Compact speed-reducing universal motor drive assembly arrangement for food processor

An improved drive unit for a food processor of the type wherein the drive unit is enclosed in a base housing and has a vertically extending spindle which extends into a processing bowl and carries rotary tools thereon. The drive unit comprises a horizontally mounted universal motor carrying a pinion gear at the end of its shaft. A ring gear meshes with the pinion and encircles the motor on a concavo-convex support structure. The support structure is coupled to the vertical spindle. Included in the drive unit are a novel three point shock mounting for the motor and an automatic brake to prevent coasting of the tool after the motor is deenergized. In a further embodiment of the drive unit the motor and the concavo-convex ring gear are held in a motor mount which is vibrationally isolated from the base housing for providing quieter operation. This mount arches up over the dome of the ring gear which in turn arches up over the motor. A lockable adjustment is provided in the motor mount for adjusting the engagement between the pinion gear and ring gear, and another form of automatic brake is shown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention pertains to multipurpose food processors of the type 
including a base housing having a drive unit therein with a rotary tool 
spindle protruding vertically therefrom. A bowl is mounted on the base 
housing and has a bottom opening through which the spindle extends. 
Various tools may be mounted on the spindle for rotation within the bowl 
for processing different types of foods. A cover mounted on the bowl has 
an opening through which food may be introduced to be sliced, chopped, 
grated, mixed, pureed or otherwise prepared. Examples of food processors 
of this type will be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,892,365 of Verdun and 
3,985,304 of Sontheimer. 
Most prior art food processors of the type referred to employ a squirrel 
cage induction motor as the main drive. The advantage of such a motor is 
that its speed is compatible with the operations to be performed and, 
accordingly, it requires no speed reduction. However, it is heavy and 
expensive. Also, its load characteristics are not particularly good as 
motor slip and tendency to overheat become relatively pronounced at higher 
loads. Furthermore, its vertical mounting means that the base housing must 
be relatively tall and this is a disadvantage when used and stored in the 
average home kitchen. It would be preferable to employ a universal motor 
in a device of this type as such motors are lightweight and inexpensive 
and have the added advantage of being operable on both AC and DC current. 
However, the speeds of these motors are quite high, on the order of 
10,000-20,000 rpm. or more. This necessitates some type of gearing or 
belting. In prior art food processors employing universal motors, the 
universal motors have been mounted on a vertical axis and connected by 
belt to the vertical tool spindle. This has resulted in rather bulky base 
housings in order to provide room for pulleys, belts, etc. 
Most prior art food processors are designed in such a manner that the cover 
must be securely clamped to the bowl before the drive unit will start. 
Removal of the cover automatically deenergizes the drive. This is a safety 
feature to prevent injury to the user by the often sharp, spinning tools. 
However, the blades will continue coasting for a time after the motor is 
deenergized, and this could result in injuries if the user suddenly 
removed the cover and immediately reached into the bowl. 
Finally, it is also important to keep the vibration and noise of a home 
kitchen appliance to an absolute minimum. The motor mounting of many of 
the prior art processors leaves much to be desired in this regard. 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an 
improved food processor wherein the drive unit employs a universal motor 
with a unique gearing arrangement resulting in an extremely compact and 
efficient power package. 
Another object is to provide such a processor wherein the motor is mounted 
in a nearly vibration-free, yet simple and efficient manner. 
Another object is to provide such a processor wherein the spinning tools 
are braked to a stop upon removal of the bowl cover. 
Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the 
following description and appended claims. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An improvement is provided in a food processor of the type including a base 
housing enclosing a drive unit with a rotatable spindle driven by the 
drive unit extending vertically upward from the houding, a bowl detachably 
mounted on the housing and defining a base opening for receiving the 
spindle, adapted to have a rotary tool mounted on the spindle within the 
bowl, and with a cover detachably secured to the bowl defining a 
passageway for feeding food into the bowl. The improvement comprises means 
for supporting an electric motor within the housing and a universal 
electric motor carried by the supporting means with its drive shaft 
horizontal. A pinion gear is mounted on the drive shaft and a ring gear 
engages the pinion and encircles the motor for rotation thereabout in a 
substantially horizontal plane. Means are provided for coupling the 
rotation of the ring gear to the vertically extending, rotatable spindle 
and for controlling rotation of the motor and for automatically braking 
rotation of the motor when the cover is removed from the bowl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With particular reference to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a 
food processor embodying this invention and comprising a base housing 10, 
a working bowl 12 removably mounted thereon for holding food material to 
be processed, and a removable cover 14 on the bowl. The base housing 10 
comprises three basic structural elements. The first of these is a 
box-like enclosure, best illustrated in FIG. 3 and including spaced, 
parallel sidewalls 16, 18, rear wall 20, and front wall 22, the latter 
including an angled portion 22a having a plurality of ventilation slots 24 
therethrough. The second element of base housing 10 is a substantially 
rectangular base plate 26 (FIG. 2) having a vertical flange 28 positioned 
inside of the vertical walls and having on its bottom surface four 
rubber-like feet 30 conventionally mounted through holes 32 formed in 
bosses 34. The third element making up base housing 10 is a top closure 36 
which is essentially rectangular to conform to the shape of the housing, 
but includes an upwardly, extending circular turret 38 which defines a 
central, circular opening 40 and has molded into its outer periphery at 
least two spaced locking lugs 42. Extending upwardly through the opening 
40 in top closure 36 is a spindle 44 having a flat 46 along one side and 
driven by a drive unit within the base housing 10 to be described more 
fully infra. 
The bowl 12 has a cylindrical sidewall 48 and a raised bottom 50, thereby 
forming a depending skirt 52. Extending inwardly from the skirt 52 are a 
plurality of projections 54 positioned to lock under the lugs 42 on the 
base housing when the bowl is rotated thereon. The bowl base 50 defines a 
central opening bounded by a cylindrical socket 56 which surrounds the 
spindle 44. On the outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall 48 is a 
vertical boss 58 defining a bore 60 having therein a sliding rod 62 spring 
loaded upwardly by means of spring 64. When bowl 12 is locked into 
position on base housing 10, the end of rod 62 is aligned with an opening 
66 in the top closure 36 of base housing 10. The upper rim of the 
cylindrical sidewall 48 carries a plurality of spaced, radially outwardly 
extending locking tabs 68. 
The cover 14 for the bowl is substantially circular with a depending inner 
flange 70 which fits within the cylindrical sidewall 48 and an outer 
flange 72 which carries a plurality of depending locking fingers 74 
positioned such that, when the cover 14 is rotated, they engage respective 
locking tabs 68. Also depending from the outer flange 72 is a camming 
member 76 positioned to engage and depress the sliding rod 62 when cover 
14 is rotated to its fully closed and locked position. A vertical hopper 
or well 78 extends through the cover 14 for the insertion of food which 
may be pressed inwardly by means of a movable pusher 80. 
As will be seen from FIG. 2, the spindle 44 comprises a steel core 82 with 
an outer plastic sleeve 84 having a sealing flange 85 covering opening 40. 
Various tools may be positioned over this spindle, as shown in FIG. 1, 
each comprising one or more blades 86 mounted on a hub 88. Further details 
of the construction of bowl 12, cover 14, and the tool assemblies will be 
found in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,365 of Verdun. 
The drive unit of this invention is mounted in the base housing 10 by means 
of motor mount 90 shown in FIG. 3. It comprises front 92 and rear 94 cross 
members, each of which extends between, and is secured at its ends to, the 
sidewalls 16, 18. The cross members 92, 94 are interconnected by means of 
an upwardly bowed bridging member 96 which has an integral stub shaft 98 
extending upwardly therefrom for alignment with the opening 40 in the top 
closure 36 when it is mounted on the base housing 10. The rear cross 
member 94 defines a central, circular opening 100. Aligned therewith, and 
defined by the front cross member 92, is an opening 102 in the form of an 
inverted U extending through the bottom edge of cross member 92. On either 
side of the opening 102 is a bolt hole 104. The opening 100 in the rear 
cross member is provided with a rubber grommet 106 (FIG. 2) and the bolt 
holes 104 in the front cross member 92 are provided with similar but 
smaller grommets 108 (FIG. 4). 
