FR2730398A1 - FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, A CENTRIFUGE - Google Patents

Abstract

This device comprises a housing (1) enclosing a motor unit whose output shaft (3) drives in rotation a tool housed in a bowl capped by a removable cover, as well as a device for controlling the supply of the unit. -motor comprising a switch (12) whose opening and closing are controlled by a handle (14), and at least one lock (16) comprising an active part (18) which is intended to immobilize the cover on the housing (1) and an actuating part (20), the implementation of which is subject to the movement of the lever (14). According to the invention, the active part (18) is mounted so as to be able to move radially towards the periphery (22) of the housing (1), under the control of a cam integral with an actuating member (26) connected to the handle ( 14) of the switch and the cover has a keeper (28) for receiving the active part (18).

Description

i

  FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS SUCH AS,

FOR EXAMPLE, A CENTRIFUGE

  The present invention relates to a food preparation apparatus such as, for example, a fruit or vegetable centrifuge, comprising a housing containing a motor unit whose output shaft projects from the housing and is intended to drive 10 rotation a working tool housed in a bowl capped by a removable mounted cover, as well as a device for controlling the power supply of the motor group comprising a switch, the opening and closing of which are controlled by a lever mounted movably on the housing, 15 and at least one latch comprising an active part which is intended to immobilize the cover on the housing and an actuating part the setting of which

  work is subject to movement of the joystick.

  An apparatus of this kind has already been described, for example, in European patent B-156137 in which the lock comprises a pivoting wheel whose active part formed by a toothed sector engages with another toothed sector integral with the cover to immobilize this

latest.

  Such a device for controlling the power supply to the motor group by pivoting the lock about a vertical axis does not guarantee a good locking of the cover due to the always possible existence of an angular play and therefore of a hooking. of the active part on

  a weak region of the cover and vice versa.

  The object of the invention is in particular to remedy this

disadvantage.

  According to the invention, the active part is mounted to move radially towards the periphery of the case between a retracted position and a locking position, under the control of a cam secured to an actuating member connected to the handle of the switch. and the cover includes a keeper, the opening of which is located opposite the active part of the lock when the

lid covers the bowl.

  Thus, whatever the movement given to the actuating member by the lever, the cam transforms it so as to transmit a linear movement to the active part of the lock which fits and hooks directly

in the keeper opposite.

  The invention therefore makes it possible to guarantee the positive locking of the cover on the case by eliminating the risks of mechanical play in the different parts.

  of the group supply control device-

engine.

  According to another important characteristic of the invention, the lock is equipped with a latch mounted movable in the case between an obstruction position for which, in the absence of the cover, it keeps the lock in the retracted position and in which it is recalled by an elastic means, and a withdrawal position for which it releases the lock and into which it is brought by the cover when the latter covers

the bowl.

  Thanks to such a latch, the lock can be kept in the retracted position in the absence of the bowl consequently preventing any manipulation of the lever and therefore the risk of the engine group being put into operation by the

  untimely closing of the switch.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows,

  by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows in vertical section along the broken line II of Figure 2 an apparatus, such as a centrifuge, comprising a safety lock between the cover and the housing according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a simplified horizontal sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1 illustrating the latch in the withdrawn position and without the cover; - Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but illustrating the lock in the obstruction position with the cover; - Figure 4 shows in simplified horizontal section another embodiment of the lock according to

  the invention and in the withdrawn position.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the food preparation apparatus comprises a housing 1 containing a motor unit 2, the output shaft 3 of which projects from the housing and is intended to drive a working tool 4 at high speed. housed in a bowl 6 capped by a removable mounted cover 8. The working tool 4 shown is in this example the basket of a fruit centrifuge, and the cover 8 has for this purpose a chimney 9 for introducing food, while the bowl 6 has a chute 10 for discharging the juice

got.

  In another embodiment, not shown, the working tool 4 could be a knife

  chopper or vegetable cutter disc.

  As seen best on. Figures 2 and 3, the device is equipped with a device for controlling the power supply to the motor unit 2 and includes a switch 12, the opening and closing of which are controlled by a lever 14 movably mounted on the case 1, thus that at least one latch 16 comprising an active part 18 which is intended to immobilize the cover 8 on the housing 1 and an actuating part whose implementation is subject to movement

joystick 14.

  According to the invention, the active part 18 is mounted to move radially (arrow F in FIG. 3) towards the periphery 22 of the housing 1, between a retracted position 15 and a locking position, under the control of a cam 24 integral with an actuating member 26 connected to the handle 14 for controlling the switch 12, and the cover 8 comprises a keeper 28, the opening 30 of which is located opposite the active part 18 of the lock when

the cover 8 covers the bowl 6.

