A system for grinding granular food-grade materials, equipped with a feeding device.

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a food granular material grinding system, comprising: - a first rotating grinding wheel (7), - a second grinding wheel (6), - a rotating shaft (9) configured to drive the first rotating grinding wheel (7), the first rotating grinding wheel (7) comprising a grinding portion (14) configured to allow grinding of the granular material against the second grinding wheel (6), the grinding system further comprising a feeding device (1) for the granular material grinding system comprising: - a fastening element (2) for the rotating shaft (9), and - a feeding element comprising a proximal portion (4), an angled portion (13) and a distal feeding portion (5), a recess (12) separating the distal feeding portion (5) from the fastening element (2). Abstract figure: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Grinding system for granular food material, equipped with a feeding device technical field

[0001] This application relates to the field of grinding systems for granular materials, in particular for grinding coffee beans to produce ground coffee. More specifically, it relates to a grinding system for food-grade granular materials equipped with a feeding device. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A burr grinding system typically comprises a rotating burr and a stationary burr, both generally conical in shape. Such a system is notably found in some coffee machines, so as to produce ground coffee from coffee beans. The two burrs are mounted to rotate relative to each other around a common main axis. One of the burrs is driven in rotation by a motor, while the other burr remains, for example, stationary relative to the main axis, so that beans drawn by gravity towards a convergence zone between the burrs are ground between the two burrs.

[0003] The grain grinding rate between the millstones depends directly on the rotational speed of the moving millstone: the higher this speed, the faster the coarse grains are ground and the greater the volume of grain that can flow freely towards the convergence zone. Therefore, when it is desired to increase the throughput of ground grain, it is necessary to increase the rotational speed of the moving millstone. However, such an increase presents several drawbacks.

[0004] Firstly, this inevitably increases the noise generated by the motor that drives the moving grinding wheel, and results in discomfort for the user, particularly in the case where the grinding system in question is part of a household appliance.

[0005] Furthermore, increasing the rotational speed of the moving grinding wheel is only possible with a motor capable of providing sufficient mechanical torque. This is therefore prohibitive regarding the type of motor that the grinding system must include. For example, it may be desirable to use certain DC motors that allow for a stable rotational speed; however, such motors can only achieve limited rotational speeds.

[0006] Finally, increasing the rotational speed of the moving millstone alters the particle size of the ground grain, whereas it may be desirable to increase the grinding rate without altering this particle size in order to maintain optimal organoleptic properties of the ground grain and of a beverage made with such grain. For example, In the case of a coffee grinding system, one may wish to increase the grinding rate, so as to obtain a larger volume of ground coffee in a given time, without however changing the thickness of the ground beans which has a considerable impact on the texture and flavor of the coffee.

[0007] Some solutions have been considered in the prior art to increase the grinding rate of a grinding system for household appliances. For example, there are grinding systems comprising an auger that feeds the convergence zone between the grinding wheels. However, the increase in throughput made possible by such systems remains limited for a predefined rotational speed of the moving grinding wheel. Description of the invention

[0008] There is therefore a need for a grinding system which makes it possible to increase the grain grinding rate, without it being necessary to increase the rotation speed of a moving grinding wheel of the grinding system.

[0009] To this end, a system for grinding a granular food-grade material is proposed, comprising:

[0010] - a first movable grinding wheel,

[0011] - a second grinding wheel,

[0012] - a rotating shaft configured to drive the first rotating moving grinding wheel,

[0013] the first movable grinding wheel comprising a grinding portion configured to allow grinding of the granular material against the second grinding wheel,

[0014] the grinding system further comprising a feeding device for the grinding system of the granular material, the feeding device comprising:

[0015] - a fixing element to the rotating shaft of the grinding system, and

[0016] - a feeding element, the feeding element comprising:

[0017] - an elongated proximal portion extending in a reference plane from the fastening element as it moves away from the fastening element,

[0018] - an angled portion extending from the proximal portion in the plane of reference, and

[0019] - a distal portion of the feeding tube extending from the angled portion, forming a a non-zero angle with the proximal portion, a recess separating the distal feeding portion from the fixation element,

[0020] in which the fixing element, the proximal portion, the angled portion and the feeding portion are made of material.

