Abstract:
A juicer device comprised of a motor disposed within a housing and having an output shaft projecting away from the housing; at least two alternate cutters each individually detachably connectable to the output shaft; a plurality of alternate inserts wherein a selected one of the plurality of alternate inserts circumscribes a selected one of the at least two alternate cutters detachably connected to the output shaft; and a body circumscribing the selected one of the plurality of alternate inserts wherein the body and the selected one of the plurality of alternate inserts include openings for feeding food to the selected one of the at least two alternate cutters detachably connected to the output shaft and openings for receiving juice, homogenized food, or shredded food therefrom upon actuation of the motor under the control of a safety system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C, §§120 and 121 to, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/899,649, filed Sep. 6, 2007, currently pending, and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to devices used to process vegetables and fruit and, in particular, to an electric vegetable and fruit juicer that has two alternate cutters that permit continuous juicing of wheatgrass and other soft greens, hard and soft vegetables, and fruit, as well as homogenizing and shredding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are several different juicers currently available for the extraction of juice from vegetables or fruit. These devices are generally powered by an electric motor and employ filters to remove excess solids from the juice. Some allow for continuous juicing (automatic solids expulsion), while some do not and must be occasionally shut down for manual removal of accumulated solids. 
         [0004]    There are two primary types of juicers: auger and masticating. The auger juicers typically operate at very low speeds, about 80-100 rpm. The auger tears or slices and then crushes the food during processing. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,323 issued Oct. 28, 2003, to Kim; U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,377 issued May 28, 2002, to Kim, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,154 issued May 25, 1999 to Yoon, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,626 issued Feb. 7, 1984 to Ihara, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,553 issued May 31, 1983 to Ihara, et al. Some auger juicers utilize two augers at the same time. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,650 issued Sep. 26, 1995, to Lee and U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,730 issued Jan. 17, 1995, to Kim. These juicers are best suited for soft materials and greens. Because they rotate at a relatively low speed, they are cumbersome when juicing hard materials, such as carrots and beets. For some processes, such as homogenizing, these juicers are inadequate. 
         [0005]    The masticating juicers typically operate at higher speeds than the auger juicers and use a cutter that grinds and chews the food. Centrifugal juicers, a type of masticating juicer, have a rotating, horizontal grating disk, and operate at about 3600 rpm. U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,085 issued Feb. 17, 1987 to Bertocchi and U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,180 issued Apr. 18, 2000 to Moline describe examples of centrifugal juicers. Centrifugal juicers are best suited for juicing of vegetables and fruit. They cannot juice greens such as wheatgrass, mix, shred, or homogenize food to make sorbets, nut butters, soups, and other similar food products. 
         [0006]    Another type of masticating juicer, the CHAMPION juicer (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,864,419 issued Dec. 16, 1958 to Woock; U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,001 issued Aug. 24, 1976 to Trovinger; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,413 issued Sep. 15, 1998 to Trovinger has a single cutter that has saw tooth blades at one end and an auger at the other end, which rotates at about 1,725 rpm. First, the blade part of the cutter grinds the food to be processed, to separate the juice from the solids. Next, a combination of centrifugal force, compression, and gravity are used to expel the juice out the bottom of the housing. Then, the auger part of the cutter forces the solids forward and out the front of the housing. This juicer does not effectively juice greens for two reasons: first, wheatgrass wraps and collects around the cutter blades, and, second, solids compression is not sufficient for efficient extraction of juice. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is a need for a single juicer that overcomes the significant shortcomings of the known prior-art as delineated hereinabove. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, and in one aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that can easily, quickly, and efficiently juice both soft materials, like greens, and hard materials, like vegetables, as well as fruit. Additionally, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that has more than one speed, so that the processing of all materials is effectively optimized. Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that performs a variety of processes in addition to juicing, such as shredding and homogenizing, to allow the preparation of sorbets, soups, nut butters, and other foods. 
         [0009]    In particular, an embodiment of the invention provides an all-purpose juicer that has two removable, alternate cutters: a greens cutter and a grinding cutter. The greens cutter is used for the juicing of wheatgrass and greens, soft vegetables, and fruits, and for coarse shredding. This cutter utilizes a smooth, sharp-edged spiral cutting portion to chop the food into small pieces and an auger portion to move the chopped food forward. The grinding cutter is used for hard vegetable juicing, homogenizing, and fine shredding. This cutter utilizes a saw toothed cutting portion to grind the food into small pieces and an auger portion to move the ground food forward. Both the greens cutter and the grinding cutter have a spiral auger nose which promotes total self-expulsion of food solids during juicing to minimize heat build-up in the juice. This permits a cutter speed for wheatgrass juicing that is over four times higher, and for hard vegetable juicing that is over twenty times higher, than the speeds of existing single and dual auger juicers, resulting in a much quicker juicing process. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, and in one embodiment, the juicer includes a body; a set of three removable, alternate cylindrical body inserts for juicing, homogenizing, or shredding that slide into the body; two alternate restrictors; a restrictor nut and a shredder nut; an optional deflector; an electric motor with a motor shaft; and a safety system for safely energizing the electric motor; and a tamper to assists in forcing foods to the cutter. 
         [0011]    Hence, in one aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that is advantageous in that it can be used for juicing soft materials, including greens and soft vegetables, and for juicing hard materials, such as hard vegetables, in addition to fruit, in a fast and efficient manner. In another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that is advantageous in that it has multiple speeds, which permit the optimization of all processes. In yet another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that is advantageous in that, in addition to juicing, it can be used for a variety of different processes, including homogenizing, mixing, and coarse or fine shredding, so that sorbets, soups, nut butters, and other similar foods can be prepared. In a further aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a juicer that is advantageous in that it is more efficient than existing juicers and produces an increased amount of juice. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it should be apparent that numerous modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the claims as set forth hereinbelow following the detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a juicer with portions taken in section for clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded parts perspective view of a greens juicing configuration of the juicer. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a back and side perspective view of a main body of the juicer. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front and side perspective view of the main body of the juicer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a rear plan view of the main body of the juicer. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the main body of the juicer taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear and side perspective view of an insert member of a screen insert of the juicer. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8A  is a front plan view of the insert member shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8B  is a back plan view of the insert member shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the insert member shown in  FIG. 7 . taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8B . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a side plan view of a screen cone of a screen insert of the juicer. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a side plan view of a greens cutter of the juicer. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a rear plan view of the greens cutter of the juicer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the greens cutter taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a front plan view of the greens cutter of the juicer. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a rear and side perspective view of a greens restrictor body of a greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a side and front perspective view of the greens restrictor body of the greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a front plan view of the greens restrictor body of the greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the greens restrictor body taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of a wave disc spring of the greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a side plan view of a spring retainer of the greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a front plan view of the spring retainer of the greens restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a rear and side perspective view of a restrictor nut of the juicer. 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a side and front perspective view of the restrictor nut shown in  FIG. 22 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 24  is a sectional view of the restrictor nut taken along line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 25  is a front plan view of a deflector of the juicer. 
           [0039]      FIG. 26  is a side and rear perspective view of the deflector of the juicer. 
