Food-processing tools and food-processing appliances incorporating same

• US 10,638,885 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenwood Corporation (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kenwood Corporation (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Shanmugam, Sivaprakash
• Primary Examiner(s): Gort, Elaine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wehrly, Christopher B
• Application Number:
  US15/033,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20160278578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• Field of Search: 366287-288, 366292, 366305, 241 92, 2412821, 2412822
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0722 Mixing, whipping or cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 15/004 Shape or construction of rollers or balls

Abstract

A tool for a food processor has a first member driven in rotation and a second stationary member which have complementary working surfaces for rolling engagement formed of a stone-like material for working ingredients into a thin paste-like form, the surfaces being conical or cylindrical.

Claims

1. An appliance provided with an electric motor comprising:

a tool, a rotary drive for the tool, the took including a first food-processing tool member adapted to be driven in rotation by said rotary drive and a second food-processing tool member adapted to remain stationary within a vessel during a food-processing operation;

said first and second food-processing tool members having complementary working surfaces, means for resiliently moving at least one of the first food-processing tool member and second food-processing tool member into a working position adapted for rolling inter-engagement by frictional contact between the working surfaces during relative rotational movement between said food-processing tool members, so as to cause said first food-processing tool member to roll around on the working surface of the second food-processing tool member; and

wherein at least said complementary working surfaces of said first and second food-processing tool members are each formed of material capable of working ingredients into a paste.

2. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said complementary working surfaces are conical in form.

3. The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the second food-processing tool member comprises an annular member disposed to surround said rotary drive and presenting a frusto-conical working surface which tapers from its inner diameter towards its outer diameter which is disposed closely adjacent an upright wall of said vessel.

4. The appliance according to claim 3, wherein the first food-processing tool member comprises a plurality of conical members supported to depend from a yoke member driven in rotation by means of said rotary drive and each adapted to roll on said frusto-conical working surface of said second food-processing tool member during rotation of said yoke member.

5. The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the said first food-processing member comprises a pair of conical members disposed in diametrically opposed relationship to the rotational axis of said rotary drive.

6. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said complimentary working surfaces are conical or cylindrical in form.

7. The appliance according to claim 6, wherein said complementary working surfaces are cylindrical in form.

8. The appliance according to claim 7, wherein said second food-processing tool member comprises a hollow, substantially cylindrical member disposed along the rotational axis of said rotary drive.

9. The appliance according to claim 8, wherein said first food-processing tool member comprises a plurality of cylindrical members supported to depend from a yoke member driven in rotation by means of said rotary drive and each of the cylindrical members adapted to roll around a cylindrical working surface of said second food-processing tool member during rotation of said yoke member.

10. The appliance according to claim 9, wherein the second food-processing tool member is suspended from a lid of the vessel so as to pass through an aperture formed in the yoke member.

11. The appliance according to claim 9, wherein the second food-processing tool member comprises an annular member disposed to surround said rotary drive and adapted to be held in place during a processing operation on a stationary part of said vessel surrounding said rotary drive.

12. The appliance according to claim 11, wherein the yoke member is driven by an extension from said rotary drive passing through the second food-processing member.

13. The appliance according to claim 7, wherein said first food-processing tool member comprises a substantially cylindrical member disposed along the rotational axis of and driven by said rotary drive and said second food-processing tool member comprises a plurality of cylindrical members supported to depend from a yoke member.

14. The appliance according to claim 7, wherein one of said food-processing members comprises a pair of cylindrical members disposed in diametrically opposed relationship to the rotational axis of said rotary drive.

15. The appliance according to claim 1, selected from a food processor or a food mixer.

16. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least said complementary working surfaces of said first and second food-processing tool members are each formed of a stone.