Outer Peripheral Comminuting Face Patents (Class 241/93)
  • Patent number: 11490769
    Abstract: A congealed product grinding and dispensing machine is disclosed. The machine has a housing with an aperture through a wall for dispensing ground soap chips. A product chute located within the housing feeds bar soap toward a rotary cutting tool which is driven by an electric motor within the housing. An actuator in circuit with the motor and a control circuit energizes the motor for a preset time period when the actuator is actuated. Another embodiment disclosed includes an inclined product chute which simplifies soap bar loading. Additional elements of the invention involve including a proximity sensor as the actuator and incorporating a programmable display into the machine housing, the display being in circuit with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Yakov Bindler
  • Patent number: 11149240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary rod for 3D bio-printing, in which the rotary rod is arranged horizontally and is driven to rotate, the rotary rod has a hollow structure and provided with at least one hole in a surface thereof, such that during a 3D bio-printing process, a nutrition solution passes through the hollow structure and a portion of the nutrition solution exudes via at least one hole. The present invention further provides a 3D bio-printing platform for supplying nutrition, comprising the rotary rod and a nutrition supply system, and a method of printing a tubular tissue using the bio-printing platform. The present invention, which reduces the possibility of resulting in tissue collapse from the effect of gravity, provides a new method of 3D bio-printing a tubular tissue and supplying nutrition in a printing process, with a wide application prospect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: REVOTEK CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yujian James Kang, Huixing Zhou
  • Patent number: 11096525
    Abstract: A grating device is for grating a substantially solid product capable of being grated. A first housing of the grating device is positioned, shaped and sized for encasing the product to be grated. A second housing is operatively connectable to the first housing, the second housing having a loading section configured for receiving the product to be grated. A grating drum is rotatably mountable about the second housing, and positioned, shaped and sized for grating the product from the loading section of the second housing via rotation of the grating drum against the product. A biasing assembly is operatively cooperable with the first housing for biasing the product to be grated inside the loading section of the second housing towards and against the grating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: LES PROMOTIONS ATLANTIQUES INC.
    Inventor: Stephane Beliveau
  • Patent number: 10801769
    Abstract: The disclosure extends to apparatuses, methods, and systems, for producing frozen confections and conditioning ice for use in frozen confections. A frozen confection machine includes a hopper portion for receiving ice into an interior, and a motor configured to rotate a drive shaft, a blade to condition the ice in the hopper during rotation of the motor. The frozen confection machine also includes a lid for selectively covering the interior of the hopper, a bias member for biasing the lid away from a closed position, and a switch for causing the motor to actuate in response to the lid being pressed to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Snowie LLC
    Inventor: Carl A. Rupp
  • Patent number: 9808121
    Abstract: A seasoning mill includes a receiving unit, a grinding unit disposed in the receiving unit, and a closure unit. The closure unit includes a stationary seat having at least one grinding opening, a rotation control seat having a cover wall formed with at least one control opening, and a coupling member for providing a resistive force between a coupling shaft and the rotation control seat such that the rotation control seat is co-rotatable with the coupling shaft relative to the stationary seat from a closed position to an opened position, and that the rotation control seat is capable of being maintained at the opened position when a rotational force exerted thereon is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: YIENN LIH ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 9393710
    Abstract: A mechanism for storing nesting cutting tools includes a hood to house and at least partially cover at least some of the cutting tools nested within one another. The hood includes locking mechanisms on a household electrical appliance for preparing food. The mechanism includes a securing ring for cutting tools nested in the hood, with the locking mechanisms for the hood designed to come into contact with additional locking mechanisms of the securing ring which also contain at least one locking stop for the nested cutting tools relative to the ring which holds the tools at least partially inside the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Rouyer, Jean-Marie Lafond, Nicolas Suberbie
  • Patent number: 9241598
    Abstract: Provided is a static food cutting element including a hollow body having an inlet opening in which are arranged food cutting means, and also a discharge outlet. It includes a through-window formed in a lower part of the hollow body, and at least one lengthwise edge of the through-window forms a unit for guiding the cut foods towards the discharge outlet. Also provided is a cutting tool including such a static cutting element and also to an electric appliance including such a cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Rouyer, Nicolas Suberbie, Jean-Marie Lafond
  • Patent number: 8973854