           [0040]      FIG. 27  is a block diagram view of an embodiment of a motor control system including a safety switch system of the juicer. 
           [0041]      FIG. 28  is an exploded parts perspective view of a vegetable juicing configuration. 
           [0042]      FIG. 29  is a side plan view of a grinding cutter of the juicer. 
           [0043]      FIG. 30  is a rear plan view of the grinding cutter of the juicer. 
           [0044]      FIG. 31  is a front plan view of the grinding cutter of the juicer. 
           [0045]      FIG. 32  is a rear and side perspective view of a vegetable restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0046]      FIG. 33  is a side and front perspective view of the vegetable restrictor of the juicer. 
           [0047]      FIG. 34  is an exploded parts perspective view of a homogenizing configuration of the juicer. 
           [0048]      FIG. 35  is a side and front perspective view of a homogenizing insert of the juicer. 
           [0049]      FIG. 36A  is a front plan view of the homogenizing insert of the juicer. 
           [0050]      FIG. 36B  is a back plan view of the homogenizing insert of the juicer. 
           [0051]      FIG. 37  is an exploded parts perspective view of a shredder configuration of the juicer. 
           [0052]      FIG. 38  is a side and front perspective view of a shredder insert of the juicer. 
           [0053]      FIG. 39  is a front plan view of the shredder insert of the juicer. 
           [0054]      FIG. 40  is a side and front perspective view of a shredder nut of the juicer. 
           [0055]      FIG. 41  is another side and front perspective view of the shredder nut of the juicer. 
           [0056]      FIG. 42  is a plan side view of the shredder nut of the juicer. 
           [0057]      FIG. 43  is a back plan view of the shredder nut of the juicer. 
           [0058]      FIG. 44  is a sectional view of the shredder nut taken along line  44 - 44  of  FIG. 43 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0059]    Considering the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to a juicer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , and in one embodiment, the juicer  10  is comprised of a horizontally disposed electrical motor  12  enclosed within a housing  14  which includes a base  16  supported on a surface via feet  18 . The housing  14  is provided with a hub  20  that includes a shaft seal  22  to prevent contaminants escaping from or entering into electrical motor  12  from the external environment. A circular motor shaft  24  having a flat side  26  is driven by the electrical motor  12  and generally horizontally extends from motor  12 , through both the hub  20  and shaft seal  22 . In one embodiment, the motor shaft  24  is about three and one-half inches long and about one-half inch in diameter and protrudes about two inches beyond the face of hub  20 . 
         [0061]    The circular motor shaft  24  receives one of a plurality of different cutters  140  or  340  associated with one of a plurality of different configurations of components that allow the juicer  10  to be used for different purposes. In one embodiment, the motor shaft  24  has a machined flat about 0.05 inches in depth and about 1.9 inches in length as measured back from the tip, which corresponds to a blind bore disposed in each of the cutters  140 ,  340  for preventing slippage between cutters  140 ,  340  and motor shaft  24  as will be further delineated hereinbelow. 
         [0062]    More specifically, and in one embodiment, the juicer  10  has four main different configurations of components: a greens juicing configuration  30 , a vegetable juicing configuration  330 , a homogenizing configuration  430 , and a shredder configuration  530  for allowing the juicer  10  to be used for different purposes. The user can switch from one configuration to another by using a different arrangement of components and the components may be grouped differently by the user to create an alternative configuration that may serve a particular purpose. 
         [0063]    Greens Juicing Configuration  30   
         [0064]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded parts perspective view of the greens juicing configuration  30  of the juicer  10  for preferably juicing greens, such as wheatgrass or leafy materials, or for juicing fruits and soft vegetables. The greens juicing configuration  30  includes a main or juicer body  32  having an open back end  42  and an open front end  62 , a screen insert  90  received through the open back end  42  of the main body  32  and extending through the open front end  62  thereof and having an open inner end  98  and an open outer end  130 . The greens juicing configuration  30  further includes a greens cutter  140  having a rear keyed bore  149  received on the motor shaft  24  of the electrical motor  12 . The greens cutter  140  is circumscribed by the screen insert  90  received within the main body  32  when the main body  32  is connected to hub  22 . The greens juicing configuration  30  further includes a greens restrictor  170  received within the open outer end  130  of the screen insert  90  and a restrictor nut  200  receiving the greens restrictor  170  and coupling to the open front end  62  of main body  32 . An optional deflector  250  operatively couples to restrictor nut  200 . 
         [0065]    Main Body  32   
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , and in one embodiment, the main body  32  includes a rear annular flange  40  that defines an open back end  42  of the main body  32 , a hollow cylindrical portion  50  integrally formed with and horizontally extending from the rear annular flange  40 , and a hollow conical portion  60  integrally formed with and horizontally extending from the hollow cylindrical portion  50  and terminating to an open front end  62  of the main body  32 . Additionally, the main body  32  includes an upwardly extending hollow feeding tube  70  and a downwardly extending abbreviated or short hollow outlet tube  80  both integrally formed with and in open communication with the hollow cylindrical portion  50 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bottom surfaces of the hollow cylindrical portion  50  and the hollow conical portion  60  taper or funnel toward the downwardly extending abbreviated hollow outlet tube  80  to promote juice flow. 
         [0067]    Rear Annular Flange  40   
         [0068]    Rear annular flange  40  defines the open back end  42  of the main body  32  and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cut-out notches  44  for engaging over a plurality of circumferentially spaced in turned ears  24  integrally formed with hub  20 . Additionally, the annular flange  40  includes a radially extending stop  46  for alignment engagement with the uppermost in turned ear of the plurality of in turned ears  24  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) when the main body  32 , with insert  90  received therein, is connected to the hub  20 . Furthermore, the rear annular flange  40  includes an indentation  48  sized to receive a safety projection  100  on screen insert  90 , safety projection  500  on homogenizing insert  490 , and safety projection  600  on shredder insert  590  for engaging a microswitch push button  303  on a safety microswitch  304  as will be further delineated hereinbelow. 
         [0069]    Hollow Cylindrical Portion  50   
         [0070]    The hollow cylindrical portion  50  horizontally extends from the rear annular flange  40  and includes two interior diametrically opposed longitudinally extending channels  52 ,  54  that extend from the annular flange  40  to the hollow conical portion  60 . 
         [0071]    Hollow Conical Portion  60   
         [0072]    The hollow conical portion  60  horizontally extends from the hollow cylindrical portion  50  to a circular front edge  64  defining the open front end  62  of the main body  32 . The hollow conical portion  60  includes three inwardly projecting circumferentially spaced tabs  61 ,  63 , and  65  extending from the interior surface of the hollow conical portion  60  immediately adjacent circular front edge  64  thereby defining three circumferentially spaced notches therebetween. Slightly further rearward from front edge  64 , hollow conical portion  60  includes two partially circumferential ribs  66 ,  68  which define two diametrically opposed spacings therebetween. 
