Food processor with cutting grid accessory and cleaning tool thereof

Abstract

A cleaning tool (180) for cleaning a cutting mesh attachment (150) of a food processor (100), the cutting mesh attachment (150) having a cutting mesh (154) with a plurality of apertures (160) and an anchor hole (162) located proximate the cutting mesh (154), the cleaning tool (180) having: a body (182) having a plurality of projections (184) sized to be received by the plurality of apertures (160); an anchor arm (186) extending from the body (182), the anchor arm (186) having a shape conforming to an anchor bore (162) of a cutting mesh attachment (150) and being releasably engageable with the anchor bore (162) such that when the anchor arm (186) is engaged with the anchor bore (162), the body (182) is positioned relative to the cutting mesh (150) and is pivotable about the anchor bore (162) to allow the plurality of projections (184) to move into the plurality of apertures (160); and a handle (188) extending from the body (182) opposite the anchor arm (186) such that when the anchor arm (186) is engaged with the anchor bore (162), the handle (188) provides a leveraging action to increase an available force at the plurality of projections (184) as the projections (184) travel into the plurality of apertures (160).

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims conventional priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2022901110, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to food processor technology. Background Art

[0004] Cutting grid attachments are becoming increasingly popular for use in food processors to quickly and efficiently process food into cut food. One problem that plagues cutting grids is that food, particularly hard, starchy food such as sweet potatoes, can become wedged, stuck, or otherwise stuck in the cutting grid and prevent use of the cutting grid. The cutting grid becomes inoperable either because the food being processed later is softer and therefore the food in front cannot be removed from the cutting grid, or because the cutting grid becomes blocked to such an extent that the force required to remove the food from the cutting grid exceeds the allowable torque of the drive train.

[0005] Even smaller jams are undesirable because they can result in food not being cleanly sliced ​​due to the back pressure exerted by food stuck in the cutting grid, and slowly pressing the food through the cutting grid creating resistance, rather than slicing smoothly at a higher speed without resistance. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to at least substantially address one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the above-mentioned approaches.

[0007] In a first aspect, a cleaning tool for cleaning a cutting grid attachment of a food processor is disclosed, the cutting grid attachment having a cutting grid with a plurality of openings and an anchor hole located near the cutting grid, the cleaning tool having:

[0008] a body having a plurality of projections sized to be received by the plurality of openings;

[0009] an anchor arm extending from the body, the anchor arm having a shape conforming to an anchor hole of a cutting grid attachment and releasably engageable with the anchor hole such that when the anchor arm engages the anchor hole, the body is positioned relative to the cutting grid and is pivotable about the anchor hole to allow the plurality of projections to move into the plurality of openings; and

[0010] A handle extends from the body opposite the anchor arm so that when the anchor arm is engaged with the anchor hole,

[0011] The handle provides leverage to increase the available force at the projections as the plurality of projections advance into the plurality of openings.

[0012] Preferably, the body includes a hinge on a surface opposite the plurality of projections, and the handle is attached to the body by the hinge so that the handle can be moved between a rest position in which the handle extends from the hinge in a direction toward the anchor arm so as to reduce the overall length of the cleaning tool, and an operating position and a storage position in which the handle extends from the hinge in a direction opposite to the anchor arm.

[0013] Preferably, each of the plurality of projections is chamfered to allow the projection to engage the corresponding aperture at an angle when the cleaning tool is pivoted to move the projection into the aperture.

[0014] Preferably, the anchor arm comprises a hook to allow the anchor arm to engage the anchor eye.

[0015] In a second aspect, there is disclosed a cutting grid attachment for a food processor to be cleaned by the cleaning tool of the first aspect, the cutting grid attachment having:

[0016] a cutting grid having a plurality of openings; and

[0017] Anchor hole, which is located near the cutting grid.

[0018] Preferably, the anchor aperture comprises a linear slot.

[0019] Preferably, the anchoring aperture comprises two or more linear slots located along a common anchoring direction.