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food grater comprising a body; a cutting means adapted for cutting the food removably mounted inside the body; the body comprising a cutting means aperture adapted for receiving the cutting means and allowing the cutting means to be rotated inside the cutting means aperture; a first food receptacle being defined between the inner walls of the body; a pushing means adapted for pushing the food onto the cutting means being mounted to the body; a driving means adapted for rotating the cutting means mounted to at least one end of the cutting means and the driving means comprising a driving wheel adapted for moving along a surface and a first cover adapted for covering an aperture of the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Abdoolally Ebrahim Housewares Limited
    Inventor: Taha Jaffer Ebrahim
  • Patent number: 8789781
    Abstract: A rotary grater having a removable storage device is disclosed. The rotary grater has interchangeable cylindrical blades for various grating purposes. A removable handle provides for rotational motion for the cylindrical blade to operate. The housing of the rotary grater has a movable press with a lever for applying the material to be grated to the cylindrical blade. The grated material is then dispensed from an exit opening in the housing and retained by a removable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Casabella Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andre Sampaio
  • Publication number: 20140014751
    Abstract: A rotary grater having a removable storage device is disclosed. The rotary grater has interchangeable cylindrical blades for various grating purposes. A removable handle provides for rotational motion for the cylindrical blade to operate. The housing of the rotary grater has a movable press with a lever for applying the material to be grated to the cylindrical blade. The grated material is then dispensed from an exit opening in the housing and retained by a removable storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Casabella Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andre Sampaio
  • Patent number: 8579852
    Abstract: Methods and devices to process harvested skin tissue and to immediately reintroduce the ground tissue into the patient to repair a tissue defect are disclosed. A hand-held portable tissue grinder comprising a housing and a grinding element are disclosed. The tissue grinder is used for grinding skin and subcutaneous tissue and includes a sterile polymer housing having a first opening adapted to receive the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The tissue grinder also includes a sterile grinding element disposed substantially within the housing. The grinding element includes a plurality of cutting surfaces adapted to operably engage with the housing to provide ground tissue and further includes a handle mechanism coupled to the grinding element to move the grinding element with respect to the housing to grind the skin and subcutaneous tissue, wherein the ground tissue can be removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Omeed Memar
  • Patent number: 8567704
    Abstract: A rotary grater includes a main body having a portion of one side formed from a resilient material. An internal grating barrel includes a plurality of grating teeth and is configured to grate cheese or other food items. The barrel is positioned for rotation inside the main body, such that cheese within the main body can be urged against the barrel by pressure against the resilient material, which will collapse as the food item decreases in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Justin Bagley
  • Publication number: 20130206883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food grater comprising a body; a cutting means adapted for cutting the food removably mounted inside the body; the body comprising a cutting means aperture adapted for receiving the cutting means and allowing the cutting means to be rotated inside the cutting means aperture; a first food receptacle being defined between the inner walls of the body; a pushing means adapted for pushing the food onto the cutting means being mounted to the body; a driving means adapted for rotating the cutting means mounted to at least one end of the cutting means and the driving means comprising a driving wheel adapted for moving along a surface and a first cover adapted for covering an aperture of the driving wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Abdoolally Ebrahim Housewares Limited
    Inventor: Taha Jaffer Ebrahim
  • Publication number: 20130105610
    Abstract: A combination cheese-grater/music-maker device is provided such that grated cheese and musical notes are produced simultaneously and synchronously, the device comprising one or more cylinders rotatably attached to said device; wherein all of the cylinders can be rotated simultaneously and synchronously; with a handle to allow a person's hand to impart simultaneous and synchronous rotation to all said cylinders; with musical notes producing elements attached to the device such that a note is produced when a protrusion on a cylinder contacts one such element; with cheese-grating sections on one or more cylinders and with a surface to impart downward pressure on the cheese to facilitate contact of the cheese with the sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Robert J. Graham
  • Publication number: 20120305689
    Abstract: A drum cutting machine has a rotary drum and has a plurality of blades arranged along the contour of the rotary drum. The lateral surface of the rotary drum is provided with a multiplicity of holes. A supporting part matches the contour of the rotary drum and has for each of the blades a bearing point that defines the position of the cutting edge. A blade box for such a machine makes it easier to move the blades into the correct position, thereby reducing the complexity in terms of maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Bach, Bernd Kruse, Wolfgang Brümmer