         [0073]    In one embodiment, the open front end  62  of the main body  32  is slightly smaller in diameter than the open back end  42  of the main body  32 . Additionally, the inside diameter of horizontally extending hollow cylindrical portion  50  is slightly larger than the corresponding outside diameter of screen insert  90 . Furthermore, the horizontally extending hollow conical portion  60  is sized larger than the corresponding outside diameter of screen insert  90  such that a gap  91  ( FIG. 1 ) is defined therebetween for allowing circumferential juice flow out of the screen insert  90  as further delineated hereinbelow. 
         [0074]    Hollow Feeding Tube  70  and Tamper  76   
         [0075]    Additionally, and in one embodiment, the hollow feeding tube  70  is integrally formed with and upwardly extends from the hollow cylindrical portion  50 . The hollow feeding tube  70  is in open communication with hollow cylindrical portion  50  via a top opening  56  ( FIG. 6 ) disposed through top of hollow cylindrical portion  50 . The upwardly extending hollow feeding tube  70  extends from the top opening  56  in hollow cylindrical portion  50  and terminates to a top flange  72  defining a feed tube opening  74  for feeding the food into the juicer  10 . In one embodiment, the diameter of the top flange  72  is larger than the diameter of the remaining portion of the feeding tube  70  and slightly narrower than the open front end  62  of the main body  32 . 
         [0076]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , and in one embodiment, a tamper  76  is employed to assist in forcing the foods to the cutters  140  and  340  by pulsing or moving the tamper  76  up and down. In one embodiment, the tamper  76  includes a head  78  surmounting a body  79  wherein the body  79  is sized to be received in the hollow feeding tube  70  and the head  78  is sized larger than the feed tube opening  74  so as not to drop the tamper  76  therethrough. 
         [0077]    Abbreviated Hollow Outlet Tube  80   
         [0078]    Furthermore, and in one embodiment, the abbreviated or very short hollow outlet tube  80  is integrally formed with the main body  32  and is in open communication therewith via a bottom opening  58  ( FIG. 6 ) disposed through a bottom of main body  32 . The abbreviated outlet tube  80  downwardly extends from the bottom opening  58  and terminates to a circular opening or juice outlet  82  for expelling the juice that is extracted from the food. 
         [0079]    Screen Insert  90   
         [0080]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7  through  10 , and in one embodiment, screen insert  90  is comprised of an insert member  92  and a screen cone member  134  manufactured as a single, unitary piece by, for example, molding the screen cone member  134  into the insert member  92 . Alternatively, the screen insert  90  can be manufactured as separate parts  92  and  134  that are non-removably attached to each other. 
         [0081]    Insert Member  92   
         [0082]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the insert member  92  is comprised of an open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  94  having a rear annular lip  96  defining a rear opening  98  of screen insert  90 . The safety projection  100  radially extends from a top section of the rear annular lip  96  and the open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  94  transitions from the rear annular lip  96  to a front annular edge  102  defining a front opening of the rear cylindrical section  94 . 
         [0083]    An opening  106  is formed through the top of the rear cylindrical section  94  and is in open communication with the upwardly extending hollow feeding tube  70  via the top opening  56  of cylindrical portion  50  when the screen insert  90  properly mates with main body  32 . Additionally, the rear cylindrical section  94  includes two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  104 ,  108  disposed on opposite sides of the rear cylindrical section  94 . The two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  104 ,  108  that correspond to and mate with the two interior diametrically opposed longitudinally extending channels  52 ,  54  of the hollow cylindrical portion  50 . Furthermore, the rear cylindrical section  94  includes three interior spaced apart longitudinally extending ribs  109 ,  110 , and  111  which rearwardly extend from the front annular edge  102  of the rear cylindrical section  94  and terminate prior to reaching the rear opening  98  of the rear cylindrical section  94 . 
         [0084]    The insert member  92  is further comprised of a front conical section  112  defined by a plurality of spaced apart ribs  114  having rear ends  116  and front ends  118 . In one embodiment, there are six spaced apart ribs  114  with every other one of the ribs  114  being continuous with one of the longitudinally extending ribs  109 ,  110 , and  111  disposed within the interior of rear cylindrical section  94 . The plurality of spaced apart ribs  114  define windows  120  therebetween and taper forwardly from rear ends  116  to front ends  118 . 
         [0085]    At front ends  118 , the plurality of spaced apart ribs  114  transition into an annular collar  122 . The annular collar  122  radially outwardly extends from the front ends  118  of the plurality of spaced apart ribs  114  and includes two diametrically opposed exterior tabs  124 ,  125  radially extending therefrom for mating with the two diametrically opposed spacings between the two partially circumferential ribs  66 ,  68  disposed within the interior of the main body  32 . 
         [0086]    The annular collar  122  forwardly steps down and transitions into a hollow annular rim  126  which extends through the open front end  62  of the main body  32  and terminates to a front circular edge  128  defining a front opening  130  for the expulsion of solids such as pulp, homogenized, or shredded material. Three spaced apart notches  131 ,  132 , and  133  are disposed on an interior surface of the annular rim  126  and rearwardly extend from the front circular edge  128  for receiving three complementarily shaped tabs  187 ,  188 , and  189  disposed on an exterior surface of a restrictor body  172  of greens restrictor  170  further delineated hereinbelow. 
         [0087]    Screen Cone Member  134   
         [0088]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the screen insert  90  further includes the open ended screen cone member  134  which is formed with or fitted into the front conical section  112  of insert member  92  for closing the windows  120  formed by the plurality of spaced apart ribs  114 . Additionally, and in one embodiment, the screen cone member  134  is an open ended, screen sided conical cone made of stainless steel. Furthermore, the screen insert  90  can be manufactured in two pieces by, for example, molding the rear cylindrical section  94  as a first piece and the front conical section  112  with the screen cone member  134  as a second piece. 
         [0089]    Greens Cutter  140   
         [0090]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 11  through  14 , and in one embodiment, the greens juicing configuration  30  is further comprised of the greens cutter  140  which is sized to fit inside screen insert  90  or inside the shredder insert  590 . In one embodiment, the greens cutter  140  includes a circular rear base  142  transitioning into an elongated body or member  144  terminating to a tapered nose  146  having a flat tip  148 . A blind bore  149  extends through the base forming a circular opening  151  with a flat side  153  and extends through the elongated body  144  up to the nose  146 , but not through nose  146  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The blind bore  149  with flat side  153  are sized and shaped to accommodate motor shaft  24  with flat side  26 . 
         [0091]    In one embodiment, the greens cutter  140  also includes two projecting helical ribs  150 ,  152  having opposing back ends which are spaced apart about one hundred eighty degrees apart and which start from circular rear base  142  and terminate to front ends at the flat tip  148  of the nose  146 . The greens cutter  140  further includes a cutting portion  154  and an auger portion  162 . The cutting portion  154  extends from circular rear base  142  to auger portion  162  and is about one-third the total length of greens cutter  140 . Cutting portion  154  includes at least one spiral cutting blade  156  and preferably two spiral cutting blades  156 ,  158  having opposing first ends which are spaced apart about one hundred eighty degrees apart and which start from circular rear base  142  and which run along the respective projecting helical ribs  150 ,  152  along the length of the cutting portion  154  and terminate to second ends. Blades  156 ,  158  are preferably made of stainless steel and can be molded with the respective projecting helical ribs  150 ,  152  along the cutting portion  154  or can take the place of the helical ribs  150 ,  152  along the cutting portion  154  and be integrally formed with the elongated body  144  of the greens cutter  140 . 