A universal motor 110 is carried by the motor mount 90 at three support 
points. This universal motor 110 is positioned within the base housing 10 
with its axis of rotation as defined by a rotatable motor shaft 118 
extending horizontally parallel with the base plate 26. The frame 111 of 
this motor includes a circular boss 112 encircling and concentric with the 
motor shaft 118 at one end of the motor, this boss 112 being inserted 
through and held snuggly by the resilient grommet 106. A similar boss 114 
at the other end of the motor fits within, but is spaced from, the opening 
102 where it is retained by means of bolts 116 which extend through the 
grommeted holes 104, as shown in FIG. 4. The resilient grommets 108 are 
symmetrically located on opposite sides of the axis of motor shaft 118, 
and the other grommet 106 is concentric with the axis. In this manner, a 
rigid but vibration-absorbing three-point mounting is provided by the 
grommeted opening 100 and bolt holes 104. Extending horizontally toward 
the front of the base housing is the motor shaft 118 upon which is mounted 
by means of a key 120, a bevelled pinion gear 122. 
Mounted atop the stub shaft 98 of the motor mount 90 is a bearing assembly 
124 comprising an inner race mounted on shaft 98 and an outer race secured 
to the central hub 126 of a rotatable saucer-shaped, concavo-convex gear 
support member 128. Member 128 has a horizontal annular rim 130 from which 
depends a bevelled ring gear 132 whose teeth mesh with the pinion gear 122 
and encircle the motor 110. The ring gear 132 may be secured to member 
128, as shown, by any suitable means. Alternatively, it may be integral 
therewith. The upper surface of the hub 126 has a circular recess 134 
within which is fixedly secured a steel disk 136 which forms the head of 
the core 82 of spindle 44. Thus, it is seen that the bearing assembly 124 
rotatably supports the spindle 44 with the spindle axis of rotation 
extending vertically and also rotatably supports the ring gear 132 for 
revolving in a horizontal plane. This ring gear 132 encircles the entire 
motor frame 111 in a compact configuration. The upwardly arched bridging 
member 96 and the inverted saucer-shaped ring gear support member 128 both 
are nested down around the motor 110 in overlapping relationship with one 
of them nested within the other. Their nested relationship contributes to 
the compact configuration of the drive unit and advantageously reduces the 
required headroom within the base housing 10. The gear support member 128 
and its hub 126 serve for coupling the rotating ring gear 132 to the 
spindle 44 for rotating the spindle about its axis. 
Formed on the inner surface of front wall 22 of base housing 10 is a boss 
138 (FIG. 5) which supports the motor switch and the brake assembly which 
will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 5-7. Mounted 
against the boss 138 by means of an L-shaped bracket 140 and screws 142 is 
a conventional electric motor switch 144 having a vertically extending 
actuator button 146 which is aligned with the opening 66 in top closure 
36. Formed on the inner surface of top closure 36 and surrounding the 
opening 66 is a lip 148 defining a recess 150 within which is retained a 
flexible diaphragm 152. Diaphragm 152 seals the opening 66 so as to 
prevent the entry of food, liquid, or other deleterious substances into 
the base housing 10. Mounted to the boss 138 by means of a pivot pin 154 
is a brake lever 156 which overlies switch button 146 and is urged into 
its upward position by means of a coil spring 158 seated on bracket 140. 
Near its distal end, the brake lever 156 defines an opening 160 
therethrough. 
Secured to the bottom of boss 138 by means of screws 162 is a brake band 
support arm 164 which has a slot 166 therethrough. The slot 166 is aligned 
substantially vertically with one edge of a brake drum 168 secured to the 
outer end of shaft 118. A flexible brake band 170 is secured by one end to 
the support arm 164, encircles the brake drum 168, and its other end is 
releasably secured to brake lever 156. It is illustrated in detail in FIG. 
