CA1092494A - Food processor - Google Patents

Food processor

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Publication number
CA1092494A
CA1092494A CA301,659A CA301659A CA1092494A CA 1092494 A CA1092494 A CA 1092494A CA 301659 A CA301659 A CA 301659A CA 1092494 A CA1092494 A CA 1092494A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bowl
shaft
cutter
disc
lid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA301,659A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert L. Schaeffer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1092494A publication Critical patent/CA1092494A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a food processor with a power base and a lid-covered bowl supported thereon with the lid having a feed chute therethrough and a driven shaft extending vertically into the bowl, there is provided a pair of interchangeable cutters for the shaft. To this conventional structure an improvement is provided in a multiple cutting and storage arrangement comprising an exten-sion on the shaft raising it to the underside of the lid, a first separate removable cutter on the shaft in the bowl base and a second separate removable disc cutter on the top of the shaft spaced from the first cutter closely adjacent the bowl lid with structure fixing the cutters in a given position on the shaft so there is concurrent rotation of both cutters within the bowl so that the bowl stores the individually usable cutters when they are not in use and each of the cutters is individually operable in use either separately or simultaneously to automatically precut food by the first cutter before action by the second cutter.
An additional improvement is the provision of the second disc cutter having slicing and grating mechanism on opposite sides of the same disc so the single disc is reversibly usable.

Description

- 10~2a~9~
The invention relates to a food processor having a power base with a bowl supporting portion and a vertically driven shaft operable in a bowl thereon. Two interchangeable cutting means are provided for the shaft and arranged so that both are usable independently or simultaneously with both cutting means disposed within the bowl for convenient storage in non-use or independently or simultaneously usable in operation.
It is known to use food processors, a device fitting in the speed range between blenders and mixers, as a multipurpose kitchen apparatus that uses multiple interchangeable rotary tools such as blades, knives, cutting and rasping discs, and other tools for blending, mixing, grating, grinding, chopping, slicing, whipping and other operations in a short time. Generally, processors have been notable in the gourmet field but are being expanded to become a commonly used kitchen appliance. They usually comprise a power base with a bowl supporting portion and a vertically driven shaft that carries the cutters in the base of the bowl or various forms of slicing discs that may be substituted for the cutters and also independently used within the bowl. A lid that is interlocked with the motor circuit, and which usually contains a safety feed chute for introducing food to the bowl, inactivates the processor when the lid is removed and the sharp cutting means are exposed. A typical specific interlocking structure for such a food processor is shown in U. S. Patent No.
, dated sepf~ber~n~of common assignment. Some devices are strictly food processors as in U. S. Patent 3,892,365 dated July 1, 1975. Other devices may be quite flexible by providing means whereby the same basic power unit forms a food processing appliance that -9~
may operate in many speed ranges from blenders to mixers depending on what bowl is selected which automatically provides the correct shaft speed for the operation desired.
Such a device is shown in Canadian application S.N.
292,315 filed December 2, 1977 of common assignment.
An object of the present invention is to provide a food processor of the general known type with plural cutters that may be used independently or together and which are storable in non-use within the bowl of the processor and which, in use, may be separately used or simultaneously used to automatically precut food by one cutter before action by the other.
Another object is to provide such a processor wherein multiple operations are obtainable with only two cutting mechanisms by making one of the cutting mechanisms reversible.
Briefly described, the invention is directed to a food processor having a power base with a lid-covered bowl supported thereon, the lid having a feed chute there-through and a driven shaft extending vertically into the bowl and having a pair of interchangeable cutting means for said shaft. To this known arrangement an improvement is provided in multiple cutting and storage means comprising a means extending the shaft to the underside of the lid, a first separate removable cutter on the shaft in the bowl base with a second separate removable disc cutter on the top of the shaft spaced from the first cutter closely adjacent the bowl lid and fixedly supported in a given position on said shaft for simultaneous rotation within the bowl. The second disc cutter is a dual cutter with slicing means on one side and grating means on the other so the same disc can be usable for different operations by merely reversing 10!~94 it. The overall arrangement is such that the bowl stores the individually usable cutters when they are not being used and the same cutters are individually operable in use separately and also simultaneously for automatically precutting food by the top cutter before action by the lower cutter. Thus, the main object of the invention is to provide a food processor with plural cutters which are storable within the processor when not being used and are individually operable in use either separately or together for sequential cutting operations on the food at the same time.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially in section showing the stacking of the cutters;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cutter mechan-ism partially broken away and showing the details thereof, and FIG. 3 is a reduced side elevation showing the ; storage and/or cutting orientation of the multiple cutters.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a food processing appliance including a basic blender-type power base 10 which is preferably L-shaped having an upstanding motor containing housing unt 12 which has a suitable motor such as a low cost series motor driving a power shaft 14 by a suitable linkage between the power unit and shaft 14 as well known in the art. Any suitable power base 10 will suffice but the L-shape is preferred since is presents an overall low profile desirable in a kitchen appliance.
Disposed on the bowl supporting portion 16 of the base is a removable bowl 18 with a separate removable cutter mechanism with spaced cutting blades 20 as shown in FIG.
2 and well-known in the art. The cutters 20 are sharpened on the leading edge and usually comprise two axially spaced 10~ 9'?~