[0020] Preferably, the cutting grid attachment comprises an opening for receiving a drive shaft of a food processor, wherein the cutting grid is located on a first side of the cutting grid attachment, and wherein the linear slot is located on a second side of the cutting grid attachment along the anchoring direction.

[0021] Preferably, the cutting grid attachment has a circular shape with the opening being located in the center and the anchoring direction being a non-diametric chord of the cutting grid attachment.

[0022] In a third aspect, a food processor for processing food into cut food is disclosed, the food processor having:

[0023] a container having a bottom plate, a side wall extending upward from the bottom plate to define a space for receiving cut food;

[0024] a blade mounted to the container so as to rotate the food about a drive axis;

[0025] a drive shaft for driving the blade about a drive axis to slice food in a first direction; and

[0026] a cutting grid mounted to the container below the blade for cutting the portioned food to produce cut food,

[0027] Wherein the cutting grid comprises a circular track and the blade comprises a cam at its periphery engageable with the track such that there is a force path from the blade to the cutting grid.

[0028] Preferably, the bottom surface of the blade is non-parallel to the cutting grid to form a gap between the leading edge of the blade and the cutting grip so that when the blade is rotated by the drive shaft, the bottom surface of the blade pushes the cut food into the cutting grid.

[0029] Preferably, the bottom surface of the blade has a helical shape.

[0030] Preferably, the blade has a leading edge that first engages the food to be sliced, wherein the leading edge has a negative angle of attack relative to the radius of the blade to reduce the force exerted on the blade from the food as the blade slices the food.

[0031] Preferably, the leading edge is continuously curved in a helical shape relative to the radius of the blade so that the periphery of the blade forms a single continuous leading edge.

[0032] Preferably, the spiral shape is a Fibonacci spiral.

[0033] Preferably, the blade includes a lifting aperture to allow access of a user's fingers to lift the blade from the container.

[0034] Preferably, the lifting opening is located adjacent the drive shaft.

[0035] Also disclosed is a combination of the cleaning tool of the first aspect and the cutting grid attachment of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a food processor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Perspective view of a food processor.

[0039] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Vertical cross-sectional side elevation view of a food processor.

[0040] Figure 4 is with Figure 1 Detailed perspective view of the blade used with a food processor.

[0041] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Side elevation view of the blade.

[0042] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A top plan view of the blade.

[0043] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 Detailed perspective view of a food processor.

[0044] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Vertical cross-sectional side elevation view of a food processor.

[0045] Fig. 9 is with Figure 1 Detailed perspective view of the cutting grid attachment used with a food processor.

[0046] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 A top plan view of the cutting grid attachment.

[0047] Fig.11 is used for Fig. 9 Detailed perspective view of the cleaning tool for the cutting grid attachment.

[0048] Fig.12 yes Fig.11 Side elevation view of a cleaning tool.

[0049] Fig.13 is with Fig. 9 Use with the cutting grid attachment Fig.11 A perspective view of a cleaning tool with the handle in a rest position.

[0050] Fig.14A is pivoted to clean the cutting grid attachment Fig.13 Side elevation view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment.

[0051] Fig. 14B is pivoted to clean the cutting grid attachment Fig.13 Perspective view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment.

[0052] Fig.15A is pivoted to clean the cutting grid attachment Fig.13 Side elevation view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment.

[0053] Fig. 15B is pivoted to clean the cutting grid attachment Fig.13 Perspective view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment.

[0054] Fig.16Ais pivoted to clean the cutting grid attachment Fig.13 Side elevation view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment.

[0055] Fig. 16B The cleaning operation has been completed Fig.13 Perspective view of the cleaning tool and cutting grid attachment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Figure 1 A food processor 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the drive unit consisting of a motor, gearbox and user interface, or the cover, chute or food pusher are not shown, as these elements of food processors are well known and do not form part of the inventive concept disclosed herein.