6. It includes a relatively wide body portion 172 having a longitudinal 
slot 174, and an elongated narrow tongue 176 having a width slightly less 
than that of slot 174. It is formed of a suitable plastic material and has 
molded into its end in the wide body portion 172 a pair of spaced ridges 
178 by means of which the end is retained in the slot 166 of support arm 
164 as illustrated. The band is wrapped around the brake drum 168 one and 
a half times, the tongue 176 being inserted through the slot 174 and lying 
therein along the lower half circumference of the brake drum. Both sides 
of the end of tongue 176 are formed with serrations 180 thereon and this 
end extends upwardly through the opening 160 in brake lever 156. 
By reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the brake lever 156 carries a 
pair of cooperating, resilient clamp members 182 positioned on either side 
of the opening 160. Each of clamp members 182 is substantially Z-shaped 
and includes a flat mounting base 184 secured to lever 156, an outwardly 
biased resilient center section 186, and an inwardly angled clamping end 
188. The normal configuration of clamp members 182 would cause them to 
assume the dotted line positions indicated at 182'. However, extending 
outwardly from the inner side of the base housing 10 are a pair of 
clamping bars 190. These bars are substantially rectangular in cross 
section, but their lower inside edges are rounded to form camming surfaces 
192. Thus, when the brake lever 156 is pivoted downwardly into position 
156' illustrated in FIG. 5, the clamp members 182 are in their open 
positions, out of engagement with the brake band 170. When the lever 156 
is raised by the action of spring 158, the clamping ends 188 of clamp 
members 182 engage the camming surface 192 and are forced inwardly, 
thereby causing the clamping ends 188 to engage the serrations 180 in the 
brake band 170 for pulling the brake band snug around the drum 168. This 
drum 168 is shown as being formed by an extended hub portion on the pinion 
gear 122. The action of the clamping ends 188 engaging the serrations 180 
each time that the brake band is pulled serves to provide compensation for 
wear of the brake band. 
ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION 
FIG. 3 illustrates the central portion of base housing 10 with its integral 
motor mount 90. The rubber grommets 106, 108 are inserted in the openings 
100, 104, and the motor 110 is inserted through the bottom, the boss 110 
being positioned in the grommeted opening 100. The front end of the motor 
is then lifted into the opening 102 and screws 116 are engaged as shown in 
FIG. 4 by means of a suitable tool such as a screwdriver, socket wrench, 
or Allen wrench, which may be inserted through one of the ventilation 
slots 24 or through openings specially provided. The base plate 26 may 
thereafter be attached. The manner in which the remaining portions of the 
drive unit are assembled will be apparent to those skilled in the art from 
the foregoing description and drawings and need not be further explained. 
It is important to note that the gear support member 128 overlies and 
surrounds the universal motor 110 in such a manner that a very compact 
assembly is achieved. However, it is equally important to note that a very 
favorable gear ratio is achieved which makes possible the use of a high 
speed universal motor. In one actual embodiment, the pinion and ring gears 
are spiral bevel gears, the pinion being of steel and having 22 teeth and 
the ring gear being of Delrin and having 130 teeth, thereby obtaining a 
speed reduction of nearly 6:1. 
The operation of the brake will be most apparent from the following 
description taken in conjunction with the illustration of FIG. 5. As 
explained in the above referenced Verdun patent, the cover 14 is rotatably 
secured to the bowl 12 and, in the act of rotatably locking it into 
position, the camming member 76 depresses the sliding rod 62. Rod 62 is 
forced through the opening 66, stretching the diaphragm 152 and forcing 
down the button 146 of switch 144, thereby starting the motor. In the 
present invention, the brake lever 156 which is interposed between the rod 
62 and the switch button 146 is also depressed into position 156'. The 
clamp members 182 spring apart when they move away from the confines of 
clamping bars 190, thereby releasing the upper end of the brake band 170. 