blades that perform a chopping operation on foods. The entire assembly slides on drive shaft 14 and fits on flattened surface 21 closely adjacent the bowl base as shown in FIG. 3 with coned hub 23 providing weight and cutter support to fixedly space the cutters in a given position on the shaft. This structure is well-known in the art.
As shown, bowl 18 is a relatively large bowl having a removable lid 22 with an integral feed chute 24 by which food is introduced to the bowl. The bowl may be lokced in position on the base by suitable lugs 26 by rotating it into position on supporting portion 16. Thus the bowl and cutting mechanisms are supported on portion 16 with the cutters being driven from motor unit 12 in the base 10 generally at a given speed. To prevent access to the movable cutters, the lid is secured to the bowl 18 by an interlocking mechanism generally indicated at 28 and relçtasable by know 30 as more fully explained in detail in said U. S. Patent ~f, tr~, 3 7~ supra.
For multiple food processing steps, it is known to provide one or more disc cutters as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of Patent 3,892,865 for rasping or grating and for slicing respectively. Such disc cutters are used separately from chopping cutters 20 and operate just below the lid adjacent feeding chute 24 for performing the separate operations into the bowl. Additional discs are stored separately and are used separately.
In accordance with the invention, the conventional first separate cutter means 20 is removably supported on shaft 14 in the bowl base as shown in FIG. 2. For different operations on the food, a second separate removable disc cutter 32 is provided and disposed on the top of shaft 14 which is deliberately extended to the underside of the iol~2~g4 lid for a purpose later explained and the disc cutter is fixedly spaced from the first cutter and closely adjacent the bowl lid, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The arrangement is such that both cutter mechanisms 20 and 32 are supportable at the same time entirely within the bowl as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus, when the device is not in operation the entire operating mechanism may be self-contained in a compact package without outside storage facilities. For multiple use, disc cutter 32 is designed for dual functions by providing slicing means 34 extending from one side of the disc and oppositely directed grating means 36 extending from the opposite side of the same disc as shown in FIG. 2. This provides for reversible use of the single disc cutter 32 for different operations by the same disc.
For reversible use, the second disc cutter 32 is provided with a fixed reversible hub 38 secured at 40 to the disc and designed to fit in lengthened shaft 14 and extend on each side of the disc as shown in FIG. 2.
Generally, the arrangement is symmetrical and both sides of the hub are provided with a flat surface as 21 (omitted for clarity) for driving engagement with shaft 14. Since-it is necessary to locate either side of the cutting disc 32 closely adjacent the lid feeding chute 24 as in any conventional single disc arrangement, the hub portion is provided with a central stop means 42 so that the disc can be reversibly dropped on the end of the lengthened shaft 14 with either face up to locate the slicer 34 or grater 36 closely adjacent the lid feed chute 24. In either position, disc 32 is fixedly located on shaft 14 in the same vertical position due to the central stop means 42. It should be noted that each cu~ter 20 and " 10~2~94 32 is thus provided with means, coned hub 23 and stop means 42, cooperating with the shaft to keep each of the cutting means fixedly spaced in a given position on the shaft.
For normal chopping, only cutters 20 will be used alonge in the bowl in the conventional manner. For pure slicing and/or grating, the cutter 20 may be removed and disc cutter 32 substituted with the appropriate side up adjacent the feed chute 24 so the processed food drops into the bowl. However, only one disc is required by virtue of the dual oppositely-spaced slicer 34 and grater 36 and either is usable depending on the position of disc 32 on the driving shaft. Thus, except for the reversibility, a conventional food processor is provided With the hub and shaft construction however, it is possible to use both cutting mechanisms simultaneously or to store the two mechanisms completely in the bowl when not in use as shown in FIG. 3. With the reversibility feature, it dispnses with the necessity of an additional cutting disc and still provides a device wherein all the cutting mechanism is storable within the bowl while retaining all the functions of individual extra discs. In operation, each of the cutting mechanisms can be used simultaneously by mounting them as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 so food entering chute 24 is automatically precut by disc 32 and then dropped into cutters 20 for chopping thus avoiding the necessity of precutting the food by hand. Thus, the arrangement of parts is such that the first and second removable cutter mechanisms provide all the functions heretofore required by two separate cutting discs thus eliminating one of the discs. In addition, the two cutting mechanisms may be stored within the bowl when the device is not in use. Further, while reducing the number 109;~94 of parts, it is possible to obtain additional simultaneous cutting to avoid hand precutting by the use of both cutting mechanisms simultaneously so that the food is auto-matically precut by the first cutting disc 32 before action by the second cutter 20 which has not been heretofore possible, thus providing a more flexible food processor.
Since the reversibility of cutting disc 32 with its hub structure provides a protruding part because of the proximity of the disc to the outlet of feed chute 24, it is necessary to provide a projecting chamber 46 directly in the lid to accommodate the upstanding portion of the reversible hub~ Since the parts are generally made of a transparent polycarbonate resinit is desirable to provide additional support for feed chute 24 and to this end the chamber may be modled so that it is directly connected to the feed chute at 48 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to provide additional rigidity or support to the-feed chute thereby using the necessary clearance chamber 46 also as a strengthening rib.
Thus, the overall arrangement provides a food processor using fewer cutters with the same multiple choice of operations. It permits use of the bowl to store the few cutting mechanisms and requires no outside storage.
It also allows the simultaneous use of both cutting mechanisms for automatic precutting of the food - a new operation. The arrangement thus retains all of the functions heretofore performed while reducing the number of parts so that everything may be stored within the confines of the bowl. Finally, the simultaneous use adds an additional precutting feature within the confines of the bowl.

