The invention concerns a mixing vessel for an electromotively driven food processor, which mixing vessel has a mixing mechanism, in particular a knife set or a milk foaming attachment, which by means of a coupling driver can be connected with the rotary drive of the food processor, whereby the mixing vessel has a cleaning device for purposes of cleaning an inner wall of the mixing vessel, in particular, a vessel floor.
In the prior art there exist various cleaning devices for purposes of cleaning a mixing vessel. The cleaning devices all serve to remove deposits adhering to the inner wall after the preparation of food within the mixing vessel. For example, manual cleaning devices such as bristles, sponges, steel wool, and similar are of known art, with the aid of which the inner wall of the mixing vessel can be cleaned by a force exerted by a user.
In addition, it is of known art to clean a mixing vessel of an electromotively operated kitchen machine by setting in motion water inside the mixing vessel by means of the mixing mechanism on which a knife set is advantageously arranged, whereby the moving water (a rotating cone of water) removes deposits from the inner wall of the mixing vessel.
Although the above-cited cleaning devices have proven to be useful in the prior art, these sometimes, depending on the type of deposits, require a long cleaning time, which is inconvenient for a user who is waiting to reuse the mixing vessel. In addition, the manual cleaning devices described are often difficult to use and are thus similarly inconvenient. In particular, there often exist certain regions within the mixing vessel (for example the floor) that cannot be reached and cleaned in an optimal manner, or indeed at all.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a mixing vessel with a cleaning device, which quickly and thoroughly cleans even dirty regions of the mixing vessel that are difficult to reach, in particular the floor region of the mixing vessel.
In order to achieve the above-cited object, the invention proposes that the cleaning device be arranged on the mixing vessel, in particular on a vessel wall and/or the mixing mechanism, and has at least one cleaning element that is designed such that the latter is guided over the inner wall, and/or over some regions of the mixing mechanism, by an actuation of the cleaning device, and by means of a mechanical interaction with any deposits that may be located on the inner wall and/or the mixing mechanism helps to remove the latter.
In accordance with the invention the mixing vessel now has a cleaning device that does not have to be manually held and moved by the user, but rather is arranged, that is to say, attached onto the mixing vessel. The cleaning device can be actuated such that this sweeps over parts of the inner wall and/or the mixing mechanism, and thereby removes the deposits. The actuation can in principle take place either in a motorised manner or manually, whereby a motorised actuation is advantageous in terms of user convenience. The actuation of the cleaning device takes place, for example, such that a motor arranged on the cleaning device moves, in particular, rotates, a cleaning element, or a plurality of cleaning elements, over the inner wall of the vessel wall. Here the motor is a part of the cleaning device. Alternatively it is, however, also possible for a motor of the food processor, which is assigned to the rotary drive for the mixing mechanism, to be used for the actuation of the cleaning device.
It is proposed that the cleaning device be connectable with the mixing mechanism such that with a rotation of the rotary drive of the food processor the cleaning element is moved together with the latter. The cleaning device accordingly uses the rotary drive of the food processor such that a rotation of the mixing mechanism automatically also leads to a rotation of the cleaning device, that is to say, of the cleaning element, and thus effects a sweeping of the cleaning element along the surface to be cleaned.
The cleaning device can also be connected directly to a rotary shaft that usually serves to provide a connection to a mixing mechanism, in particular a knife set and/or a milk foaming attachment. Here the cleaning device is connected directly with the rotary shaft rather than with the mixing mechanism. This form of embodiment is particularly convenient since the user only has to replace the mixing mechanism with the cleaning device. Any other assembly measures are eliminated. Alternatively, however, the cleaning device can also—as explained earlier—be attached to the mixing mechanism that is already present, for example, a knife set, such that when the knife set rotates the cleaning device rotates with the latter. Similarly, in the case of a milk foaming attachment as a mixing mechanism, the milk foaming attachment is usually additionally attached to a knife set, such that the cleaning device rotates with the knife set and the milk foaming attachment.
By means of the above-cited designs, dirt is removed from the inner wall of the mixing vessel. In particular, dirt can also be removed where manual cleaning and/or cleaning by means of a rotating cone of water is particularly difficult or impossible within the mixing vessel, namely, in the floor region of the mixing vessel, which is regularly covered by a knife set or similar. In accordance with the invention, the cleaning device is designed such that the latter is in mechanical contact with the inner wall of the mixing vessel, at least in a subregion, in particular the floor surface, and thus acts exactly on the points to be cleaned.
In particular, the cleaning device can be arranged on the mixing mechanism or instead of a mixing mechanism, such that with a rotation of the mixing mechanism, or the rotary shaft, the cleaning device sweeps over the inner wall of the mixing vessel, in particular over the vessel floor, and/or also over subregions of the knife set.