The brake band 170 thus loosens its grip around the brake drum 168, 
permitting the motor 110 to operate unimpeded. Upon completion of the food 
processing operation, the cover 14 is rotated in the opposite direction 
for removal. This releases the sliding rod 62 which is withdrawn into the 
boss 58 as shown in FIG. 5. Simultaneously, the spring 158 forces the 
brake lever 156 back into the illustrated solid-line position. As the 
clamp members 182 make contact with the camming surfaces 192 on the 
clamping bars 190, they are forced inwardly and engage the serrations 180 
in the brake band 176. This contact is made before brake lever 156 
completes its upward movement. Accordingly, as this movement is completed 
under the force of spring 158, the end of the brake band 170 is pulled 
upward and tightens securely around the brake drum 168. The 6:1 mechanical 
advantage of the gearing very rapidly brakes the drive unit and the 
rotating processing tool to a quick stop, even before the cover can be 
removed, thereby preventing injury to the user. 
In the alternative brake assembly as shown in FIG. 8 there are a pair of 
opposed brake shoes 194 which are pivoted at 196 to a mounting bracket 198 
which is attached to the motor mount 90 so that the pivot 196 is aligned 
with and below the motor shaft 118. A curved friction pad 200 lines each 
of the brake shoes. These pads engage the brake drum 168 whenever a brake 
applying spring 202 is allowed to pull the brake shoes toward the drum. 
The tension spring 202 is attached to the opposite ends 203 of the curved 
brake shoes 192 from the pivot 196. A modified motor switch 144A has a 
straight-through actuator plunger 146A with a wedge-shaped lower end 204. 
Whenever the plunger 146A is depressed for closing the circuit for 
energizing the motor 110, the wedge portion 204 moves downwardly between 
the ends 203 of the brake shoes 194, thereby overcoming the spring force 
and moving the brake shoes apart. In this way the braking pressure of pads 
200 is released. Conversely, whenever the cover 14 is removed from its 
working position on the bowl, the plunger 146A is allowed to be raised by 
an internal spring (not shown) within the switch 144A. The wedge portion 
204 is withdrawn upwardly allowing the spring 202 to apply the braking 
pressure. 
FURTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
In the further embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 9 through 18 the 
various elements performing functions corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 
through 8 have the same reference numbers. The working bowl 12 and the 
turret 38 on which the bowl is mounted during operation may be identical 
to those components described above, and so their description will not be 
repeated. Also, the spindle 44 and the food processing tool mounted on it 
are shown the same as described above. It is noted that more than one flat 
surface 46 may be provided on the spindle 44, or it may have a spline 
configuration for providing a driving engagement with the hub 88 of the 
tool. It is also noted that the base housing 10A and motor mount 90A may 
be arranged so that the bowl 12 is mounted on the turret 38 with the 
vertical boss 58 and sliding push rod 62 positioned toward the front of 
the base housing or may be arranged so that the bowl is mounted with the 
boss 58 and sliding rod 62 positioned toward the rear of the base housing. 
From a mechanical point of view either arrangement is equally acceptible, 
but it is my preference to employ the latter arrangement because I think a 
more attractive over-all appearance for the food processor is provided 
when the sliding push rod 62 is located toward the rear. Accordingly, in 
this description it is assumed that the right side of FIG. 9 is the front 
of the food processor. It is also to be understood that the components in 
the food processor shown in FIGS. 1-8 can be rearranged so that the 
working bowl could be mounted with the push rod 62 located at the rear of 
the base housing 10. 
The drive unit is mounted in the base housing 10A (FIGS. 9 and 10) by means 
of a motor mount 90A, which is also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The base 
housing 10A comprises three basic structural elements. The first of these 
is a box-like enclosure including spaced sidewalls 16, 18, rear wall 20 
and front wall 22. The second element of the base housing 10A is a 
substantially rectangular base plate 26 having a vertical flange 28 
positioned inside of the walls. On the bottom of the base plate 26 are 
four feet 30 of relatively soft, resilient material, such as rubber. These 
resilient feet 30 are associated with a vibration isolating mounting 
assembly for isolating the motor mount from the housing 10A as will be 
described more fully infra. The third element making up the base housing 
10A is a top closure 36, which is essentially rectangular to conform to 
the shape of the housing, but includes the circular turret 38. 