[0057] The food processor 100 for processing food (not shown) into cut food (not shown) includes a container 110 having a bottom plate 112 and one or more side walls 114 extending upward from the bottom plate to define a space 116. The space 116 is generally sized to accommodate the cut food. The food processor 100 also includes a blade 120 mounted to the container 110, such as Figure 3 As shown, the food processor 100 can be rotated around the drive axis 122 to cut the food. The food processor 100 also includes a drive shaft 130 for driving the blade 120 around the drive axis 122 in a first direction 132 to cut the food. The blade 120 is connected to the drive shaft 130 through an opening 142, which has a cam profile 144 that matches the cam profile 146 of the drive shaft 130.

[0058] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the blade 120 also has a leading edge 128, which is a portion of the blade 120 that first contacts the food when the food is cut by the blade 120 in a first direction 132 to form cut food (not shown). When the leading edge 128 engages the food, the leading edge 128 preferably has a negative angle of attack 134 relative to the azimuth direction 126 or a tangent to the perimeter 138 of the blade 120. Preferably, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As best seen, the leading edge 128 curves continuously in a spiral shape relative to a radius 136 of the blade 120 such that the perimeter 138 of the blade 120 forms a single continuous leading edge 128. Preferably, the spiral shape is a Fibonacci spiral, or in a preferred embodiment a logarithmic spiral.

[0059] The blade 120 also has a bottom surface 124 that slopes downward in an azimuth direction 126. As the blade 120 is fixed to the drive shaft 130 and food strikes the bottom surface 124, the downwardly sloped bottom surface 124 pushes the food downward after the food is cut by the leading edge 128. Preferably, the bottom surface 124 has a spiral shape, such as Figure 5 Preferably, the blade 120 has a constant thickness and is low profile so that the inclination of the bottom surface 124 is equivalent to the shape of the blade 120.

[0060] like Figure 6 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the blade 120 also includes a lifting opening 140 to allow a user's finger (not shown) to enter to lift the blade 120 from the drive shaft 130 and / or the container 110. Preferably, as Figure 6 As shown, the lifting aperture 140 is located adjacent the opening 142 and preferably has a substantially circular shape.

[0061] Temporarily return to Figure 1 The food processor 100 further includes a cutting grid attachment 150 mounted to the container 110 below the blade 120. The cutting grid attachment 150 includes a cutting grid 154 having a plurality of openings 160 for cutting the cut food along the second direction 152 to form cut food. For example, the upper edges of the openings 160 may be thin and / or sharp. Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the cutting grid attachment 150 includes a circular track 156, which can be formed as a groove or simply formed as an inward protrusion. The blade 120 includes a cam 158 located at the periphery 138 of the blade 120. The cam 158 is engageable with the track 156 so that there is a force path from the blade 120 to the cutting grid attachment 150. Preferably, the cam 158 has a thickness greater than the thickness of the blade 120.

[0062] Now go to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The cutting grid attachment 150 is discussed in more detail. The cutting grid attachment includes anchor holes 162 located near the cutting grid 154. Preferably, as Fig.10 As shown, the anchor hole includes a linear slot 162, more preferably, two or more linear slots 162 positioned along a common anchoring direction 164. The cutting grid attachment 150 also includes an opening 166 that is sized to be larger than the cam profile 144 of the drive shaft 130 so as to allow the drive shaft 130 to rotate freely within the opening 166. Preferably, the cutting grid 154 covers only a portion 168 of the circular surface 170 (i.e., the first side 172) of the preferably circular cutting grid attachment 150. Fig. 9 and Fig.10In the illustrated embodiment, the portion 168 is defined by a first chord 174 that preferably intersects at least a portion of the opening 166. The linear slot 162 is located on a second side 176 that is located on the side of the surface 170 opposite the first side 174. Preferably, the common anchoring direction 164 is parallel to the first chord 174 and is located along a second chord 178 that is non-diametric, i.e., it does not intersect the center of the surface 170, and more preferably does not intersect the opening 166.

[0063] Now go to Figures 11 to 13 , which shows a cleaning tool 180 for cleaning the cutting grid attachment 150 of the food processor 100. The cleaning tool includes a flat body 182 having a plurality of protrusions 184 or teeth that are sized to be received by the plurality of openings 160.

