SPICE MILL ATTACHMENT FOR FOOD PROCESSOR
This invention relates to spice mill attachments for food processors; such
attachments sometimes being alternatively called mixer/grinders.
Such attachments usually comprise a cup-like processing receptacle, or
jar, containing at its base a bladed member that can rotate when coupled
to a drive outlet presented by a food processor. The jar has a lid or cover
which should be in place when the attachment is used, and the blade is
supported for rotation on a drive shaft that passes through an aperture in
the base of the jar, allowing it to be coupled to the drive outlet of the food
processor; the shaft being mounted in a bearing that also passes through
the base of the jar.
Various matters relating to health and safety of operation require
significant attention in relation to these attachments, bearing in mind that
they are used to process foodstuffs and that the processing receptacles
tend to be relatively squat (i.e. shallow and wide), such that the rotating
blades present potential hazards to users.
It is an object of this invention to provide a spice mill attachment with
improved health and safety performance. In this regard, various aspects
of the invention provide improvements which have individual merit and
which can, if desired, be beneficially employed together in various
combinations.
According to the invention from a first aspect, there is provided a spice
mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a
container which is substantially smooth over its entire internal surface. In
this way, the internal surface of the container is rendered free from
protuberances (such as the heads of screws used to secure rivets or the
like to the base of the container) and depressions (such as may be
associated with mouldings for interlock mechanisms) which are typically
present in existing spice mill attachments.
Preferably the container is made from stainless steel.
In preferred embodiments, the container is affixed to a support member
by means including connecting devices, such as rivets, welded to the
outer surface of the container's base; thereby facilitating the provision of
a clean and smooth internal container surface by avoiding the use of
connecting devices attached to the container by means penetrating the
base and secured to the container from its inside.
According to the invention from another aspect, there is provided a spice
mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a
bladed member supported on a shaft and in a bearing; the shaft and the
bearing passing through an aperture in the base of the container, and
wherein a cap is provided to cover the bearing, the cap being tubular and
having an outwardly extending flange disposed beneath the container to
hold the cap in place. In this way, it is ensured that the bearing, which is
suffused with oil at manufacture, is no longer exposed within the
container.
Preferably, a flexible sealing member is disposed between the flange on
the cap and the underside of said container.
According to the invention from a further aspect, there is provided a spice
mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the attachment comprises a
container with a bladed tool capable of being rotated therein when
coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and a lid intended to cover
the container when the tool is rotating; the attachment further comprising
a latching arrangement for the lid by inter-engagement of latch
components on said lid with complementary latch components supported
by said container and wherein the latch components supported by said
container are formed in a band of plastics material secured to an outer
surface of said container. By this means, the latch components may be
accurately and economically formed, and those supported by the
container can be securely mounted to the container without the need for
indentations or protuberances on the inner surface of the container. Thus,
the inner surface can be made beneficially smooth, avoiding food traps
and the like. The band may be formed by moulding or die-casting, for
example.
Preferably, the band of plastics material is secured to the container by
rolling material at the rim of the container over the band. This provides a
secure and economic fitment.
Preferably, at least one of the latch components supported by the
container also provides part of a safety device for preventing the rotation
of said tool unless the lid is latched to cover the container. By this
means, a safety interlock may be provided to disable the rotation of the
tool unless safe operating conditions are satisfied.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of an open container for a
spice mill in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows, in similar view to Figure 1, the container fitted with a lid;
Figure 3 shows, in scrap cross-sectional view, details of the lid, the
container and associated components; and
Figures 4 and 5 show cross-sectional views of the attachment of this
embodiment.
Referring now to the drawings, these show a container 10 of a spice mill
attachment in accordance with one example of the invention. The
container 10, which is typically made of stainless steel, has a bladed tool
12 supported for rotation therein; the tool 12 being driven in conventional
manner from a drive outlet presented by a food processor (not shown)
which can take any convenient form, and to which the spice mill
attachment is temporarily installed for use. In accordance with a first
aspect of the invention, and as can be seen from the drawing, the
container 10 is formed with a smooth internal surface 14, uninterrupted
by protrusions or depressions; thus presenting a working surface which is
beneficially free from food-traps and which is easy to clean.
