WO2008031711A1

WO2008031711A1 - Safety mechanism for a food processor comprising a mixing bowl and a cover

Info

Publication number: WO2008031711A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/058844
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igor Zibret; Stanislav Mazej; Andrej Blagotinsek
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2006-09-13
Filing date: 2007-08-24
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: DE202007018780U1; DE102006042983A1; DE102006042983B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a food processor (1) comprising a coupling point for a mixing bowl (2), a cover (3) for covering the mixing bowl (2), a shaft driven by a motor of the food processor (1) that is situated in the coupling point, a switching device (25) that can interrupt the power supply to the motor, a detection device (6) comprising an element (14) for detecting the cover (3) and an actuating element (17) for actuating the switching device (25). The detection device (6) also comprises an element (18) for detecting the mixing bowl (2), the elements (14, 17, 18) co-operating with one another and/or with the switching device (25) in such a way that the motor can only be supplied with power if the mixing bowl (2) sits on the coupling point and the cover (3) lies on the mixing bowl. The invention counteracts the risk of injuries caused by incorrect use of the food processor and in addition allows all electric switching components of the food processor to be integrated into a single printed circuit board. Finally it allows a simple, rapid deceleration of the motor if processing tools are removed from the food processor during operation.

Description

Safety mechanism for one

Food processor with mixing bowl and lid

description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a food processor with a coupling point for a mixing bowl with lid according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

From the European patent EP 1272084 B1 a food processor is known, which has a coupling point for a mixing bowl with lid on a base part of its housing. From the coupling point protrudes the end of a shaft for coupling a tool freely accessible out of the housing. The shaft is driven by a motor in the housing of the food processor. To operate the machine, the mixing bowl is placed on the coupling point, the tool is attached to the shaft, which is now inside the mixing bowl, and the lid is closed. Through a power switch on the housing, the motor can be turned on to put the shaft in operation. However, if a user fails to attach the mixing bowl or lid, the end of the drive shaft or a tool attached thereto is exposed. If the shaft is now rotated, there is a risk of a user injuring himself at the exposed end of the shaft or attached tool.

In order to prevent injury, the known machine is equipped with a protective mechanism to prevent the food processor can be put into operation when the shaft is exposed. For this purpose, in addition to the operating switch in the circuit of the drive motor, a contact switch is provided, which can be closed only by attaching the lid of the mixing bowl.

The problem underlying the invention However, it is also conceivable that a user uses the food processor incorrectly in the way that he attaches the lid of the mixing bowl to the food processor, but not the mixing bowl. In this case, the contact switch of the protection mechanism which detects the presence of the cover would close the circuit of the motor and the motor could start, although the shaft or a tool attached thereto are exposed.

The invention is therefore based on the object, the known food processor in such a way that even a risk of injury with attached lid but missing mixing bowl is encountered.

Inventive solution

To solve the problem, the present invention teaches a food processor with the features of claim 1. The actuating element can actuate the switching device directly or indirectly.

Characterized in that the food processor according to the invention in addition to the element for detecting the lid has an element for detecting the mixing bowl, which can interrupt the power supply, if not sitting on the coupling point the mixing bowl, the user is prevented from operating the food processor without mixing bowl. He can therefore only set the machine in motion when both mixing bowl and lid are attached and thus the shaft or the tool is inaccessible from the outside.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the switching device is a contact switch, which is arranged in the circuit of the motor and which can only be in its closed position, if on the coupling point, the mixing bowl sitting on the bowl and the lid is seated. However, embodiments of the invention are also conceivable in which the switching device comprises two in the circuit of the motor arranged in series contact switch, one of which is assigned to the mixing bowl and the other the lid. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the contact switch or switches are not arranged directly in the circuit of the motor but are connected to a control unit, which in turn regulates the power supply to the motor.

Preferably, an element for detecting the mixing bowl or the lid is a sensing element which is actuated by placing a member of the mixing bowl and lid group, or a release element, which are brought by a member of the group mixing bowl and lid from a blocking position to a release position can. Particularly preferably, one of the two elements for detecting the mixing bowl or the lid is a probe element and the other a release element, which act so that the actuator can bring the contact switch only in the position in which the motor are supplied with power can, when the probe element is actuated and the release member is in its release position.

The preferred release member is rotatable about an axis between the blocking position and the release position. It also preferably has a lever which is operable by a projection on the mixing bowl or on the lid to bring it into its release position.

In addition, the release member preferably includes a return member for returning it from the release position to the blocking position when the mixing bowl is not seated. A preferred return element is a coil spring.