         [0092]    The spiral auger portion  162  is formed by the two projecting helical ribs  150 ,  152  extending from the second ends of the blades  156 ,  158  up to the flat tip  148  of the tapered nose  146 . Spiral auger portion  162  tapers at its front end along tapered nose  146  forming a spiral auger nose which, in one embodiment, is tapered at about a 45 degree angle. Grooves  164  are defined between the two helical ribs  150 ,  152  and the width of the grooves  164  between the two helical ribs  150 ,  152  decreases towards tapered nose  146 . 
         [0093]    Greens Restrictor  170   
         [0094]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 15  through  18 , the greens juicing configuration  30  is further comprised of the greens restrictor  170  which includes greens restrictor body  172 , wave disc spring  190 , and spring retainer  194 . Greens restrictor body  172 , wave disc spring  190 , and spring retainer  194  are preferably provided as a single component, although they may be manufactured either as separate parts that are fused together or as a single unitary piece. 
         [0095]    Greens Restrictor Body  172   
         [0096]    Referring to  FIGS. 15 through 18 , greens restrictor body  172  includes a hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  and a forwardly projecting hollow inner tubular portion  180  wherein the hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  is wider in diameter than hollow inner tubular portion  180 . Hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  includes an interior conical wall  176  transitioning from a rear opening  178  to the tubular portion  180  which forwardly extends to and terminates at a front opening  182 . 
         [0097]    At the inside juncture of hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  and tubular portion  180  is inner opening  184 , which is about the same size as the flat tip  148  of the tapered nose  146  of the greens cutter  140 . 
         [0098]    Additionally, the interior conical wall  176  has an angle that corresponds to the angle of the tapered nose  146  of the greens cutter  140 . 
         [0099]    Furthermore, the interior conical wall  176  includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs  186  which interact with the spiral auger nose defined by the auger portion  156  of greens cutter  140  along tapered nose  146  for providing further food compression and juice extraction. 
         [0100]    Moreover, three spaced apart tabs  187 ,  188 ,  189  are disposed on the exterior surface of the hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  and are complementarily shaped to be received in the three spaced apart notches  131 ,  132 , and  133  disposed on the interior surface of the annular rim  126  of insert member  92  of screen insert  90 . 
         [0101]    Wave Disc Spring  190  and Spring Retainer  194   
         [0102]    As shown in  FIG. 19 , the wave disc spring  190  is a circular disc having an alternating generally concave and convex shape or in other words, a disc that is almost flattened but with a wave. The wave disc spring  190  includes a central circular opening  192  sized to be received on hollow tubular portion  180 . 
         [0103]    As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the spring retainer  194  is comprised of a hollow cylindrical tube  196  having an open ended bore  198  extending therethrough and sized to be also received on hollow tubular portion  180  in a fixed position for precluding wave disc spring  190  from inadvertently slipping off hollow tubular portion  180 . 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  7 ,  8 A, and  15  through  21 , greens restrictor  170  attaches to screen insert  90  by sliding into front opening  130  of screen insert  90  such that three spaced apart tabs  187 ,  188 , and  189  on greens restrictor body  172  fit into the three spaced apart notches  131 ,  132 , and  133  disposed on an interior surface of the annular rim  126  of insert member  92  of screen insert  90 . 
         [0105]    Greens restrictor  170  abuts the wave disc spring  190  between the greens restrictor body  172  and a circular rear face or interior surface  204  of the restrictor nut  200  during juicing as will be further delineated hereinbelow. Hence, the wave disc spring  190  supports greens restrictor  170  against the restrictor nut  200  and allows the greens restrictor  170  to linearly translate back and forth for allowing a large amount of food solids to pass through the greens restrictor  170  while maintaining a constant compression force on the food solids thereby minimizing heat build-up during juicing and homogenizing of greens and other fibrous materials and precluding jamming of the juicer  10 . 
         [0106]    Restrictor Nut  200   
         [0107]    Referring to  FIGS. 22 through 24 , the restrictor nut  200  is comprised of a cylindrically shaped disk member  202  having a circular rear face  204  and a periphery transitioning into a rearwardly extending annularly shaped sidewall  206  defining a cylindrically shaped pocket  208  with circular rear face  204 . The rearwardly extending annularly shaped sidewall terminates to a rear annular edge  210  defining a rear circular opening  212  of the pocket  208 . Three spaced apart L-shaped tabs  213 ,  214 ,  215  project away from an exterior surface of the annularly shaped sidewall  206  immediately adjacent the rear annular edge  210 . A ribbed portion  216  circumscribes the annularly shaped sidewall and the cylindrically shaped disk from a location immediately forward the three spaced apart L-shaped tabs to a front face  218  of the cylindrically shaped disk member  202 . Front face  218  transitions into a forwardly extending rectangularly shaped neck portion  220  having two opposing straight sides  222 ,  224  and two opposing curved sides  226 ,  228 . The neck portion  220  transitions into a thin rectangularly shaped head  230  comprised of a flat front face  231 , two opposing straight sides  232 ,  234 , and two opposing curved sides  236 ,  238  that overhang the neck portion  220  for forming a groove  240 . An open ended cylindrical bore  242  extends through the circular rear face  204 , the cylindrically shaped disk member  202 , the neck portion  220 , and the head  230  along a central axis and defines a rear opening  244  and a front opening  246  in the restrictor nut  200 . The open ended cylindrical bore  242  is sized to accommodate cylindrical tube  196  of the spring retainer  194  received on hollow tubular portion  180  of the greens restrictor  170  and the cylindrically shaped pocket  208  is sized to receive the hollow outer cylindrical portion  174  of the greens restrictor  170 . 
         [0108]    Restrictor nut  200  attaches to the front of main body  32  by mating the three spaced apart L-shaped tabs  213 ,  214 , and  215  with the three inwardly projecting tabs  61 ,  63 , and  65  extending from the interior surface of the hollow conical portion  60  of main body  32 . Restrictor nut  200  should be attached such that after it is attached, it is oriented with the neck having its two opposing straight sides  222 ,  224  in a vertical position and its two opposing curved sides  226 ,  228  in a horizontal position in order to allow deflector  250  to be properly attached to restrictor nut  200 . Restrictor nut  200  is used to restrain the linear translation of the greens restrictor  170  and may also be used to facilitate the attachment of a plastic bag to juicer  10  to collect solids expelled out deflector  250 . 
         [0109]    Deflector  250   
         [0110]    Referring to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , and in one embodiment, the deflector  250  includes a curved top wall  252  transitioning into a semi-circular front wall  254  terminating to a flat bottom periphery  256  defining a semi-circular bottom opening  257 . The curved top wall  252  and the semi-circular front wall  254  rearwardly extend to an inverted U-shaped flat back edge  258  defining an inverted U-shaped opening  259  bordered by an inverted U-shaped ridge  260  comprised of a curved top ridge  262  downwardly transitioning to a pair of spaced apart vertical ridges  264  and  266 . 