The cleaning device advantageously has a central carrier element, for example, a plate or similar on which, for example, a plurality of cleaning elements are attached adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction. The carrier element can accommodate a multiplicity of cleaning elements and can be attached to the mixing mechanism, and/or knife set, and/or milk foaming attachment. In the installed state of the cleaning device in the mixing vessel the cleaning elements advantageously point in the direction of the inner wall of the mixing vessel, whereby contact exists between the cleaning elements and the inner wall.
The cleaning elements can have for example, bristles, textile fibres, metal fibres, and/or similar. Here it is essential that the cleaning elements achieve a cleaning effect on the inner wall of the mixing vessel that is to be cleaned. The bristles can take the form here, in particular, of metal bristles or natural bristles. In principle, all materials are suitable that are commonly used also in the cleaning of cooking utensils, in particular metal saucepans. These include, amongst others, also textile fibres, sponges, steel wool, etc. Here the individual design of the cleaning elements can be matched to the cooking habits of the user of the mixing vessel.
It is proposed that the cleaning device has connecting elements for purposes of making a plug-in connection, a screw-in connection, a bayonet connection, a latch-in connection, and/or a magnetic connection with the mixing mechanism. In accordance with the invention, the cleaning device can thus have one or a plurality of connecting elements, which correspond with corresponding connecting elements of the mixing vessel. Here the connection can be a form fit connection, a force fit connection, a connection by means of magnetic force, or similar. In the case of a plug-in connection the cleaning device can have a subregion, into which, for example, a subregion of the mixing mechanism can be plugged. In the case of a screw-in connection a subregion of the cleaning device and a subregion of the mixing mechanism can have corresponding threads, which can be screwed together. In the case of a bayonet connection a subregion of the cleaning device can be clamped to a subregion of the mixing mechanism by means of a rotational movement. In the case of a latch-in connection a conventional undercut can be used, whereby a subregion of the cleaning device snaps under a corresponding subregion of the mixing mechanism. It is, of course, appropriate to make the connection reversible in these forms of embodiment, so that the user of the cleaning device can conveniently release it from the mixing mechanism once again. This can, for example, be ensured by means of a key, grip or similar, arranged on the cleaning device or the mixing mechanism. In the case of a magnetic connection the cleaning device can have a permanent magnet, which corresponds with a magnetic or magnetisable subregion of the mixing mechanism. In particular, a magnetic material such as, for example, magnetic, corrosion-resistant steel, is particularly suitable for this purpose, which at the same time is also suitable for the preparation of foodstuffs.
It is proposed that for purposes of mechanical interaction with the inner wall and/or the mixing mechanism, the cleaning element intervenes in a partial circular segment formed between knives of a knife set, or wings of a milk foaming attachment. In accordance with this form of embodiment, the cleaning element can, for example, have a central carrier element with a plurality of cleaning arms extending outwards from the latter, whereby the cleaning arms extend radially outwards relative to the axis of rotation of the mixing mechanism or the central carrier element. Since the carrier element is advantageously arranged centrally on the rotary shaft of the mixing mechanism, the individual cleaning arms of the cleaning device can be positioned between the knives of the knife set and/or adjacent wings of the milk foaming attachment, so that the end regions of the cleaning arms, on which the cleaning elements are advantageously arranged, intervene in these partial circular segments and there can perform a cleaning of the inner wall of the mixing vessel and/or of the mixing mechanism. In the case of a conventional knife set, which has, for example, four knives, each having an angular distance of 90° from one another, a cleaning arm can protrude into each of the quarter circular segments, which are formed between adjacent knives, and effect cleaning there.
It is further proposed that the cleaning element, in addition to a rotation about an axis of rotation of the mixing mechanism, can rotate about an axis of rotation arranged in parallel to the first axis of rotation. In addition to the rotational movement about the axis of rotation of the mixing mechanism, the cleaning element can thus also perform a rotation about an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the mixing mechanism, whereby the result is a superposition of the two rotational movements, which advantageously increases the cleaning intensity and cleaning homogeneity of the cleaning device. In particular, the cleaning element can rotate within an above-described partial circular segment, so that the cleaning effect is enhanced. In particular, provision can be made for each cleaning arm of a multi-armed design of cleaning device to be able to rotate independently of the other cleaning arms, such that a plurality of centres of rotation exist. For example, each of the individual cleaning arms can have a rotatably movable carrier element with cleaning elements, for example with bristles, on its end region pointing in the direction of the inner wall, whereby the carrier element is advantageously a circular plate with a toothed peripheral surface, which interacts with a corresponding toothed form on the inner wall in the manner of a geared drive. Alternatively, the carrier elements with rotational mobility can also be driven separately, independently of a rotation of the mixing mechanism, by means of an electric motor.
