Modified dicing procedure for a food processor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10092138-B2
Application number	US-201415520214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2014
Priority date	Dec 24, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A food processing device (10) includes a drive assembly coupled to a dualaction cutting tool (20) and a single-action dicing tool (40). First and second cutting assemblies (51, 52) are disposed on the cutting tool (20) and are adapted to make first and second cuts in a food substrate as the cutting tool (20) rotates within a food processing path (26). The cutting tool (20) is further adapted to urge the cut food substrate towards and through the dicing tool (40) where generally parallel spaced-apart blades (66) further cut the food substrate to form diced food elements. The sequential cutting arrangement of the cutting tool (20) and the dicing tool (40) provides for a food processing device (10) that is capable of dicing a food substrate with lower torque and lower power requirements as compared to conventional dicing methods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A food processor comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive processed food;
a feed tube configured to receive a food substrate for processing and opening into the receptacle to at least partially define a food processing path from the feed tube to the receptacle;
a cutting tool adapted to rotate through the food processing path to cut the food substrate as it passes through the food processing path, the cutting tool including first and second cutting assemblies adapted to make first and second cuts in the food substrate, wherein the first and second cuts are substantially perpendicular to one another;
a dicing tool having a plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart dicing elements disposed within the food processing path, wherein the dicing tool is disposed between the cutting tool and the receptacle, and adapted to make a single third cut in the food substrate to dice the food substrate cut by the cutting tool; and
a drive motor coupled to an output shaft disposed through the receptacle, the output shaft operably coupled to the cutting tool to rotate the cutting tool through the food processing path.

2. The food processor of claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool is a cutting disc having a generally planar body portion, and further wherein the first cutting assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart blades upwardly extending from the planar body portion.

3. The food processor of claim 2 , wherein the second cutting assembly includes a blade portion disposed on a riser, wherein the riser supports the blade portion at a predetermined distance above the planar body portion.

4. The food processor of claim 3 , wherein an underside of the riser urges the food substrate towards and through the dicing tool as the cutting tool rotates along a rotational path.

5. The food processor of claim 3 , including:
a ramped portion disposed on an underside of the planar body portion of the cutting tool, the ramped portion adapted to urge the food substrate towards and through the dicing tool as the cutting tool rotates along a rotational path.

6. The food processor of claim 5 , wherein the second cutting assembly is positioned between the first cutting assembly and the ramped portion of the cutting tool along the rotational path of the cutting tool.

7. The food processor of claim 1 , wherein the dicing tool includes a frame member, and further includes one or more inserts removeably received in the frame member, wherein the one or more inserts include the plurality of generally parallel dicing elements.

8. The food processor of claim 1 , wherein the first cutting assembly of the cutting tool is configured to cut the food substrate along a first axis, and further wherein the second cutting assembly is configured to cut the food substrate along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

9. The food processor of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of dicing elements are adapted to cut the food substrate along a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

10. A food processor comprising:
a food receptacle configured to receive processed food and having an upwardly opening top portion;
a lid removeably mounted to the food receptacle, the food receptacle and lid collectively enclosing a food processing chamber;
a feed tube upwardly extending from the lid and in communication with the food processing chamber to at least partially define a food processing path from the feed tube to the food receptacle;
a cutting tool positioned within the food processing chamber, the cutting tool including first and second cutting assemblies that are movable through the food processing path to cut a food substrate as the food substrate passes through the food processing path; and
a dicing tool supported by at least one of the food receptacle and the lid, the dicing tool including a plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades disposed along the food processing path to dice the food substrate after the food substrate is cut by the cutting tool.

11. The food processor of claim 10 , wherein the cutting tool is a cutting disc having a generally planar body portion, and further wherein the first cutting assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart blades upwardly extending from the planar body portion.

12. The food processor of claim 11 , wherein the second cutting assembly includes a blade portion disposed on a riser, the riser adapted to support the blade portion at a predetermined distance above the planar body portion.

13. The food processor of claim 12 , including:
a ramped portion disposed on an underside of the planar body portion of the cutting tool, the ramped portion adapted to urge the food substrate towards and through the blades of the dicing tool as the cutting tool rotates along a rotational path.

14. The food processor of claim 13 , wherein the first cutting assembly is adapted to cut the food substrate along a generally vertical first axis, and further wherein the second cutting assembly is adapted to cut the food substrate along a generally horizontal second axis to form strips from the food substrate.

15. The food processor of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades of the dicing tool is adapted to cut the strips of food substrate along a generally vertical third axis that is perpendicular to the generally vertical first axis of the first cutting assembly.

16. The food processor of claim 15 , including:
a food pusher sized to be slideably received in the feed tube to urge the food substrate along the food processing path.

17. A method of dicing a food substrate comprising the steps of:
providing a food processor, the food processor comprising:
a feed tube and a food receptacle cooperating to define a food processing path;
a drive motor having a drive shaft coupled to an output shaft;
a cutting tool coupled to the output shaft for rotation therewith, the cutting tool having first and second cutting assemblies positioned to rotate through the food processing path; and
a stationary dicing tool disposed below the cutting tool, the dicing tool having a plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades disposed within the food processing path;

introducing a food substrate into the food processing path through the feed tube;
rotating the cutting tool along a rotational path;
cutting the food substrate with the first cutting assembly of the cutting tool as the cutting tool rotates along the rotational path to define a first cut in the food substrate;
cutting the food substrate with the second cutting assembly of the cutting tool as the cutting tool rotates along the rotational path to define a second cut in the food substrate, wherein the second cut is substantially perpendicular to the first cut, thereby forming strips of food substrate; and
urging the strips of food substrate through the plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades of the dicing tool to form diced food elements.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of urging the strips of food substrate through the plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades of the dicing tool further includes, urging the strips of food substrate with a ramped portion disposed on an underside of the cutting tool.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of urging the strips of food substrate through the plurality of generally parallel spaced-apart blades defines a third cut to the strips of food substrate that is perpendicular to both the first cut and

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gushwa David J
• Loebig Jeffrey Carl
• Hin Yung Leong
• Zhao Fan

Classifications

• A47J43/00

  Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A47J43/04 Primary

  Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven · CPC title

• B26D1/00

  Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member {or particular materials not otherwise provided for}; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor · CPC title

• B26D1/03

  with a plurality of cutting members · CPC title

• A47J43/0716

  for machines with tools driven from the lower side (A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence) · CPC title