         [0111]    The deflector  250  is attached to the restrictor nut  200  by sliding the inverted U-shaped ridge  260  into the groove  240  of the restrictor nut  200  such that the curved top ridge  262  of the deflector  250  engages the curved side  226  of the neck portion  220  and the spaced apart vertical ribs  264 ,  266  respectively engage the two opposing straight sides  222 ,  224  of the neck portion  220  for acting as a shield and guiding solid food downward into a container for ease of collection and to minimize the possibility of solids flying out of the juicer during high-speed operations. 
         [0112]    Motor Control System  270   
         [0113]    Referring to  FIG. 27 , and in one embodiment, the juicer  10  is further comprised of a motor control system  270  comprised of a manual on/off switch  272 , an AC input module  274 , a control module  278 , a power module  280 , a user speed selection module  290 , and a safety switch system  300  operatively coupled to motor  12 . 
         [0114]    In one embodiment, the manual on/off switch  272  is coupled in series between the AC input module  274  which is coupled to an AC power source for allowing the AC input module  274  to receive power from the power source when the manual on/off switch  272  is in the on position and for interrupting power from the AC power source to the AC input module  274  when the manual on/off switch  272  is in the off position. The AC input module  274  is operatively coupled to both the control module  278  and the power module  280  for providing voltage and current requirements for the respective modules  278 ,  280 . The control module  278  is operatively coupled to the power module  280  and user speed selection module  290 . The power module  280  is connected to the motor  12  wherein the control module  278  controls the motor speed through the power module  280  in response to a user selected speed set by means of the user speed selection module  290  which typically develops digital signals as a function of the status of a rotary type switch, a slide type switch, a lever toggle type switch, or a pushbutton switch. 
         [0115]    In one embodiment, the user speed selection module  290  is provided with a low speed selection switch or pushbutton  292  which corresponds to a motor speed of about 300 rpm to about 350 rpm, a medium speed selection switch or pushbutton  294  which corresponds to a motor speed of about 600 rpm to about 1000 rpm, and a high speed selection switch or pushbutton  296  which corresponds to a motor speed of about 1200 rpm to about 1725 rpm. Additionally, the user speed selection module  290  can include a reverse selection switch or pushbutton  298  to reverse the motor  12 . Furthermore, the user speed selection module  290  can incorporate the manual on/off switch  272 . 
         [0116]    Alternatively, and for single speed operation, the user speed selection module  280  can be eliminated and the control module  278  designed for a single set speed. 
         [0117]    The AC input module  274 , the control module  278 , the power module  280 , and the user speed selection module  290  can be designed from discreet components and/or integrated circuits as is evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, informed by the present disclosure. 
         [0118]    Additionally, motor  12  may be any suitable motor, such as, a universal motor, an induction motor, a brush type DC motor, a brushless DC motor, or the like which is capable of driving the cutters  140  or  340  for greens juicing, vegetable juicing, homogenizing, shredding, and/or other user creative purposes. 
         [0119]    The inventor has found that a motor of approximately ⅓ horsepower works well. 
         [0120]    Safety Switch System  300   
         [0121]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 27 , the motor control system  270  is further comprised of safety switch system or means  300  comprised of a solid state relay  302  operatively coupled between the power module  280  and the motor  12 ; the safety microswitch  304  operatively coupled to the solid state relay  302  and including microswitch push button  303 ; and at least one of the safety projections  100 ,  500 , and  600  formed with respective inserts  90 ,  490 , and  590  for coacting with the push button  303  of the safety microswitch  304 . 
         [0122]    In one embodiment, the microswitch  304  is mounted on an inside surface of the hub  20  and the microswitch push button  303  projects through an opening in hub  20  and into the indentation  48  of the rear annular flange  40  when insert  90 ,  490 , or  590  is absent thereby precluding the juicer from being operated. When insert  90 ,  490 , or  590  is properly attached, the safety projection  100  on the screen insert  90 , the safety projection  500  on the homogenizing insert  490 , or the safety projection  600  on the shredder insert  590  is received in the indentation  48  disposed in the rear annular flange  40  of the main body  32  and causes the microswitch push button  303  to be depressed thereby activating the solid state relay  302  to send current to the motor  12  via the power module  280  for energizing the juicer  10 . 
         [0123]    More specifically, when the manual switch  272  is in the on position, a voltage will be provided to the solid state relay  302 . However, current will not flow through the solid state relay  302  and the motor  12  will not be energized until the main body  32  with the insert  90 ,  490 , or  590  is received therein both are connected to the hub  20  such that the projection  100 ,  500 , or  600  addresses the microswitch push button  303  of the microswitch  304 . 
         [0124]    Thus, if the main body  32  is attached to hub  22  without one of the inserts in place, then safety microswitch  304  does not allow motor  12  to operate. Hence, even with the manual switch  272  in the on position, the juicer  10  requires the actuation of safety microswitch  304  by one of the projections on the inserts for allowing power to be transmitted to the motor in a safe manner. 
         [0125]    Use and Operation of Greens Juicing Configuration  30   
         [0126]    To use and operate juicer  10  in greens juicing configuration  30 , the user first assembles the components shown in  FIG. 2  to the motor shaft  24  and hub  20  shown in  FIG. 1 . Now referring to  FIGS. 1 through 27 , the assembly is accomplished by sliding the greens cutter  140  onto motor shaft  24  and then inserting the screen insert  90  through the open back end  42  of the main body  32  with the projection  100  on the screen insert  90  received within the indentation  48  of the annular flange  40 . Next, the main body  32 , with the screen insert  90  inserted therein, is placed over the greens cutter  140  and connected to the hub  22  by lining up the cut-out notches  44  on the annular flange  40  with the corresponding in turned ears  24  on the hub  20  and then linearly translating the main body  32  with screen insert  90  therein towards the hub  20  and finally turning the main body  32  and screen insert  90  counterclockwise for allowing the annular flange  40  to slide under the in turned ears  24  until the radially extending stop  46  comes in contact with the uppermost in turned ear of the plurality of in turned ears  24  for providing a locking connection. The greens restrictor  170  with greens restrictor body  172 , wave disc spring  190 , and spring retainer  194  is slid into the front opening  130  of the screen insert  90  as delineated above. Restrictor nut  200  is attached to front of main body  32  via tabs  213 ,  214 , and  215  by a counterclockwise rotation. Deflector  250 , which is optional, is slid into groove  240  between neck  220  and head  230  of restrictor nut  200 . A container is placed below juice outlet  82  to collect the juice and another container is placed below deflector  250  to collect the expelled solids which are typically discarded. 