Provision can be made for the cleaning element in conjunction with the mixing mechanism to form planetary gearing, whereby at least a subregion of the mixing mechanism is designed to act as a sun gear and the cleaning element is designed to act as a planet gear. Advantageously, the cleaning element is arranged such that it contacts and thereby cleans both the inner wall of the mixing vessel and also subregions of the mixing mechanism. Needless to say, however, it is also possible to clean only one of the regions cited.
The invention also proposes a mixing vessel for an electromotively operated food processor, which mixing vessel has a mixing mechanism, in particular a knife set or a milk foaming attachment, which can be connected to a rotary drive of the food processor by means of a coupling driver, wherein the mixing vessel has a cleaning device for cleaning an inner wall of the mixing vessel, in particular a vessel floor, which cleaning device has an ultrasonic transmitter, which is arranged in a fixed location in a vessel wall of the mixing vessel, or which is arranged in the interior of the mixing vessel, in particular such that it can be removed. In addition, the mixing vessel can also have a mechanically acting cleaning device as described above.
The cleaning device has an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits vibrations to the vessel wall of the mixing vessel, and thus brings about an improved cleaning of the inner wall compared with the prior art. Here the cleaning action of ultrasound is utilised, whereby the ultrasonic transmitter transmits the vibrational energy either directly to the vessel wall (in the case of an arrangement of the ultrasonic transmitter within the vessel wall), or indirectly via a medium arranged in the mixing vessel, such as water, for example, (when the ultrasonic transmitter is arranged in the interior of the mixing vessel). If so desired, the cleaning result can also, if required, be aided by a cleaning agent, for example surfactants. In practice, it has been found that in this manner optimum self-cleaning of the mixing vessel can be achieved.
The ultrasonic transmitter can advantageously be integrated into a heating device arranged in the vessel wall, in particular in a vessel floor. In particular, the ultrasonic transmitter, combined with the heating device, can be welded into the vessel wall.
It is, of course, also possible to supplement the mixing vessel with a mechanical cleaning attachment, such as the above-described inventive cleaning attachment. For optimal cleaning of the inner wall of the mixing vessel an ultrasound frequency of between 10 and 100 kHz, in particular of between 20 and 50 kHz, is recommended. The electrical power consumption is advantageously between 20 W and 200 W, in particular approximately 100 W.
In addition to the inventive cleaning device acting mechanically and/or by means of ultrasound, glass and/or metal balls can also be introduced into the mixing vessel; these also make contact with the inner wall of the mixing vessel and impinge mechanically on the deposits adhering to the inner wall.
Finally, the inventive mixing vessel, with the cleaning device having an ultrasonic transmitter, is also suitable for the preparation of foodstuffs. In particular, the inventive mixing vessel is suitable for the preparation of milk foam, in particular in conjunction with a rotating milk foaming attachment within the mixing vessel and also, if required, with the operation of a heating device for the mixing vessel. The ultrasonic irradiation of the milk contained in the mixing vessel reduces the surface tension of the fat molecules, such that they can be mixed better with air and/or water vapour with the result that foaming occurs.
Finally, in addition to the inventive mixing vessel, an electromotively operated food processor is also proposed, which has such a mixing vessel with a cleaning device as described above.
In what follows the invention is elucidated in more detail in terms of examples of embodiment. Here:
A mixing mechanism 5, here in the form of a knife set 6, is arranged within the mixing vessel 3. The mixing mechanism 5 is arranged on a rotary shaft (not shown) having an axis of rotation 12, which at its end is connected by means of a coupling driver (18, see
Although this is not shown in the figure, the cleaning device 1 can, of course, also have one, two, three, or more than four cleaning elements 9, instead of four cleaning elements 9. In addition, it is also possible not to roll the plate-form cleaning elements 9 on the inner wall 4 for a rotation about the axes of rotation 13, but rather to rotate them by means of a separate motor of the cleaning device 1. This variant is also suitable, in particular, for cleaning devices 1, which are not connected to the mixing mechanism 5 in a rotationally fixed manner, and thus do not rotate together with a rotation of the mixing mechanism 5. By fitting the cleaning device 1 with its own motor, the rotation of the cleaning elements 9 about both the axis of rotation 12 and also the axis of rotation 13 can be effected.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2015 101 250.2 | Jan 2015 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/050535 | 1/13/2016 | WO | 00 |