equipment, in particular that of portable power appliances of the immersion blender type intended for the preparation of food.

[0003] Such devices are well known and commonly used for mixing, chopping, blending, or emulsifying ingredients in a container. They typically comprise a motor unit to which a blending foot ending in a bell is attached. The motor unit is designed to be grasped by the user in one hand and includes an electric motor that rotates a blade housed in the bell. The motor unit also includes motor control devices such as an on / off switch, and, for most devices, a motor speed control.

[0004] During operation, the user grasps the motor unit with one hand and immerses the mixing foot into the container holding the preparation to bring the blade into contact with the ingredients. The blade, driven in high-speed rotation by the motor, mixes, chops, blends, or emulsifies the ingredients, while the other hand generally holds the container in which the food is located.

[0005] Certain preparations, particularly in pastry and chocolate making, require precise temperature control during mixing or emulsification, for example, when preparing a ganache. To do this, the user must simultaneously continue mixing the preparation with one hand by immersing the mixer foot, and with the other hand take a precise temperature reading of the preparation using a thermometer, all while managing to hold the container steady. Thus, the user must immerse the thermometer sufficiently close to the mixer foot without the thermometer and the mixer foot coming into contact, or the container tipping over. Temperature control is therefore difficult to achieve and requires considerable dexterity to be carried out correctly.

[0006] Moreover, the immersion blender can be used both to blend ingredients that may be hard (undercooked ingredients, dried fruit, etc.) and to blend or emulsify pasty or liquid ingredients (puree, mayonnaise, ganache, etc.), all at varying temperatures ranging from negative temperatures to temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius.

[0007] The use of an immersion blender can also prove dangerous for the user since the blade can generally be driven in rotation by the motor without necessarily the blending foot being immersed in the preparation.

[0008] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention therefore aims to provide a mixing stand and an immersion blender that at least partially overcomes the aforementioned problems. Summary of the invention

[0010] To this end, the invention provides a mixing foot for an immersion blender intended to be immersed in a food preparation. The mixing foot comprises: • a tubular shaft having one end defining a bell; • a sealing element at the end of the shaft, the sealing element defining a bottom of the bell; • a transmission shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and mounted for rotation along said longitudinal axis in a first central bore formed in the sealing element, and • a knife received inside the bell and fixed to one end of the transmission shaft.

[0011] According to the invention, the mixing foot further comprises at least one sensor for measuring a parameter of the food preparation, the sensor extending inside the bell to deliver a signal representative of the parameter of said food preparation.

[0012] The mixing foot thus allows the parameter measured using the sensor to be measured and, where applicable, displayed on the immersion blender, thus ensuring better ergonomics for the user since he can, with one hand, mix or emulsify the food preparation while measuring, and where applicable viewing, a representative value of the measured parameter, his other hand remaining free to hold the container.

[0013] In addition, the position of the sensor inside the bell allows for a precise measurement of the parameter, the latter being located at the heart of the preparation.

[0014] Finally, the mixing stand remains easy to clean, the integration of the sensor inside the bell allowing for complete and easy cleaning of said mixing stand, limiting the risks of contamination.

[0015] According to a particular feature, the sensor extends into the bottom of the bell.

[0016] In particular, the sensor extends into a second hole made in the sealing element parallel to the first hole which is reserved for the passage of the transmission shaft through the sealing element.

[0017] In particular, the sensor includes a sensitive element held in position in the second hole via a polymer resin.

[0018] In particular, the sensor is in the form of a probe inserted into the second hole.

[0019] According to another particular feature, the sensor is a temperature sensor arranged to measure the temperature of the food preparation.

[0020] According to another particular feature, the sensor is an immersion detection sensor for the bottom of the bell in the food preparation.

[0021] The invention also relates to an immersion blender comprising a motor block to which such a blending foot is attached. The motor block includes an electric motor arranged to drive the transmission shaft and a motor control unit, the sensor being connected to the control unit.

[0022] According to a particular feature, the motor block includes a display screen connected to the control unit to display a representative value of the food preparation parameter via the signal delivered by the sensor.

[0023] According to another particular feature, the control unit is arranged to prevent the motor from operating according to the signal delivered by the sensor.

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Reference will be made to the attached drawings, among which:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a view of an immersion blender according to an embodiment particular of the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an axial cross-sectional view of the immersion blender illustrated in [Fig.1]

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a partial, perspective, axial sectional view of the foot of immersion blender mixing illustrated in [Fig.1];

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view analogous to [Fig.3], illustrating a variant of the foot of mixing illustrated in [Fig.3]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the invention is described in application to a portable immersion blender 1 for grinding ingredients in the preparation of food. The blender 1 comprises a motor block 10 to which a mixing foot 20 is attached, defining a longitudinal axis X of the immersion blender 1. In operation, the X axis is substantially vertical, such that the motor block 10 and the mixing foot 20 form, respectively, an upper and a lower part of the blender 1 in operation.

