GB2133853A

GB2133853A - Safety device for a food processor

Info

Publication number: GB2133853A
Application number: GB08331080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfredo Cavalli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-14
Filing date: 1983-11-22
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: JPS624280Y2; CH657540A5; HUT36738A; CA1223250A; JPS59133148U; FR2539291A1; SU1295997A3; IL70682A; AR231387A1; IT8320468V0; GR79465B; DD215936A5; ZA84127B; SE8307224D0; BR6400033U; NL8400077A; FR2539291B3; ES8505155A1; GB2133853B; GB8331080D0

Abstract

A food processor comprises, as a safety measure a member 13 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 18 and carrying an element 16a which actuates a microswitch for the drive motor. The processor cannot operate unless the member 13 is in a position blocking the inlet 11 and thereby preventing a user gaining access to the processor blades. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety device to prevent accidental access to cutting blades and similar tools of a food processor This invention relates generally to a safety device to prevent accidental access to the cutting blades of a food processor.

The invention relates more particularly to an electrodomestic appliance used to cut, slice, mince, reduce, centrifuge and so on fruit, vegetables and similar foods, the appliance having a safety feature to prevent involuntary, accidental or unwitting access to that part of the appliance where a tool for performing one or more of the functions mentioned is operating. A food processor of this kind comprises a container, a funnel-shaped passage having an open end disposed in the container and an entry accessible outside the same, an implement or tool borne in the container near the open end ofthefunnel- shaped passage and a motor for driving the tool or implement.

One of the main safety requirements for food processors is of course to ensure that the user cannot contact the tool, for example, the cutting blades, of the appliance during operation, yet can introduce into the appliance the or each product to be processed (by slicing, mincing and so on).

The known systems and constructions for meeting this requirement are complex, expensive and bulky; also, as well as being difficult to manipuiate they often make the processor difficult to use. These disadvantages may cause the user of the appliance to "forget" to operate or use the safety feature and thus work in a hazardous situation which is not always clearly apparent.

It is the main object of this invention to provide an electrodomestic appliance of the kind hereinbefore referred to, the appliance having a safety device or feature whose constructional and operational characteristics are such as to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object and other objectives which will become more clearly apparent from the following description are achieved according to the invention by an electrodomestic appliance of the kind hereinbefore referred to, characterised in that the appliance comprises: an interceptor element movingly guided on the appliance from a first position near the entry of the funnel-shaped passage into at least one second position away from said entry; and a micro-switch forming part of the supply circuit for the motor, the micro switch being adapted to be closed by a portion of the interceptor element in said first position thereof.

Advantageously and preferably the interceptor element comprises a substantially bar-like part having one end rotatably mounted on a pivot pin disposed on the lid and extending parallel to and laterally of the funnel-shaped passage, at least one portion of the bar-like part being substantially co-planar with the passage entry and having the switch-actuating portion.

The main advantage of an electrodomestic appliance according to the invention is that the interceptor element not only effectively prevents access to the tool of the appliance in operation but also inhibits operation of the appliance unless positioned near the entry of the funnel-shaped passage (safety position). Another important advantage is the simplified construction and simplified operation of the safety device of the appliance according to this invention.

Other features and advantages will become more clearly apparent from the description of an embodiment of an appliance according to the invention as given hereinafter with reference to the purely explanatory drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a view in elevation and partial section of an electrodomestic appliance having a safety feature according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the appliance of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an electrodomestic appliance 1 according to the invention is preferably a food processor adapted, when fitted with appropriate tools or attachments, to perform a range of operations such as slicing, mincing, dicing, centrifuging, mixing, beating and so on fruit, vegetables and similar foods.

A processor of this kind comprises a body 2 having a chamber 3 receiving an electric motor 4; disposed laterally of the chamber 3 is a baseplate 5 on which a container 6 is located and secured removably by conventional means which are not shown. A driven shaft extends into the container 6, the same being closed at the top by a lid 7; the shaft 8 is borne by the base plate 5 within which a terminal part of shaft 8 is connected to a transmission (not shown since it is known per se) driven by the motor 4.