  As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the device comprises two identical locks 16 arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft 3 and mounted to slide in the housing 1, while the cover 8 comprises two strikes 28 also mounted diametrically opposite and of which the respective openings 30 are aligned. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it can be provided that the two latches 16, instead of having a linear movement, are mounted articulated around an axis

vertical or horizontal.

  According to a preferred embodiment and as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cover 18 $ has on its side wall two descending legs 32 carrying the keepers 28 respectively, and the housing 1 has on its periphery 22 two symmetrical housings 34 adapted to receive the legs 32 of the cover. The housings 34 open outwards so that the external surface of the tabs 32 are flush with the external surface of the housing 1 and are therefore visible to the user. Preferably, the strikes 28 are formed by holes made in the side wall of the cover, in particular in each tab 32, and have a shape complementary to that of the active part 18

of the lock 16.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the user not only sees the correct positioning of the lugs 32 in the housings 34 but also the correct locking of each latch 16 in the keeper

correspondent 28.

  As can be seen in Figures 2 to 4, the handle 14 is mounted movable in translation on the periphery 22 of the housing 1 around a vertical axis coaxial with the shaft 3 of the motor and is integral with the member actuation 26 which for this purpose has the form of a flat crown which is also rotatably mounted about a vertical axis coaxial with the shaft 3 and which comprises at least on its periphery a part carrying the cam 24. This crown has a circular recess 36 rotatably mounted on bearings 38

secured to the housing 1.

  According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the cam 24 is formed by a slot 40 having an arcuate path forming a bend 41, and the actuation part 20 of the lock comprises a finger 42 which penetrates into the slot 40 and which is intended for

  follow the edges of said light.

  According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 and for which the same references have been kept for similar parts, the cam 24 is directly formed on the periphery of the ring 26 which for this purpose has an S shape, while the actuating part 20 of the lock, adjoining the cam, has

  a shape adapted to follow the S shape of the cam.

  According to another important characteristic of

  the invention, each latch 16 is equipped with a latch 44-

  52 mounted mobile in the housing 1 between an obstructing position (FIGS. 2 and 4) for which, in the absence of the cover 8, it maintains the latch 16 in its retracted position, and in which it is returned by an elastic means 45 such that a spring, and a withdrawal position (Figure 3) for which it releases the lock which can thus pass into the locked position, and in which it is brought by the cover 8 and more particularly by the tabs 32 when the latter

cap the bowl 6.

  In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the latch 44 comprises a shaft 46 rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis transverse to the housing 1 and comprising two opposite lugs 47 and 48, one of which 47 is subject to placement of the cover 8 and protrudes through a light 49 in the corresponding housing 34 and the other of which is disposed on the path of the lock 16 in the absence of the cover 8. The lock carries a notch 50 intended to come into engagement with the lug 48 when the lever 14 is actuated in

  the absence of the cover 8 on the bowl 6.

  In the embodiment illustrated in. Figure 4, the latch 52 is slidably mounted vertically against an elastic means (not shown) in a direction parallel to the shaft 3 and comprises a key 53 and a control finger 54, said key 53 being intended & come to lock the lock 16 under the effect of the elastic means and in the absence of an action on the finger 54

by the cover 8.

  The operation of the device will be described

  now with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

  It is assumed that the device is without cover and therefore the various elements placed according to the configuration of FIG. 2, that is to say: the active parts 18 of the latches in the retracted position, the latches 44 in the obstructed position and the handle 14 in a first position of non-actuation of the switch 12 for which the fingers 42 are located at one end of the

lights 40.

  In a first phase, the user places the cover 8 on the bowl 6, taking care to properly place the lugs 32 in the corresponding housings 34. The lower ends of said lugs 32 press on the lugs 47 of the latches 44 thus causing rotation of the shaft 46 against the spring 45 and therefore the withdrawal of the lug 48 of the notch 50. The latches 44 therefore pass from their position of obstruction (FIG. 2) to their

withdrawal position (Figure 3).

