GB2076638A

GB2076638A - A rotatable cutting blade assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2076638A
Application number: GB8016784A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Breville Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Breville Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-21
Filing date: 1980-05-21
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: GB2076638B

Abstract

A rotatable cutting blade assembly for a food processor having an annular flange 17 intended to fit closely within a container of a food processor, the flange having in it an aperture 20 in which a blade 11 is mounted, a screw-threaded arrangement 21 being provided whereby the distance between the blade and flange may be adjusted so that sliced portions of vegetable material of any desired thickness may be produced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A rotatable cutting blade assembly and a food processor incorporating the assembly Technical Field and Background Art The present invention relates to a blade assembly for a food processor. Food processors are known in which a blade is rotated in a container and food-stuffs such as pieces of carrot, potato or other vegetables are inserted through a tubular passage in a cover of the container for slicing by means of the rotating blade, the sliced portions of vegetable falling into a receiving portion of the container below the cutting plane of the blade.

With the majority of such food processors, a rotatable blade assembly is provided which is capable of slicing vegetables to a predetermined thickness. If thicker or thinner slices are required it is necessary to use a different blade assembly.

Such different blade assemblies may or may not be available for different brands of food processor.

The object of the present invention is to provide a blade assembly for a food processor which is capable of adjustment so as to cut vegetables to any desired thickness within a predetermined range of thicknesses and also to provide a simple and robust mechanism whereby the adjustment may be effected.

Statement of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a rotatable cutting blade assembly for a food processor, comprising an axially extending stem adapted to be placed in driving connection with a drive shaft of a food processor for rotation about its axis, a flange member comprising an annular flange co-axially mounted on the stem for rotation therewith, the flange being adapted to fit closely within a container of a food processor and having an aperture therein through which sliced material may pass from one side of the flange into a receiving portion of the container, a blade mounted on the stem for rotation with the flange and lying in the aperture or overlying the aperture on said one side in a plane substantially parallel with the surface of the flange on said one side, and screw-threaded means capable of axial rotation to adjust the axial spacing between the blade and said surface of the flange whereby sliced material may be produced of any desired thickness within the range of adjustment of the screw-threaded means.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a food processor including a container, a drive shaft and a rotatable cutting blade assembly substantially as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

Conveniently the blade is fixedly mounted on the stem and the flange member is axially slidable relative to the stem, in which case the screwthreaded means may comprise a threaded ring which co-operates with a screw thread on the stem and engages the flange member for adjustment of the axial spacing between the flange and the blade by rotation of the ring.

Preferably such ring merely abuts the flange member and the flange member is axially biased, such as by a coil spring, on the stem to increase the axial spacing. Resilient detent means may be provided to restrain movement of the ring relative to the screw thread so that the axial spacing will only vary when there is a positive force applied to rotate the ring.

Figures of the Drawings One embodiment of a blade assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the blade assembly; FIGURE 2 is a median sectional view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a plan-view from below of the assembly shown in FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternative form of blade construction.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The assembly shown in the drawings consists of an axially rotatable stem defined by a body 10 having fitted and keyed to its lower end an externally threaded sleeve 1 Oa adapted to fit over the driving shaft of a food processor (not shown).

To the upper end of the body 10 a blade 11, preferably of stainless steel, is non-rotatably attached by means of the stud 12, a square portion 1 3 of which fits closely within a square aperture 14 in the blade 11 and a similar aperture 1 5 at the upper end of the body 10. These parts are held together by means of the screw 16, and in assembly they are prevented from rotation in relation to each other by at least one key and keyway as illustrated.

A flange member 17 is slidably mounted on the body 10 so that it is free to move in an axial direction but is prevented from rotating with reference to the body 10 by the co-operating keyways 1 8 and keys 1 9. A coil spring 26 acts to urge the flange member 1 7 downwardly in relation to the body 10 and thus to the blade 11.

The flange member 1 7 has an annular flange with an essentially flat upper surface and an aperture 20 in which the blade 11 lies. The circumference of the flange member 17 is such that it makes a close fit within a circular section container of a food processor (not shown). An annular wall 27 is provided around the periphery of the flange and assists in controlling foodstuff offered to the blade 11.

An internally threaded ring 21 screws on to the male screw thread 22 formed on the externally threaded sleeve 1 Oa. Ring 21 is provided around its periphery with ribs 24 by means of which it may be readily rotated manually. The ring 21 has an upwardly directed skirt 23 having in it three resilient tongues 28 each of which has an inwardly directed vertical rib 29 (as seen in FIGURE 1). The three ribs 29 co-operate with corrugations 30 formed on the lower part 31 of the flange member 1 7 to constitute resilient detent means such that the torque required to turn the ring 21 in relation to the boss 31 is sufficiently great to prevent turning when the device is in operation.

The flange member 17 may be moved from a lower position in which the blade 11 projects to a maximum extent above the surface of the flange, to a position in which the blade lies substantially level with the upper surface of the flange or slightly below it. Adjustment of the relative positions of the blade and the flange is effected by means of the ring 21 which is screwed in a clockwise direction to raise the flange member 1 7 in relation to the blade 11 to decrease the axial space between the upper surface of the flange and the blade and thus reduce the thickness of sliced portions of vegetable cut, and vice versa. It will be noted that the blade 11 has a trailing edge 25 which is directed downwardly at an angle. This serves to direct cut slices of vegetable material down into the part of the container of the food processor below the flange.

A fiduciary mark may be provided on the body 10 and graduations on the ring 21 to give an indication of the thickness of the slice cut at any adjusted position of the ring 21.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternative form of construction of the blade 11 in which the blade is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending blade-like cutting members 32 extending downwardly from the under surface of the blade for a depth equal to the maximum thickness of slice that the assembly is intended to produce, the blade-like cutting members 32 having cutting edges at their forward ends and being preferably spaced apart a distance of the order of 8 mm.

With this arrangement if, for example, a potato is inserted in the machine, instead of being cut in slices it will be cut into "chips" suitable for frying.

Claims

1. A rotatable cutting blade assembly for a food processor, comprising an axially extending stem adapted to be placed in driving connection with a drive shaft of a food processor for rotation about its axis, a flange member comprising an annular flange co-axially mounted on the stem for rotation therewith, the flange being adapted to fit closely within a container of a food processor and having an aperture therein through which sliced material may pass from one side of the flange into a receiving portion of the container, a blade mounted on the stem for rotation with the flange and lying in the aperture or overlying the aperture on said one side in a plane substantially parallel with the surface of the flange on said one side, and screw-threaded means capable of axial rotation to adjust the axial spacing between the blade and said surface of the flange whereby sliced material may be produced of any desired thickness within the range of adjustment of the screw-threaded means.

2. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blade has a trailing edge inclined to deflect sliced material through the aperture from said one side of the flange.

3. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the flange has. on its said surface an annular circumferentially extending wall.

4. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the blade is fixedly mounted on the stem and the flange member is axially slidable relative to the stem.

5. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the screw-threaded means comprises a threaded ring which cooperates with a screw thread on the stem and engages the flange member for adjustment of the axial spacing between the flange and the blade by rotation of the ring.

6. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the ring abuts the flange member and wherein the flange member is axially biased on the stem to increase said spacing.

7. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein resilient detent means are provided to restrain relative rotation of the ring.

8. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade is provided with a plurality of radially spaced apart cutting members projecting generally in the axial direction and adapted to cut the sliced material generally transversely.

9. A rotatable cutting blade assembly substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in claim 9 but modified substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A food processor including a container, a drive shaft, and a rotatable cutting blade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.