It is to be understood that ventilation openings (not shown) are provided 
in the base plate 26 or in one or more of the walls 16, 18, 20, 22 for 
cooling of the motor 110. Another way in which ventilation may be provided 
is to space the vertical flange 28 away from the walls 16, 18, 20, 22 in 
one or more places to define vertical channels adjacent to the inner 
surface of these walls through which air can flow. It is my present 
preference to provide openings in the base plate 26 and also to shape the 
flange 28 for defining such air flow channels to assure that the motor 110 
receives adequate cooling air flow, because this motor in the drive 
arrangement as shown is capable of performing relatively prodigious food 
processing tasks in which heavy motor loads are involved. If desired, the 
walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be made integral with the top closure 36. For 
example, the top closure and walls of the housing 10A may be injection 
molded as an integral structure from suitable tough, durable, 
injection-moldable material such as in now commercially employed for 
making kitchen appliance housings. 
The motor mount 90A includes rigid bridging members 201, 202, 203 and 204 
(see also FIG. 12) which arch up and over the motor 110, and they unite at 
a center portion 206 forming a bearing mount which they support concentric 
with the axis of rotation of the spindle 44. In this bearing mount 206 is 
a socket 208 for holding the outer race of a bearing assembly 124, and the 
inner race of this bearing assembly holds the steel shaft 82 of the 
spindle 44. The lower end of this steel shaft 82 carries an enlarged head 
210 having a flange 212 on which is secured the concavo-convex gear 
support member 128 by suitable fastening means, for example a plurality of 
machine screws 214. This gear support member 128 is shown formed of tough, 
rigid plastic material, for example such as Delrin, and it has a 
horizontal annular rim 130 from which depends a bevelled ring gear 132 
whose teeth mesh with the pinion gear 122 and encircle the motor 110. The 
ring gear 132 may be secured to the rim 130 by any suitable means. 
Alternatively, the ring gear may be integral with the member 128. In this 
example, as shown in FIG. 11, the ring gear is formed of Delrin and is 
secured to the horizontal rim 130 by a plurality of machine screws 216 
(FIG. 11). It is my preference that in commercial production the spiral 
bevel ring gear 132 and gear support member 128 be moulded as an integral 
member from rigid low-friction plastic material, for example such as 
Delrin. 
It is seen that the bearing assembly 124 rotatably supports the spindle 44 
with the axis of spindle rotation extending vertically and also supports 
the ring gear 132 for revolving in a horizontal plane. This ring gear 132 
encircles the entire motor frame 111 in a compact assembly. The upwardly 
arched structure of the bridging members 201, 202, 203, 204, 206 and the 
inverted saucer-shaped ring gear support member 128 both are nested down 
around the motor in overlapping relationship with one of them nested 
within the other. Their nested relationship contributes to the compact 
configuration of the drive unit and advantageously reduces the required 
headroom within the base housing 10A. In this embodiment the arching 
bridging structure 201, 202, 203, 204, 206 is nested above the ring gear 
support members 128; whereas in FIGS. 1 and 2 the ring gear support member 
128 is nested above the arched bridging member 96. 
The universal motor 110 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may be similar to the motor 
110 in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the conventional end bell which normally 
supports the shaft bearing at the left end of the motor is removed. This 
universal motor 110 in FIGS. 9 and 12 has a no load speed of approximately 
18,000 rpm, and the ratio of the spiral bevel ring gear 132 to the spiral 
bevel steel pinion gear 122 is approximately 6 to 1. Thus, the no load 
speed of the spindle 44 is approximately 3,000 rpm, and this spindle 
delivers a torque output which is approximately six times greater than the 
torque capability of the motor itself. 
The removed end bell of the motor is replaced by a frame member 220, whose 
overall shape is seen most clearly in FIGS. 10 and 12. The motor frame 111 
is directly fastened to this frame member 220 by a pair of machine screws 
218. These screws 218 are located in the same position in the motor 110 as 
the screws which are usually employed for holding the left end bell in 
place. The shaft bearing for the left end of the motor shaft 118 in FIG. 9 
is mounted in a central boss 221 (FIG. 12) of the frame member 220 and 
located near the pinion gear 122. This pinion gear 122 is secured to the 
motor shaft 118 by any suitable attachment, for example by a force fit 
key, or as shown by a set screw 223. The outer end of the hub of the 
pinion gear 122 has two flat surfaces 225 (FIG. 10) for providing driving 
engagement with a friction disc of the brake assembly as will be explained 
later. 
