Slicing unit for a kitchen appliance

Abstract

 A slicing unit for a food processor comprises a horizontally rotatable disc 1, a slicing blade A which rotates with the disc, which blade extends radially from the centre of the disc and is situated above the disc at a distance equal to the slicing thickness, and underneath the slicing blade an opening 7 formed in the disc and having shape substantially corresponding to that of the sticing blade. In accordance with the invention the opening 7 extends through the periphery 5 of the disc 1.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a slicing unit for a kitchen appliance, for example a food processor, comprising a horizontally rotatable disc, a slicing blade which rotates with the disc, which blade extends radially from the centre of the disc and is situated above the disc at a distance equal to the slicing thickness, and underneath the slicing blade an opening formed in the disc and having a shape substantially corresponding to that of the slicing blade.

[0002] Such a slicing unit is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0,022,303. In the assembled condition this slicing unit is as shown in Figure 1. A problem associated with this slicing unit is that during slicing sliced food accumulates between the tangential cutting edge of the slicing blade and the wall of the bowl near the disc periphery at the location of A, which has a braking effect on the rotating slicing unit.

[0003] It is the object of the invention to solve the above problem so as to obtain a correct passage of the sliced food through the opening in the disc underneath the slicing blade.

[0004] To this end the slicing unit in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the opening extends through the periphery of the disc. Since the peripheral portion at the location of the opening is not present the sliced food readily falls into the bowl.

[0005] An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the prior-art slicing unit, and

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the slicing unit in accordance with the invention.

[0008] The slicing unit in accordance with the present invention is intended for use in a kitchen appliance, in particular a food processor. The slicing unit comprises a disc 1 which is supported by a shaft 2 which can be mounted on a drive shaft of a food processor. The shaft extends through an opening 3 in the disc and the end of the shaft carries a slicing blade 4 which extends in the radial direction up to the periphery 5. The shaft and the disc are arranged horizontally and rotate at the same speed. The cutting edge 6 of the slicing blade 4 is situated above the disc 1 at a distance equal to the slicing thickness. Underneath the slicing blade 4 the disc has an opening 7 having a shape which substantially corresponds to that of the slicing blade. During operation the slicing blade slices the food to the desired slicing thickness, the sliced food falling through the opening 7 into a bowl whose side walls are represented diagrammatically by lines 8.

[0009] As already stated in the introductory part, the slicing unit in accordance with EP 0,022,303 presents the problem that sliced food accumulates between the tangential edge 9 of the slicing blade 4 and the bowl wall 8 near the disc periphery at the location of A, which has a braking effect on the slicing unit (see Figure 1).

[0010] In accordance with the invention this problem is solved by interrupting the periphery flange 5 at the location of the opening 7, so that the opening 7 is completely open in a radial direction (see Figure 2). The sliced food now readily falls into the bowl through the opening.

Claims

1. A slicing unit for a kitchen appliance, for example a food processor, comprising a horizontally rotatable disc, a slicing blade which rotates with the disc, which blade extends radially from the centre of the disc and is situated above the disc at a distance equal to the slicing thickness, and underneath the slicing blade an opening formed in the disc and having a shape which substantially corresponds to that of the slicing blade, characterized in that the opening extends through the periphery of the disc.

Drawing