  • Patent number: 8317117
    Abstract: The chipper drum of the present disclosure is configured to maximize its cutting width while decreasing its overall size. In particular, the chipper drum of the present disclosure includes air deflectors recessed on the ends of the drum that are configured to generate the air flow necessary to blow chips out of the chipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edwin N. Galloway, James L. O'Halloran, Jeffrey D. Bradley, John T. Bouwers, Larry Schut
  • Publication number: 20100270406
    Abstract: A hand held rotary grater for grating foodstuffs and the like in which a housing having a handle encircles a grater barrel having a crank for rotating the grater barrel within the housing. The grater includes a lever with a cap at one end which is in registry with a hopper in the housing for holding the foodstuff against the grater barrel. The lever is rotatable about a pin mounted in the housing so as to create a mechanical advantage for the user in order that pressure on the lever is increased at the cap for applying pressure to the foodstuff against the grater barrel. Furthermore, the abrading elements operable in one direction are of a different size and configuration than those in the opposite direction to thereby create different size particulate during the abrading process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher R. Grace, Richard L. Grace, Carter W. McGuyer
  • Patent number: 7806352
    Abstract: A food grater having a housing, a food hopper, a reversible grating barrel removably carried by the housing and disposed at an open end of the hopper for grating food, such as cheese, contained therein, and a detachable end cap covering an open end of the grating barrel for allowing controlled dispensing of the grated food, is disclosed. A press plate configured to fit within the hopper at an open end opposite the grating barrel engages food disposed therein and moves the same into contact with the grating barrel. The detachable end cap includes concentric first and second parts, the first part including a passage defined thereon through which grated food may pass and the second part including at least two distinct areas each having an opening defined thereon, at least one of the first and second parts being movable relative to the other such that the two distinct areas of the second part may be aligned with the passage on the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Gina Reimann, Alistair Bramley, Anthony DiBitonto, Tara Marchionna, Nicholas Oxley
  • Patent number: 7637445
    Abstract: A food cutting device for cutting food items into smaller pieces, comprises a receptacle having an entrance though which food items can he introduced into the receptacle and an exit though which smaller pieces of the food items can be dispensed from the receptacle, a rotary cutter in the receptacle for cutting the food items into the smaller pieces, and a handle connected with the receptacle, for holding and carrying the food cutting device with only one hand of a user. A driving mechanism is located between the cutter and the handle for manual operation by the user to operate the cutter, including an operating member that is located at or adjacent to the handle for movement and operation by the hand holding and carrying the food cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: Kwok Kuen So, Yiu Chung Wan, Clive Koon Yin Wong, Willard Wing Yin Wong
  • Publication number: 20090212142
    Abstract: A grater for grating of gratable food products with different hardness degrees. A cylindrical grater container receives a driver element which is mounted rotatively moveable and which includes a plurality of guiding elements, and which carries a feed disk at the same time. The feed disk has an external thread which is actively connected with an internal thread integrally formed on the inner surface of the grater container, and which can be linearly moved through the grater container by rotation of the driver element, and can be pressed onto a product to be grated which is located in the grater container, and the product to be grated can be grated by a grater insert attached on the grating side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Ulrich Greiner
  • Publication number: 20090166455
    Abstract: A grinder includes a hollow base, a receptacle and an automatic open/close control device respectively coupled to top and bottom sides of the hollow base, a grinding unit mounting in between the receptacle and the automatic open/close control device, and a housing that houses the hollow base and the lower part of the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Chung-Jen Pai
  • Publication number: 20080237378
    Abstract: A system for removing zest from a rind includes a mobile member for receiving the rind thereon. The mobile member is movable in a lateral direction between a start position and an end position. At least one grater is positioned along the path of the mobile member. The grater removes the zest from the rind as the mobile member moves between the start and the end positions. A first receptacle receives the zest removed by the grater and a stop member is positioned at the end position for removing the zested rind from the mobile member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Arthur Harris
  • Patent number: 7337997