In order to cool the motor 110, the frame member 220 includes a fan casing 
section 222 of generally circular cylindrical configuration surrounding a 
bladed fan 224 (FIG. 12). As seen in FIG. 10 there are a plurality of air 
discharge openings 226 in the fan casing section. These discharge openings 
are spaced around the motor shaft 118 and allow the fan 224 to discharge 
cooling air which has been drawn through the motor 110 in an axial 
direction between the stator and armature. 
The frame member 220 also includes a pair of arms 228 extending out 
generally horizontally from either side of the fan casing section 222. 
These arms 228 each have an outer end 230 with a threaded drill hole for 
receiving a machine screw 232 which holds one of the resilient feet 30. 
In order to isolate the motor mount 90A from the base housing 10A, there is 
a resilient bushing 234 positioned between the outer end 230 of each arm 
228 and the base plate 26. These resilient bushings 234 are held by the 
screws 232 and by openings 236 in the base plate 26 and serve as vibration 
absorbing pedestals for supporting the motor mount 90A vibrationally 
isolated from the base housing 10A. 
The right end of the motor 110 as shown in FIG. 9 includes a conventional 
end ball structure for supporting the electrical brush assemblies 238 for 
the commutator and also for supporting a boss 112 which holds the shaft 
bearing for the right end of the motor shaft 118. This boss 112 is mounted 
in a resilient grommet 106 seated in a socket portion 239 of a front frame 
member 240, whose overall configuration can be seen most clearly in FIG. 
12. 
This frame member 240 includes a pair of arms 248 extending out generally 
horizontally from either side of the socket portion 239. Each arm has an 
outer end 250 with a threaded drill hole for receiving a machine screw 232 
which holds one of the vibration-isolating resilient pedestal bushings 234 
and also holds one of the resilient feet 30 in a manner similar to screw 
232 shown at the right in FIG. 10. 
The arched bridging members 201 and 202 (FIG. 11) are firmly secured to the 
outer ends 250 of the arms 248 of the front frame member 240 by the screws 
232 and by an additional pair of screws 252 (FIGS. 11 and 12). Similarly, 
the rear arched bridging members 203 and 204 are firmly secured to the 
outer ends 230 of the arms 228 of the rear frame member 220 by a pair of 
machine screws 254. The outer ends of these bridging members 203 and 204 
include depending leg portions 256 (FIG. 10) containing threaded drill 
holes for receiving the attachment screws 254. 
In order to adjust the engagement of the teeth of the pinion gear 122 with 
the teeth of the ring gear 132 there is a hollow adjustment screw 258 
(FIG. 10) which concentrically surrounds each attachment screw 254 and is 
threaded through the outer end 230 of the arm 228 of the rear frame member 
220. The lower end of the adjustment screw 258 has a square head as seen 
in FIG. 12, and its upper end abuts up against the bottom of the depending 
leg 256. Thus, in effect, the adjustment screws 258 act like jacks for 
raising or lowering the two legs 256 of the respective bridging members 
203 and 204 for raising or lowering the ring gear where it engages the 
pinion gear. When the inner screws 254 are tightened, they lock the 
adjustment screws in place. 
Although two such adjustment screws 258 are shown, it is to be understood 
that only one such screw may be employed. For example, washers can be 
inserted between one of the legs 256 and the frame member 220 for 
achieving a coarse adjustment of the gear engagement, and then the 
adjustment screw serves to make a fine adjustment by acting against the 
other leg 256. 
As illustrated, the bridging members 201, 202, 203, 204 and the frame 
members 220 and 240 each include various stiffening ribs 260 for providing 
the desired overall stiffness for the motor mount 90A. 