[0064] The cleaning tool 180 also includes an anchor arm 186 extending from the flat body 182 and having a shape that conforms to the anchor hole 162 of the cutting grid attachment 150. The anchor arm 186 is releasably engageable with the anchor hole 162, such as by including a hook 194 to allow the anchor arm 186 to engage the anchor hole 162 and then abut against the surface 170 of the cutting grid attachment 150 to resist torque applied to the cleaning tool 180. The anchor arm 186 and the anchor hole 162 are further positioned so that when the arm 186 is engaged with the hole 162, the flat body 182 is positioned relative to the cutting grid 154 and is pivotable about the anchor hole 162 to allow the protrusion 184 to move into the opening 160. Thus, when the arm 186 is engaged with the hole 162, the cleaning tool 180 has a single degree of freedom relative to the cutting grid attachment 150 that is articulated about the anchor hole 162 or common anchoring direction 164.

[0065] like Fig.16A As shown, the cleaning tool 180 also includes a handle 188 extending from the flat body 182 opposite the anchor arm 186. Thus, when the anchor arm 186 is engaged with the anchor hole 162, the handle 188 provides leverage in the articulation movement about the common anchoring direction 164 to increase the available force at the protrusion 184 as the protrusion 184 is advanced into the plurality of openings 160. Fig.11 The flat body 182 preferably includes a hinge 190 on a top surface 192 opposite the protrusion 184. The handle 188 is attached to the flat body 182 using the hinge 190 so that the handle 188 can be moved around the hinge 190. Figures 11 to 13 The rest position shown is FIG. 14A to FIG. 16BIn an alternative embodiment, the handle 188 can be removably attached via a ball and socket joint (not shown). In the rest position, the handle 188 extends from the hinge in a direction toward the anchor arm 186, while in the operational position, the handle 188 extends from the hinge in a direction away from the anchor arm 186.

[0066] like Fig.12 As shown, each of the plurality of protrusions 184 is preferably chamfered, angled, or rounded to allow the protrusion 184 to engage the corresponding opening 160 at an angle 194, such as Fig.15A As shown, the cleaning tool 180 is simultaneously pivoted to move the projection 184 into the opening 160 .

[0067] The use of the food processor 100, blade 120, and cleaning tool 180 will now be discussed.

[0068] To use the food processor 100 with the cutting grid attachment 150, the cutting grid attachment 150 is installed on the container 110 so that the drive shaft 130 protrudes through the opening 166 in the cutting grid. The blade 120 is then installed on the drive shaft 130 so that the cam profiles 144, 146 are engaged to allow torque to be transferred from the drive shaft 130 to the blade 120. The cam 158 of the blade 120 is inserted into the track 156 by temporarily flexing the blade 120, thereby allowing the cam 158 to be inserted into the track 156. The food can now be processed into cut food.

[0069] The food is introduced into the food processor 100, typically using a chute or similar feed mechanism (not shown). The food is engaged by the leading edge 128 of the blade 120. If the food is difficult to cut, the angle of attack 134 of the leading edge 128 allows the blade 120 to keep rotating while gradually cutting the food. Once the food has been cut, the blade 120 rotates over the food and keeps rotating. Thus, the downwardly inclined bottom surface 124 of the blade pushes the food into the cutting grid 154. Preferably, the food is at least partially engaged by the cutting grid 154 so that the food does not substantially move in response to the rotation of the blade 120, but is constrained to move downward into the cutting grid 154 under the push of the blade 120. The cutting grid 154 cuts the cut food to produce cut food, which is then collected in the container 110.