[0021] The presence of a distal feeding portion extending from an angled portion, and therefore not directly extending from the proximal portion, allows the passage of grains to be forced towards a part of the system where the grains are ground, resulting This allows for a higher throughput of ground grains without increasing the rotational speed of the moving grinding wheel. A given quantity of granular material can thus be ground in a shorter time, without the drawbacks associated with increased rotational speed. Furthermore, the presence of the distal feed portion ensures better agitation of the grains, thereby improving their descent to the grinding stage of the system.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the distal portion of the gavage extends outside the reference plane by defining a non-zero angle with the reference plane, the angle being preferably between 10° and 45°, more preferably between 15° and 30°.

[0023] According to some embodiments, a projection of the distal portion of the feeding tube into a median plane of the fixation element approaches the fixation element from the angled portion to a free end of the distal portion of the feeding tube.

[0024] According to some embodiments, a minimum distance between the fixing element and the distal portion of the feeding tube is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 8 mm.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the fixation element defines an axis of rotation of the feeding device, and the proximal portion extends along an elongation direction, a projection of the elongation direction onto a median plane of the fixation element being parallel to a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, the projection of the elongation direction onto the median plane of the fixation element being located at a non-zero distance from the radial direction.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the distal portion of the gavage has a curved outer edge.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the fastening element includes a central orifice configured to fix the feeding device to the rotating shaft.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the grinding system comprises a plurality of feeding elements equally distributed around the fixing element.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the grinding system includes two or three feeding elements.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the second grinding wheel is fixed, the first grinding wheel is movable and the second grinding wheel is fixed, defining a common axial direction.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the first movable grinding wheel comprises a plurality of teeth extending in a radial direction from the first movable grinding wheel, and a projection of the proximal portion onto a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft comprises a projection of a vertex of one of the teeth onto the plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the first moving grinding wheel comprises a plurality of teeth extending in a radial direction from the first moving grinding wheel, and a projection of a vertex of each tooth onto a plane orthogonal to the shaft of rotation lies outside a projection of the proximal portion onto the plane orthogonal to the shaft of rotation.

[0033] According to some embodiments, the grinding system includes a DC motor configured to drive the rotating shaft.

[0034] According to some embodiments, the grinding system includes a detection system configured to:

[0035] - Measure the current intensity consumed by a motor driving the first moving grinding wheel, the measured current intensity being representative of a rotational speed of the first moving grinding wheel,

[0036] - compare the measured current intensity with a reference current intensity, And

[0037] - generate a signal representative of the presence or absence of grains in the portion of grinding from a comparison result.

[0038] According to some embodiments, the feeding device is fixed to the rotating shaft by screwing around an external threaded portion of the rotating shaft.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the distal feeding portion extends, in the mounted configuration of the grinding system, away from the grinding portion from the angled portion towards a free edge of the distal feeding portion. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] [Fig.1] represents a system for grinding a granular material.

[0041] [Fig.2a] represents a second grinding wheel of the grinding system.

[0042] [Fig.2b] represents a first movable grinding wheel of the grinding system.

[0043] [Fig.3] represents a feeding device for the grinding system, the device of force-feeding comprising a single force-feeding element.

[0044] [Fig.4] represents a feeding device for the grinding system, the device of force-feeding comprising two force-feeding elements.

[0045] [Fig. 5] represents a feeding device for the grinding system, the device of force-feeding comprising three force-feeding elements.

[0046] In the figures, identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0047] Figure 1 represents a grinding system for grinding granular food-grade material to obtain a powdered material. The system is specifically designed for grinding coffee beans to obtain ground coffee.

