Food processor assembly for a blender base

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018338643-A1
Application number	US-201715789321-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A food processor assembly is provided with a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products. A planetary gear transmission is supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output. A first transmission rotary output extends into the bowl cavity to provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input. A blade is connected to the first transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product. The blade has a first cutting edge formed adjacent the first transmission rotary output to perform a continuous cutting operation to the food products. The blade has a second cutting edge spaced radially from the first transmission rotary output to perform a sequential cutting operation to the food products.

First claim

1 . A food processor assembly comprising:
a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products; a planetary gear transmission supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output from the blender base, and a first transmission rotary output extending into the bowl cavity to provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input; and a blade connected to the first transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product.

2 . The food processor assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotary input further comprises an input shaft.

3 . The food processor assembly of claim 2 further comprising a blender base with a coupling to provide the blender rotary output with a splined receptacle sized to receive the input shaft.

4 . The food processor assembly of claim 3 further comprising:
a sensor for detecting an identification and installment orientation of the blade; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and programmed to:
receive input indicative of the identification and installment orientation of the blade, and
select the blender rotary output associated with a cutting operation in response to the receipt of the input indicative of the identification and installment orientations of the blade.

5 . The food processor assembly of claim 2 wherein the transmission further comprises:
a sun gear formed on a proximal end of the input shaft;
a plurality of planet gears in engagement with the sun gear; and
a planet carrier supported for rotation in the transmission, the planet carrier supporting the plurality of planet gears for rotation relative to the planet carrier, wherein the first transmission rotary output is driven by the planet carrier.

6 . The food processor assembly of claim 5 wherein the first transmission rotary output further comprises an output shaft extending from the planet carrier.

7 . The food processor assembly of claim 5 wherein the transmission further comprises a ring gear in engagement with the plurality of planet gears.

8 . The food processor assembly of claim 7 wherein the ring gear is fixed relative to the bowl substrate.

9 . The food processor assembly of claim 7 wherein the ring gear is rotatable relative to the bowl substrate.

10 . The food processor assembly of claim 9 wherein the transmission further comprises an output shaft driven by the ring gear.

11 . The food processor assembly of claim 1 wherein the transmission further comprises a second transmission rotary output.

12 . The food processor assembly of claim 1 wherein the bowl is further defined as a primary bowl; and
wherein the food processor assembly further comprises a secondary bowl sized to be received within the primary bowl and connected to the first transmission rotary output to rotate relative to the primary bowl with the blade.

13 . The food processor assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade has a first cutting edge formed adjacent the first transmission rotary output to perform a continuous cutting operation to the food products; and
wherein the blade has a second cutting edge spaced radially from the first transmission rotary output to perform a sequential cutting operation to the food products.

14 . A food processor assembly comprising:
a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products; a planetary gear transmission supported upon the bowl substrate with an input shaft sized to receive a blender rotary output from the blender base, a first transmission rotary output extending into the bowl cavity to provide a first reduced rotation from the blender rotary output, and a second transmission rotary output extending into the bowl cavity to provide a second reduced rotation from the blender rotary output; and a blade connected to one of the first transmission rotary output and the second transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product.

15 . The food processor assembly of claim 14 wherein the transmission further comprises:
a sun gear formed on a proximal end of the input shaft;
a plurality of planet gears in engagement with the sun gear;
a planet carrier supported for rotation in the transmission, the planet carrier supporting the plurality of planet gears for rotation relative to the planet carrier, wherein the first transmission rotary output is driven by the planet carrier; and
a first output shaft extending from the planet carrier to provide the first transmission rotary output.

16 . The food processor assembly of claim 15 wherein the transmission further comprises a first ring gear in engagement with the plurality of planet gears, the first ring gear being fixed relative to the bowl substrate.

17 . The food processor assembly of claim 16 wherein the transmission further comprises:
a second ring gear in engagement with the plurality of planet gears, the second ring gear being rotatable relative to the bowl substrate; and
a second output shaft driven by the second ring gear to provide the second transmission rotary output.

18 . The food processor assembly of claim 17 wherein the second output shaft is coaxial with the first output shaft.

19 . A food processor assembly comprising:
a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products; a transmission supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output from the blender base, and a first transmission rotary output extending into the bowl cavity to provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input; and a blade connected to the first transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product, wherein the blade has a first cutting edge formed adjacent the first transmission rotary output to perform a continuous cutting operation to the food products, and wherein the blade has a second cutting edge spaced radially from the first transmission rotary output to perform a sequential cutting operation to the food products.

20 . The food processor assembly of claim 19 further comprising a lid sized to be received upon the bowl to partially enclose the bowl cavity with an input port formed through the lid to permit food products to be inserted into the bowl cavity, the input port being aligned radially with the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge.

21 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Vita Mix Man Corp

Inventors

• Hammond Rebecca
• Kolar David

Classifications

• A47J43/085

  for machines with tools driven from the lower side (A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47J43/046 Primary

  with tools driven from the bottom side · CPC title

• A47J43/06

  with a plurality of interchangeable working units {, e.g. with a single driving-unit} · CPC title

• A47J43/07

  Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools · CPC title