         [0127]    Once assembled, a speed is selected via user speed selection module  290  and the juicer  10  is turned on via manual on/off switch  272 . Typically, and in one embodiment, a low speed is selected for the greens juicing configuration  30 . Next, food is placed into the feeding tube  70  via feed tube opening  74  and tamper  76  is employed to assist in forcing the food to the cutter  40  by pulsing or moving the tamper  76  up and down. The food passes through opening  106  in screen insert  90  makes contact with cutting portion  154  of greens cutter  140 . The rotating blades  156 ,  158  function both as a cutter and an auger; they cut the food and push it forward along the length of cutting portion  154  to auger portion  156 . The cut food is squeezed or compressed between ribs  109 ,  110 ,  111 , and  114  of screen insert  90  and greens cutter  140  to extract the juice. The juice is circumferentially forced out screen cone member  134  by way of windows  120  and circulates around the outside of screen insert  90 . Furthermore, the plurality of spaced apart ribs  186  disposed on the interior conical wall  176  of the restrictor body  172  interact with the auger portion  156  along tapered nose  146  for providing further food compression and juice extraction. The action of gravity causes the extracted juice to collect into at the bottom surfaces of the hollow cylindrical portion  50  and the hollow conical portion  60  which taper or funnel toward the downwardly extending abbreviated hollow outlet tube  80  to promote juice flow out of juice outlet  82  into the container below. The solid material does not pass out screen cone  36 , but is forced forward through greens restrictor  170  and out restrictor nut  200  where it is downwardly deflected by deflector  250  into a container below. 
         [0128]    Disassembly of the greens juicing configuration  30  can be accomplished by reversing the above assembly steps. 
         [0129]    Vegetable Juicing Configuration  330   
         [0130]      FIG. 28  shows an exploded parts perspective view of the vegetable juicing configuration  330  of the juicer  10  for preferably juicing hard vegetables, such as carrots or beets. Vegetable juicing configuration  330  is comprised of the grinding cutter  340 , the screen insert  90 , the main body  32 , a vegetable restrictor  370 , the restrictor nut  200 , and the optional deflector  250 . 
         [0131]    Screen insert  90 , main body  32 , restrictor nut  200 , and optional deflector  250  are as described above. 
         [0132]    Grinding Cutter  340   
         [0133]    As shown in  FIGS. 29 through 31 , the grinding cutter  340  is comprised of rear base  342  transitioning into an elongated body or member having a cutting portion  344  and a spiral auger portion  350 . The cutting portion  344  comprised of a plurality of straight, substantially parallel saw toothed cutting blades  346  longitudinally extending along cutting portion  344  and circumferentially spaced apart from one another forming grooves  348  therebetween. The grooves  348  slope downwardly from the base  342  along the length of the cutting portion  344  to promote food flow. Cutting portion  344  has, in one embodiment, a length of about one-third the total length of grinding cutter  340  and includes about eight blades  346 , although a greater or lesser number of blades  346  may be used. Blades  346  are preferably made of stainless steel and may be molded separately from or integrally with cutter  340 . 
         [0134]    The grinding cutter  340  further includes the spiral auger portion  350  forwardly transitioning from the cutting portion  344  and running along a tapered front nose  352  having a blunt, flattened tip  354 . The taper of the spiral auger portion  350  along front nose  352  forms a spiral auger nose which, in one embodiment, is tapered at about a 45 degree angle. The spiral auger portion  350  is formed by two projecting helical ribs  356 ,  358  which start at opposing first ends which are spaced apart about one hundred eighty degrees and which are immediately adjacent the cutting portion  344  and which continue along up to the blunt, flattened tip  354  where they terminate to seconds ends. The two projecting helical ribs  356 ,  358  form grooves  360  therebetween and the width of the grooves  360  between the two helical ribs  356 ,  358  decreases just prior to and along tapered front nose  352 . 
         [0135]    A blind bore  362  extends through the base  342  forming a circular opening  364  with a flat side  366  and continues through the cutting portion  344  and partially through the auger portion  350  up to the nose  352 , but not through nose  352 . The blind bore  362  and flat side  366  are sized and shaped to accommodate motor shaft  24  and flat side  26 . 
         [0136]    Grinding cutter  340  is sized to fit inside screen insert  90 , homogenizing insert  490 , or shredder insert  590 . 
         [0137]    Vegetable Restrictor  370   
         [0138]    As shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , vegetable restrictor  370  is similar to greens restrictor body  172  and is used during juicing of less fibrous materials than wheatgrass, when heat build-up is not a concern, to increase juice extraction. 
         [0139]    Vegetable restrictor  370  includes a hollow outer cylindrical portion  374  and a forwardly projecting hollow inner tubular portion  380  wherein the hollow outer cylindrical portion  374  is wider in diameter than hollow inner tubular portion  380 . Hollow outer cylindrical portion  374  includes an interior conical wall  376  transitioning from a rear opening  378  to the tubular portion  380  which forwardly extends to and terminates at a front opening  382 . At the inside juncture of hollow outer cylindrical portion  374  and tubular portion  380  is inner opening  384 , which is about the same size as the flat tip  354  of the tapered nose  352  of the grinding cutter  340 . 
         [0140]    Additionally, the interior conical wall  376  has an angle that corresponds to the angle of the tapered nose  352  of the grinding cutter  340 . Furthermore, the interior conical wall  376  includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs  386  which interact with the auger portion  350  along tapered nose  352  of the grinding cutter  340  for providing further food compression and thus, juice extraction. Moreover, three spaced apart tabs  387 ,  388 , and  389  are disposed on the exterior surface of the hollow outer cylindrical portion  374  and are complementarily shaped to be received in the three spaced apart notches  131 ,  132 , and  133  disposed on the interior surface of the annular rim  126  of insert member  92  of screen insert  90 . 
         [0141]    Use and Operation of Vegetable Juicing Configuration  330   
         [0142]    The use and operation of juicer  10  in the vegetable juicing configuration  330  is similar to the use and operation of the greens juicing configuration  30  with the exception of using the grinding cutter  340  instead of the greens cutter  140  and using the vegetable restrictor  370  instead of the greens restrictor  170 . Hence, the user first assembles the components shown in  FIG. 28  to the motor shaft  24  and hub  20  shown in  FIG. 1  in a similar fashion described hereinabove for the greens juicing configuration  30 . 
         [0143]    Once assembled, the juicer  10  is turned on via manual on/off switch  272  and a speed is selected via user speed selection module  290 . Typically, and in one embodiment, a high speed is selected of about 1725 rpm for juicing hard vegetables. Next, food is placed into the feeding tube  70  via feed tube opening  74  and tamper  76  is employed to assist in forcing the food to the grinding cutter  340  by pulsing or moving the tamper  76  up and down. The food passes through opening  106  in screen insert  90  makes contact with cutting portion  344  of grinding cutter  340  wherein the food is cut and pushed forward to auger portion  350 . The cut food is squeezed between ribs  109 ,  110 ,  111 , and  114  of screen insert  90  and grinding cutter  340  to extract the juice. The juice is circumferentially forced out screen cone member  134  by way of windows  120  and circulates around the outside of screen insert  90 . Furthermore, the plurality of spaced apart ribs  386  disposed on the interior conical wall  376  of the vegetable restrictor  370  interact with the auger portion  350  along tapered nose  352  for providing further food compression and juice extraction. The action of gravity causes the extracted juice to collect into at the bottom surfaces of the hollow cylindrical portion  50  and the hollow conical portion  60  which taper or funnel toward the downwardly extending abbreviated hollow outlet tube  80  to promote juice flow out of juice outlet  82  into a container below. The solid material does not pass out screen cone  36 , but is forced forward through vegetable restrictor  370  and out restrictor nut  200  where it is downwardly deflected by deflector  250  into a container below. 