[0048] The grinding system comprises two grinding wheels 6, 7 which cooperate to grind the granular material. These two grinding wheels 6, 7 are individually shown in more detail in Figures 2a and 2b. A first grinding wheel 7 is rotatable and mechanically fixed to a rotating shaft 9 suitable for being driven by a motor. A second grinding wheel 6 is fixed, so that the first grinding wheel 7, when driven by the rotating shaft 9, moves relative to the second grinding wheel 6. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2a and 2b, the grinding wheels 6, 7 each have the shape of a truncated cone of revolution – in a position of operation of the grinding system, the first rotatable grinding wheel 7 has a downward flared shape while the second grinding wheel 6 has an upward flared shape.

[0049] An outer wall 16 of the first moving millstone 7 and an inner wall 15 of the second millstone 6 define a grain receiving area, suitable for receiving a quantity of grain to be ground. A lower portion of the outer wall 16 of the first moving millstone 7 defines a grinding portion 14, the diameter of which is sufficiently close to the diameter D of the inner wall 15 of the second millstone 6 to allow the granular material, when it reaches the grinding portion 14 under the effect of gravity, to be ground between the two millstones 6, 7.

[0050] The first movable grinding wheel 7 and the second grinding wheel 6 together define an axial direction, denoted a. The rotating shaft 9 extends along this axial direction a. A radial direction r is defined as any direction perpendicular to and passing through the axial direction a. A circumferential direction c is defined as any direction perpendicular to and not passing through the axial direction a.

[0051] To facilitate the grinding of the granular material, the inner wall 15 of the second grinding wheel 6 has a saw-like shape. When grains are pushed against the inner wall 15 by the rotating action of the first movable grinding wheel 7, the teeth 17 of the inner wall 15 concentrate the force exerted by the inner wall 15 at a localized position on the grain and thus facilitate its grinding.

[0052] The outer wall 16 of the first movable grinding wheel 7 also includes teeth configured to facilitate grinding of the granular material. The teeth extend substantially in a radial direction r and have crests 8. They exert the same force-concentrating action as the teeth 17 of the second grinding wheel 6.

[0053] According to some embodiments, the rotating shaft 9 is configured to be connected to a DC motor, which allows for quieter operation of the moving grinding wheel 7 than if an AC motor were used. Furthermore, the use of a DC motor provides greater stability of the rotational speed. However, the rotating shaft 9 is preferably configured to be selectively connected to either an AC motor (alternating current motor) or a DC motor (direct current motor).

[0054] The grinding system further includes a grain absence detection system. The detection system includes a current sensor capable of determining the current consumed by the motor. When an abnormally low quantity of grain is present in the grain receiving zone, the motor consumes less current than when the grain receiving zone is full. A processing unit regularly receives signals from the current sensor, indicating the current consumed by the motor, and compares these signals with a reference current corresponding to motor operation when the grain receiving zone is full. The processing unit can therefore detect the absence, or the presence in an abnormally low quantity, of grain in the grain receiving zone.

[0055] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the grinding system includes a feeding device 1 attached to the rotating shaft 9 by means of a fastening element 2. The feeding device 1 is designed to force the grains poured into the grain receiving zone towards the grinding portion 14, so as to ensure that the largest possible quantity of grains is ground in a given time. In other words, the feeding device 1 increases the grinding throughput of the grinding system. An advantage of the feeding device 1 is that it allows a satisfactory grinding throughput to be achieved even when a DC motor is used, as this type of motor cannot reach rotational speeds as high as an AC motor. This results in a grinding system that is both quiet and has a stable rotational speed, due to the use of the DC motor, while maintaining a high grinding throughput.

[0056] In the embodiment shown, the fixing element 2 takes the form of a ring comprising a central orifice 3, into which the rotation shaft 9 is inserted. During operation of the grinding system, this allows the rotation shaft to be surrounded by material on its entire circumference, and thus prevents any disengagement of the feeding device 1 from the rotation shaft 9.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the feeding device 1 is fixed by screwing around an external threaded portion of the rotating shaft 9. In this case, the fixing element 2 comprises an internal threaded wall complementary to the thread of the external threaded portion of the rotating shaft 9. According to another embodiment, the fixing element 2 is flat and is retained on the rotating shaft 9 by clamping between the movable grinding wheel 7 and a head of the rotating shaft 9.