    Abstract: A hand-held device for reducing the size of food items, for example by slicing or grating. The disclosed device has a slicing drum transversally inserted into an aperture on a lateral wall of a casing. Preferably, both the drum and its size reducing members, such as blades, are removable. Ideally, the drum can be inserted in an aperture on either of two opposing lateral walls so that the device may be easily used by both right-handed and left-handed people. A slicing compartment is formed by the casing and the slicing drum. A grip handle extends from the casing and preferably has an arm cover, which may open to a storage receptacle intended for storage of additional blades. The slicing drum is engaged with a crank lever assembly for rotation. A distal wall of the casing is preferably curved to form a tangential relationship with the slicing drum to, along with gravitational force, advance a food item to be reduced in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Merry Chance Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kon Yi Ko
  • Publication number: 20080017737
    Abstract: A food cutting device for cutting food items into smaller pieces, comprises a receptacle having an entrance through which food items can be introduced into the receptacle and an exit through which smaller pieces of the food items can be dispensed from the receptacle, a rotary cutter in the receptacle for cutting the food items into the smaller pieces, and a handle connected with the receptacle, for holding and carrying the food cutting device with only one hand of a user. A driving mechanism is located between the cutter and the handle for manual operation by the user to operate the cutter, including an operating member that is located at or adjacent to the handle for movement and operation by the hand holding and carrying the food cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Kwok Kuen SO, Yiu Chung WAN, Clive Koon Yin WONG, Willard Wing Yin WONG
  • Publication number: 20070200016
    Abstract: Conveyors to clamp the upper and lower surface of bulk slabs of cheese allowing precise control of feed rates against a drum shredder to promote uniform shred length without the need for cubing of the cheese prior to the shredding process. An anti-caking material may be placed in the drum to treat cheese shreds prior to their discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Charles H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7137581
    Abstract: A hand-held rotary grating device is configured to grate soft cheeses that have traditionally been exceedingly difficult or impossible to grate. A cylindrical grating barrel is rotateably inserted within a grater housing. The barrel has an advantageous barrel aspect ratio—i.e., the ratio of the diameter of the barrel to the hopper width is sufficiently large that the grated food material falls through the opening of the barrel rather than accumulating and retarding the grating motion. The effective aspect ratio of the barrel is greater than approximately 1.5, preferably between approximately 1.5 and 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0. The barrel includes a graspable handle that is collapsible within the body of the barrel, and which includes a bearing surface that prevents axial movement of the barrel within the housing when the handle is extended, but which allows movement (and removal) of the barrel when the handle is collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Zyliss USA Corp.
    Inventors: Steven R. Takayama, Jon Henry LeFors, Annetta M. Papadopoulos
  • Patent number: 6766972
    Abstract: A rotary hand grater has a housing which defines a hopper communicating with an open-ended cylindrical grating chamber in which a grating drum rotates for grating the contents of the hopper. The chamber is closed at one end by handle structure for rotating the grating drum and at the other end by a removable cap. A press plate is movable into and out of the hopper for pressing food against the grating tube. A flexible and resilient seal is clamped between the press plate and a backing surface on a plunger arm for sealing engagement with the hopper side walls and cooperation with the handle structure and the cap to seal the hopper and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: WKI Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Prommel, Kevin R. Lozeau
  • Patent number: 6757952
    Abstract: A ring slicer having an easily removable knife and knife assembly. Within the scope of the invention, there is an apparatus for cutting an article of wood, comprising a ring assembly comprising two end plates and a plurality of knife assemblies. Each knife assembly comprises a knife, a base, and a clamp for clamping the knife to the base. The assemblies are provided for installation between the end plates. According to one aspect of the invention, the bases include one or more first apertures and at least one of the end plates includes a corresponding set of one or more second apertures therethrough for receiving respective dowel pins. The first apertures are adapted to snugly slidingly receive the respective dowel pins. According to another aspect of the invention, for each knife assembly, the clamp includes an upper clamping member that is mounted to the base so that a portion of the upper clamping member is cantilevered from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley R. Stager
  • Publication number: 20040079820
    Abstract: Apparatus for severing small food pieces from larger food pieces, includes a barrel having a delivery opening through which the larger food pieces can be delivered to the barrel, and a dispensing opening through which the small food pieces can be dispensed. A rotating cutter having a number of blades is fitted into the barrel. A crank handle is attached to the cutter for rotating the cutter and an anvil is fitted within the barrel and has a number of slots into which the blades enter to sever the larger food pieces into the smaller food pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Kwok Kuen So
  • Patent number: 6722597
