Drive system

• US 8,695,490 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated), Leifheit AG
• Original Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Harris, E. Mark, Klotz, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPURLOCK, BRETT SHANE
• Application Number:
  US13/075,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 995/37, 741/255, 744/35, 744/37, 744/62, 744/68
• US Class Current: 99/537
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/08 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/082 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/1031 the mixing device being provided with a grip to be held by one hand, the other hand being used for driving the mixing device A47J43/105, A47J43/1056 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/001 for conveying reciprocating or limited rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/04 comprising a rack
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/06 comprising flexible members, e.g. an endless flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 31/001 Mechanisms with freewheeling members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1524 Intermittently engaged clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1555 Rotary driven element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18096 Shifting rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19874 Mutilated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19884 Irregular teeth and bodies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19972 form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19995 Teeth

Abstract

A drive unit that is movable between an unfired and a fired position. The drive unit comprises a handle member, a first drive gear having a first axis of rotation, and a second drive gear, engaged to the first drive gear at a mesh point, and having a second axis of rotation. The mesh point moves with respect to the axes of rotation as the handle member moves from the unfired position to the fired position. The drive unit drives an implement only when it is moved from the unfired position to the fired position.

Claims

1. A drive unit for driving a food processing implement, the drive unit comprising:

a handle member engaged to the drive unit and movable between an unfired position and a fired position;

a first drive gear comprising a first axis of rotation and rotatable between a first position, which corresponds to the unfired position, and a second position, which corresponds to the fired position; and

a second drive gear engaged to the first drive gear at a mesh point and comprising a second axis of rotation, the second drive gear rotatable between a first position, which corresponds to the unfired position, and a second position, which corresponds to the fired position;

wherein the mesh point moves with respect to the axes of rotation of the drive gears as the handle member moves from the unfired position to the fired position such that the distance between the mesh point and the first axis of rotation is longer when the handle member is in the unfired position than it is when the handle member is in the fired position, and wherein the food processing implement is rotated by the drive unit as the handle member is moved from the first position to the second position.

2. The drive unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first drive gear is a spiral radius gear.

3. The drive unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second drive gear is a pinion quarter gear.

4. The drive unit as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a frame and at least one return spring engaged to the frame and the second drive gear, wherein the at least one return spring biases the second drive gear toward the first position.

5. The drive unit as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a first pinion gear engaged to the first drive gear, a second pinion gear engaged to the first pinion gear, and means for transferring rotation of the first drive gear to the first pinion gear only when the handle member moves from the unfired position to the fired position.

6. The drive unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein the food processing implement is engaged to the second pinion gear.

7. The drive unit as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a container engaged to the drive unit, wherein the food processing implement is positioned within the container and comprises a plurality of blades disposed around a central shaft.

8. A drive unit movable between a fired position and an unfired position to drive a food processing implement, the drive unit comprising:

a frame;

a base engaged to the frame and forming a cavity therebetween;

a first drive gear disposed in the cavity and having a first axis of rotation;

a handle member engaged to the first drive gear;

at least one return spring engaged to the frame and the first drive gear, the at least one return spring biasing the first drive gear to the unfired position;

a second drive gear disposed in the cavity and having a second axis of rotation, the second drive gear engaged to the first drive gear at a mesh point, wherein the distance between the mesh point and the first axis of rotation is longer when the handle member is in the fired position than it is when the handle member is in the unfired position; and

a driven member disposed at least partially outside of the cavity and engaged to the food processing implement, wherein the driven member and the food processing implement are driven only when the drive unit is moved from the unfired position to the fired position.

9. The drive unit as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a first pinion gear comprising a first gear form;

a second gear form formed on the second drive gear; and

a second pinion gear driven by the first pinion gear and engaged to the driven member;

wherein the second gear form transfers rotation of the second drive gear to the first pinion gear through the first gear form only when the drive unit is moved from the unfired position to the fired position.

10. The drive unit as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an engagement spring engaged to the frame and the second drive gear, wherein the engagement spring biases the second drive gear toward the first pinion gear.

11. The drive unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first drive gear is a pinion quarter gear.

12. The drive unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second drive gear is a spiral radius gear.

13. The drive unit as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a lobe engaged to the frame and driven by the handle member.

14. The drive unit as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a flexible link engaged to the first drive gear and the lobe.

