WO1992022235A1

WO1992022235A1 - Press for squeezing vegetables, for instance garlic

Info

Publication number: WO1992022235A1
Application number: PCT/DK1992/000194
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Bindner
Original assignee: Peter Bindner
Priority date: 1991-06-19
Filing date: 1992-06-19
Publication date: 1992-12-23
Also published as: DK118991D0; DK118991A; AU1985492A

Abstract

In a press for squeezing for example garlic (15), the novelty is that the plunger (4) is divided into two mutually displaceable parts, namely a press plate (11), facing the press housing (1), and an ejector plate (7), that is attached behind the press plate (11) and has ejector fingers (6) projecting through the corresponding holes (12) in the press plate (11) while a stack of ring-shaped cup springs (14), limited by stops (13) seeks to move the two parts away from each other. The ejector plate (7) is connected to a threaded spindle (8), by which the press force is applied, and during the squeezing of a garlic clove (15), the ring-shaped springs (14) hold the press plate (11) at a maximum distance away from the ejector plate (7). At the end of the squeezing operation, however, when the press plate (11) contacts the bottom (2) of the press housing (1), the ring-shaped springs (14) are compressed, and the fingers (6) of the ejector plate (7) enter the holes (3) in the bottom (2) and force the remaining garlic paste out through the holes.

Description

PRESS FOR SQUEEZING VEGETABLES, FOR INSTANCE GARLIC

The invention relates to a press of the kind mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.

Many presses of this kind are known. Mostly so called garlic presses, see for example French patent no. 1.111.677. The majority of these garlic presses are constructed with a press housing wall with holes, and a wall with projecting parts. The press housing wall is fixed in relation to the body of the press. When such a press is used, for instance for squeezing a garlic clove, the clove is placed in the press housing between the two walls before the housing is closed. During the pressing operation, the clove is compressed and squeezed, and the produced garlic paste is forced out through the holes.

However, at the time the garlic paste begins to penetrate the holes, the projecting parts begins to enter the holes. The intention is to force the garlic paste out through the holes, but unfortunately, at the same moment, the projecting parts closes the holes so that a not insignificant amount of garlic paste, remaining between the two active press walls, can not come out. In the forementioned French patent, a conical design of the projecting parts is disclosed. This achieves a gradual closing of the holes, but also a reduced expulsion effect of the garlic paste out through the holes. Many experiments has been made to solve this problem by connecting the projecting parts to a special plate or part, that after the actual squeezing operation is brought to enter the holes from the opposite side. And to hereby force the remaining paste out through the holes in a direction opposite the pressing direction. See alsc Danish printed examined patent application no. 158703 and USA patent no. 4.466.346. However, these solutions makes the work with the garlic press more complicated because they demand special operations for expulsion of the remaining paste out through the holes and to remove this from the side of the press housing of the press housing wall in question.

In view of the above facts, the object of the invention is to define the design of a press of the above mentioned kind, where the remaining paste can effectively be forced out from the press housing and the holes. This is achieved with a press according to the invention as stated in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

This maices sure that the projecting parts does not to enter the holes in the opposite press housing wall before the actual pressing is completed and the remaining paste is forced out from the press housing. Because the projecting parts closes the holes at the time all the remaining paste is forced out, they can be designed with a sufficient fit in the holes so that the last remains are forced out.

In the embodiment specified in claim 2 it is obtained, that neither the projecting parts nor the holes in the press plate, that they are guided through, disturbs the actual pressing operation. Cleaning of the press plate at the press housing side is also easier. In the embodiment specified in claim 3 it is obtained that the rest paste that is forced out is taken to a place at a distance from the outside of the press housing wall in which the holes are made. Also, possible small rests at the front end of the projecting parts are wiped off when the plunger is retracted and the projecting parts are pulled back through the holes.

Additional embodiments of the press according to the invention are specified in claims 4-9. The objects of these are specified in the following detailed description.

A detailed description of the invention follows and relates to an embodiment of the garlic press according to the invention as shown in the drawings. The drawing shows three longitudinal sections through the press in different situations.

Fig. 1 shows the press before the pressing operation has begun. A garlic clove is placed in the press housing.

Fig. 2 shows the situation after the actual pressing operation has taken place.

Fig. 3 shows the situation after the last remains of garlic paste are forced out through the holes in the bottom of the press.