The probe element and the actuating element are preferably connected to each other by an elastic portion, particularly preferably in one piece. The preferred release element engages in its blocking position to the elastic portion so that it can prevent a conversion of an actuation of the probe element in a switching device directly or indirectly actuated movement. - A -

In a preferred embodiment of the food processor according to the invention a second coupling point for mounting a further processing device is provided on its housing, said second coupling point is spaced from the first and also has a driven by the motor of the food processor shaft. In order to counteract the risk of injury to the second coupling point, the food processor is also preferably equipped with a second detection means at the second coupling point, which can be actuated by placing a processing device or a cover on the second coupling point. The contact switch cooperates with the detection means in such a way that it can only be in a position in which the motor can be supplied with power, even if the processing unit or the cover part is seated on the second coupling point.

Preferably, the interaction of detection devices and contact switches is mediated by a switching element for actuating a contact switch of the switching device. The preferred switching element is movable by the detecting means so that it can operate the contact switch only if at each coupling point an intended processing device, e.g. the mixing bowl with lid, or a cover sits. The actuator thus performs a logical AND operation. Preferably, the detection devices can act directly on the switching element, but it is also conceivable embodiments of the invention, in which the switching element is indirectly movable by the detection elements.

The switching element is preferably movable in each case by the two detection devices in different directions, so that it can be brought only by the sum of the movements in a position in which it actuates the contact switch. A preferred switching element is, directly or indirectly, displaceable and / or rotatable by actuating a detection device. Particularly preferably, it is displaceable by actuation of the detection device of a first of the two coupling points and rotatable about an axis by actuating the detection device of a second of the two coupling points.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching element is equipped with a slot in which a pin engages, so that the switching element advantageous in the direction the slot is slidable and rotatable about the axis of the pin. The pin is preferably fixedly arranged in the housing of the food processor. Instead of the slot may also be provided a groove.

A preferred switching element comprises a return device for returning it to an initial position, from which it can be moved out by one of the detection devices when it is actuated. Preferably, the

Reset device on the switching element also reset the detection device, if it is not operated by a processing device. A preferred switching element is additionally or alternatively reset by the contact switch in an initial position from which it is moved out by one of the detection devices when it is actuated. For this purpose, the contact switch preferably has an actuating element which is in an open position of the

Contact switch is biased and via which it interacts with the switching element.

Particularly preferably, the contact switch via the switching element also reset the detection device when it is not operated.

The switching element is preferably reset by the restoring device in the longitudinal direction of the slot or the groove and / or by the contact switch in the direction of rotation about the pin. A preferred restoring device is a helical spring, which is particularly preferably arranged in the slot or the groove of the switching element.

It may happen that a user of the generic food processor removes the mixing bowl, the lid or other processing device or a cover during operation. Although the power supply of the engine is interrupted in the case of the prior art food processor in this case, but the engine is still running, before it comes to a complete halt. Because there is a risk of injury in the time to the complete stop of the engine, it is desirable that the engine can be braked as quickly as possible. In one embodiment of the invention, a further switch is provided for this purpose, which is arranged so that it cooperates in the same way as the contact switch with the detection means, so that the two switches are simultaneously actuated. The further switch is preferably connected to the motor so that when actuated, the polarity of Stator winding of the motor reversed to brake the engine quickly. In one embodiment of the invention, the effect of the two switches together may bring the motor to a standstill in 1.5 seconds or less. In another embodiment of the invention, both functions, interrupting the motor circuit and reversing the stator winding, are integrated in a single switch.

A preferred food processor also includes an operating switch on an outside of the housing to operate the motor. The engine can be turned on and off with the operation switch and / or engine power or engine speed can be controlled. Preferably, the operating switch is arranged on a common printed circuit board with the contact switch, particularly preferably also with the further switch. The common arrangement of all electrical switching elements on a common circuit board can simplify the construction of the food processor and reduce the manufacturing cost.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching element is arranged on this circuit board. Since usually at least one of the coupling points is not located directly at the location of the switching element, at least one detection device expediently comprises a lever. The lever preferably has a sensing element to detect the presence of a processing device and an actuator to actuate the switch directly or indirectly. For this purpose, the probe element is expediently arranged at one end of the lever at the coupling point, while the actuating element is arranged on the switching element in order to move it due to an actuation of the probe element. The lever is preferably fixed at its tastelementseitigen end to the housing and pivotable about this point.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings of an exemplary embodiment with further details.