[0070] If the cutting grid 154 becomes clogged, or if food having a different hardness or consistency than the previous food is to be processed, the cleaning tool 180 can be used to clean the cutting grid 154. To do this, the blade 120 is removed from the drive shaft 130, and the cleaning tool 180 is engaged to the cutting grid by inserting the anchor arm 186 into the anchor hole 162 using the hook 194. This limits the movement of the cleaning tool 180 relative to the cutting grid 154 to the articulation of the cleaning tool about the common anchoring direction 164. Preferably, the handle 188 of the cleaning tool 180 is moved to the operating position, such as Fig.14A It is also easier to insert the anchor arm 186 into the anchor hole 162 if the handle is in the operating position before engaging the arm 186 into the hole 162.

[0071] like FIG. 14A to FIG. 16B As seen, the cleaning tool 180 is then articulated about the common anchoring direction 164. The progressive engagement of the openings 160 by the projections 184 in a row-by-row manner enabled by the articulating motion about the common anchoring direction 164 maximizes the force applied to the obstruction in each opening 160 from the torque applied to the handle 188, as compared to, for example, a cleaning tool approaching the openings 160 linearly from above.

[0072] To store the food processor 100, the handle 188 is returned to the rest position and can be stored with the cutting grid attachment 150, such as Fig.13 shown.

[0073] Advantages of the food processor 100, blade 120, and cleaning tool 180 will now be discussed.

[0074] Movement of the handle 188 between the rest position and the operative position allows the cleaning tool 180 to be stored with the cutting grid attachment 150 while increasing the torque available for cleaning the opening 160 when in the operative position.

[0075] The chamfer or radius of the projection 184 allows the projection 184 to enter the opening 160 at an angle, reducing the chance of the cleaning tool 180 becoming blocked during use and reducing the manufacturing tolerance requirements for producing the cleaning tool 180. The use of the anchor arm 186 and the anchor hole 162 allows the cleaning tool 180 to be positioned relative to the cutting grid 154 to ensure that the projection 184 reliably cleans the opening 160. The use of two linear slots 162 reduces the degrees of freedom available to the cleaning tool 180 and further increases its reliability for use with the cutting grid 154. For a given torque, the location of the anchor hole 162 on the side opposite the cutting grid 154 increases the amount of force generated on a blockage in the opening 160.

[0076] The use of the track 156 and cam 158 reduces flexing of the blade 120 and improves the ability of the blade 120 to reliably cut food. The inclination of the bottom surface 124 improves the throughput of the food processor 100 by pushing the cut food through the cutting grid 154. The use of the negative angle of attack 134 along the leading edge 128 reduces the torque applied by the food on the drive shaft 130 when the food is cut by the blade 120. Using a single spiral shape, preferably a Fibonacci spiral, maximizes the time that the blade 120 can be used to successfully cut the food until the food is wedged between the blade 120 and the side wall 114 of the container 110, at which time the torque applied by the food on the drive shaft 130 is significantly increased. The use of the Fibonacci spiral shape ensures that the angle of attack 134 between the blade 120 and the food is constant as the food moves in the radial direction 136 during the cutting action. In contrast to a straight blade (not shown), the blade 120 has the advantage that the food is cut continuously, thereby distributing and minimizing the forces applied to the blade and the food. The use of the lifting aperture 140 allows the blade 120 to be safely removed from the drive shaft 130. The positioning of the lifting aperture 140 adjacent the opening 142 allows the drive shaft 130 to be used as a bearing point when the blade 120 is lifted.

[0077] Integer:

[0078] 100 Food Processor 146 Cam Profile (Shaft)

[0079] 110 Containers 150 Cutting Grid Accessories

[0080] 112 bottom plate 152 second direction

[0081] 114 Sidewall 154 Cutting Grid

[0082] 116 Space 156 Track

[0083] 120 blade 158 cam

[0084] 122 drive axis 160 opening

[0085] 124 bottom surface 162 anchor hole

[0086] 126 Azimuth direction 164 Common anchoring direction

[0087] 128 front edge 166 opening (cutting grid)