         [0144]    Disassembly of the vegetable juicing configuration  330  can be accomplished by reversing the assembly steps. 
         [0145]    Homogenizing Configuration  430   
         [0146]      FIG. 34  shows an exploded parts perspective view of the homogenizing configuration  430  of the juicer  10  for preferably preparing foods such as baby food, sauces, sorbets, nut butters, and purees. The homogenizing configuration  430  includes grinding cutter  340 , homogenizing insert  490 , main body  32 , vegetable restrictor  370  or greens restrictor  170 , restrictor nut  200 , and optional deflector  250 . 
         [0147]    Grinding cutter  340 , main body  32 , vegetable restrictor  370 , greens restrictor  170 , restrictor nut  200 , and optional deflector  250  are as described above. 
         [0148]    Homogenizing Insert  490   
         [0149]    As shown in  FIGS. 34 through 36 , homogenizing insert  490  is identical to screen insert  90  with the exception that homogenizing insert  490  does not have screen cone  134  or windows  120  of the front conical section  112  of the screen insert  90 , but instead has a open ended closed sided front conical section  512 . 
         [0150]    More specifically, and referring to  FIGS. 34 ,  35 ,  36 A, and  36 B, the homogenizing insert  490  is comprised of an open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  494  having a rear annular lip  496  defining a rear opening  498  of homogenizing insert  490 . The safety projection  500  radially extends from a top section of the rear annular lip  496  and the open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  494  transitions from the rear annular lip  496  to a front annular edge  502  defining a front opening of the rear cylindrical section  494 . 
         [0151]    An opening  506  is fanned through the top of the rear cylindrical section  494  and is in open communication with the upwardly extending hollow feeding tube  70  via the top opening  56  of cylindrical portion  50  when the homogenizing insert  490  properly mates with main body  32 . Additionally, the rear cylindrical section  494  includes two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  504 ,  508  disposed on opposite sides of the rear cylindrical section  494 . The two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  504 ,  508  correspond to and mate with the two interior diametrically opposed longitudinally extending channels  52 ,  54  of the hollow cylindrical portion  50  of main body  32 . Furthermore, the rear cylindrical section  494  includes three interior spaced apart longitudinally extending ribs  509 ,  510 , and  511  which rearwardly extend from the front opening defined by the front annular edge  502  of the rear cylindrical section  494  and terminate prior to reaching the rear opening  498  of the rear cylindrical section  494 . 
         [0152]    The homogenizing insert  490  is further comprised of an open ended closed sided front conical section  512  that is integrally formed with and transitions forwardly from the front annular edge  502  of the rear cylindrical section  494  and terminates to an annular collar  522 . The open ended closed sided front conical section  512  includes a plurality of interior, spaced apart ribs  514 . In one embodiment, there are six spaced apart ribs  514  with every other one of the ribs  514  being continuous with one of the longitudinally extending ribs  509 ,  510 , and  511  disposed within the interior of rear cylindrical section  494 . The plurality of spaced apart ribs  514  extend the length of the open ended closed sided front conical section  512 . In another embodiment, the homogenizing insert  490  can be formed as two pieces comprised of the rear cylindrical section  494  and the open ended closed sided front conical section  512 . 
         [0153]    The annular collar  522  radially outwardly extends from the front conical section  512  and includes two diametrically opposed exterior tabs  521 ,  523  radially extending therefrom for mating with the two diametrically opposed spacings between the two partially circumferential ribs  66 ,  68  disposed within the interior of the main body  32 . 
         [0154]    The annular collar  522  forwardly steps down and transitions into to a hollow annular rim  524  which extends through the open front end  62  of the main body  32  and terminates to a front circular edge  525  defining a front opening  526  for the expulsion of solids. Three spaced apart notches  527 ,  528 , and  529  are disposed on an interior surface of the annular rim  524  and rearwardly extend from the front circular edge  525  for receiving three complementarily shaped tabs  387 ,  388 , and  389  disposed on the exterior surface of vegetable restrictor  370 . 
         [0155]    In homogenizing configuration  430 , the homogenizing insert  490  functions to force all of the food out the front opening  526  and thus, out the front of juicer  10 , and out deflector  250 , with no juice coming out juice outlet  82 . Additionally, either vegetable restrictor  370  or greens restrictor  170  may be used in the homogenizing configuration  43 . The choice depends on the material to be homogenized and the desired consistency of the puree. In most cases, vegetable restrictor  370  is preferable. Vegetable restrictor  370  and greens restrictor  170  attach to homogenizing insert  490  in the same way that they attach to screen insert  90  as described above. 
         [0156]    Use and Operation of Homogenizing Configuration  430   
         [0157]    The use and operation of juicer  10  in the homogenizing configuration  430  is similar to the use and operation of the greens juicing configuration  30  with the exception of using the grinding cutter  340  in place of the greens cutter  140 , using the homogenizing insert  490  in place of the greens insert  90 , and using the vegetable restrictor  370  in place of the greens restrictor  170  although, the greens restrictor  170  may be used as noted above. Additionally, the homogenizing configuration  430  is similar to the use and operation of the vegetable juicing configuration  330  with the exception of using the homogenizing insert  490  in place of the greens insert  90 . 
         [0158]    Hence, the user first assembles the components shown in  FIG. 34  to the motor shaft  24  and hub  20  shown in  FIG. 1  in a similar fashion described hereinabove for the greens juicing configuration  30 . 
         [0159]    Once assembled, a speed is selected via user speed selection module  290  and the juicer  10  is turned on via manual on/off switch  272 . Typically, and in one embodiment, a high speed is selected for the homogenizing configuration  430 . Next, food is placed into the feeding tube  70  via feed tube opening  74  and tamper  76  is employed to assist in forcing the food to the grinding cutter  340  by pulsing or moving the tamper  76  up and down. The food passes through opening  506  in homogenizing insert  490  and makes contact with cutting portion  344  of grinding cutter  340  wherein the food is cut and pushed forward to auger portion  350 . The cut food is squeezed or compressed between ribs  509 ,  510 ,  511 , and  514  of homogenizing insert  490  and grinding cutter  340  to process the cut food into a uniform mixture. The uniform mixture or homogenized food is forced forward through vegetable restrictor  370  and out restrictor nut  200  where it is downwardly deflected by deflector  250  into a container below. 
         [0160]    Disassembly of the homogenizing configuration  430  can be accomplished by reversing the assembly steps. 
         [0161]    Shredder Configuration  530   
         [0162]      FIG. 37  shows an exploded parts perspective view of the shredder configuration  530  of the juicer  10  for preferably shredding hard or soft vegetables such as for salads, coleslaw, and cakes or muffins, such that no juice is produced. The shredder configuration  530  includes greens cutter  140 , shredder insert  590 , main body  32 , shredder nut  700 , and optional deflector  250 . Alternatively, instead of greens cutter  140 , grinding cutter  340  may be used to achieve a more finely ground material. 
