Grinder (variants)

Abstract

The invention relates to devices for grinding hard foodstuffs. In a grinder comprising an outer housing that forms an assembly with an outer burr, a shaft that forms an assembly with an inner burr, and an adjustment unit, the shaft is mounted via bearings inside a separate housing having a projecting member with guides which are mounted in a retaining assembly disposed on a housing of the adjustment unit, the housing of the adjustment unit is rigidly fastened to the inner side of the outer housing and has a vertical slot, and mounted inside the housing of the adjustment unit is an adjustment screw having a travelling member mounted thereon which has an internal thread and the same pitch as the adjustment screw. The technical result is a simpler structure, a more robust and reliable structure of a system for adjusting the gap between the burrs, and a greater number of possible grinding settings.

Description

[0001] Chopper (options)

[0002] The invention relates to devices for grinding solid food products, in particular legumes, coffee and spices.

[0003] According to patent RU 2780788, a system is known, consisting of a coffee grinding machine and an espresso coffee machine, wherein the coffee grinding machine contains a first grinder and a second grinder, wherein at least one of the first and second grinders is configured to rotate, wherein the grinders interact with each other to grind coffee beans, obtaining a first dose of ground coffee during the first grinding cycle, wherein the coffee grinding machine contains an electric motor, which rotates one of the grinders relative to the other grinder at a predetermined rotation speed, wherein the coffee grinding machine is configured to change the grinding parameter to perform a second grinding cycle, in which a second dose of ground coffee is obtained, wherein the grinding parameter changes depending on the quantitative information received from the coffee machine and changes depending on the rotation speed of the grinders.

[0004] The disadvantages of the known device are the complexity of the design and the impossibility of manually adjusting the degree of grinding.

[0005] According to the international patent application WO 2023086047 A1, a manual coffee grinder is known, comprising a split cylindrical housing, where an external millstone is attached to the upper part of the housing, and an internal millstone is attached to the lower part of the housing, wherein the mechanism for adjusting the degree of grinding consists of an adjustment ring located on the upper part of the housing with the possibility of moving clockwise or counterclockwise and a locking button designed with the possibility of fixing the adjustment ring to the upper part of the housing.

[0006] The disadvantage of the known device is the low reliability of the grinding degree control device.

[0007] The closest to the claimed technical solution is the grinder known from patent US 2004069881 A1, which contains an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment unit including a gear wheel mounted on the shaft, coupled with a spring-loaded toothed rack, made with the possibility of sliding in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft,

[0008] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) above the gear wheel on the shaft, a latch is secured, designed with the possibility of engaging with the teeth of the gear wheel; at the end of the gear rack, protruding beyond the housing, a support element is installed, coupled with the operating lever, pivotally secured to the outer surface of the housing.

[0009] The disadvantages of the known device are the complexity and low reliability of the design, and the limited number of possible degrees of grinding.

[0010] The technical result of the claimed invention is a simplification of the design, an increase in the rigidity and reliability of the design of the system for regulating the gap between the millstones to maintain them in a given position, and an increase in the number of possible degrees of grinding.

[0011] The technical result is achieved in that in a grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment block, according to the first embodiment of the invention, the shaft is mounted by means of bearings inside a separate housing containing a protrusion with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the housing of the shaft, an adjustment screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, on which a slider with an internal thread and a pitch of the adjustment screw is installed, wherein the slider contains a protrusion, which is installed through a slot in the housing of the adjustment block into an opening in the housing of the shaft.

[0012] In a grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment block, according to a second embodiment of the invention, the shaft is mounted by means of bearings inside a separate housing containing a projection with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the housing of the shaft, an adjusting screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, on which a slider with an internal thread and a pitch of the adjusting screw is installed, the slider contains a projection that is installed through a slot in the housing of the adjustment block into an opening in the shaft housing, wherein the adjusting screw in the upper part is made of a larger diameter than in the lower part, intended for moving the slider, and the housing of the adjustment block in the upper part is made

[0013] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) thickened and contains a hole corresponding to the diameter of the thickened part of the adjusting screw.

[0014] In a grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment block, according to a third embodiment of the invention, the shaft is mounted by means of bearings inside a separate housing containing a protrusion with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the housing of the shaft, an adjustment screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, containing a thread in the lower part and installed in a threaded sleeve on the lower part of the housing of the adjustment block, wherein the housing of the shaft contains a protrusion installed in the vertical slot of the housing of the adjustment block, and the adjustment screw contains a first support platform located above the above-mentioned protrusion, and a second support platform located under the above-mentioned protrusion.