In part, the smoothness of the internal surface 14 of the container 12 is
attributable to the fact that connecting devices, such as rivets as shown at
16 in Figures 4 and 5, are welded to the outer surface 18 of the base of the
container 10, rather than being secured to the base by screws or by means
of other invasive fasteners passing through the base. These rivets 16 or
other connecting devices are used to affix the container 10 firmly to a
support member including a die cast bearing housing 50 (see Figures 4
and 5).
Another contribution to the smoothness of the surface 14 is provided by
utilising an externally supported collar 20, of moulded or die-cast plastics
material, mounted just beneath the rim of the container 10 and providing
bayonet forms such as 22 to receive complementary lid-mounted latch
components, such as that shown at 24 in Figure 2; thus permitting
latching attachment of a lid 26 to the container 10. The lid 26 is intended
to be secured in place on the container 10 when the spice mill attachment
is in use, so as to protect the user from potential contact with the rapidly
rotating tool 12.
In this embodiment of the invention, therefore, one of the bayonet forms,
28, is also constructed to house an actuating element 30 of a safety
interlock designed to prevent rotation of the tool 12 unless the lid 26 is
securely latched in place to cover the container 10. The safety interlock
may be constructed in accordance with any convenient principle, but
typically will comprise a rod-like actuator 40 (see Figure 4) which is
normally urged to an inactive position by means of a spring, but which
can be pressed downwards by means of an actuating member provided on
the lid, against the spring pressure, to operate (directly or indirectly) an
electrical switch enabling the power supply to the food processor's motor,
when the lid is correctly latched to the container.
The lid 26 is, in this example, made of substantially transparent plastics
material, and its rim is overmoulded with a rubber, or rubberised, grip
and seal 32.
Reference has been made already to a benefit, in terms of promoting the
desirable degree of smoothness of the internal surface 14 of the container
10, provided by supporting the bayonet forms such as 22 and the
interlock components 28 and 30 externally of the container 10 by means
of the collar 20. Further benefits also flow from this arrangement,
however, in that the moulding or die-casting process used to form the
collar and its attachments cost-effectively provides positive, well-defined
and well-toleranced features.
A particularly effective way of securing the collar 20 to the container 10
is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the collar 20 is shown as having an
undercut form 34 on its outer surface, over which the rim of the container
10 is rolled, as shown at 36, to clamp the collar 20 in position. Figure 3
also illustrates the grip and seal 32 overmoulded on the rim of the plastics
lid 26.
Another area of health-related concern which is addressed by this
embodiment of the invention relates to a bearing used to support the tool
12 for rotation in the container 10. Hitherto, this bearing, which is
typically a phosphor-bronze bearing, suffused during manufacture with
oil intended to provide lubrication throughout an extended period of
usage, has been exposed within the container 10; thus potentially
contaminating with oil the spices processed in the attachment. In
accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the bearing is capped
by means of a fully-sealed bearing cover 38, thereby eliminating, or at
least substantially reducing, the risk of contaminating the processed
spices with oil from the bearing.
The health and safety-related features provided by certain aspects of the
invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the
cross-sectional views of Figures 4 and 5.
From these drawings, it can be seen that the container 10 has a smooth
inner surface 14 which is substantially free of potential food traps, and is
thus easy to clean. In part, the smoothness of surface 14 is attributable to
the attachment of the rivets such as 16 (or other connecting devices) by
welding to the outside surface 18 of the base of the container 10. In this
example of the invention, three rivets such as 16 are provided at equally
spaced angles on the underside 18 of the container 10, and they are
peened over in usual fashion to secure the container firmly to the die-cast
bearing housing 50. If desired, washers may be used in addition to the
rivets. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, connecting devices other than
rivets can be used if desired; the important feature being that, whatever
connection technique is used, the elements of the connecting device
associated with the container 10 are secured directly to the outside
surface 18 of its base, thereby avoiding any perforation or distortion of
the internal surface 14 container which could lead to the production of
food and/or dirt traps. Maintenance of a smooth inner surface 14 to
container 10 is a significant feature of this aspect of the invention.
Another feature contributing to the smoothness of the surface 14 is the
use of the plastics collar 20 which supports the latches such as 22 and the
latch/safety interlock feature 28, 30, and the attachment of the collar 20 to
the container 10 by rolling the rim of the container over the collar as
previously described.
