Abstract:
A food processor including a reversible motor disposed in a base for generating a rotational force, a processor container removably attached to the base, a spindle rotated by the reversible motor when energized, and a slicing disc rotatably coupled to the spindle, the slicing disc having a radially extending slicing blade formed on one side thereof configured to perform a slicing operation and a plurality radially extending shredding blades disposed oppositely to the slicing blade on the slicing disc configured to perform a shredding operation. The slicing disc is automatically rotated in a first direction by the motor when the first and third discrete positions are selected on a slice selector disc corresponding to the slicing and dicing operations and automatically rotated in a second direction by the motor when the second discrete position is selected on the slice selector disc corresponding to the shredding operation.

Description:
[0001]    This invention claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/196,046 filed on Jul. 23, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relate to a food processor, and more particularly, to a food processor having a slice selection disc which allows the consumer to use only one cutting disc for multiple cutting functions without the need to swap different cutting discs. 
         [0004]    Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Food processors are known in the prior art to slice, shred, dice or otherwise cut a food ingredient, such as vegetables, fruits, cheese, nuts and meats. Typically, such food processors have a slicing disc disposed in a processor container in which the slicing disc has a blade system for cutting a food ingredient. A lid on the processor container covers the slicing disc. The lid includes a feed tube for providing a food ingredient into the processor container as the slicing disc is rotated such that the blade system can slice, shred, dice otherwise cut the food ingredient, which then falls to the bottom of the processor container or out of the processor container through a discharge outlet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In an embodiment, there is provided a food processor including a reversible motor disposed in a base for generating a rotational force, a processor container removably attached to the base, a spindle rotated by the reversible motor when energized, a slicing disc rotatably coupled to the spindle, the slicing disc having a radially extending slicing blade formed on one side thereof configured to perform a slicing operation and a plurality of radially extending shredding blades disposed oppositely to the slicing blade on the slicing disc configured to perform a shredding operation. There is a selector configured to select performing the slicing operation or performing the shredding operation. The slicing disc is automatically rotated in a first direction by the motor when the slicing operation is selected by the selector and the slicing disc is automatically rotated in a second direction by the motor when the shredding operation is selected by the selector. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, there is provided a food processor including a reversible motor disposed in a base for generating a rotational force, a processor container removably attached to the base, a spindle rotated by the reversible motor when energized, a slicing disc rotatably coupled to the spindle, the slicing disc having a radially extending slicing blade formed on one side thereof configured to perform a slicing operation and a plurality of radially extending shredding blades disposed oppositely to the slicing blade on the slicing disc configured to perform a shredding operation. 
         [0008]    A slice selector disc is disposed beneath the slicing disc and rotatably mounted on the base such that it can be rotated to select one of a plurality of discrete positions, a first of the discrete positions being selected for the slicing operation, a second of the discrete positions being selected for the shredding operation and a third discrete position for a dicing operation, and the slice selector disc includes an associated first food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the first discrete position being selected for the slicing operation, an associated second food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the second discrete position being selected for the shredding operation, and an associated third food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the third discrete position being selected for the dicing operation. 
         [0009]    The slicing disc is automatically rotated in a first direction by the motor when the first and third discrete positions are selected on the slice selector disc corresponding to the slicing and dicing operations and the slicing disc is automatically rotated in a second direction by the motor when the second discrete position is selected on the slice selector disc corresponding to the shredding operation. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, there is provided a food preparation appliance including a reversible rotary power source disposed in a base, a slicing disc rotatably coupled to the source of rotary power, the slicing disc having a radially extending slicing blade formed on one side thereof configured to perform a slicing operation and a plurality of radially extending shredding blades disposed oppositely to the slicing blade on the slicing disc configured to perform a shredding operation. 
         [0011]    A slice selector disc is disposed beneath the slicing disc and rotatably mounted on the base such that it can be rotated to select one of a plurality of discrete positions, a first of the discrete positions being selected for the slicing operation, a second of the discrete positions being selected for the shredding operation and a third discrete position being selected for a dicing operation, and the slice selector disc includes an associated first food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the first discrete position being selected for the slicing operation, an associated second food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the second discrete position being selected for the shredding operation, and an associated third food processing configuration formed in the slice selector disc corresponding to the third discrete position being selected for the dicing operation. 
