Eccentric screw pump

Abstract

The present invention relates to an eccentric screw pump ( 1 ) comprising an eccentric screw ( 5 ) and an elastic element ( 4 ) surrounding the latter as well as a drive device, wherein the eccentric screw ( 5 ) or the elastic element ( 4 ) surrounding the latter comprises a magnetic/magnetisable part ( 8 ) so that force transmission between the drive device and the eccentric screw ( 5 ) or the elastic element ( 4 ) is exclusively effected via magnetic field forces and wherein a magnetic/magnetisable part ( 8 ) of the eccentric screw ( 5 ) or the elastic element ( 4 ) required for the drive is not in contact with the fluid to be delivered, more preferably protected from direct contact with the fluid with a plastic covering.

1 . A food-based device, comprising:
 an eccentric screw pump for food-based fluids.   
   
   
       2 . The food-based device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 i. the eccentric screw pump comprises an eccentric screw and an elastic element surrounding the eccentric screw, and a drive device,   ii. at least one of the eccentric screw and the elastic element surrounding the eccentric screw comprises one of a magnetic and a magnetisable part so that force transmission between the drive device and the selected one of the eccentric screw and the elastic element is generally exclusively effected via magnetic field forces, and   iii. the selected one of the magnetic and magnetisable part of the selected at least one of the eccentric screw and the elastic element required for the drive is not in contact with the fluid to be delivered.   
   
   
       3 . The food-based device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of an electric magnet and a permanent magnet are provided which generates a magnetic field forces required for force transmission. 
   
   
       4 . The food-based device according to  claim 1 , wherein a housing, the elastic element that is a stator, the eccentric screw and a housing lid together form a pump head which is arranged in a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is designed without undercuts and blind holes so that after disassembly of the pump head only largely flat surfaces which are easy to clean remain. 
   
   
       5 . The food-based device according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive device comprises a magnetic drive disc which is arranged axially adjacent to at least one of the selected magnetic and magnetisable drive disc of the selected at least one elastic element and the eccentric screw. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The food-based device according to  claim 2 , wherein the selected one of the magnetic and magnetisable part of the selected one of the eccentric screw and the elastic element required for the drive is protected from direct contact with fluid with a plastic covering. 
   
   
       9 . The food-based device according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of an electric magnet and a permanent magnet are provided which generates a magnetic field forces required for force transmission. 
   
   
       10 . The food-based device according to  claim 2 , wherein a housing, the elastic element that is a stator, the eccentric screw and a housing lid together form a pump head which is arranged in a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is designed without undercuts and blind holes so that after disassembly of the pump head only largely flat surfaces which are easy to clean remain. 
   
   
       11 . The food-based device according to  claims 3 , wherein the drive device comprises a magnetic drive disc which is arranged axially adjacent to one of the selected magnetic and magnetisable drive disc of the selected elastic element and the eccentric screw. 
   
   
       12 . The food-based device according to  claim 3 , wherein a housing, the elastic element that is a stator, the eccentric screw and a housing lid together form a pump head which is arranged in a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is designed without undercuts and blind holes so that after disassembly of the pump head only largely flat surfaces which are easy to clean remain. 
   
   
       13 . The food-based device according to  claim 4 , wherein the drive device comprises a magnetic drive disc which is arranged axially adjacent to one of the selected magnetic and magnetisable drive disc of the selected elastic element and the eccentric screw. 
   
   
       14 . A method of dosing and dispensing a food-based fluid that is at least one of a sauce and a pasty food, comprising:
 providing a device with an eccentric screw pump; and   using the device to dose and dispense the at least one sauce and pasty food.   
   
   
       15 . A method of dosing and dispensing at least one of a fluid-based fluid and a foam, comprising:
 providing a device with an eccentric pump; and   using the device to dose and dispense the at least one fluid and foam.   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited by  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fluid and foam is a milk froth. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the food-based fluid is coffee and the food-based device is a coffee maker. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the food-based fluid is a sauce 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the food-based fluid is a pasty food.