While I have hereinbefore shown a preferred form lO!~Z~94 of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be under-stood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practices otherwise than as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.

Claims (5)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a food processor having a power base and a lid-covered bowl supported thereon, the lid having a feed chute therethrough and a driven shaft extending vertically into the bowl, and a pair of interchangeable cutting means for said shaft, the improvement in multiple cutting and storage means comprising, means extending said shaft extending to the underside of said lid, a first separate removable cutter on said shaft in the bowl base, a separate removable disc cutter on the top of said shaft spaced from said first cutter closely adjacent the bowl lid for simultaneous rotation within said bowl, whereby the bowl stores the individually usable cutters in non-use and the cutters are individually operable in use separately and also simultaneously to auto-matically precut food by the first cutter before action by the second cutter.
2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 having means cooperating with each-said cutting means keeping them fixedly spaced in a given position on said shaft.
3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said disc cutter has slicing means extending from one side of the disc and grating means extending from the opposite side of the disc for reversible use thereof.
4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said second disc has a fixed reversible hub for mounting on said shaft, said hub having stop means centrally therein for locating the disc in the same vertical position on said shaft with either face of the disc up to locate the different cutting means adjacent the lid feed chute.
5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said lid has a projecting chamber to accommodate a portion of the reversible hub, said chamber being connected to the feed chute for partial support thereof on the lid.
CA301,659A 1977-05-23 1978-04-21 Food processor Expired CA1092494A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79949777A 1977-05-23 1977-05-23
US799,497 1977-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1092494A true CA1092494A (en) 1980-12-30

Family

ID=25176054

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA301,659A Expired CA1092494A (en) 1977-05-23 1978-04-21 Food processor

Country Status (2)

Country Link
BR (1) BR7803317A (en)
CA (1) CA1092494A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10485382B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2019-11-26 Sunbeam Products, Inc. Food processor with slice selector disc

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10485382B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2019-11-26 Sunbeam Products, Inc. Food processor with slice selector disc

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR7803317A (en) 1979-02-06

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