ADJUSTABLE SLICING MECHANISM FOR A FOOD PROCESSOR

• US 20170217042A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: ZAKOWSKI, JOSEPH W., HOTALING, BRYAN, NAPLES, MATTHEW, MACNEILL, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 10,433,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0722 Mixing, whipping or cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/29 with cutting member mounted in the plane of a rotating disc, e.g. for slicing beans
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2628 Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member

Abstract

A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl removably coupled to the base, a lid removably coupled to the bowl so as to define a processing chamber, a slicing assembly positioned within the processing chamber and driven by the motor, the slicing assembly being positionable in a plurality of slicing positions to produce sliced food items of varying thicknesses, and a slice thickness adjustment mechanism operable to move the slicing assembly between the plurality of slicing positions. The slice thickness adjustment mechanism includes a cartridge mounted to the bowl, the cartridge including an actuator drivingly coupled to a drive screw. Rotation of the drive screw causes the slicing assembly to move between the plurality of slicing positions.

Claims

1. A food processor, comprising:

a base;

a motor disposed within said base;

a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor;

a bowl removably coupled to said base;

a lid removably coupled to said bowl so as to define a processing chamber;

a slicing assembly positioned within said processing chamber and driven by said motor, said slicing assembly being positionable in a plurality of slicing positions to produce sliced food items of varying thicknesses; and

a slice thickness adjustment mechanism operable to move said slicing assembly between said plurality of slicing positions, said slice thickness adjustment mechanism including a cartridge mounted to said bowl, said cartridge including an actuator drivingly coupled to a drive screw;

wherein rotation of said drive screw causes the slicing assembly to move between said plurality of slicing positions.

2. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said cartridge is mounted to a bottom of said bowl.

3. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said actuator is a rotatable dial; and

wherein said rotatable dial is positioned below a handle of said bowl.

4. The food processor of claim 3, wherein:

said dial is rotatable about a vertical axis parallel to an output shaft of said motor.

5. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said slicing assembly includes a slicing blade and a rotating disc;

wherein rotation of said drive screw in a first direction causes upward movement of said rotating disc relative to said slicing blade, and rotation of said drive screw in a second direction causes downward movement of said rotating disc relative to said slicing blade.

6. The food processor of claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter shaft having a lower end having a plurality of teeth matingly engaging a corresponding plurality of teeth formed on said drive screw, and an upper end secured to a hub of said rotating disc.

7. The food processor of claim 3, wherein:

said dial is drivingly coupled to said drive screw via a gear assembly, said gear assembly including at least one gear and a drive belt.

8. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said cartridge includes a sleeve having a plurality of internal threads;

said drive screw includes a plurality of external threads corresponding to said internal threads of said sleeve; and

said drive screw is received within said sleeve.

9. A bowl for a food processor, comprising:

a floor;

a plurality of sidewalls extending from said floor and defining a processing chamber;

a handle; and

a slice thickness adjustment cartridge mounted below said floor, said slice thickness adjustment cartridge including a rotatable dial beneath said handle and drivingly coupled to a drive screw;

wherein rotation of said dial causes said drive screw to selectively extend from and retract into said cartridge to move a slicing assembly between a plurality of slicing positions.

10. The bowl of claim 9, wherein:

said bowl is configured to receive said slicing assembly within said processing chamber, said slicing assembly being positionable in a plurality of slicing positions to produce sliced food items of varying thicknesses;

wherein said dial is operable to move said slicing assembly between said plurality of slicing positions.

11. The bowl of claim 10, wherein:

an upper end of said drive screw has a plurality of teeth configured to matingly engage a corresponding plurality of teeth of a lower end of an adapter shaft, said adapter shaft including an upper end configured to mate with a hub of a rotating disc of said slicing assembly.