Abstract: A grinder has first and second body parts rotatable to each other. The first and second body parts engage the outer and inner burrs, respectively. A supporting flange in the second body part forms a seat to receive the outer burr. The outer burr is pressed toward the supporting flange to localize the outer burr against undesirable forces generated during grinding. A ring-shaped plate is sandwiched between the supporting flange and the outer burr. The outer burr presses on a bearing surface of the plate. The bearing surface is more resistant to abrasion than the supporting flange, advantageously reducing wear debris generation due to abrasion by the outer burr. Furthermore, a shaft engaging the inner burr is shaped as a triangular column for more effectively transmitting a received torque to the inner burr, allowing a plastic shaft to be used so as to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A condiment grinder which has a body for containing different types of condiment seeds and at least three grinding mechanisms provided at an open end of the body through which condiments ground by the respective grinding mechanisms are to be dispensed. An actuator is provided with the grinder for upon actuation generating a drive that drives the grinding mechanisms via respective transmission paths. A clutch in each of the transmission paths is used to establish and disestablish transmission of the drive via that transmission path, and there is a manually operable selecting mechanism for selecting and operating one of the clutches in order to establish transmission of the drive via the relevant transmission path.

Abstract: A condiment grinder which has a body for containing different types of condiment seeds and at least three grinding mechanisms provided at an open end of the body through which condiments ground by the respective grinding mechanisms are to be dispensed. An actuator is provided with the grinder for upon actuation generating a drive that drives the grinding mechanisms via respective transmission paths. A clutch in each of the transmission paths is used to establish and disestablish transmission of the drive via that transmission path, and there is a manually operable selecting mechanism for selecting and operating one of the clutches in order to establish transmission of the drive via the relevant transmission path.

Abstract: A light weight, low cost grinder assembly for a pepper grinder includes male and female rotary grinding members spaced to create between them a gap which determines the size of the ground pepper. Each of the male and female members is a composite of a polymer part and a corrugated steel grinding member which is advantageously produced by pressing.

Abstract: A grinder for condiments such as pepper has a grinding rotor mounted to rotate relative to a grinding stator for grinding the condiment therebetween. An speed-reducing epicyclic geartrain is connected for transmitting torque between a motor and the rotor. The geartrain includes a plurality of spur gear epicyclic gearsets, each gearset comprising planet gears meshed with a sun gear, the planet gears of each gearset supported upon a planet carrier, the gearsets stacked within a common ring gear with the sun gears coaxial, adjacent sun gears and planet carriers of adjacent gearsets being rotationally fast for transmitting torque between the adjacent gearsets. The adjacent sun gears and planet carriers of adjacent gearsets are integrally formed a melt processable polymer. The gearsets are held between an end wall and a closure at axially opposing ends of the ring gear to form a gearbox, the end wall being formed integrally with the ring gear and the closure being fixed to the ring gear.

Abstract: A light weight, low cost grinder assembly for a pepper grinder includes male and female rotary grinding members spaced to create between them a gap which determines the size of the ground pepper. Each of the male and female members is a composite of a polymer part and a corrugated steel grinding member which is advantageously produced by pressing.

Abstract: A tapered inner grinding element is spaced apart from an outer grinding element with a space therebetween which defines the size of the ground product. A shaft is connected at its bottom end to the inner element for operating the grinder. Screw threads formed on the shaft and an adjuster knob are engaged such that rotation of the adjuster knob directly moves the inner grinding element axially for adjusting the size of the ground condiment. A sleeve fixed to the inner grinding element slides axially on the shaft but is fixed to rotate with the shaft. Mating snap-acting connectors on the sleeve and the adjuster knob are joined by elastic deformation.

Abstract: A grinder for condiments such as pepper has a grinding rotor mounted to rotate relative to a grinding stator for grinding the condiment therebetween. An speed-reducing epicyclic geartrain is connected for transmitting torque between a motor and the rotor. The geartrain includes a plurality of spur gear epicyclic gearsets, each gearset comprising planet gears meshed with a sun gear, the planet gears of each gearset supported upon a planet carrier, the gearsets stacked within a common ring gear with the sun gears coaxial, adjacent sun gears and planet carriers of adjacent gearsets being rotationally fast for transmitting torque between the adjacent gearsets. The adjacent sun gears and planet carriers of adjacent gearsets are integrally formed a melt processable polymer. The gearsets are held between an end wall and a closure at axially opposing ends of the ring gear to form a gearbox, the end wall being formed integrally with the ring gear and the closure being fixed to the ring gear.

Abstract: Inner and outer grinding elements have a space therebetween which defines the size of the ground product. A shaft is connected at its bottom end to the inner element for operating the grinder. A sleeve extends about the outer grinding element and is mounted for rotation about the central axis of the grinding elements. Mating screw threads are formed on the sleeve and outer grinding element such that rotation of the sleeve moves the outer grinding element axially for adjusting the size of the ground condiment. A knob accessible from the exterior of the lower housing is fixed to the sleeve and rotates in a circumferential slot in the lower housing.