Show it: Fig. 1: A perspective view of a food processor according to the invention without housing with a mixing bowl and attached lid as the first processing unit and a shaker with attached lid as a second processing unit; and

Fig. 2: A perspective view of the circuit board of the food processor with the electrical switching components and the switching element and the detection devices.

Detailed description of an embodiment

The kitchen appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1 has at its housing (not shown) a first coupling point for a mixing bowl 2 with lid 3 and a second coupling point for a mixing cup 4 with lid 5. Mixing bowl 2 and shaker 4 can each be releasably secured by a bayonet mechanism at their coupling points. Tools in the mixing bowl 2 and in the shaker 4 are driven by means of the coupling points of the housing of the food processor 1 outstanding waves, which in turn are driven by a motor of the food processor 1, which is arranged in the housing under the coupling point for the shaker 4. The tools may e.g. Be it a dough hook, a whisk or a knife.

Instead of the blender cup 4, a cover can be attached to the coupling point that covers the shaft of this coupling point to avoid injury when the food processor 1 is operated without shaker 4.

The food processor 1 is equipped with a safety mechanism that prevents the machine 1 can be operated unless both coupling points with mixing bowl 2 and lid 3 or shaker 4 and lid 5 or latter coupling point is covered alternatively with the cover. For this purpose, each coupling point is equipped with a detection device 6, 7, which is actuated by placing the mixing bowl 2 with lid 3 or by placing the blender cup 4 with cover 5. For this purpose, the mixing cup 4 associated with lid 5 detection device 7 is equipped with a probe element 8, which is opposite to a projection 9 of the blender cup 4, which protrudes by a separate mechanism from the blender jar 4, if it is provided with its lid 5. When the shaker 4 is placed with the lid 5 on the coupling point, the probe element 8 of the detection device 7 is pressed down. The detection device 7 is formed hebeiförmig and set at its end 10 in the vicinity of the probe element 8 on the housing of the food processor that it is pivoted down as a result of depression of the probe element 8. In this case, an actuating element 1 1 at the other end of the hebeiförmige detection device 7 presses a mounted on a printed circuit board 12 elongate switching element 13 down.

Next, as shown in Fig. 2, the mixing bowl 2 associated with lid 3 detection device 6 is also equipped with a probe element 14 which is displaced horizontally by a projection 15 on the lid 3 of the mixing bowl 2 in a direction away from the lid 3 direction, when the lid 3 is properly placed on the mixing bowl 2. The detection device 6 has a lever which is fixed at its end 16 in the vicinity of the probe element 14 on the housing of the food processor 1, that it is pivoted horizontally by the actuation of the probe element 14. In this case, an actuating element 17 at the other end of the detection device 6 presses laterally onto the switching element 13 mounted on the printed circuit board 12.

The detection device 6 also has a release element 18, which is rotatable about an axis between a blocking position and a release position and is brought by a projection 19 on the mixing bowl 2 from the blocking position to the release position when the mixing bowl 2 is properly attached to its coupling point , For this purpose, a lever 20 is integrally attached to the release element. The release member 18 engages an elastic portion 21 of the lever and prevents in the blocking position that the actuating element 17, the switching element 13 is actuated. By means of a spring, it is returned to the blocking position in the unactuated state. The switching element 13 has in its upper region a slot 22 into which a pin 23 engages, so that the switching element 13 in the direction of the elongated hole 22 slidably and about the axis of the pin 23 is rotatable. More specifically, the switching element 13 can be pressed by the actuating element 1 1 of the mixing cup 4 with lid 5 associated detection device 7 down. In addition, it can be rotated about the pin 23 by the actuator 16 of the lid 3 of the mixing bowl 2 associated detection device 6. A coil spring 24 in the slot 21, the switching element 13 in the longitudinal direction to its original position, if it is not operated by the mixing cup 4 with cover 5 associated actuator 1 1.

On the circuit board 12 also a contact switch 25 is arranged, which lies in the circuit of the motor that he interrupts this when it is not operated. Another switch 26 is preferably connected to the stator winding of the motor, that their polarity is reversed by operating or releasing the switch 26 to brake the engine quickly. The switches 25, 26 are arranged relative to the switching element 13 so that they are actuated precisely when the switching element 13 is simultaneously displaced downward by the detection means 6, 7 and rotated about the axis of the pin 23.

