Abstract: A horizontal disc-like tool head is detachably mounted on an upper coupling portion of an elongated hub, while a lower coupling portion of the hub is adapted to be coupled to and rotated by the tool drive shaft of a food processor. The tool head has a receptacle underneath it for receiving the upper coupling portion of the hub, which has a flange-like configuration with spaced, projecting, peripheral teeth. The receptacle has a plurality of spaced, lip retainers which are adapted to receive and retain such teeth when the hub is inserted in an axial direction and then rotated about the tool axis for changing its angular orientation in the receptacle. The teeth and lip retainers have corresponding matching sizes, so that the hub properly fits into the receptacle in only one position, thus preventing incorrect insertion of the hub.

Abstract: A method for protecting the feed tube of a food processor is described in which an outer sleeve associated with a movable food pusher and carrying an actuator enables operation of the food processor only when this outer sleeve is properly positioned over the feed tube. When the cover is properly positioned on the bowl and the outer sleeve is mounted over the feed tube with the food pusher being positioned and manually movable within the passageway in the feed tube, the actuator means carried by the sleeve is operatively associated in enabling relationship with control means in the housing to permit operation of the motor drive for the food processor. Thus, inadvertent insertion of a hand or a foreign object through the feed tube into the bowl is prevented when the rotatable tool is being driven by the motor drive.

Abstract: An improved drive unit for a food processor of the type wherein the drive unit is enclosed in a base housing and has a vertically extending spindle which extends into a processing bowl and carries rotary tools thereon. The drive unit comprises a horizontally mounted universal motor carrying a pinion gear at the end of its shaft. A ring gear meshes with the pinion and encircles the motor on a concavo-convex support structure. The support structure is coupled to the vertical spindle. Included in the drive unit are a novel three point shock mounting for the motor and an automatic brake to prevent coasting of the tool after the motor is deenergized. In a further embodiment of the drive unit the motor and the concavo-convex ring gear are held in a motor mount which is vibrationally isolated from the base housing for providing quieter operation. This mount arches up over the dome of the ring gear which in turn arches up over the motor.

Abstract: A rotary food processing tool is provided for use in a food processor of the type including a housing containing an electric motor drive, a bowl mountable on the housing for enclosing the tool, said tool being rotated by said motor drive, and a removable cover on the bowl with a feed tube for feeding food items onto the rotating tool and into the bowl. The rotary tool has an elongated hub with a head on one end and coupling means adapted to be coupled to the electric motor drive. The head of the hub is offset from the coupling means such that it revolves around the axis of rotation of the coupling means. The tool includes a horizontal disc-like member mounted on the hub head at a location radially offset from the center axis of the disc-like member. Cutting means on the disc member extends from near the axis to the periphery.

Abstract: A feed tube protector for a food processor having a motor, with a working bowl, a motor-driven shaft in the bowl for receiving rotatable tools, and with a removable cover positioned on the bowl during operation. Food processors normally include a feed tube and a manual food pusher used to feed items through this feed tube to the rotating tool. The feed tube protector has an outer sleeve carrying an actuator for enabling machine operation only when this sleeve is properly positioned over the feed tube. This sleeve is associated with a movable food pusher mounted for movement within the sleeve. When the cover is positioned on the bowl and this sleeve is mounted over the feed tube, the food pusher is manually movable within the passageway in the feed tube, and the actuator on the sleeve is operatively associated with control means to permit operation of the motor drive. Thus, inadvertent insertion of a hand or a foreign object through the feed tube is prevented when the tool is being driven.

Abstract: A julienne cutter tool and method of making are described, the cutter being intended for use in rotary food processing apparatus of the type having an upright working bowl with a vertical motor-driven tool shaft extending up into the bowl. The julienne cutter has a hub engageable with said tool shaft for rotating a horizontal disc-like member carrying a primary blade horizontally positioned at an elevated location above the upper surface of said disc member and extending from a smaller radius region to a larger radius region. An opening defined by said disc member permits the food material which has been cut by said primary blade to move downwardly through the disc member, and a plurality of individual radially-spaced secondary blades located in said opening in respective planes perpendicular to said primary blade neatly slice the food material into julienne strips.