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for shredding a block of material, the apparatus includes at least one cutting blade. A drive unit rotates the cutting blade about an axis, and a feed unit moves the block of material toward the cutting blade. The axis about which the cutting blade is rotated is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the block of material is being fed. In one embodiment, the block of material comprises a plurality of ribbons, the ribbons being stacked atop each other. In one preferred embodiment, the cutting blade comprises a serrated edge, and the distance between the teeth in the serrated edge is less than the thickness of each ribbon. In another embodiment, the shredding unit includes a plurality of blades on a rotatably driven drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Owens
  • Patent number: 6666395
    Abstract: An apparatus for wiredrawing vegetables or cutting them into three dimensional shapes, comprising a base frame, a first container supported by said base frame for collecting residues, a drum mounted for rotation about an axis on the surface of die cells, a vegetable feeding means supported on said base frame and arranged above said drum to adjustably feed vegetables into said cutting means, pressing means located downstream of said feeding means with respect to the direction of rotation of said drum, and designed to wiredrawing said vegetables into said die cells, clearing means arranged downstream of said pressing means and designed to force out into said pressing drum any wiredrawn vegetables held in said die cells, and a second container supported by said frame underneath said drum and arranged to receive wiredrawn vegetables present in said drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Cavalieri SpA
    Inventor: Rossano Cavalieri
  • Publication number: 20030201350
    Abstract: An improved cutting heads for chippers with alternated chipper blades and a conventional fan attached to it. It will economomize and accelerate the way of cutting tree parts in different in angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Keith William Garl
  • Patent number: 6606939
    Abstract: A crank operated device for cutting, shaving, mincing, grinding, and squeezing foods has an outer housing element with a first disc element positioned therein. An inner shaft element is slidably positioned within the outer housing element and has a crank shaft secured thereto. The inner shaft element has one or more positioning tracks or channels for positioning a cutting disc within the inner shaft element. A control mechanism for controlling the depth of a cut stroke of the inner shaft element is secured to the inner shaft element, and a handle is secured to the inner shaft element. The first disc element and the cutting disc may be in various configurations and cutting styles, such as a plurality of spaced apertures, various grate configurations, spaced cutting edges, cones, squares, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Chikara R. Tateno
  • Patent number: 6604454
    Abstract: A device for cutting, shaving, mincing, grinding, and squeezing foods has an outer housing element with a first disc element positioned therein. An inner shaft element is slidably positioned within the outer housing element. The inner shaft element has one or more positioning tracks or channels for positioning a cutting disc within the inner shaft element. A control mechanism for controlling the depth of a cut stroke of the inner shaft element is secured to the inner shaft element, and a handle is secured to the inner shaft element. The first disc element and the cutting disc may be in various configurations and cutting styles, such as a plurality of spaced apertures, various grate configurations, spaced cutting edges, cones, squares, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Chikara R. Tateno
  • Publication number: 20030071151
    Abstract: A shredder for reducing material which includes a conical cutting drum rotatably positioned within a housing and having an imperforate outer surface so as to carry shredded material radially with and externally of the drum; at least one cutting implement disposed about the outer surface of the cutting drum; an anvil disposed adjacent to the cutting drum; a bellyband wrapping around and conforming to the drum; and a transition interconnecting the bellyband with a discharge port and having a cross sectional configuration that inversely mirrors the cross sectional configuration of the bellyband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas R. Gross, Earl R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6539847
    Abstract: A food processing device comprising a pan for receiving processed food and having an open top, a support plate for location on said open top of said pan, a plurality of food processing elements each for location on said support plate, a food holder mountable on said support plate for sliding movement thereon and optionally with a selected food processing element located therebetween, a hand guard for location on said food holder during a food processing operation, a basket for washing processed food and a storage container having an open top, whereby each of said support plate and said basket comprise two interconnected parts which are relatively movable between a first unfolded condition for use in a food processing operation and a second folded condition for storage when not in use, said open top of said storage container being shaped and dimensioned to receive and support said basket in its folded condition, said container and said basket then together defining sufficient storage space to snugly accommodat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Yan Kwong Wong
  • Patent number: 6536692