[0031] The motor block 10 comprises, in a manner known per se, a housing 11 containing an electric motor 12 and a motor control unit 13 for the motor 12, and a power cord 14 extending outside the housing 11 to connect the motor 12 to a power source.

[0032] The housing 11, which is generally cylindrical in shape, extends along the X axis and is shaped to be grasped by the user with one hand and held substantially in a vertical position when using the mixer 1.

[0033] The motor 12 has an output shaft 12a extending along the X axis through a central opening formed at a lower end of the housing IL. The output shaft 12a is equipped with a rotary driver 15 extending outside the housing IL. The rotary driver 15 is fixed with respect to the output shaft 12a of the motor 12 and comprises a tubular body having a first end section 15.1 fitted onto the output shaft 12a of the motor 12, and opposite, a second end section 15.2 projecting out of said output shaft 12a and having internally drive teeth.

[0034] The control unit 13 comprises a first electronic board 13.1 located at one upper end of the housing 11, and a second electronic board 13.2 located below the first electronic board 13.1 and extending substantially parallel to the X-axis. The first electronic board 13.1 is connected to the second electronic board 13.2 and includes control buttons 17 accessible from an upper face of the housing 11 for selecting a rotational speed of the motor 12. The first electronic board 13.1 is also connected to a display screen 18 arranged to display a value representative of the desired rotational speed of said motor 12 on the upper face of the housing 11. The second electronic board 13.2 is connected to the power cord 14 and includes an on / off switch cooperating with a push button 16 located in an opening formed on an upper periphery of the housing 11.Push button 16 is intended to be pressed by the user to operate motor 12.

[0035] The mixing stand 20 comprises, in a manner known per se, a tubular shaft 21, a drive shaft 22 rotatably mounted in the shaft 21, and a knife 23 fixed to a lower end of the drive shaft.

[0036] The barrel 21 extends along the X axis in line with the motor block 10 and includes an upper end fitted onto the lower end of the housing 11, and a lower end defining a bell 21a inside which the knife 23 extends. The bell 21a here has three lobes defining a skirt surrounding the knife 23 to limit the risk of injury with said knife 23 and improve the efficiency of the mixing.

[0037] The lower end of the drum 21 is equipped with a bearing support 24 forming a sealing element of said lower end of the drum 21 and defining a bottom of the bell 21a from which extend the lobes protecting the knife 23. The bearing support 24 is received in a sealed manner in the lower end of the drum 21 and includes a first central bore 24a through which the drive shaft 22 passes. The first bore 24a extends along the X axis and has a lower end provided with a rolled section in which is received a sealing gasket 25 having a lip ensuring a seal between the drive shaft 22 and said first bore 24a to prevent any liquid from penetrating inside the drum 21 and therefore inside the motor block 10 when the mixing foot 20 is immersed in the food preparation.

[0038] The drive shaft 22 has a central axis substantially coinciding with the X axis and is mounted for rotation about said X axis in the first bore 24a of the bearing support 24 by means of a bearing 26 arranged upstream of the sealing joint 25. One upper end of the drive shaft 22 is equipped with a toothed wheel 27 cooperating with the teeth of the rotary driver 15. The toothed wheel 27 is fixed with respect to the drive shaft 22 so that a rotation of the output shaft 12a of the motor 12 about the X axis causes a rotation of the drive shaft 22 and therefore of the knife 23 about said X axis.

[0039] With reference to [Fig. 3], the mixing foot 20 further comprises a temperature sensor 28, here of the NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) type, having a sensing element 28a, also called a thermistor, received in a second bore 24b formed in the bearing support 24 along an axis substantially parallel to the X-axis. The sensing element has an operating range from -40 to 125 degrees Celsius. The second bore 24b is said to be through-hole and opens onto an underside of the bearing support 24 and thus into the bell 21a. The sensing element 28a is arranged slightly recessed from the underside of the bearing support 24 and is held in position in the second bore 24b by being embedded in a polymer resin (not shown) filling said second bore 24b.The polymer resin protects the sensing element 28a from the external environment while allowing it to remain as close as possible to the ground ingredients when the bell 21a is immersed in the food preparation. Furthermore, the polymer resin used is food-grade, meaning it is compatible with food products. The sensing element 28a thus delivers a signal representing the temperature of the food preparation and is connected via a connecting cable 28b to the first electronic board 13.1, which is configured to display a temperature value representative of the food preparation on the display screen 18 of the motor unit 10, using the signal delivered by the sensing element 28a.

[0040] It should be noted that such an arrangement and such integration of the temperature sensor 28 in the bell 21a allows easy and safe cleaning of the mixing foot 20 to avoid any contamination of the food preparation.