[0058] According to another embodiment, the rotating shaft 9 comprises an internal thread, and the fastening element 2 is retained by a screw whose external thread is complementary to the internal thread of the rotating shaft 9. The screw 2 is screwed onto the rotating shaft while the fastening element is disposed around the rotating shaft 9. The screw may comprise a head having an external diameter greater than a internal diameter of the fastener (for example, to a diameter of the orifice of a ring forming the fastener 2).

[0059] The feeding device 1 further comprises a feeding element ensuring the feeding of the grains towards the grain receiving zone. The feeding element essentially takes the form of an angled paddle, defined by a proximal portion 4, an angled portion 13 and a distal feeding portion 5. The different portions of the feeding element are made of material, and are composed of a metallic material, giving the feeding element adequate rigidity and mechanical resistance with regard to the stresses to which it is subjected in use.

[0060] The proximal portion 4 extends from the fixing element 2. When the fixing element 2 takes the form of a ring, the proximal portion 4 extends from an outer circumference of the ring. The proximal portion is planar, and therefore extends in a reference plane Pref. The proximal portion 4 is elongated, that is to say, it defines a direction of elongation b away from the fixing element 2, a length of the proximal portion 4 along the direction of elongation being greater than a width of the proximal portion perpendicular to the direction of elongation, the length and width of the proximal portion 4 being both defined in the reference plane Pref.The function of the proximal portion 4 being to keep the feeding portion 5 away from the rotation shaft 9, the elongated nature of the proximal portion 4 and the presence of a recess 12 between the fixing element 2 and the distal feeding portion 5 advantageously minimize the moment of inertia of the proximal portion 4 around the axis of rotation, without compromising the efficiency of the feeding provided by the feeding device, since the bulk of the feeding action it exerts takes place away from the rotation shaft 9, where the centrifugal force is most likely to raise the grains away from the grinding portion 14, and where the distal feeding portion 5 is able to exert a significant feeding force.

[0061] The proximal portion 4 can either extend in a median plane of the fixing element 2 (i.e., the reference plane Pref coincides with this median plane), or extend in a plane intersecting the median plane of the fixing element 2, such that the axial position of the proximal portion 4 changes from the fixing element 2 to the angled portion 13. By "median plane" is meant a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the ring—and therefore, in the mounted configuration of the grinding system, to the rotation shaft 9—and dividing the ring into two portions of equal thickness along the axial direction. Figure 3 illustrates the embodiment in which the proximal portion 4 extends in a reference plane Pref coincides with the median plane of the fixing element 2.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the proximal portion 4 extends along a radial direction r. Alternatively, and as shown in [Fig. 3], when the feeding device is projected onto a median plane of the fixation element 2, the elongation direction b of the proximal portion 4 is distinct from, but parallel to, the radial direction r. In particular, again considering a projection onto the median plane of the fixation element 2, the elongation direction b is offset from the radial direction r such that an external edge 18 of the proximal portion 4 is tangent to the ring formed by the fixation element 2 at a point on its circumference intersecting with a radius f perpendicular to the elongation direction b.

[0063] The elongation direction b passes through a median plane of the proximal portion 4, this median plane separating the proximal portion 4 into two portions of identical width.