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for shredding a block of material, the apparatus includes at least one cutting blade. A drive unit rotates the cutting blade about an axis, and a feed unit moves the block of material toward the cutting blade. The axis about which the cutting blade is rotated is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the block of material is being fed. In one embodiment, the block of material comprises a plurality of ribbons, the ribbons being stacked atop each other. In one preferred embodiment, the cutting blade comprises a serrated edge, and the distance between the teeth in the serrated edge is less than the thickness of each ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Owens
  • Patent number: 6527212
    Abstract: An ice shaver machine that includes a hopper for receiving ice, a blade and scraper for drawing the received ice across the blade, thereby producing thin, snow-like ice shavings or flakes, which are scraped to a spout, which, in turn, is provided for delivering the ice shavings to a container. The spout is shaped so as to be used to create a domed-like snow ball shape on the top surface of the shaved ice in the cup container. Also provided, in one preferred embodiment of this invention, is a flavoring delivery system that permits the user to select a flavoring for addition to the ice shavings, thereby producing a light ice confection. Additionally, this invention provides a flap feature to enhance the placement of the shaved ice into a cup container and off of the user's hands. This invention specifically addresses the need to produce the ice shavings quickly and reliably without undue complexity, in an easy to clean cabinet and mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Carl A. Rupp
  • Patent number: 6464156
    Abstract: A mill comprises a casing having an opening for supply of material to be milled and a rotor rotatably supported in the casing and provided with cutting members (3) for disintegrating action on the material. The cutting members (3) are arranged in a plurality of sets (4a-d) distributed about the periphery of the rotor, and having an axial extent (arrow 33). At least two of the sets (4) have their cutting members (3) mutually displaced in axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Harry Wexell
  • Publication number: 20020113154
    Abstract: A machine for collecting and reducing wood including a prime carrier; a debris collector operatively attached to the prime carrier; a shredder assembly attached to the prime carrier, the shredder assembly having an input and an output; a storage bin for holding reduced wood, the storage bin attached to the prime carrier; and a conveyor adapted to move reduced wood from the output of the shredder assembly to the storage bin. The prime carrier may also have a universal adapter of substituting attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas R. Gross, Earl R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6340490
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for shredding a block of cheese, the apparatus includes at least one cutting blade. A drive unit rotates the cutting blade about an axis, and a feed unit moves the block of cheese toward the cutting blade. The axis about which the cutting blade is rotated is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the block of cheese is being fed. In one embodiment, the block of cheese comprises a plurality of ribbons, the ribbons being stacked atop each other. In one preferred embodiment, the cutting blade comprises a serrated edge, and the distance between the teeth in the serrated edge is less than the thickness of each ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Owens
  • Patent number: 6318651
    Abstract: A mill comprises a housing (3) and a drum (15), provided with cutting members (17), which is rotatably located inside the housing. The cutting members and the drum are made from one piece and the cutting members are formed by local thickenings of the wall of the drum. The cutting members have a cutting edge from which one point (41) protrudes in the circumferential direction of the drum, such that during operation the cutting members contact the material to be milled with this point first. The cutting members are located on the intersection of an imaginary spiraled line (47) around the drum and a number of imaginary oblique lines (49), which run at an angle with the axial direction of the drum. The cutting members are formed by machining the outer surface of a thick-walled drum, such that on the outer surface of that drum a spiral-shaped rim remains, which is removed at a number of places. Cutting edges with clearance surfaces are machined at the remaining parts of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Petrus Tarasius Josephus Spiering
  • Patent number: 6315224
    Abstract: A cheese grating plate having a plurality of staggered rows of apertures, each aperture formed by fitting an insert into a hole or pushing a member into the hole, the aperture having a sharp raised edge around a substantial portion of at least one end of each aperture. In one embodiment the sharp raised edges being formed by a member pushed into the hole. The height of the sharp raised edges extends out no further than twenty thousands of an inch and preferably only ten thousand of an inch. In one embodiment the member forming the sharp raised edge is tapered, cylindrical and has circumferentially spaced edges. In other embodiments the member is a drill bit, or a tapered member that is rocked in the hole. In other embodiments the insert is pressed into the hole and extends out from the plate to form the raised edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Ignaz Settele
  • Patent number: 6244529