         [0163]    Greens cutter  140 , grinding cutter  340 , main body  32 , and deflector  250  are as described above. 
         [0164]    Shredder Insert  590   
         [0165]    As shown in  FIG. 38 , shredder insert  590  is similar to homogenizing insert  490 , but it is slightly shorter than both homogenizing insert  490  and main body  32 . 
         [0166]    More specifically, and referring to  FIGS. 37 through 39 , the shredder insert  590  is comprised of an open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  594  having a rear annular lip  596  defining a rear opening  598  of shredder insert  590 . The safety projection  600  radially extends from a top section of the rear annular lip  596  and the open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  594  transitions from the rear annular lip  596  to a front annular edge  602  defining a front opening of the rear cylindrical section  594 . 
         [0167]    An opening  604  is formed through the top of the rear cylindrical section  594  and is in open communication with the upwardly extending hollow feeding tube  70  via the top opening  56  of cylindrical portion  50  when the shredder insert  590  properly mates with main body  32 . Additionally, the rear cylindrical section  594  includes two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  606 ,  608  disposed on opposite sides of the rear cylindrical section  594 . The two exterior longitudinally extending tabs  606 ,  608  correspond to and mate with the two interior diametrically opposed longitudinally extending channels  52 ,  54  of the hollow cylindrical portion  50  of main body  32 . 
         [0168]    The shredder insert  590  is further comprised of an open ended closed sided front conical section  612  that is integrally formed with and transitions forwardly from the front annular edge  602  of the rear cylindrical section  594  and terminates to an annular collar  622 . The open ended closed sided front conical section  612  and the rear cylindrical section  594  includes a plurality of interior, spaced apart ribs  609 ,  610 , and  611  which longitudinally extend from the annular collar  622  and terminate prior to reaching the rear opening  598  of the rear cylindrical section  594 . 
         [0169]    The annular collar  622  radially outwardly extends from the front conical section  612  and includes two diametrically opposed exterior tabs  621 ,  623  radially extending therefrom for mating with the two diametrically opposed spacings between the two partially circumferential ribs  66 ,  68  disposed within the interior of the main body  32 . 
         [0170]    The annular collar  622  forwardly steps down and transitions into to a hollow annular rim  624  which terminates to a front circular edge  625  defining a front opening  626  for the expulsion of solids. 
         [0171]    In shredder configuration  530 , the shredder insert  590  functions to force all of the food out front opening  626  and thus, out the front of juicer  10 , and out deflector  250 , with no juice coming out juice outlet  82 . Hence, shredder insert  590  facilitates the expulsion of chopped food while minimizing compression and juice extraction. 
         [0172]    In another embodiment, the shredder insert  590  can be formed as two pieces comprised of the open ended hollow rear cylindrical section  594  and the open ended closed sided front conical section  612 . 
         [0173]    Shredder Nut  700   
         [0174]    As shown in  FIGS. 40 through 44 , shredder nut  700  is similar to restrictor nut  200 . Shredder nut  700  includes a back face  702 , an externally ribbed cylindrical body  704 , a neck portion  706 , a front face  708 , and an open ended bore  710  extending through back face  702 , cylindrical body  704 , neck portion  706 , and front face  708 . 
         [0175]    The back face  702  is provided with an annular groove  712  sized to accommodate the annular rim  624  of the shredder insert  590 . Shredder nut  700  also includes three L-shaped tabs  714 ,  716 ,  718  projecting outward from an exterior side of the back face  702 . 
         [0176]    The front face  708  is spaced from the cylindrical body  704  by the neck portion  706  and the front face  708  overhangs the neck portion  706  thereby forming a groove  720  therebetween. Front face  708  is rectangularly shaped and includes two opposing straight sides  722 ,  724  and two opposing curved sides  726 ,  728 . Additionally, the neck portion  706  is rectangularly shaped and includes two opposing straight sides  730 ,  732  and two opposing curved sides  734 ,  736  wherein the sides defines the shape of the bottom of the groove  720 . 
         [0177]    Shredder nut  700  attaches to the front of main body  32  by mating the three spaced apart L-shaped tabs  714 ,  716 ,  718  with the three inwardly projecting tabs  61 ,  63 , and  65  extending from the interior surface of the hollow conical portion  60  of main body  32 . Shredder nut  700  should be attached such that after it is attached, it is oriented with the neck having its two opposing straight sides  730 ,  732  in a vertical position and its two opposing curved sides  734 ,  736  in a horizontal position in order to allow deflector  250  to be properly attached to Shredder nut  700  in the same way that it attaches to restrictor nut  200  as described above. Shredder nut  700  is used to channel shredded food through the shredder insert  590  while minimizing compression and juice extraction. Deflector  250  attaches to shredder nut  700  in the same way that it attaches to restrictor nut  200  as described above. 
         [0178]    Use and Operation of Shredder Configuration  530   
         [0179]    The use and operation of juicer  10  in the shredder configuration  530  is similar to the use and operation of the greens juicing configuration  30  with the exception of using the shredder insert  590  in place of the greens insert  90 , eliminating the greens restrictor  170 , and using the shredder nut  700  in place of the restrictor nut  200 . 
         [0180]    Hence, the user first assembles the components shown in  FIG. 37  to the motor shaft  24  and hub  20  shown in  FIG. 1  in a similar fashion described hereinabove for the greens juicing configuration  30 . Thus, greens cutter  140  or grinding cutter  340  is slid onto motor shaft  24 . Body  32  with shredder insert  590  is assembled over cutter  140  or  340  and coupled to hub  20 , shredder nut  700  is coupled to front of body  32 , and deflector  250  is coupled to shredder nut  700  all as further delineated hereinabove. A container is placed below deflector  250  to collect the solid material. 
         [0181]    Once assembled, a speed is selected via user speed selection module  290  and the juicer  10  is turned on via manual on/off switch  272 . Typically, and in one embodiment, a medium or high speed is selected for the shredder configuration  530 . Next, food is placed into the feeding tube  70  via feed tube opening  74  and tamper  76  is employed to assist in forcing the food to the greens cutter  140  or grinding cutter  340  by pulsing or moving the tamper  76  up and down. The food passes through opening  604  in shredder insert  590  and makes contact with cutting portion  154  of greens cutter  140  or with cutting portion  344  of grinding cutter  340  wherein the food is cut and pushed forward to auger portion  156  or  350 . The coaction of the ribs  609 ,  610 , and  611  of shredder insert  590  with the greens cutter  140  or grinding cutter  340  promote the shredding process. The shredded food is forced forward through shredder nut  700  where it is downwardly deflected by deflector  250  into the container below. 
         [0182]    Disassembly of the shredder configuration  530  can be accomplished by reversing the assembly steps. 
         [0183]    In one aspect, the components of the juicer  10  can be made of nylon for light use, stainless steel for heavy use, or a combination of nylon and stainless steel. 
         [0184]    Accordingly, it should be apparent that further numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the present invention as set forth hereinabove and as described herein below by the claims.