It will be appreciated that the use of externally welded rivets 16 (or other
connecting devices), on the one hand, and the separately formed but
securely attached collar, on the other hand, can be used individually to
enhance the smoothness of the surface 14, but it is preferred to use both
features together.
Referring now to the use of the bearing cap 38 to cover the oil-suffused
bearing 42 for the tool drive shaft 12a, this is used in conjunction with a
shaft seal 44 to seal the operating volume of the container 12 against the
potential influx of oil from the bearing 42. The cap 38 is tubular,
partially closed at one end where the shaft 12a passes through and open at
the other end, where it is formed with an outwardly facing shoulder 46
which plays a significant role in retaining the cap 38 in place; the
shoulder 46 being located between an up-turned portion 52 of the
container 10, into which the bearing cap 38 is a tight fit, and the die cast
bearing housing 50. A rubber container seal 48 is provided between the
shoulder 46, the base of the container 10 and the die-cast housing 50.
Essentially, it will be appreciated that a sandwich-like construction is set
up by riveting (or otherwise firmly securing) the container 10 to the die-
cast housing 50, trapping the shoulder 46 and the seal 48 in place.
An elastomeric member 54 is, in this example, located on the shaft 12a,
between the top of the bearing cap 38 and the underside of the bladed tool
12, to permit the blade 12 a degree of vertical motion sufficient to allow it
to ride over materials being ground which may become stuck beneath it.
The bearing cap 38 can be used individually if desired, but it is
particularly preferred to use it in conjunction with the externally welded
connector devices, such as rivets 16, and/or the plastics collar 20.
Claims:
1. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the
attachment comprises a container which is substantially smooth over its
entire internal surface.
2. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein the container is made
from stainless steel.
3. An attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said
container is affixed to a support member by means including connecting
devices, such as rivets, welded to the outer surface of the container's
base.
4. An attachment according to any preceding claim, further including
a bladed member supported within the container on a shaft and in a
bearing; the shaft and the bearing passing through an aperture in the base
of the container, and wherein a cap is provided to cover the bearing, the
cap being secured relative to the container by means including an
outwardly extending flange disposed beneath the container.
5. An attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein the
attachment comprises a bladed tool capable of being rotated within the
container when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and
wherein the attachment further comprises a lid intended to cover the
container when the tool is rotating, and a latching arrangement for
latching the lid to the container by inter-engagement of latch components
on said lid with complementary latch components supported by said
container and wherein the latch components supported by said container
are formed in a band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of
said container.
6. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the
attachment comprises a container, a bladed member supported within the
container on a shaft and in a bearing; the shaft and the bearing passing
through an aperture in the base of the container, and wherein a cap is
provided to cover the bearing, the cap being secured relative to the
container by means including an outwardly extending flange disposed
beneath the container.
7. An attachment according to claim 6, wherein the attachment
comprises a bladed tool capable of being rotated within the container
when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and wherein the
attachment further comprises a lid intended to cover the container when
the tool is rotating, and a latching arrangement for latching the lid to the
container by inter-engagement of latch components on said lid with
complementary latch components supported by said container and
wherein the latch components supported by said container are formed in a
band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container.
8. A spice mill attachment for a food processor, wherein the
attachment comprises a container with a bladed tool capable of being
rotated therein when coupled to a drive outlet of the food processor, and a
lid intended to cover the container when the tool is rotating; the
attachment further comprising a latching arrangement for the lid by inter-
engagement of latch components on said lid with complementary latch
components supported by said container and wherein the latch
components supported by said container are formed integrally with a
band of plastics material secured to an outer surface of said container.
9. An attachment according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the band is
formed by moulding or by die-casting.
10. An attachment according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the band
of plastics material is secured to the container by rolling material at the
rim of the container over the band.
11. An attachment according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein at least
one of the latch components supported by the container also provides part
of a safety device for preventing the rotation of said tool unless the lid is
latched to cover the container.
12. A spice mill attachment for a food processor; the attachment being
substantially as herein described with reference to, and/or as shown in,
the accompanying drawings.

A spice mill attachment for a food processor is disclosed. The attachment
comprises a container which is substantially smooth over its entire
internal surface, the container being made from stainless steel, wherein
said container is affixed to a support member by means including
connecting devices, such as rivets, welded to the outer surface of the
container's base.