The press according to the drawing comprises an in principle known press housing 1 with a bottom 2 with a number of holes 3. The upper side is limited by a moveable plunger 4. The sides of the press housing 1 is limited at the sides by an additional side wall 5. The plunger can be moved along the side wall 5 towards and away from the bottom 2.

The plunger 4 comprises a number of ejector fingers 6 arranged in the same pattern as the holes 3 in the bottom 2, so that the ejector fingers 6 can project through the holes after the pressing operation is finished.

The ejector fingers 6 are placed at, or arranged in one piece with an ejector plate 7 that is rotatable but axially connected to a threaded spindle 8, which is screwed in a second bottom 9, which when the press is in operating mode is fixed to the side wall 5 and hereby to the first bottom 2. The threaded spindle 8 can be turned in both directions by a handle 10.

The ejector plate 7 is, in a not shown but essentially known way, guided in the side wall 5, so that the ejector fingers 6 at the end of the pressing operation almost fills out the holes 3 in the bottom 2.

In addition to the ejector plate 7 with ejector fingers 6 the plunger 4 comprises a press plate 11 with holes 12 corresponding in number and pattern to the holes 3 in the bottom 2 and the ejector fingers 6 so that the ejector fingers 6 are located in the holes 12. The detail with the press plate 11 is connected to a stop 13 that prevents the ejector plate 7 to move further away from the press plate 11 than what is shown in figures 1 and 2. Between the ejector plate 7 and the press plate 11 there is placed at least one pre tensioned spring device, that seeks to move them away from each other. In the disclosed embodiment, the spring device consists of four ring-shaped disc springs 14 that can be pre- tensioned by a force of about 100kg.

During the actual pressing operation, that is actuated by turning the handle 9 and by this the threaded spindle 8, the plunger 4 is moved dovm towards the bottom 2, guided by a steering tube 18, which is made in one part with the press plate 11, and the stop 13. By this it is avoided that the plunger gets stuck, for instance caused by an exentrically applied garlic clove to be squeezed. During this time, the underside of the plunger 4 is essentially flat. One part is the under side of the press plate 11, the other part is the lower ends of the ejector fingers 6. Because of the pre tensioned disc springs 14, this situation will remain while the inserted garlic clove 15 is squeezed in a known way to force the garlic paste 15a shown in fig. 2, out through the holes 3. An annular skirt 19, extending from the press plate 11 down in the press housing 1 leads the garlic paste 15 away from the side wall 5.

In the position of the press plunger shown in fig. 2, the press plate 11 contacts the bottom 2, after having forced out the last remains of garlic paste 15a from the press housing 1. The skirt 19 fits into an annular groove 20 around the bottom 2. An additional movement downwards of the threaded spindle 8 will now make the ejector plate 7, while compressing the disc springs 14, to bring the ejector fingers 6 to move out through the holes 3 in the bottom 2 and thus push the last rest of garlic paste 15a out through the holes 3. In fig. 3 the situation after this push out is shown. Possible small rests of garlic paste, attached to the end parts of the ejector fingers 6 will be wiped of when the plunger 4 is retracted (While the handle 10 is rotated in the opposite direction) and passes the outer side of the bottom 2.

In the last shown embodiment, the first bottom 2 and the side wall 5 are walls in a press housing. The upper wall 16 and the second bottom 9 is a unit. By the threaded portion 17 it is removeably connected to the side wall 5. That is to make it possible to open the press housing and insert the product that is to be pressed. In stead of the shown threads, this can for instance be another kind of joint such as a bayonet connection. However, it must be pointed out that the connection shall be able to transfer relatively great forces.

As mentioned above, the press plunger 4 shall be guided when'it is moving towards the bottom 2, so that the ejector fingers 6 can fill out the holes 3 in the bottom 2. Because the press housing 1 is designed as a circular cylinder, the needed guiding can for examle be accomplished with a not shown steering device at the press plate 11 or at the steering tube 18 that cooperates with the also not shown grooves at the inner side of the side wall 5. However, if the press housing 1 has a different design, such as rectangular, the guiding will automatically be achieved because of its shape.

Due to the large forces concerned, the press is preferably made of a suitable metal, for example stainless steel. The shown embodiment is made to be hand operated for instance in household use. The principles of the invention can however also be used in large production capacity presses, intended to be used with hand operated weight-bars or engines. For example in restaurant kitchens or factories. Persons skilled in the art will be able to apply the principles of the invention also to that kind of presses.

