The present invention relates to a sieve, especially a mincer sieve.

It is known to provide a mincing machine in which meat is forced through a mincer sieve to provide mincemeat. The sieve is often in the form of a circular plate with an array of apertures therein. The plate is supported about its circumference and meat forced through the apertures.

A problem with such sieves is that the apertures, after mincing a quantity of meat, become clogged with meat, and it can be difficult to clean them. Often a mincing appliance is sold with an additional cleaning brush to clean the apertures which adds cost to the appliance.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a sieve, preferably for use in a mincing machine, having a plurality of sub-components which can be transformed from a first assembled position or configuration to create a plate with a plurality of apertures therein through which material can be forced through, with each aperture (or preferably at least one aperture) being formed from at least two assembled sub-components, and which can be transformed to a second cleaning position or configuration in which the sub-components can be separated such that the apertures are split allowing material to be removed from split apertures.

The assembled position may be a configuration of the sieve when it is being used in a mincing machine. Preferably the sieve comprises a meat mincer (also referred to as a "meat grinder") plate. Preferably the sieve is a circular plate when assembled.

Preferably the sub-component or subsections are hinged together. For example, the subsections may be elongate and may be arranged in layers with one subsection hinged to an adjacent subsection. Conveniently, alternate ends of the layers or sub-components are hinged together. Preferably the layers comprise sub-components which are configured to abut each other in the same plane.

Preferably, adjacent sub-components abut one another in the assembled configuration, preferably in the same plane as the plate.

The sub-components may be separable in the same plane, being the plane of the plate.

Preferably the sieve comprises at least three sub-components, which may be coupled by at least two hinges.

Preferably the plurality of sub-components are coupled via a plurality of hinges so as to form a string, chain or a concertina arrangement.

Alternatively at least two of the sub-components are arranged concentrically to one another, and are arranged such that at least one of the sub-components is pivotable out of the plane of the plate. Preferably, each of the sub-components is pivotable with respect to another about an axis of the plate.

The plate, in the first assembled position, may be circular and the subcomponents may comprise at least two concentric rings of material. For example, the inner circumferential surface of one ring and the outer circumferential surface of an adjacent ring may each have recesses, with the recesses on one ring and recesses on an adjacent ring being co-operable so as to form said apertures, and said rings being separable to split said apertures. The concentric rings may be pivoted together on one diametrical axis or more.

The plate may be formed from metal.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sieve for use in a mincing machine, comprising: a plurality of sub-components; and a hinge for configuring the plurality of sub-components between: a first configuration in which the sub-components form at least one aperture through which foodstuffs can be forced; and a second configuration in which the sub-components are separated so that there is at least one fewer aperture formed by the subcomponents compared to the first configuration.

Preferably, the sieve comprises at least two hinges, preferably coupling at least three subcomponents.

Optionally, at least one of the plurality of sub-components is enclosed within another of the plurality of subcomponents, or at least two of the plurality of subcomponents are arranged concentrically in relation to one another.

The invention also extends to a mincing machine incorporating the sieve of the invention. Preferably, the sieve is coupled to the mincing machine via a fixing such as a fixing screw.

Preferably the mincing machine comprising means for permitting the sieve to be incorporated into the mincing machine and to be released from the mincing machine. The invention extends to a mincing sieve substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. The invention extends to a mincing machine comprising the mincing sieve substantially as herein described.

The invention extends to methods and/or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention also provides a computer program and a computer program product for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein, and a computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A and IB show one embodiment with the sub-components in the first and second positions respectively; and

Figures 2A and 2B show another embodiment with the sub-components in the first and second positions respectively.

Referring to Figures 1A and IB there is shown a circular mincer sieve plate 1. Sieve 1 has four sub-components in the form of elongate layers 2, 3, 4, 5 with alternate ends of layers 2, 3, 4, 5 being hinged together by hinges 6, 7, 8 preferably, such as to form a string or chain of sub-components. Opposing straight edges of adjacent layers have semi-circular cut outs 9.

Sieve 1 can be transformed from a first assembled position or configuration as shown in Figure 1A to create a plate with seven circular apertures formed from pairs of semi-circular cut outs 9. Sieve 1 can be used on a mincing machine and food can be forced through sieve 1 to mince the food.

After use, the sieve 1 can be transformed to a cleaning position or configuration as shown in Figure IB in which the layers 2, 3, 4, 5 can be hinged apart and separated such that the apertures are split allowing food particles to be removed from split apertures. The sieve may be formed from more or fewer layers than three and with more or fewer semi-circular apertures to create more or fewer apertures. Cut outs 9 could be other than semi-circular to make other shapes of apertures. The cut outs may be provided in one or both adjacent edges, and need not be aligned. Furthermore the adjacent edges need not be straight.

Referring to Figures 2A and 2B there is shown a circular mincer sieve 11. The sieve 11 has three sub-components in the form of concentric rings 12, 13, 14 The concentric rings 12, 13, 14 may be hinged together by a pivot pin 15 so as to be pivotable on a diametrical axis X-X.

The inner circumferential surface of one ring and the outer circumferential surface of an adjacent ring each having recesses in the form of semi-circular cut outs 16 with the recesses on one ring and recesses on an adjacent ring forming apertures when the rings are aligned in the same plane as shown in Figure 2A. Sieve 11 can be used on a mincing machine and food can be forced through sieve 11 to mince the food.

After use, the sieve 11 can be transformed to a cleaning position as shown in Figure 2B in which rings 12, 13, 14 are separable by rotating them about pin 15 to split the apertures formed by semi-circular cut outs 16 allowing food particles to be removed from split apertures.

The sieve may be formed from more or fewer rings than three and with more or fewer semi-circular apertures to create more or fewer apertures. Cut outs 16 could be other than semi-circular, and/or could make other shapes of apertures, and/or may not be aligned. The sieve is arranged so as to be fittable into a mincing machine. The sieve may be fitted at or close to the outlet of the machine for easy access. The outlet may take the form of a pipe into or in front of which the sieve may be fitted, where the size or profile of the outlet pipe and the sieve correspond. The sieve may then be held in place by means of a housing such as a screw housing which may fit around the circumference of the sieve and outlet pipe, so as to avoid blocking the apertures of the sieve. Alternatively or additionally, the outlet pipe may have a recess into which the sieve can be fitted. It will be appreciated that there are many possible ways in which the sieve may be fitted for use with a mincing machine.

The sieve is preferably not constrained in the first configuration, and is freely moveable to the second configuration. The sieve may be held in the first configuration, with the sub-components abutting one another, by virtue of being fitted into the mincing machine. For example, the sieve may be circumferentially constrained by the housing when fitted therein, or may be constrained in the plane of the plate when fitted to the mincer housing.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example, instead of being used in a mincer where material to be removed from apertures is minced meat, the sieve of the invention may be used in other applications, particularly where sieve apertures need to be cleaned.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination. Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.