[0064] The angled portion 13 extends from the proximal portion 4, that is, from the end of the proximal portion 4 opposite the fixation element 2. The angled portion 13 provides a junction function between the proximal portion 4 and the distal feeding portion 5. The angled portion 13 lies within the reference plane Pref defined by the proximal portion 4. Due to the presence of the angled portion 13, when considering a two-dimensional projection of the feeding element onto the reference plane Pref, the distal portion 5 does not extend in line with the proximal portion 4, but defines a non-zero angle y with the proximal portion 4. This allows the distal feeding portion 5 to extend closer to—or even along—the circumferential direction c.Thus, when the feeding device is in motion due to the rotation of the rotation shaft 9, the distal portion of the feeding device 5 exerts a feeding force on a greater quantity of grains than if the distal portion of the feeding device 5 extended in line with the proximal portion 4. The feeding effect is therefore improved. The fact that the distal portion of the feeding device 5 forms a non-zero angle y with the proximal portion 4 also results in the recess 12 being defined between the fixing element 2 and the distal portion of the feeding device 5.

[0065] The distal feeding portion 5 extends from one end of the angled portion 13 to a free edge 11 of the distal feeding portion 5. The distal feeding portion 5 has a curved outer edge 10, in particular a curved outer edge 10 whose projection onto the median plane of the fixing element 2 defines an arc of a circle around the rotation shaft 9. The curved outer edge 10 can therefore extend in a direction corresponding with the circumferential direction, so as to ensure uniform feeding of the grains during operation of the grinding system.

[0066] According to some embodiments, when considering the projection of the feeding element onto the median plane of the fixation element 2, the distal portion of the feeding element 5 approaches the fixation element 2 from the angled portion 13 to the free edge 11.

[0067] A first option to ensure this approach is that the curved outer edge 10 defines an arc of a circle around the rotation shaft 9, while a curved inner edge 19 of the distal portion of the gavage 5 approaches the fixing element 2. In this case, still in the median plane of the fixing element 2, a width 15 of the distal portion of the gavage 5 perpendicular to its direction of elongation increases from the angled portion 13 to the free edge 11.

[0068] A second option to ensure this approach is that the dimension of the distal portion of the gavage 5 perpendicular to its direction of elongation remains constant, in which case the projections of both the curved outer edge 19 and the curved inner edge 10 in the median plane of the fixation element 2 approach the fixation element 2 from the angled portion 13 to the free outer edge 11.

[0069] The distal feeding portion 5 extends, defining a non-zero angle [3] with the reference plane Pref defined by the proximal portion 4. This allows the distal feeding portion 5 to exert a feeding effect on a larger volume of granular material: indeed, this inclination of the distal feeding portion 5 allows it to come into contact with grains arranged over a wide range of axial positions. In other words, the amount of granular material that passes over or under the distal feeding portion 5 without coming into contact with it, and therefore without being forced towards the grinding portion 14, is minimized.

[0070] Preferably, the angle [3] is such that the distal feeding portion 5 extends away from the grinding portion 14 from the angled portion 13 to the free edge 11. In other words, when the grinding system is placed on a table or work surface, the distal feeding portion 5 extends upwards from the angled portion 13 to the free edge 11, the grinding portion being located lower (and therefore closer to the table or work surface) than the distal feeding portion 5.

[0071] The proximal portion 4 can be more or less elongated depending on the embodiment. According to a so-called "close" configuration, in which the distal feeding portion 5 is relatively close to the rotation shaft 9, a minimum distance between the fixation element 2 and the distal feeding portion 5 is between 0.5 and 4 millimeters, for example, 2.5 mm. According to another configuration, called "offset," in which the distal feeding portion 5 is relatively far from or offset from the rotation shaft 9, the minimum distance between the fixation element 2 and the distal feeding portion 5 is between 4 and 8 millimeters, for example, 5.5 mm.By "minimum distance" we mean that the distance between the fixation element 2 and the distal portion of the feeding tube 5 cannot be less than this value, regardless of the axis along which it is measured, and regardless of the respective points on the distal portion of the feeding tube 5 and the fixation element 2 between which this distance is measured.

[0072] In other words, the minimum distance between the distal portion of the feeding tube 5 and the fixing element 2 corresponds to a minimum width of the recess 12.