[0088] 130 drive shaft 168 part

[0089] 132 first direction 170 surface

[0090] 134 Angle of attack 172 First side

[0091] 136 Radius 174 First Chord

[0092] 138 Periphery 176 Second side

[0093] 140 lifting opening 178 second string

[0094] 142 Opening (Blade) 180 Cleaning Tool

[0095] 144 Cam profile (blade) 182 Flat body

[0096] 184 protrusion 190 hinge

[0097] 186 Anchor arm 192 Top surface

[0098] 188 handle

Claims

1. A cleaning tool for cleaning a cutting grid attachment of a food processor, the cutting grid attachment having a cutting grid with a plurality of openings and an anchor hole located near the cutting grid, the cleaning tool having: a body having a plurality of projections sized to be received by the plurality of openings; an anchor arm extending from the body, the anchor arm having a shape conforming to the anchor hole of the cutting grid attachment and releasably engageable with the anchor hole such that when the anchor arm engages the anchor hole, the body is positioned relative to the cutting grid and is pivotable about the anchor hole to allow the plurality of projections to move into the plurality of openings; and A handle extends from the body opposite the anchor arm such that when the anchor arm is engaged with the anchor hole, the handle provides leverage to increase the available force at the lugs as the lugs advance into the apertures.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a hinge on a surface opposite the plurality of projections, and the handle is attached to the body by the hinge so that the handle is movable between a rest position in which the handle extends from the hinge in a direction toward the anchor arm to reduce the overall length of the cleaning tool, and an operating position and a storage position in which the handle extends from the hinge in a direction opposite to the anchor arm.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of projections is chamfered to allow the projection to engage the corresponding opening at an angle when the cleaning tool is pivoted to move the projection into the opening.

4. A cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anchor arm comprises a hook to allow the anchor arm to engage the anchor hole.

5. A cutting grid attachment for a food processor to be cleaned by a cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the cutting grid attachment having: a cutting grid having a plurality of openings; and Anchor holes are located near the cutting grid.

6. The cutting grid attachment of claim 5, wherein the anchor apertures comprise linear slots.

7. The cutting grid of claim 5 or 6, wherein the anchoring holes comprise two or more linear slots positioned along a common anchoring direction.

8. The cutting grid attachment of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the cutting grid attachment comprises an opening for receiving a drive shaft of the food processor, wherein the cutting grid is located on a first side of the cutting grid attachment, and wherein the linear slot is located on a second side of the cutting grid attachment along an anchoring direction.

9. The cutting grid of claim 8, wherein the cutting grid attachment has a circular shape, wherein the opening is located in the center, and wherein the anchoring direction is a non-diametric chord of the cutting grid attachment.

10. A food processor for processing food into cut food, the food processor comprising: a container having a bottom plate, and side walls extending upward from the bottom plate to define a space for receiving the cut food; a blade mounted to the container so as to rotate the food about a drive axis; a drive shaft for driving the blade about the drive axis to cut the food in a first direction; and a cutting grid mounted to the container below the blade for cutting the portioned food to produce the cut food, Wherein the cutting grid comprises a circular track and the blade comprises a cam at its periphery engageable with the track such that there is a force path from the blade to the cutting grid.

11. The food processor of claim 10, wherein a bottom surface of the blade is non-parallel to the cutting grid to form a gap between a leading edge of the blade and the cutting grip, such that when the blade is rotated by the drive shaft, the bottom surface of the blade pushes the cut food into the cutting grid.

12. The food processor of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the blade has a spiral shape.

13. A food processor according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the blade has a leading edge that first engages the food for cutting, wherein the leading edge has a negative angle of attack relative to the radius of the blade to reduce the force exerted on the blade from the food as the blade cuts the food.

14. The food processor of claim 13, wherein the leading edge curves continuously in a spiral shape relative to the radius of the blade such that the perimeter of the blade forms a single continuous leading edge.

15. The food processor of claim 14, wherein the spiral shape is a Fibonacci spiral.

16. A food processor according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the blade includes a lifting aperture to allow access of a user's fingers to lift the blade from the container.

17. The food processor of claim 16, wherein the lifting opening is located adjacent the drive shaft.

18. A combination of a cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a cutting grid attachment according to any one of claims 5 to 9.

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