[0015] The housing of the adjustment block, according to all three variants of the invention, is attached with bolts to a plate installed on the outer surface of the outer housing.

[0016] The adjusting screw, according to the first and second variants of the invention, contains a support washer under the head, resting on the outer housing or on the housing of the adjusting block.

[0017] On the lower part of the adjusting screw, according to the first variant of the invention, a multi-beam locking nut is fixedly secured, designed with the possibility of synchronous rotation together with the adjusting screw, and resting on a spring-loaded protrusion from the wall of the housing of the adjusting block.

[0018] The second support platform, according to the third embodiment of the invention, is designed to be in contact with a spring-loaded ball installed in a groove of the shaft housing.

[0019] The second support platform, according to the third embodiment of the invention, comprises a plurality of projections on the outer surface.

[0020] The design of the crusher, according to all three variants of the invention, provides for the use of an adjusting screw as a means of changing the vertical position of the shaft housing together with the shaft rigidly fixed in it,

[0021] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The screw thread provides a very wide range of adjustment for the gap between the burrs, allowing for a greater number of possible grinding levels. The use of an adjusting screw with three-dimensional elements that engage the shaft housing eliminates the need for components that are difficult to manufacture and have high material strength requirements, such as the spring-loaded rack, the gear wheel with side and top teeth, and the latch with bottom teeth, which simplifies the design.

[0022] The design of the grinder, according to all three variants of the invention, provides for the possibility of vertical movement of the shaft housing together with the shaft rigidly fixed in it in the holding unit along the guides, while the shaft housing is held in a given position by friction, which reduces the requirements for the reliability of individual locking mechanisms, in addition, such a design has no restrictions on the number of positions of the shaft with the internal millstone, relative to the external millstone, therefore, it allows for an increase in the number of possible degrees of grinding.

[0023] The grinder design, according to the first and second embodiments of the invention, utilizes a slider, the protrusion of which is mounted in a bore in the shaft housing, to vertically move the shaft housing containing the shaft. This creates a simple and reliable system for adjusting the gap between the millstones. Furthermore, the grinder design according to the first embodiment may additionally include a locking device consisting of a multi-beam locking nut and a protrusion. This locking device operates on the ratchet principle, but the device is also functional without this locking device. The grinder design according to the first embodiment of the invention allows for the gap between the millstones to be adjusted by the thread pitch of the adjusting screw, which rotates freely within the housing of the adjusting block, thus providing a wide range of grinding degrees.

[0024] The design of the adjustment block, according to the second variant of the invention, allows for the adjustment of the gap between the millstones by combining different diameters and thread pitches of the adjustment screw in the upper and lower parts and the slider installed in the lower part of the adjustment screw, since this creates the effect of adding or subtracting the step of movement of the millstones relative to each other, down to microscopic values.

[0025] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The design of the adjustment block, according to the third embodiment of the invention, allows for the clearance between the millstones to be adjusted by applying pressure to the shaft housing protrusion with the lower and upper support pads while moving the adjustment screw vertically. This allows for the clearance between the millstones to be adjusted by the thread pitch of the adjustment screw, providing a wide range of possible grinding degrees. Furthermore, the adjustment screw, installed in a threaded sleeve on the lower part of the adjustment block housing, ensures its precise positioning and prevents distortion.

[0026] Thus, the combination of the essential features of the variants of the claimed invention allows for the creation of a reliable, highly rigid design. Furthermore, the shaft housing and the housing of the adjustment block form a mechanism for adjusting the grinder's millstone clearance, enabling a wide range of grinding degrees to be achieved.

[0027] The applicant has produced prototypes of all variants of the claimed invention.

[0028] Testing of prototypes demonstrated the fast and reliable operation of the devices with varying millstone clearances. There was no shifting or distortion of the shaft deck or adjustment block components when operating at various speeds.