[0073] The angle [3] between the reference plane Pref and the distal portion of the feeding 5 is between 10 and 45°, preferably between 15 and 30°. This range of angles allows a good compromise between, on the one hand, feeding grains located over a wide range of axial positions and, on the other hand, a component of the force exerted by the distal portion of the feeding 5 on the grains which is predominantly in the axial direction, downwards - this force being perpendicular to the distal portion of the feeding 5 - and therefore sufficient to force the grains towards the grinding portion 14.

[0074] As shown in [Fig. 1], when the first moving millstone 7 has teeth, and considering again the two-dimensional projection of the grinding system onto the median plane of the mounting element 2, a crest 18 of a tooth of the first moving millstone 7 can be inscribed within the feeding device (the so-called "aligned" configuration). According to an alternative embodiment, the projection of the feeding device 1 does not include a projection of a crest 18 of a tooth – the feeding device is therefore in an intermediate position between two crests 18 of teeth in the circumferential direction (the so-called "non-aligned" configuration). Tests to be presented later have demonstrated that this "non-aligned" configuration allows a higher grain throughput through the grinding system than the "aligned" configuration.

[0075] With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the grinding system comprises, according to certain embodiments, a feeding device 1', 1" equipped with a plurality of feeding elements extending from a single fixing element 2. [Fig. 4] shows a feeding device 1' comprising two distinct feeding elements, identical to the feeding element described previously, arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to the rotating shaft 9. [Fig. 5] shows a feeding device 1" comprising three distinct feeding elements, identical to the feeding element described previously, arranged at 120° to each other around the rotating shaft 9.Increasing the number of feeding elements increases the grinding rate of the grinding system in certain configurations of the feeding device - in particular, it has been found that having three feeding elements rather than two significantly increases the grinding rate in certain configurations of the feeding device. EXAMPLES AND TEST RESULTS

[0076] The inventors carried out a series of tests for different embodiments of the feeding device 1, 1', 1" which highlighted the increase in grinding rate resulting from the adoption of certain preferential characteristics.

[0077] Table 1 below lists the different configurations tested for the feeding device 1, 1', 1”, as well as two reference configurations, without any feeding device, labeled “reference configuration”, one with a DC motor and the other with an AC motor. The “flow rate increase” column indicates the percentage increase in average flow rate observed compared to a grinding system configuration without a feeding device, for the same motor configuration as the example in question (DC or AC motor). The “alignment configuration” column indicates whether it is an “aligned” or “non-aligned” configuration system as defined previously. The “proximal portion” column indicates whether the proximal portion 4 is, according to the “near” or “offset” configuration as defined previously.

[0078] [Tables]

[0079] The following conclusions are drawn in particular from the test results. The motors used are 230 V / 50 Hz motors. The flow rate measurements are taken on average over three grinding cycles, each grinding lasting six seconds. DC motor

[0080] The presence of a feeding element as described allows an increase in the grinding flow rate of between 12% and 27%.

[0081] By comparing the reference configurations, I and III, we see that increasing the angle [3] between the reference plane Pref and the distal portion of gavage 5 from 20° to 30° does not change the increase in flow associated with the presence of the gavage device (12% in both cases compared to the reference configuration).

[0082] By comparing configurations II, IV and V, we see that the increase in flow rate linked to the increase in the number of feeding elements goes from 12% for a single feeding element to 25% for three feeding elements.

[0083] By comparing the reference configurations, II and III, we see that the remote configuration allows a gain of 12% in throughput, almost identical to the gain obtained for the close configuration.

[0084] By comparing the reference configurations, II and VI, we find that the aligned configuration allows a gain of 12% in throughput, compared to 27% for the non-aligned configuration. AC Motor

[0085] The presence of a feeding element as described allows an increase in the grinding flow rate of between 12% and 21%.

[0086] By comparing the reference configurations, VII and IX, we see that increasing the angle [3] between the reference plane Pref and the distal portion of gavage 5 from 20° to 30° increases the flow rate obtained from 12% to 19%.