[0041] It should also be noted that the control unit 13 can be configured to prevent the motor 12 from operating depending on the temperature of the food preparation measured via the temperature sensor 28, regardless of the position of the push button 16. For example, the control unit 13 can be configured to prevent the motor 12 from operating when the temperature of the food preparation measured via the temperature sensor 28 is below a predetermined minimum temperature or above a predetermined maximum temperature. The control unit 13 can also be configured to emit an audible signal when the temperature of the food preparation measured via the temperature sensor 28 is below the predetermined minimum temperature or above the predetermined maximum temperature.

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates a mixing foot 20' which is simply a variant of the mixing foot 20. The mixing foot 20' differs from the mixing foot 20 in that it includes a temperature probe 28', here of the NTC type, instead of the temperature sensor 28 embedded in the food-grade polymer resin. The temperature probe 28' forms a temperature sensor having a sensing element (not shown) enclosed in a capsule 28a', generally cylindrical in shape, which is inserted and held in position in the second hole 24b, here chemically (bonding, resin coating, etc.) or mechanically (welding, screwing, etc.). The capsule, made here of stainless steel, has a free end, substantially semi-spherical in shape, extending outward from the underside of the bearing support 24 and the sensitive element is connected via a link cable 28b' to the first electronic board 13.1 of the motor block 10 to allow the display of a representative value of the food preparation temperature via the display screen 18. .

[0043] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0044] Although the temperature sensors 28, 28' are here of the NTC type, they can be of a different nature (thermocouple, RTD or "Resistance Temperature Detector", Pt 100 probe, infrared...).

[0045] Although the temperature sensors 28, 28' are arranged here in the bottom of the bell 21a, they can also be arranged on an internal periphery of the bell 21a by being, for example, integrated into one of the lobes of said bell 21a.

[0046] The temperature sensors 28, 28' can be replaced by any other type of sensor allowing the measurement of a given parameter of food preparation (pH, level...). For safety reasons, the temperature sensors 28, 28' can for example be replaced by an immersion detection sensor connected to the control unit 13 so as to prevent the operation of the motor 12 when the bell 21a is not immersed in the food preparation, and thus prevent any false handling or misuse of the immersion blender 1 which could cause injury to the user.

[0047] Although the mixing stand 20 here includes only one sensor, it can also include several. The mixing stand can, for example, combine the temperature sensor 28, 28' with the immersion detection sensor.

[0048] Although the motor block 10 here includes a power cord 14 to connect the motor 12 to a power source, the motor block 10 can also include an internal battery to form a cordless immersion blender.

[0049] The operating range of the temperature sensors 28, 28' may differ from that described. In particular, it may have a minimum temperature below or above -40 degrees Celsius, and / or a maximum temperature below or above 125 degrees Celsius. The operating range may therefore be wider or narrower than that described.

Claims

Demands

1. A mixing foot (20) for an immersion blender (1) intended to be immersed in a food preparation, the mixing foot comprising: • a tubular barrel (21) having one end defining a bell (21a); ​​• a sealing element (24) for the end of the barrel, the sealing element defining a bottom of the bell; • a drive shaft (22) extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis in a first central bore formed in the sealing element; and • a blade (23) received inside the bell and fixed to one end of the drive shaft, characterized in that the mixing foot further comprises at least one sensor (28, 28') for measuring a parameter of the food preparation, the sensor extending inside the bell to deliver a signal representative of the parameter of said food preparation.

2. Mixer stand (20) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (28, 28') extends into the bottom of the bell (21a).

3. Mixer foot (20) according to claim 2, wherein the sensor (28, 28') extends into a second hole formed in the shutter element (24) parallel to the first hole.

4. Mixer foot (20) according to claim 3, wherein the sensor (28) comprises a sensitive element held in position in the second bore via a polymer resin.

5. Mixer foot (20) according to claim 3, wherein the sensor (28') is in the form of a probe inserted in the second hole.

6. Mixer foot (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (28, 28') is a temperature sensor arranged to measure the temperature of the food preparation.

7. Mixing foot (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor is an immersion detection sensor of the bell in the food preparation.

8. Immersion blender (1) comprising a motor block (10) on which is attached a blending foot (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, the motor block comprising an electric motor (12) arranged to drive in rotation the transmission shaft (22) and a motor control unit (13), the sensor (28, 28') being connected to the control unit.

9. Immersion blender (1) according to claim 8, wherein the motor block (10) includes a display screen (18) connected to the control unit (13) to display a value representative of the food preparation parameter via the signal delivered by the sensor (28, 28').

10. Immersion blender (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the control unit (13) is arranged to prevent the operation of the motor (12) according to the signal delivered by the sensor.

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