As shown in FIG. 9, further vibration isolation is provided by a large 
mounting ring 262 of soft resilient material such as sponge rubber which 
seats down around an annular shoulder 264 on the central portion 206 of 
the bridging members 201, 202, 203 and 204 and which seats up within an 
annular shoulder 266 in the turret 38 of the top closure 36. This mounting 
ring 262 serves to hold the motor mount 90A accurately centered and spaced 
with respect to the turret 38. 
The brake assembly 270 (FIG. 9 and also FIGS. 13-16) is mounted to the rear 
frame member 220 by screws 271 and is located adjacent to the pinion gear 
122 at the rear of the motor. A friction disc 272 mates with the flats 225 
on the hub of the pinion gear so that this disc 272 is rotated whenever 
the motor is running. The brake assembly 270 includes a first plate 274 
which forms a frame for the brake assembly and also supports a motor 
energizing switch 276. A second plate 278 is movably mounted on the screws 
271. It can move toward and away from the first plate 274. When the brake 
270 is applied, as shown in FIG. 16, the friction disc 272 is clamped 
between the first and second plates 274, 278. This disc 272 is formed of 
stiff fibrous material, and offers a high coefficient of friction. Thus, 
when the plates 274, 278 clamp against the disc, the motor 110 is brought 
to a stop immediately. A leaf spring 279 is held by the screws 271, and 
the ends of this leaf spring urge the second plate 278 toward the first 
plate 274 for clamping against the brake disc 272. 
In order to release the brake plates 274 and 278 from the disc 272, there 
is a generally E-shaped actuator plate 280 having three leg portions 281, 
282 and 283. This actuator plate 280 is movable vertically, and it resides 
in its upper position as shown in FIGS. 9, 13 and 14 when the brake is 
applied. When the bowl 12 is mounted on the turret 38 with its cover in 
position and the food processor is ready for operation, then the push rod 
62 (FIG. 9) is depressed through the opening 66 deflecting the stretchable 
diaphragm 152 and depressing the actuator plate 280 as shown by the arrow 
284 in FIGS. 15 and 18, thereby releasing the brake, as will be explained. 
As the actuator leg portion 283 moves down, it deflects a switch arm 286 
(FIG. 15), thereby closing the switch 276 for energizing the motor 110. 
The center leg portion 282 of the actuator plate serves as a guide for it 
extends vertically in sliding relation through slots in two vertically 
spaced horizontal tabs 288 which are bent over from the top and bottom 
edges of the first plate 274. 
In order to move the first and second plates 274 and 278 away from each 
other to release the brake disc 272, there are four actuator balls 290 
(FIG. 16) which ride in inclined grooves or tracks 292 and which are 
captured by the plates 274 and 278 on opposite sides of each leg portion 
281 and 283. These inclined grooves 292 are formed in both sides of the 
leg portions 281 and 283 and in the opposed surfaces of the first and 
second plates 274 and 278. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the inclined 
grooves 292 are sloped so that the balls 290 are rolled toward their 
shallow ends for spreading (arrows 294 in FIG. 18) the brake plates 274 
and 278 further apart, when the actuator plate 280 is depressed by the 
push rod 62 (FIG. 9). 
Accordingly, when the food processor is ready for operation, the actuator 
plate 280 is moved downwardly for releasing the brake disc 272 as 
illustrated in FIG. 18 and for closing the switch 276 as shown in FIG. 15. 
Conversely, when the bowl cover is removed, or the food processor is 
otherwise rendered unready for operation, the actuator plate 280 is 
allowed to move up to its normal position, thereby applying the brake and 
opening the switch 276 for deenergizing the motor 110. 
It is believed that the many advantages of this invention will now be 
apparent to those skilled in the art. By means of this invention, it has 
become possible to employ an inexpensive AC/DC universal motor in a food 
processor. At the same time, the drive unit, including the motor, has been 
made extremely compact while still obtaining a very highly desirable gear 
ratio between the motor and the driven tool. In addition, there has been 
provided an automatic brake which substantially minimizes risk of injury 
to the user of the apparatus. It will also be apparent to those skilled in 
the art that various modifications may be made in this invention without 
departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the foregoing 
description is to be construed as illustrative only, rather than limiting. 
This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.