Finally, an operating switch 27 is still arranged on the circuit board 12, with which the food processor 1 can be operated from the outside. With the operation switch 27, the food processor 1 can be switched on and off and it can be the engine power or engine speed regulated.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

The present invention advantageously makes it possible to counteract injuries caused by improper operation of the food processor. It also makes it advantageous to integrate all electrical switching components of the food processor on a single circuit board. It finally makes it possible to easily slow down quickly ensure that the machine is removed from the food processor during operation.

Claims

claims

1. A food processor (1) with a coupling point for a mixing bowl (2) with a lid (3) for covering the mixing bowl (2), one of a motor of the food processor (1) driven shaft at the coupling point, a switching device (25), which can interrupt a power supply to the motor, and a detection device (6) having an element (14) for detecting the cover (3) and an actuating element (17) for actuating the switching device (25), characterized in that the detection device (6) further comprising an element (18) for detecting the mixing bowl (2), the elements (14, 17, 18) cooperating with each other and / or with the switching device (25) so that the motor can be energized only when on the coupling point the mixing bowl (2) is seated and on the mixing bowl of the lid (3) is seated.

2. Food processor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (25) is a contact switch, which is arranged in the circuit of the motor and which can only be in its closed position when the mixing bowl on the coupling (2) is seated and on the mixing bowl (2) of the lid (3) is seated.

3. food processor (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the one of the elements (14) for detecting the mixing bowl (2) or the lid (3) is a probe element, which by placing a first member of the group mixing bowl (2) and lid (3) is operable, and the other of the elements (18) for detecting the mixing bowl (2) or the lid (3) is a release element, which by placing the other member of the group mixing bowl (2) and lid (3) can be brought from a blocking position to a release position, so that the actuating element (17) can bring the contact switch (25) only in a position in which the motor can be supplied with power when the probe element (14) is actuated and the release element (18) in his

Release order is.

4. food processor (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the release element (18) is rotatable about an axis between the blocking position and the release position.

5. food processor (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the release element (18) comprises a return element to return it to the blocking position when the mixing bowl (2) is not placed.

6. food processor (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the release element (18) has a lever (20) which by a projection (19) of the mixing bowl (2) or the lid (3) can be actuated to bring it into its release position.

7. food processor (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the feeler element (14) and the actuating element (17) by an elastic portion (21) are connected.

8. food processor (1) according to claims 7, characterized in that the release element (18) in its blocking position so on the elastic portion (21) engages that there is a conversion of an actuation of the probe element (14) in a contact switch (25). can prevent direct or indirect actuation movement.

9. food processor (1) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that it comprises on its housing a second coupling point for placing a further processing device (4, 5), which is spaced from the first and one of the motor of the food processor (1) driven shaft, the food processor (1) has a second detection means (7) at the second coupling point, which can be actuated by placing the processing device (4, 5) or a cover on the second coupling point, and the contact switch (25) with the detection means (6, 7) cooperates such that it can only be in a position in which the motor can be supplied with power, although on the second coupling point, the processing unit (4, 5) or the cover is seated.

10. Food processor (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the interaction of detection means (6, 7) and contact switch (25) by a switching element (13) for actuating the contact switch (25) is mediated by the detection means (6 , 7) is movable such that it can actuate the contact switch (25) only if a processing device (2, 3, 4, 5) or a cover member is seated on each coupling point.

1 1. A food processor (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the switching element (13) by operating the detection device (7) of a first of the two coupling points is displaceable and by actuating the detection device (6) of a second of the two coupling points to a Axle is rotatable.

12. food processor (1) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the switching element (13) has a slot (22) into which a pin (23) engages, so that the switching element (13) in the direction of the slot (22) displaceable and about the axis of the pin (23) is rotatable.

13. Food processor (1) according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the switching element (13) has a restoring device (24) to return it to a starting position, from which it passes through one of

Detection devices (7) can be moved out.

14. Food processor (1) according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the switching element (13) is reset by the contact switch (25) in an initial position, from which it by one of

Detecting devices (6) is moved out.

15. Food processor (1) according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that a further switch (26) is provided, which is arranged so that it in the same way as the contact switch (25) with the detection means (6, 7 ) cooperates, so that both switches (25, 26) are simultaneously actuated.

16. A food processor (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that it further comprises an actuating switch (27) on an outside of the housing to actuate the motor.

17. Food processor (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the actuating switch (27) with the contact switch (25) on a common

Printed circuit board is arranged.

18. Food processor according to one of claims 2 to 17, characterized in that at least one of the detection means (6, 7) comprises a lever with a probe element (8, 14) in order to detect the presence of a processing device (2, 3, 4,

5), and an actuator (11, 17) to actuate the contact switch (25).