         [0012]    The slicing disc is automatically rotated in a first direction by the rotary power source when the first and third discrete positions are selected on the slice selector disc corresponding to the slicing and dicing operations and the slicing disc is automatically rotated in a second direction by the rotary power source when the second discrete position is selected on the slice selector disc corresponding to the shredding operation. 
         [0013]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of embodiments of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the food processor of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of the food processor of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the food slicing disc and food slice selector disc of the food processor of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the food slicing disc of the food processor of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the food slice selector disc of the food processor of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0022]    The invention concerns a food processor including a motorized base and a detachable processor container. The motorized base includes a motor and controls, either electronic or manual, for controlling the speed of the motor. The processor container can be a transparent container made of either glass or plastic and includes a removable lid. The processor container is removably detachable from the motorized base for ease in cleaning the container. The motorized base can receive the container and can impart the rotational power of the motor as a rotational force to a spindle extending through the center of the container. A feed tube is formed in the lid including a removable food pusher tube. The feed tube directs food into a rotating slicing disc in the container. A manually rotated food slice selector disc is disposed beneath the slicing disc for selecting a slice type, e.g., slicing, dicing and shredding which also engages a sensor for detecting the desired slice type and controlling the direction of rotation of the motor depending on the selected slice type. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , there is illustrated various view of an embodiment of a food processor  100  that is useful for understanding the invention. The food processor  100  includes a base  110  on which a processor container  120  is received. The processor container  120  is removably attached to the base  110 . The processor container  120  has a lid  150  for enclosing the processor container  120  to keep food ingredients within the processor container  120 . The lid  150  has a feed tube  152  to assist in introducing food ingredients into the processor container  120 . 
         [0024]    A slicing disc  140  and a food slice selector disc  130  disposed beneath the slicing disc  140  are inserted into the processor container  120  and covered by the lid  150 . The slicing disc  140  is rotated by a spindle  116  rotatably connected to a motor  115  in the base  110 . The spindle  116  protrudes through an aperture  114  in the base  110  and is fitted into an aperture  141  in the slicing disc  140 . Similarly, the spindle  116  protrudes through an aperture  121  in the processor container  120  and an aperture  133  in the food slice selector disc  130 . The motor  115  is electrically connected to an electronic control panel  111  which includes electronic controls for controlling the operation of the motor  115  including switches  112 ,  113  for turning electrical power off/on to the motor  115  and controlling the motor speed, respectively. The electronic control panel  111  may be controlled with a microprocessor (not shown) including memory (not shown) containing pre-programmed motor routines. 
         [0025]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , there is illustrated various views of the food slicing disc  140  and the food slice selector disc  130  of the food processor  100  that are useful for understanding the invention. The food slicing disc  140  includes a radially extending blade  145  for cutting food into slices when the motor  115  is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. Food is fed into the feed tube  152  in the lid  150  and directed into the path of the slicing blade  145  when the slicing disc  140  is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. The cut food slices are directed through a gap between the slicing blade  145  and the slicing disc  140  to the food slice selector disc  130  disposed below for further processing as discussed below. 
         [0026]    Similarly, food is fed into the feed tube  152  in the lid  150  and directed into the path of a plurality of shredding blades  143  when the slicing disc  140  is rotated in the clockwise direction. The plurality of shredding blades  143  are staggered in the radial direction and located oppositely on the food slicing disc  140  from the slicing blade  145 . The shredding blades  143  shred food into strips of food when the slicing disc  140  is rotated by the motor  115  in the clockwise direction. Each of the shredding blades  143  have a corresponding aperture  144  disposed in front of it for directing the newly cut shred of food through the slicing disc  140  towards the food slice selector disc  130  disposed below for further processing as discussed below. 
         [0027]    The slicing blade  145  and the shredding blades  143  are ramped on their rear surfaces so that when the slicing disc  140  is rotated in the opposite direction of their cutting path food will just pass over the blades. For example, when the slicing disc  140  is rotated counter-clockwise for slicing food, food will be cut by the slicing blade  145  but pass harmlessly over the shredding blades  143 . Oppositely, when the slicing disc  140  is rotated clockwise for shredding food, food will be cut by the shredding blades  143  into strips (e.g., julienne strips) but pass harmlessly over the slicing blade  145 . 
