Safety device for a food processor.

p0001The present invention relates to a safety device designed primarily, but not exclusively a cooking type of food robot handler.

p0002It is known that in such devices, different tools can rotate inside a tank at higher or lower speeds, these tools are usually sharp. It is important to avoid contact of a hand with a rotating tool to prevent accidents. For this purpose, it is known to provide a lid, lockable on the vessel, preventing the passage of the hand or even a finger inside the vessel, the introduction of the products to be treated being conducted by a chute sufficient height.

p0003It is also known to provide means for inhibiting the operation of the electric motor, so that the tank is not mounted on the motor base, and as long as this tank is closed with the appropriate cover. In a first type of robot, this is a lug of the lid projecting into the parallel base to act on a switch when the cradle extends vertically and parallel to the tank.

p0004In the second case, when the base enclosing the motor is below the tank, it is known from FR-A-2147361 (P. VERDUN), to provide along a generatrix of the cylindrical vessel, a rod- sliding plunger in a suitable channel, of which the lower end is intended to act on a motor control switch carried by the casing thereof, the removable cover having a cam capable of acting on the end of the plunger when it is in place. Thus, in principle, the motor can only be operated when the tank is mounted on the housing or base, and when closed by suitable cover.

p0005But security thus obtained is not absolute. Indeed, when the vessel is in place, a fraudulent engine start-up can be obtained by performing a pressure by means of any object on the upper end of the pusher that protrudes above the channel. It is even possible to act on the pusher by means of the lid, without that the latter is locked.

p0006The present invention aims to overcome this drawback.

p0007EP-A-0127898 discloses a food processing apparatus wherein the support on the upper end of the push rod arming validation engine is obtained, within a closed housing its upper part by a cam mechanism operated by pressure on a protective shield surrounding the chute.

p0008GBA-2075626 relates to a device of the same type in which the validation start, corresponding to the closing of the cover is obtained by passing a cam within a slot formed in the upper part of housing surrounding the upper end of the push rod.

p0009These devices are complicated and thereby fragile.

p0010According to the invention, the safety device for a food preparation device comprising interchangeable tools intended to be fitted on the rotary shaft of a drive motor disposed under the working tank, the latter being removably mounted on the engine casing, the peripheral wall comprising a channel extending over its entire height inside which is mounted a sliding plunger whose end is intended to act on a motor control switch carried by the casing of celui- above, while the removable cover carries a cam capable of acting on the upper extremity of the pusher, is characterized in that the upper extremity of the plunger protrudes, at rest, in a housing whose upper surface is closed, a the housing side wall having a complex shaped opening, the cam secured to the cover having a section adapted to penetrate inside the housing.

p0011Thus, it is no longer possible to access from above to the upper end of the pusher, which is protected against illegal maneuvers.

p0012That is to say that the cam, whose front portion has an inverse profile or conjugate that of the opening, is, somehow, a key to start up the engine, the housing acting as a 'a lock.

p0013Of course, the penetration of the cam in the housing corresponds to a simultaneous locking of the lid on the vessel and can only be achieved by rotation of the lid on the upper part of the tank.

p0014Other features and advantages of the invention appear from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of example in the drawings which show:<ul><li>- Figure 1 a perspective view of a portion of the vessel;</li><li>- Figure 2, a perspective view of a portion of the cover;</li><li>- Figure 3, an over view of a half-cover;</li><li>- Figure 4, a side view of the key;</li><li>- Figure 5, a sectional view of the tank along the line VV of Figure 4;</li><li>- Figure 6, a sectional view along the line VI-VI of Figure 4;</li><li>- Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the lid;</li><li>- Figure 8, a vertical sectional view of the tank.</li></ul>

p0015In the figures, the tank is referenced generally by the numeral 2, and the lid by the figure 3.

p0016Figure 1 shows a part of the cylindrical vessel 2. In this figure, it is seen there is provided, in the upper part of the tank 2, a housing 4, the upper surface 5 is closed and extends into the plane of the upper edge of the container 2. the housing 4 is closed at its bottom by a rim 6. inside the housing 4 are formed of the grooves 7, between ribs 7a, having the shape of circular arcs, parallel to the upper edge of the tank, whose function will be explained below.

p0017In Figure 2, it is seen that the cover 3 has a convex shape and a member 14 having teeth 8 forming arcs of circles whose center is that of the cover. The lid 3 has, as known per se, a chute 9 for the introduction of products, an edge 10 coming to bear on the upper edge and the tank 2, and a skirt 11 into the interior of the tank, in order to ensure a good seal.

p0018The teeth 8 are integral with a support 12 and the front part of the member 14 forms an inclined plane 13 intended to constitute a cam capable of actuating the push rod.

p0019This part forming a kind of shoe, from the molding with the cover, and designated generally by reference 14, has a conformation such that its front part can penetrate inside the housing 4 of the tank, the cam 13 coming to bear on the upper end of a push rod whose vertical translational controls a switch for starting the engine of the device. To this end, a groove 8a can engage on either side of the flange 5.

p0020The presence of grooves 7 and ribs 7a opposes the penetration of an object other than the key 14. Similarly, the closing of the upper part of the housing 4 by a wall 5 prohibits direct abutment on the top end of the push rod.

p0021Of course, and as reflected in Figures 7 and 8, the cover 3 and the tank 2 bear at their periphery, locking means (not shown) which may be closed after the cover has been properly secured on the top of the vessel, penetrating into the cylindrical clearance 15. in this example, the key 14 is supported by a flange 21 of the cover.

p0022Similarly, the key 14 can enter the interior of the housing 4 when the cover is at the proper level within the tank.

p0023As shown in Figure 8, the tank 2 has locking means 16 on the motor base (not shown). It is provided with a handle 17, a push rod 19 slidable in a housing 20 disposed in line with the housing 4.

p0024Thus, the device can only work when the vessel 2 is properly mounted on the base, and the good cover 3 is locked to the tank 2.

p0025Of course, the side opening of the housing 4 may have any shape, combined with the shape of the key 14.