The container 6 can be loaded through a funnel-shaped passage 9 with fruit, vegetables and other similar foods it is required to process.

Preferably but not limitatively, the passage 9 is integral with the lid 7; when the same is in position on the container the passage 9 is disposed in the more outwards part of the lid 7.

The passage 9 has an open end 10 in the container 6 and has an entry 11.

Purely by way of example a cutting blade 12 is so secured by conventional means (not shown) to the shaft 8 as to rotate solidly therewith; the blade 12 extends radially of the shaft 8 and rotates in a position very near that end 10 of the passage 9 which is disposed in the container 6.

The appliance hereinbefore described has a safety feature to prevent accidental access by any user through the passage 9 to the cutting blade 12 while the appliance is in operation.

The safety feature mainly comprises an interceptor element 1 3 and a micro-switch 1 4 which in known and conventional manner forms part of the electrical supply circuit (not shown) of the motor 4.

More particularly, and with reference to a standby condition of the appliance according to this invention, the interceptor element 1 3 comprises a substantially U-shaped member 14 having two unequal but parallel and bar-like arms 15, 16 and an intermediate bar-like part 17. The arms 15, 16 extend parallel to one another and on opposite sides of the passage 9 while the part 17 is substantially co-planar with the passage entry 11. The arm 1 5 has its bottom end pivotally disposed on a pivot pin 18 borne by the lid 7, the pin 18 extending parallel to and laterally of the passage 9. The arm 1 6 has a bottom portion 1 6a extending through a slot 19 in the chamber 3 of the appliance body 2, the slot 19 being concentric of the axis of the pin 18.The bottom 3 of exposed end of the arm 16 is inside the chamber 3 and intercepts and actuates the microswitch 14 when the intermediate part 17 of the U-shaped member 14 extends transversely of the passage entry 11 in a position substantially central thereof.

Clearly, in this position the intermediate part 17 of the member 14 (interceptor element) makes it impossible for the user or any one else to insert a hand into the passage 9 and gain access to the cutter 12 while the appliance is in operation.

Clearly too, immediately the part 17 moves away from its interception position the bottom free end of the arm 16 of the member 14 moves away from the micro-switch 14 and thus stops the motor 4.

Consequently, the interceptor element 13 prevents the appliance according to this invention from operating unless the interceptor element 13 is in the safety position.

In a preferred but non-limitative embodiment, the lid 7 is of the kind having means enabling the motor 4 to operate only when the lid 7 is properly in its closure position on the container 6; for instance, the lid 7 can have a tooth (not shown) which extends through the slot 19 hereinbefore referred to to engage a respective microswitch (not shown) disposed in the chamber 3.

The dimensions of the member 14, more particularly the length of its arms 1 5, 16 will of course vary in dependence upon the height of the passage 9 relatively to the lid 7, and the length and width of the intermediate part 17 of the U-shaped member 14 will vary in dependence upon the transverse dimensions of the entry 11 of the funnel-shaped passage 9.

Claims

1. An electrodomestic appliance comprising a container and associated lid, a passage in the form of a funnel having an open end disposed in the container and an etry accessible outside the same, an implement or tool operative in the container near the open end of the said passage and an electric motor for driving the implement or tool, characterised in that it comprises: an interceptor element movingly guided on the appliance from a first position near the entry of the funnel-shaped passage into at least one second position away from said entry; and a micro-switch forming part of the supply circuit for the motor, the microswitch being adapted to be closed by a portion of the interceptor element in said first position thereof.

2. An appliance according to Claim 1 characterised in that the interceptor element comprises a substantially bar-like part having one end rotatably mounted on a pivot pin disposed on the lid and extending parallel to and laterally out of the funnel-shaped passage, at least one portion of the bar-like part being substantially co-planar with the passage entry and having the switch-actuating portion.

3. An appliance according to Claim 1 characterised in that the interceptor element is embodied by a substantially U-shaped member having two arms extending parallel to one another and on opposite sides of the funnel-shaped passage, one of the arms having an end disposed for rotation on a pin disposed on the lid, the other arm having a bottom end portion extending through a slot in the body of the appliance to serve as the switch-actuating portion.

4. An electrodomestic appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.