  In a second phase, the user can act on the lever 14 since, with the latches 16 being unlocked, the fingers 42 are free to slide in the slots 40. The user therefore brings the lever 14 into a second so-called intermediate position (referenced by the letter I in FIG. 3) for which the crown 26 brings the fingers 42 into the elbows 41 of the slots 40 (not shown) and in which, on the one hand, the active parts 18 of the latches 16 penetrate into the openings 30 keepers 28 to occupy their locking position of the cover 8, and, on the other hand, the switch 12 is always in the open state. In a third phase illustrated in FIG. 3, the user brings the lever 14 to a third position for which the crown 26 drives the fingers 42 towards the other ends of the slots 40 thus confirming the locking position of the active parts 18 which are well visible to the user since they protrude from the openings 30, and in which the switch occupies a closed state thus putting into operation the motor group 2 and therefore the rotation at high speed of

the work tool 4.

  As soon as the user wishes to stop the operation of the device, in this case stopping the centrifuge, he brings the handle 14 by translation into the intermediate position I, which switches the switch 12 from its closed state to its open state, while retaining the locking of the cover 8 on the

housing 1.

  Thus, the invention makes it possible to guarantee perfect operating safety of the device both in the absence of the cover on the housing by the prohibition on the operation of the motor unit, and in the presence of the cover on the housing. in which

  said cover is kept locked on the housing.

Claims (11)

  1. Food preparation apparatus, such as for example a fruit or vegetable centrifuge, comprising a case (1) enclosing a motor unit (2) whose output shaft (3) projects from the housing (1) and is intended to drive in rotation a working tool (4) housed in a bowl (6) capped by a cover (8) removably mounted, as well as a device for controlling the power supply of the motor group comprising a switch ( 12), the opening and closing of which are controlled by a lever (14) movably mounted on the case (1), and at least one lock (16) comprising an active part (18) which is intended to immobilize the cover on the housing (1) and an actuating part (20), the operation of which is subject to movement of the lever (14), characterized in that the active part (18) is mounted movable radially towards the periphery (22) of the housing (1) between a retracted position and a locking position, under the c control of a cam (24) integral with an actuating member (26) connected to the handle (14) of the switch and the cover (8) comprises a keeper (28) whose opening (30) is located opposite the active part (18) of the latch (16) when the cover (8) covers the bowl (6).   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (14) being movably mounted on the housing (1) around a vertical axis coaxial with the shaft (3) of the motor, the actuating member ( 26) is formed by a crown also rotatably mounted about a vertical axis coaxial with the motor shaft (3) and comprising at least on its periphery a part bearing the cam (24).   3. Apparatus according to claim. 2, characterized in that the cam (24) is formed by a light (40) formed in the crown and having an arcuate path forming a bend (41), while the actuating part (20) of the latch (16) has a finger (42) which enters the lumen (40) and which is   intended to follow the edges of said light.   4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the cam (24) is directly formed on the periphery of the crown which has for this purpose an S-shape, while the actuating part (20) of the latch (16 ) has a suitable shape to follow the S shape of the cam.   5. Apparatus according to any one of previous claims,   characterized in that the cover (8) has on its side wall at least one descending tab (32) carrying the keeper (28), and the bolt-holder (1) has on its periphery (22) at least one suitable housing (34) at receiving said tab (32).   6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing (34) opens outwardly on the peripheral wall of the shoemaker, while the keeper (28) is formed by a hole in the lug (32) of the cover (8).   7. Apparatus according to claims 1 to 4 and the   claim 5, characterized in that it comprises two latches (16) diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft (3), two cams (24) actuated by the lever (14) and two tabs descending (32). 1l   8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the latch (16) is fitted with a latch (44-52) mounted movably in the housing (1) between an obstruction position for which, in the absence of the cover (8), it maintains the latch (16) in the retracted position and in which it is returned by an elastic means (45), and a withdrawal position for which it releases the latch and in which it is brought by the   cover when the latter covers the bowl (6).   9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the latch (44) comprises a shaft (46) rotatably mounted about an axis transverse to the boot (1) and comprising two opposite lugs (47 and 48) including one (47) is subject to the installation of the cover (8) on the housing (1), and the other (48) of which is disposed on the path of the latch (16) in the absence of the cover (8).   10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the latch (52) is slidably mounted vertically against an elastic means in a direction parallel to the shaft (3) and comprises a key (53) and a control finger (54), said key being intended to block the latch (16) in the absence of action on the finger (54) by the cover (8). 11. Apparatus according to any one of previous claims,   characterized in that the lever 14 can occupy three positions, either a first position in which the active part (18) of the latch (16) is in the retracted position and the switch (12) in an open state, or a second position in which the active part (18) is in the locked position and the switch (12) keeps its open state, and a third position in which the active part (18) is always in the locked position, but the switch (12) is in a closed state.