LIST OF DETAILS

1 press housing

2 bottom (first)

3 holes

4 plunger

5 side wall

6 ejector fingers

7 ejector plate

8 threaded spindle

9 second bottom

10 handle

11 press plate

12 holes

13 stop

14 ring-shaped springs

15 garlic clove 15a garlic paste

16 upper wall

17 threaded portior. 18 steering tube 19 annular skirt 20 groove

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Press for squeezing vegetables, such as garlic (15), presses of the kind comprising, a) a press housing (1) limited by al) a first, wall (2), in which a number of holes (3) are made, a2) a second wall (4), having a number of projecting parts (6), that are designed and attached so, that they at the end of a relative movement of the first and the second wall, when these are brought closer to each other, they can enter the holes (3) in the first wall (2), and a3) at least an additional wall (5), that together with the first and the second wall essentially closes the press housing in relation to the surroundings, and b; moving means (δ, 10), by which the first (2) and second (4) wall can be brought to approach each other.

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n

c, that the second press housing wall ( is divided in at least two different parts, namely cl) a press plate (11), in which a number of holes (12) are' arranged, and c2) an ejector plate (7), that is attached to the side of the press plate (11) that is net facing the press housing and has the mentioned projecting part (6) reaching at least partly into the holes (12) in the press plate (7), and d) [such a device] , that during the mentioned relative movement the ejector plate (7) is held or moved first in relation to the press plate (11), that the projecting parts from the last mentioned does not reach essentially far in to the press housing (1), whereby the ejector plate (7) after the relative movement is finished is moved towards the press plate (11) , consequently the projecting parts (6) at least reaches in to the holes of the first wall (2) .

[a pre tensioned spring device (14) inserted between the ejector plate (7) and the press plate (11) j 2. Press according to claim 1, characterized in [such a device], that the ends of the projecting parts (6) at least essentially are in the same level as the side of the press plate (11) that faces the press housing (1), at least when the second press housing wall (4.' is situated at a distance away from the first press housing wail (2; before the mentioned relative movement of the two press housing walls (4,

2) towards each other.

3. Press according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in , [such a device], that the ends of the projecting part (6) of the ejector plate (7) reaches out from the outer side of the first press housing wail (2) after finishing the (in claim 1, item d) mentioned movement of the ejector plate (7) towards the press plate (11) .

4. Press according to one or more of claims 1-3, characterized in a^'- a housing (5, 16), one end of which is closed by an end bottom, that constitutes the first wail (2) and the side wail or -walls constitutes the additional wall (5) , and b) a plunger (4) arranged to be moved inside the house constitutes the mentioned second wail and comprises bl) a press plate (11), in which a number of holes corresponding to the number of holes (12) are arranged, and with their sides touching the inner side of the housing (5, 16), b2) an ejector plate (7), that is moveable in relation to the press plate (11) towards and away from this and being pre tensioned spring-loaded (14) away from the side of the press plate (11) that does not face the end bottom (2). The ejector plate has a number of ejector fingers (6) corresponding to a number of holes in the press plate (11), and the ejector plate (7) is connected to the moving means (8, 10) .

5. Press according to claim 4, characterized in, that the housing (5,16) comprises two individually disconnectable parts, namely a) a first part (2, 5), comprising the mentioned bottom (2) and a first part (5) of the side wall (5, 16) of the housing, and b) a second part (9, 16), comprising a second part (16) of the side wall (5, 16) of the housing. The end of the second part that is facing away from the first part (2, 5) of the housing has a second bottom (9), that constitutes the connection between the housing and the moving means (8, 10) .

6. Press according to claim 5, characterized in, that the moving means comprises a threaded spindle (8) arranged in the moving direction of the plunger (4), one of its ends is rotatable, but axially essentially not displaceable and placed in the ejector plate (7) . Its threaded part is screwed in to the threaded hole in the mentioned bottom (9) .

7. Press according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in. that the housing (5, 16) is essentially a circular cylinder, the two housing parts are connected by a threaded joint, a bayonet connection or a similar device.

8. Press according to one or more of claims 1-7, characterized in, that the press plate (11) is permanently connected to a steering tube (18), reaching from the press plate in a direction away from the press housing (1) and is sliding against a wall that is parallel to the moving direction of the press.

9. Press according to one or more of claims 1-8, characterized in, that the press plate (11) has a skirt (19) at the side that is facing the press housing (1), immediately connected to a wall in the press housing (1) that is parallel to the moving direction of the press.