[0029] The essence of the claimed invention is explained by figures.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a diagram of a grinder made according to the first embodiment of the invention, side view;

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the installation of the adjustment block and the shaft housing inside the outer housing of the grinder, according to all variants of the invention, view from above;

[0032] Fig. 3 schematically shows the shaft housing made in accordance with all variants of the invention;

[0033] Fig. 4 schematically shows the housing of the control unit, made in accordance with all variants of the invention;

[0034] Fig. 5 shows a diagram of a grinder made according to the second embodiment of the invention, side view;

[0035] Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a grinder made according to the third embodiment of the invention, side view;

[0036] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The grinder made according to the first variant of the invention comprises an outer casing 1 assembled with an outer millstone 2, a shaft 3 assembled with an inner millstone 4 by means of bearings 5, installed inside a separate casing 6, the casing of the shaft 6 contains a projection 7 with guides 8 installed in a holding unit 9 located on the casing of the adjusting block 10, the casing of the adjusting block 10 contains a vertical slot 11 directed towards the casing of the shaft 6, an adjusting screw 12 is installed in the casing of the adjusting block 10, on which a slider 13 is installed, containing a projection 14, which is installed through a slot 11 of the casing of the adjusting block 10 in an opening 15 of the casing of the shaft 6, the casing of the adjusting block 10 is fastened with bolts to a cover 16 installed on the outer surface of the outer casing 1, the adjusting screw 12 under the head contains a support washer 17, the grinder contains a container 18 for the finished ground product,the adjusting screw 12 contains a multi-beam locking nut 19, designed with the possibility of synchronous rotation together with the adjusting screw 12, and resting on a spring-loaded protrusion from the wall of the housing of the adjusting block (not shown in the figure).,

[0037] A grinder made according to a second embodiment of the invention comprises an outer housing 1 assembled with an outer millstone 2, a shaft 3 assembled with an inner millstone 4 by means of bearings 5 ​​installed inside a separate housing 6, the housing of the shaft 6 contains a projection 7 with guides 8 installed in a retaining unit 9 located on the housing of the adjustment block 10, the housing of the adjustment block 10 contains a vertical slot 11 directed towards the housing of the shaft 6, an adjusting screw 12 is installed in the housing of the adjustment block 10, the upper part of which is made with a larger diameter than the lower part, a slider 13 is installed on the adjusting screw 12, containing a projection 14, which is installed through a slot 11 of the housing of the adjustment block 10 in an opening 15 of the housing of the shaft 6, and the housing of the adjustment block 10 in the upper part is made thickened and contains an opening corresponding to the diameter of the thickened part of the adjusting screw 12.

[0038] The grinder made according to the third variant of the invention comprises an outer housing 1 assembled with an outer millstone 2, a shaft 3 assembled with an inner millstone 4 by means of bearings 5 ​​installed inside a separate housing 6, the housing of the shaft 6 contains a projection 7 with guides 8 installed in a retaining unit 9 located on the housing of the adjustment block 10, the housing of the adjustment block 10 contains a vertical slot 11 directed towards the housing of the shaft 6, in the housing

[0039] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) an adjusting screw 12 is installed in the adjusting block 10, containing a thread in the lower part and installed in a threaded sleeve 20 on the lower part of the housing of the adjusting block 10, wherein the housing of the shaft 6 contains a projection 21 installed in a vertical slot 11 of the housing of the adjusting block 10, and the adjusting screw 12 contains a first support pad 22 located above the above-mentioned projection 21 and a second support pad 23 located under the above-mentioned projection 21, the second support pad 23 is made with the possibility of contact with a spring-loaded ball 24 installed in a groove 25 of the housing of the shaft 6.

[0040] The claimed embodiments of the invention can be used with either electric or manual drives. When using an electric shaft drive, a separate key can be used to adjust the position of the adjustment screw. When using a manual drive, a single removable handle can be used to rotate the shaft during grinding and to turn the adjustment screw.

[0041] The device works as follows.

[0042] The adjustment of the gap between the millstones, according to all variants of the invention, is carried out by means of vertical sliding of the shaft housing 6 along the guides 8 installed in the retaining unit 9 of the housing of the adjustment block 10. In this case, the shaft housing 6 is movably connected to the housing of the adjustment block 10 and has no other connections, in particular with the outer housing.

[0043] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the adjusting screw 12 itself does not move in the vertical direction, but rotates freely in the upper opening of the housing of the adjusting block 10. The vertical movement of the housing of the shaft 6 is carried out by moving the slider 13 along the thread of the adjusting screw 12, while the projection 14 of the slider 13, coupled with the housing of the shaft 6 through the opening 15, vertically moves the shaft together with the housing of the shaft 6, both up and down.