[0087] Comparing the reference configurations VIII, X, and XI, it can be seen that the increase in throughput associated with increasing the number of feeding elements is relatively small compared to the increase associated with other geometric characteristics of the feeding element, but that this increase is not zero. Increasing the number of feeding elements is therefore particularly advantageous when the grinding system is powered by a DC motor.

[0088] Comparing the reference configurations, VIII and IX, we find that the remote configuration allows a 17% gain in throughput, compared to 12% for the configuration close to the proximal portion 4. Using a remote configuration is therefore particularly advantageous when the grinding system is powered by an AC motor.

[0089] By comparing the reference configurations, VIII and XII, we find that the aligned configuration allows a gain of 17% in throughput, compared to 21% for the non-aligned configuration.

Claims

Demands

1. A grinding system for a granular food material, comprising: - a first movable grinding wheel (7), - a second grinding wheel (6), - a rotating shaft (9) configured to drive the first movable grinding wheel (7) in rotation, the first movable grinding wheel (7) comprising a grinding portion (14) configured to allow grinding of the granular material against the second grinding wheel (6), the grinding system further comprising a feeding device (1) for the grinding system of the granular material, the feeding device comprising: - a fixing element (2) for the rotating shaft (9) of the grinding system, and - a feeding element, the feeding element comprising: - an elongated proximal portion (4) extending in a reference plane (Pref) from the fixing element (2) away from the fixing element (2), - an angled portion (13) extending from the proximal portion (4) in the reference plane,and - a distal feeding portion (5) extending from the angled portion (13) at a non-zero angle (y) with the proximal portion, a recess (12) separating the distal feeding portion (5) from the fixation element (2), in which the fixation element (2), the proximal portion (4), the angled portion (13) and the feeding portion (5) are formed from material.

2. Grinding system according to claim 1, wherein the distal feeding portion (5) extends out of the reference plane by defining a non-zero angle (|3) with the reference plane, the angle (|3) preferably being between 10° and 45°, more preferably between 15° and 30°.

3. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a projection of the distal feeding portion (5) in a median plane of the fixing element (2) approaches the fixing element (2) from the angled portion (13) to a free end (11) of the distal feeding portion (5).

4. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a minimum distance between the fixing element (2) and the distal feeding portion (5) is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 8 mm.

5. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing element (2) defines an axis of rotation (a) of the feeding device (1), and wherein the proximal portion (4) extends along an elongation direction (b), a projection of the elongation direction (b) onto a median plane of the fixing element (2) being parallel to a radial direction (r) with respect to the axis of rotation (a), the projection of the elongation direction (b) onto the median plane of the fixing element (2) being located at a non-zero distance from the radial direction (r).

6. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distal feeding portion (5) has a curved outer edge (10).

7. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing element (2) includes a central orifice (3) configured to fix the feeding device (1) to the rotating shaft (9).

8. Grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a plurality of feeding elements equally distributed around the fixing element (2).

9. Grinding system according to the preceding claim, comprising two or three feeding elements.

10. Grinding system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second grinding wheel (6) is fixed, the first movable grinding wheel (7) and the second fixed grinding wheel (6) define a common axial direction (a).

11. Grinding system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first movable grinding wheel (7) comprises a plurality of teeth extending in a radial direction from the first movable grinding wheel (7), and wherein a projection of the proximal portion (4) onto a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft (9) comprises a projection of a vertex (8) of one of the teeth onto the plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft (9).

12. A grinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first movable grinding wheel (7) comprises a plurality

13.

14. of teeth extending in a radial direction from the first movable grinding wheel (7), and in which a projection of a vertex (8) of each tooth onto a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft (9) lies outside a projection of the proximal portion (4) onto the plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft (9). Grinding system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a DC motor configured to drive the rotating shaft (9). A grinding system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a detection system configured to: - Measure the current consumed by a motor driving the first moving grinding wheel (7), the measured current being representative of a rotational speed of the first moving grinding wheel (7), - compare the measured current with a reference current, and - generate a signal representative of the presence or absence of grains in the grinding portion (14) from a result of the comparison.

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