Patent Application
20060175447
This invention relates generally to devices for grinding foodstuffs such as grains, nuts, and the like, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for distributing foodstuffs between grinding members and thereby grinding foodstuffs into a finer grind with minimal loss of raw material and minimal equipment down time.
Throughout human history, foodstuffs such as grains, nuts, and the like have been ground into meal and flour by means of grinding stones. Traditional systems for grinding foodstuffs comprise a grinding chamber having two grinding plates positioned relative to one another, with the foodstuff to be ground propelled into the grinding chamber by an auger. Once the foodstuff enters the grinding chamber, it must be distributed radially outward between the grinding plates.
Referring to
Foodstuffs are successfully ground using the distributing blade 184 configuration of the prior art, but only to a course grind. If a finer grind is an additional grinding process has been required. Also, the distributing blade 184 does not distribute the foodstuffs outwardly in the most efficient manner. Instead, the foodstuffs accumulate at the center of the driven grinding member 40 on the distributing blade 184 and become gelatinous lumps. When this occurs, the grinding chamber 28 must be opened and cleaned, slowing down production and necessitating the service of an operator and/or a repair technician.
The present invention comprises a food grinding apparatus and method which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention a grinding apparatus which improves upon and may be used in conjunction with the cited prior art comprises a cup and cone feed distribution apparatus and method which achieves a finer grind than has heretofore been possible by pre-grinding the foodstuffs and which radially distributes the foodstuffs in a manner that minimizes raw material loss and equipment downtime.
In accordance with the more specific aspects of the invention a cone mounted onto a driven grinding member distributes foodstuffs radially outward for engagement between driven and fixed grinding members in a direction substantially parallel to vanes of the driven grinding member. A cup mounted onto the fixed grinding member facilitates even better foodstuff. Spiral blades comprising the cup and spiral blades comprising the cone facilitate distribution of the foodstuffs in a direction substantially similar to the rotation of the driven grinding member, preventing accumulations of foodstuff at the center of the grinding members, thereby reducing equipment downtime needed for cleaning and maintenance required, and facilitating better yield from the raw foodstuffs.
In addition to improved distribution of the foodstuffs within the grinding chamber, the cup and cone are proximally positioned relative to one another in a manner that provides a pre-grind of foodstuffs. Pre-grinding enables the grinding members to grind the foodstuffs more finely. In addition to facilitating a finer grind, the pre-grinding performed by the cup and cone relieve some of the workload of the grinding members and thus prolongs the useful life of the grinding members.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
Referring specifically to
Referring specifically to
A concave cup 210 is mounted on the fixed grinding member 50 and is secured with fasteners 212. The cup 210 is equipped with spiral fins 214 that extend from the top of the cup 210 to the bottom of the cup 210. The cup 210 and cone 202 are proximally located to each other. The close spatial relationship between the cup 210 and cone 202 facilitates pre-grinding of received foodstuff by the fins 214 of the cup 210 and the fins 206 of the cone 202 as the foodstuff is propelled radially outward. In addition to the cup 210 and cone 202 providing a pre-grind of the foodstuff, other components of the grinding apparatus 20 such as the auger 164 may be configured for pre-grinding of the foodstuff.
Referring specifically to
The second embodiment is more suited for applications utilizing a smaller size grinding apparatus 20′. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that there is no concave cup mounted on the fixed grinding member 50′. Rather, the fixed grinding member 50′ is equipped with radial fins 230 which protrude from the fixed grinding member 50′ near the center thereof. The cone 202′ protrudes toward the fixed grinding member 50′ in a manner such that the cone 202′ is proximally positioned relative to the radial fins 230 in a manner that facilitates improved distribution of the foodstuffs and enables a pre-grind of the foodstuffs.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.