         [0028]    The food slice selector disc  130  disposed beneath the slicing disc  140  may be manually rotated for selecting a type of food cut, e.g., slicing, dicing and shredding. The food slice selector disc  130  is manually rotated in the direction of arrows  200  to one of a plurality of discrete positions  1 ,  2  or  3  (relative to the front of the food processor  100 ) each corresponding to a desired type of food cut. For example, when it is desired to have a slice cut for the food, the food slice selector disc  130  is rotated so that a first portion  132   a  of an arc shaped aperture  132  formed in the food slice selector disc  130  is disposed beneath and in alignment with the elongated axis of the feed tube  152  and the discharge outlet  122 . The food slice selector disc  130  has a plurality of notches  131  on its periphery to facilitate rotation of the food slice selector disc  130  manually. In addition, a sensor  118  is provided on the base  110  in operative engagement with the food slice selector disc  130  to sense which of the discrete positions  1 ,  2  or  3  the food slice selector disc  130  is in. The sensor  118  may be any type of sensing means including optical, magnetic or switch actuated sensors but this is not meant to be limiting. 
         [0029]    In the foregoing example, the sensor  118  would detect the food slice selector disc  130  is in the first discrete position  1  (for slicing) and cause the motor  115  to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction. Food fed into the feed tube  152  would be directed into the slicing blade  145  on the slicing disc  140  and through the first portion  132   a  of the aperture  132  to the discharge outlet  122  of the processor container  120 . An optional angled food discharge chute (not shown) may further direct the food slices into a bowl or other vessel disposed beneath. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, the food slice selector disc  130  may be rotated to a second discrete position  2  (for shredding) so that a second portion  132   b  of the arc shaped aperture  132  formed in the food slice selector disc  130  is disposed beneath and in alignment with the elongated axis of the feed tube  152  and the discharge outlet  122 . The sensor  118  detects that the food slice selector disc  130  is in the second discrete position  2  and causes the motor  115  to rotate in the clockwise direction. Food fed into the feed tube  152  would be directed into the shredding blades  143  on the slicing disc  140  and pass through the second portion  132   b  of the arc shaped aperture  132  in the food slice selector disc  130  to the discharge outlet  122  of the processor container  120 . The shredded food may be further directed into a bowl or other vessel disposed below. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment, the food slice selector disc  130  may be rotated to a third discrete position  3  (for dicing as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) so that a dicing blade lattice  135  disposed in the food slice selector disc  130  is disposed beneath and in alignment with the elongated axis of the feed tube  152  and the discharge outlet  122  of the processor container  120 . The dicing blade lattice  135  is comprised of a plurality of equally sized square apertures having upwardly facing blades at the top of the walls forming the apertures. The sensor  118  detects that the food slice selector disc  130  is in the third discrete position  3  and causes the motor  115  to rotate in the clockwise direction. Food fed into the feed tube  152  is then directed into the slicing blade  145  on the slicing disc  140  and pass through the dicing blade lattice  135  disposed in the food slice selector disc  130  to the discharge outlet  122  of the processor container  120 . As the food slices pass through the dicing blade lattice  135 , the food slices are cut another time or diced into small cubes. The cubes of food are directed to the discharge outlet  122  of the processor container  120  and then may be further directed into a bowl or other vessel disposed below. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, there is a manually adjusted slice thickness control  117  disposed in the base  110  that has a thumbwheel portion  117   a  that protrudes through a rectangular aperture  119  formed in the front of the base  110 . The thumbwheel portion  117   a  is connected to a rotary portion  117   b  that protrudes through the aperture  114  in the base, the aperture  121  in the processor container  120 , and the aperture  133  in the food slice selector disc  130  to connect to a mechanical linkage (not shown) on the underside of the food selector disc  140 . Rotating the thumbwheel  117   a  causes the rotary portion  117   b  to turn the mechanical linkage (not shown) to cause the pitch of the slicing blade  145  to vary for selecting a desired slice thickness when the food slice selector disc  130  is rotated to either the first discrete position  1  or the third discrete position  3 . 
         [0033]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.