ANTI-CAVITATION FOOD BLENDER OR PROCESSOR

• US 20170224170A1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Jacob Daniel, Nernberger, Kroy Everett
• Application Number:
  US15/427,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0722 Mixing, whipping or cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence

Abstract

An improved blender or food processor is provided that moves a blade translationally in the vertical plane while another blade or blade assembly rotates in the horizontal plane to stop the blender from cavitating the contents while blending viscous fluids (an air pocket from forming around the cutting blades or forming a vortex or a disruptive vacuum). Both actions of rotating the lower blades and translationally moving the upper blade are done simultaneously using one motor. In a related embodiment, rotational and translational movements are provided with decoupled gear assemblies.

Claims

1. A food processor having a jar body assembly and a base with a motor drive located within the base, the jar body assembly comprising:

a first shaft or rod having a blade assembly disposed on a proximal end, the first shaft having a second shaft disposed therein and adapted to move within the first shaft and protruding from a distal end of the first shaft, the first shaft having a top blade member disposed on an upper distal end spaced above the blade assembly;

a spur gear assembly coupled to the first shaft for axially rotating the first shaft at the proximal end, the spur gear assembly including a first spur gear coupled to the first shaft and a second spur gear coupled laterally to the first spur gear; and

a worm gear assembly coupled to the spur gear assembly and to the first shaft, a drive shaft of a worm gear of the worm gear assembly coupled to the second spur gear and a worm wheel gear of the worm gear assembly coupled to a base member of the proximal end of the second shaft to translationally move the second shaft vertically in an oscillating motion, the drive shaft of the worm gear configured to be coupled to and driven by the motor drive in the base.

2. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the spur gear assembly is comprised of two helical gears having a 1:

1 ratio.

3. The food processor of claim 1 wherein a hypoid gear assembly is coupled to the first shaft for axially rotating the first shaft.

4. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

5. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the top blade member is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

10. The food processor of claim 3, wherein the blade assembly is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

11. The food processor of claim 3, wherein the top blade member is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

6. A food processor having a jar body assembly and a base with a motor drive located within the base, the jar body assembly comprising:

a shaft having a blade assembly disposed on a distal end of the shaft and a base member disposed on a proximal end of the shaft;

a spur gear assembly coupled to the shaft for axially rotating the shaft, the spur gear assembly including a first gear coupled to the shaft and a second gear coupled laterally to the first gear; and

a worm gear assembly coupled to the spur gear assembly and to the shaft, a drive shaft of a worm gear of the worm gear assembly coupled to the second gear and a worm wheel gear of the worm gear assembly coupled to the base member of the proximal end of the shaft to translationally move the shaft vertically in an oscillating motion, the drive shaft configured to be coupled to and driven by the motor drive in the base.

7. The food processor of claim 6, wherein the spur gear assembly is comprised of two helical gears having a 1:

1 ratio.

8. The food processor of claim 6, wherein the blade assembly is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

9. The food processor of claim 6, wherein the top blade member is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.

12. A food processor jar body assembly forming part of a food processor system, the food processor system having the jar body assembly and a base with a motor drive located within the base, the jar body assembly comprising:

a shaft body and a blade assembly disposed within an upper portion of the jar body assembly, the jar body assembly having a lower portion and a floor separating the upper and lower portions of the jar body assembly, the shaft body having an inner shaft disposed therein with the blade assembly disposed on a distal end of the inner shaft, the inner shaft having a base member disposed on a proximal end of the inner shaft, the base member configured to be engaged with the motor drive and axially rotate the inner shaft independent of the shaft body; and

a worm gear assembly disposed within the lower portion of the jar body assembly and below the floor, the worm gear assembly operatively coupled to the shaft body and configured to translationally move the shaft body vertically in an oscillating motion, the worm gear assembly including a threaded bracket member disposed about the shaft body and at least one worm gear shaft engaged with the threaded bracket member, the at least one worm gear shaft having a worm gear shaft base member disposed on a proximal end of the worm gear shaft, the worm gear shaft base member configured to be engaged with a second motor drive to translationally move the threaded bracket member and the shaft body vertically in an oscillating motion.

13. The food processor jar body assembly of claim 12, wherein the worm gear assembly includes a second and a third worm gear shaft engaged with the threaded bracket member, and wherein the jar body assembly further includes an idler gear assembly disposed within the lower portion of the jar body assembly and configured to engage the first, second and third worm gear shafts in imparting a rotational movement to the worm gear shafts when the first worm gear shaft is engaged with the second motor drive.

14. The food processor jar body assembly of claim 13, wherein the idler gear assembly includes at least a first idler gear disposed about the first worm gear shaft, a second idler gear disposed about to the second worm gear shaft and a third idler gear disposed about the third worm gear shaft.

15. The food processor jar body assembly of claim 14, wherein the idler gear assembly includes a fourth and a fifth idler gear and all of the idler gears are in operative contact with each other in imparting the rotational movement to the worm gear assembly.

16. The food processor jar body assembly of claim 13, further comprising a worm gear assembly support plate configured to support the threaded bracket member and to support the first, second and third worm gear shafts radially about the threaded bracket member.

17. The food processor jar body assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least two electrical limit switches electrically coupled to the second motor and configured to change the direction of translational travel of the shaft body.

18. A food processor jar body assembly of claim 12 wherein the inner shaft base member and the worm gear assembly base or coupling member are configured in a ring with external fins disposed radially about the ring structure to facilitate engaging the motor drives.

19. A food processor jar body assembly of claim 12 further comprising a stabilizer bracket disposed about the shaft body and below the blade assembly to engage the floor of the jar body assembly and seal the upper portion of the jar body assembly from the lower portion.

20. A food processor jar body assembly of claim 12 wherein the blade assembly is selected from the group consisting of a single blade, a dual blade assembly and a triple blade assembly.