[0044] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the gap between the millstones is adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw 12 through its vertical movement along a thread in a hole in the upper thickened portion of the housing of the adjusting block 10. Simultaneously, the vertical movement of the slider 13 along the thread of the adjusting screw 12 occurs. The projection 14 of the slider 13, coupled with the housing of the shaft 6 through an opening 15, vertically moves the shaft, together with the housing of the shaft 6, both upward and downward. In this case, the accuracy of the gap adjustment is increased.

[0045] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) According to the third variant of the invention, the gap between the millstones is adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw 12 due to its vertical movement along the thread in the threaded sleeve 20 on the lower part of the housing of the adjusting block 10. In this case, the first support platform 22 pushes the projection 21 of the shaft housing downwards, and the second support platform 23 pushes the projection 21 of the shaft housing upwards.

[0046] The retaining assembly, located on the housing of the adjustment block, is preferably designed as a clamp consisting of two L-shaped projections facing each other, while the projection on the shaft housing is preferably T-shaped, allowing guides to be installed in grooves formed by the L-shaped projections of the retaining assembly. However, this system of articulating the housings is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the joints of the housings can be reversed, or brackets with interpenetrating projections and recesses can be used. In the device according to the second embodiment of the invention, a nut for fixing the adjusting screw can be installed above the housing of the adjustment block, preventing its rotation and vertical displacement during millstone rotation.

[0047] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

Invention formula 1. A grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment block, characterized in that the shaft is mounted by means of bearings inside a separate housing containing a projection with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the housing of the shaft, an adjustment screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, on which a slider with an internal thread and a pitch of the adjustment screw is installed, wherein the slider contains a projection which is installed through a slot in the housing of the adjustment block into an opening in the housing of the shaft.

2. A crusher according to item 1, characterized in that the housing of the adjustment block is attached with bolts to a plate installed on the outer surface of the outer housing.

3. The crusher according to item 1, characterized in that the adjusting screw under the head contains a support washer resting on the outer housing or on the housing of the adjusting block.

4. A crusher according to claim 1, characterized in that a multi-beam locking nut is fixedly secured to the lower part of the adjusting screw, designed with the possibility of synchronous rotation together with the adjusting screw and resting on a spring-loaded protrusion from the wall of the housing of the adjusting block.

5. A grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment block, characterized in that the shaft is mounted by means of bearings inside a separate housing containing a protrusion with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the shaft housing, an adjusting screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, on which a slider with an internal thread and a pitch of the adjusting screw is installed, the slider contains a protrusion that is installed through a slot in the housing of the adjustment block into an opening in the shaft housing, wherein the adjusting screw in the upper part is made of a larger diameter than in the lower part, intended for moving the slider, and the housing of the adjustment block in the upper part is made thicker and contains an opening,corresponding to the diameter of the thickened part of the adjusting screw, 6. A crusher according to item 5, characterized in that the housing of the adjustment block is attached with bolts to a plate installed on the outer surface of the outer housing.

7. The crusher according to item 5, characterized in that the adjusting screw under the head contains a support washer resting on the outer housing or on the housing of the adjusting block.

8. A grinder comprising an outer housing assembled with an outer millstone, a shaft assembled with an inner millstone, an adjustment unit, characterized in that the shaft SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) by means of bearings it is installed inside a separate housing containing a projection with guides installed in a retaining unit located on the housing of the adjustment block, the housing of the adjustment block is rigidly fixed on the inner side of the outer housing and contains a vertical slot directed towards the housing of the shaft, an adjusting screw is installed in the housing of the adjustment block, containing a thread in the lower part and installed in a threaded sleeve on the lower part of the housing of the adjustment block, wherein the housing of the shaft contains a projection installed in the vertical slot of the housing of the adjustment block, and the adjusting screw contains a first support platform located above the above-mentioned projection, and a second support platform located under the above-mentioned projection.

9. The crusher according to item 8, characterized in that the housing of the adjustment block is attached with bolts to a plate installed on the outer surface of the outer housing.

10. The crusher according to item 8, characterized in that the second support platform is designed with the possibility of contact with a spring-loaded ball installed in a groove of the shaft housing.

11. The crusher according to claim 8, characterized in that the second support platform contains a plurality of protrusions on the outer surface. SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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