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manually-operated garlic grater which is very easy to use and very efficient to grate cloves of garlic. This garlic grater has a casing defining a tubular cavity having a lateral opening. A handle is removably mounted in a rotatable manner onto the casing on top of one end of the tubular cavity. A hollow grating drum is rigidly connected to the handle so as to be rotated therewith. This drum extends within the tubular cavity when the handle is mounted onto the casing and has a cylindrical wall which extends at a short distance away from the inner wall of the tubular cavity. The handle and hollow grating drum altogether form one piece. A base is removably mounted onto the casing on top of the other ends of the tubular cavity. A wiper is rigidly connected to the base. This wiper extending radially within the drum when the base is mounted on the casing and bearing against the cylindrical wall of the drum to wipe the cylindrical wall when the drum is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Desing Pierre Tardif Inc., Les Entreprises Yvan Laporte Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Tardif, George Bigelow, Sr., George Bigelow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6032707
    Abstract: A drum assembly for a wood chipper includes a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and a plurality of pockets disposed circumferentially about the drum. The drum assembly also includes a plurality of blades operatively connected to the drum, one of the blades partially overlapping one of the pockets. Each of the pockets has a depth greater than a width thereof and a capacity to hold a wood volume of a maximum size of wood being chipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Tramor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Boyd Morey, Michael John Peterman, Brian Lee Bloomquist
  • Patent number: 5970860
    Abstract: A food processor includes a food processing unit and a separate base for holding the food processing unit in position for operation. The food process unit and base have respective portions for releasable inter-connection. The base includes a bottom suction member for releasable attachment by suction onto a support surface and an internal locking member movable between a first position stretching the suction member and locking the food processing unit connected to the base and a second position for releasing the suction member and the food processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Chung Lun Yip
  • Patent number: 5865384
    Abstract: Spice is ground into variable particle sizes by a manually or electrically grinder including a housing, a spindle, a grinding device, a particle size adjusting device, and a driving device. The housing has a housing ring at an upper portion and a partition seat with a seat hole at a lower portion. The housing ring has a housing hole. The spindle is angular and has a baffle piece at its bottom. The grinding device is comprised of a conical grinding disk and a circular, stepped grinding base. The grinding disk has a central angular hole for passage of a spindle to transmit movement to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Chung-Jen Pai
  • Patent number: 5836528
    Abstract: A chipper has a housing formed with an intake defining a feed direction, a hollow drum rotatable in the housing in a rotational sense about an axis transverse to the feed direction and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced, radially throughgoing, and axially elongated windows, and a respective blade fixed to the drum immediately downstream in the sense from each window. The blades have edges defining on rotation of the drum an orbit. A breaker plate secured in the housing defines with the orbit a gap narrowing toward the drum and is formed with a plurality of wedges extending generally in the direction, having sharp edges directed generally radially at the drum, and spaced radially from the drum. A motor rotates the drum in the sense and thereby presses material fed in the direction into the housing against the wedges to split the material with the wedges, then draw it into the gap, and then comminute it with the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Steinmax Werkzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Hilgarth
  • Patent number: 5803378
    Abstract: An improved hand-held, hand-crank operated rotary drum-type grater for cheese and the like is provided which has a housing that has portions which are slidably engagable with mouth adjacent lip portions of a predetermined collection vessel for grated material. The grater preferably utilizes a cage-type drum body having a cylindrical surface defined by a metal sheet having bladed perforations. The drum is insertable into either end of a cylindrical cavity defined transversely in the unitary housing of the grater hopper rotary drum and thereafter the drum is engagable with a crank. The vessel can be associated with either opposite side of the housing and the association of this vessel with either housing side does not interfere with grater operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Pampered Chef, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karen Wolters
  • Patent number: 5702061
    Abstract: A food grater is provided. The food grater includes a housing sidewall and a grater blade disposed adjacent to the housing sidewall. The grater further includes a moveable door having an extension, the moveable door being connected to the housing sidewall for movement between open and closed positions. In each of these positions at least a portion of the extension is disposed between the housing sidewall and the grater blade with a greater portion of the extension being disposed between the housing sidewall and the grater blade when the door is in the closed position than when the door is in the open position. The door cooperates with the housing sidewall to encompass the blade. The door also cooperates with the grater blade to define a variable-volume food-receiving compartment which has a greater volume when the moveable door is in the open position than when the moveable door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: General Housewares Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kennedy, Davin Stowell, Scott Bolden