Adjustable thickness sheeting device for a food processing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10433559-B2
Application number	US-201615381647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 19, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A food processing attachment for a food processing device includes a rotational adapter configured to be selectively coupled with a drive system of the food processing device. A food holder is coupled to the rotational adapter and having a base, wherein the food holder is selectively rotated by the rotational adapter. A central spear extends perpendicularly from a center of the base. A plurality of radial flanges extend perpendicularly from the base, wherein each radial flange of the plurality of flanges is discontinuous with the other radial flanges, wherein the central spear and the plurality of radial flanges are adapted to secure a food item in a processing space and in communication with the rotational adapter. A blade is coupled to an operable carriage and is adapted to selectively engage the food item within the processing space to remove at least a portion of the food item.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A food processing attachment for a food processing device, the food processing attachment comprising:
a rotational adapter configured to be selectively coupled with a drive system of the food processing device;
a food holder coupled to the rotational adapter and having a base, wherein the food holder is selectively rotated by the rotational adapter;
a central spear extending perpendicularly from a center of the base;
a plurality of radial flanges extending perpendicularly from the base, wherein each radial flange of the plurality of radial flanges is discontinuous with the other radial flanges, wherein the central spear and the plurality of radial flanges are adapted to secure a food item in a processing space and in communication with the rotational adapter; and
a blade coupled to an operable carriage an oriented parallel with the central spear, the blade adapted to selectively engage the food item within the processing space to remove at least a portion of the food item, wherein a biasing spring biases the operable carriage away from a U-shaped frame and toward the processing space, and wherein the food holder is axially secured within the U-shaped frame.

2. The food processing attachment of claim 1 , wherein the food holder secures the food item within the processing space, wherein a food guide includes an elongated spear that opposes the central spear and the plurality of radial flanges of the food holder, wherein the food guide is axially secured by the U-shaped frame at a position opposite the food holder.

3. The food processing attachment of claim 2 , wherein the blade is adapted to be laterally biased by the operable carriage toward the food holder and the food guide, wherein the blade is operable from a rest position distal from the food item, an initial cutting position defined by the blade engaging an outer surface of the food item, and a stopping position defined by the operable carriage engaging a portion of the food holder, wherein the stopping position prevents further processing of the food item by the blade.

4. The food processing attachment of claim 3 , wherein the food item is entirely disposed between the food holder and the food guide, and wherein the blade is positioned relative to the food holder to engage a portion of the base in the stopping position such that the blade is adapted to process an entire length of the food item, wherein the food guide, the food holder and the operable carriage are each operably secured to the U-shaped frame.

5. The food processing attachment of claim 2 , further comprising a soft-food holder, the soft-food holder including a shield proximate the base and the corresponding central spear extending from a center of the shield, wherein the plurality of radial flanges extends outward from a portion of the shield, wherein a soft food item is positioned between the soft-food holder and the food guide, and wherein the blade is positioned relative to the soft-food holder such that a stopping position of the blade is defined by the blade bypassing the plurality of radial flanges of the soft-food holder and engaging the central spear of the soft-food holder.

6. The food processing attachment of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of radial flanges of the soft-food holder define a greater radial distance than the plurality of radial flanges of the food holder, wherein the soft-food holder is adapted to engage a larger surface area of a corresponding food item than that of the food holder.

7. The food processing attachment of claim 3 , wherein the operable carriage is moved from the rest position to the initial cutting position through operation of a user interface.

8. The food processing attachment of claim 7 , wherein the user interface is a rack-and-pinion mechanism that slidably operates the operable carriage in a direction perpendicular to the central spear.

9. A food processing attachment for a food processing device, the food processing attachment comprising:
a rotational adapter configured to be selectively coupled with a drive system of the food processing device;
a food holder selectively rotated by the rotational adapter;
a plurality of radial flanges extending perpendicularly from the food holder, each radial flange of the plurality of radial flanges being discontinuous with the other radial flanges; and
a blade coupled to an operable carriage, the blade adapted to selectively move through a processing space defined proximate the food holder, the blade being oriented parallel with a rotational axis of the rotational adapter and biased toward the processing space by a biasing spring, and wherein the operable carriage slidably operates along opposing arms of a U-shaped frame.

10. The food processing attachment of claim 9 , wherein the blade is adapted to be laterally biased by the operable carriage toward the food holder, wherein the blade is operable from a rest position distal from the processing space, an initial cutting position defined by the blade entering the processing space, and a stopping position defined by the operable carriage engaging a portion of the food holder.

11. The food processing attachment of claim 10 , wherein the operable carriage is moved from the rest position to the initial cutting position through operation of a user interface.

12. The food processing attachment of claim 11 , wherein the user interface is a rack-and-pinion mechanism that slidably operates the operable carriage in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotational adapter.

13. The food processing attachment of claim 10 , wherein the operable carriage and the blade are operated from the initial cutting position to the stopping position through application of a substantially consistent biasing force exerted on the operable carriage by the biasing spring.

14. The food processing attachment of claim 13 , wherein the substantially consistent biasing force is in a range of from approximately 4 pounds of force to approximately 6 pounds of force.

15. The food processing attachment of claim 13 , wherein the substantially consistent biasing force is applied by a low-rate spring.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Devito Lucas B
• Haney Edward
• Kardile Sandip K

Classifications

• A47J17/14 Primary

  Machines for peeling · CPC title

• B26D7/01

  Means for holding or positioning work · CPC title

• B26D5/083

  Rack-and-pinion means · CPC title

• B26D1/06

  wherein the cutting member reciprocates (cup or like cutting members B26D1/44) · CPC title

• B26D2001/006

  the cutting blade having a special shape, e.g. a special outline, serrations · CPC title