15. The drive unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein the flexible link comprises a first loop engaged to the lobe and a second loop engaged to the first drive gear.

16. The drive unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein the food processing implement comprises a plurality of blades disposed about a central shaft.

17. A drive unit for driving a food processing implement, the drive unit comprising:

a lever rotatable between a first position and a second position;

a pinion quarter gear comprising an axis of rotation and an arcuate gear form with a first end and a second end, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation and the first end of the arcuate gear form is longer than the distance between the axis of rotation and the second end of the arcuate gear form, and wherein the pinion quarter gear is engaged to the lever and rotatable between a first position, which corresponds to the first position of the lever, and a second position, which corresponds to the second position of the lever;

a spiral radius gear engaged to the pinion quarter gear and disposed on a first pinion gear;

means for selectively transferring rotation of the spiral radius gear to the first pinion gear; and

a second pinion gear engaged to the first pinion gear, wherein the food processing implement is engaged to and driven by the second pinion gear;

wherein rotation of the pinion quarter gear causes rotation of the spiral radius gear, and wherein the first end of the arcuate gear form is engaged to the spiral radius gear when the pinion quarter gear is in the first position, and the second end of the arcuate gear form is engaged to the spiral radius gear when the pinion quarter gear is in the second position.

18. The drive unit as set forth in claim 17, further comprising at least one return spring engaged to the pinion quarter gear, wherein the at least one return spring biases the pinion quarter gear to the second position.

19. A drive unit for driving a food processing implement, the drive unit comprising:

a lever rotatable between a first position and a second position;

a stepless gear mechanism driven by the lever, wherein the output speed of the stepless gear mechanism increases as the lever is rotated from the first position to the second position, and wherein the output torque of the stepless gear mechanism is decreased as the lever rotates from the first position to the second position;

a first pinion gear engaged to the stepless gear mechanism;

means for transferring speed and torque of the stepless gear mechanism to the first pinion gear only when the lever is rotated from the first position to the second position; and

a second pinion gear engaged to the first pinion gear, and wherein the food processing implement is engaged to and rotated by the second pinion gear as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position.

20. The drive unit as set forth in claim 19, wherein the stepless gear mechanism comprises a pinion quarter gear driven by the lever and rotatable between an un-fired position, which corresponds to the first position of the lever, and a fired position, which corresponds to the second position of the lever.

21. The drive unit as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a spiral radius gear engaged to the pinion quarter gear.

22. The drive unit as set forth in claim 20, further comprising at least one biasing spring engaged to the pinion quarter gear, wherein the at least one biasing spring biases the pinion quarter gear to the un-fired position.

23. The drive unit as set forth in 19, wherein the food processing implement comprises a plurality of blades disposed about a central shaft.

24. A food processing device, comprising:

an upper housing having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a lower housing engaged to the upper housing and forming a cavity therebetween;

a container engaged to the lower housing;

a lever comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a lever body between the first end and the second end, wherein the lever is rotatable between a first position adjacent to the outer surface of the upper housing, and a second position, in which the lever is approximately perpendicular to the outer surface of the upper housing;

a pinion quarter gear disposed in the cavity and having an axis of rotation, the pinion quarter gear comprising an arcuate gear form with a first end and a second end, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation and the first end of the arcuate gear form is longer than the distance between the axis of rotation and the second end of the arcuate gear form, and wherein the pinion quarter gear is engaged to the lever and rotatable between a first position, which corresponds to the first position of the lever, and a second position, which corresponds to the second position of the lever;

a spiral radius gear rotatably disposed in the cavity;

a first pinion gear disposed in the cavity;

means for transferring rotation of the spiral radius gear to the first pinion gear only when the spiral radius gear is rotated in one direction;

a second pinion gear engaged to the first pinion gear and at least partially disposed in the cavity, the second pinion gear comprising a protrusion that extends from the cavity through the lower housing; and

a food processing implement driven by the second pinion gear and disposed in the container;

wherein rotation of the pinion quarter gear causes rotation of the spiral radius gear, and wherein the first end of the arcuate gear form is engaged to the spiral radius gear when the pinion quarter gear is in the first position, and the second end of the arcuate gear form is engaged to the spiral radius gear when the pinion quarter gear is in the second position.