Vegetable drying apparatus
OwnerFrank L. Dieterich, Stanton Abramsinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for drying lettuce and other vegetables including a basket in which wet lettuce is placed, a stand in which the basket is removably received, a holding mechanism that rotatably supports the basket using magnets to maintain its position, and an electric motor for rotating the basket. The sidewalls of the basket are perforated to allow water propelled by centrifugal force to escape as the basket is rotated. A removable splash shield that surrounds the basket confines the water causing it to be collected in a drip pan. The holding mechanism is normally held against rotation by a brake. When the motor is energized, current flows through the brake to release it. As a safety feature, no power is applied to the motor and brake circuits when the device is not in operation.
Claims14
An apparatus for drying vegetables comprising;
- a basket having water permeable sidewalls for holding the vegetables to be dried;
- holding means for rotatably supporting said basket;
- means for magnetically attaching said basket to said holding means for rotation therewith;
- electric motor means for rotating said basket, whereby water is driven from said vegetables and through said sidewalls by centrifugal force as said basket is rotated;
- and
- brake means for arresting rotation of said basket including a spring biasing said brake means toward a basket-arresting position and electro-magnetic means for moving said brake means against the bias of said spring when energized.
An apparatus for drying vegetables comprising:
- a basket for holding vegetables to be dried, said basket being generally cylindrical, having an open top, water permeable sidewalls, and a bottom that is at least partially ferromagnetic;
- a stand including a freely removable splash shield defining the sides of an opening in which said basket is insertable;
- means attached to said stand for rotatably holding said basket within said opening, said holding means including at least one magnet arranged to magnetically engage said bottom;
- electric motor means for rotating said holding means and thereby rotating said basket, whereby water is driven from said vegetables and through said sidewalls by centrifugal force as said basket is rotated;
- electro-magnetic brakes means for arresting rotation of said holding means when in a de-energized condition and for permitting rotation of said holding means when in an energized condition;
- and
- circuit means for simultaneously energizing said motor means and said brake means.
An apparatus for drying vegetables comprising:
- a basket for holding vegetables to be dried, said basket being generally cylindrical and having perforated plastic sidewalls, an open top and a ferromagnetic metal bottom plate;
- a stand including a freely removable plastic splash shield defining an opening in which said basket is receivable, a drip pan beneath said splash shield to collect water removed from said vegetables, and a drain spout connected to said drip pan;
- holding means including a platform rotatably attached to said stand for supporting said basket within said opening, and a plurality of magnets arranged to releasably engage said bottom plate;
- a flywheel attached to said holding means for rotation therewith;
- electric motor means for rotating said holding means and thereby rotating said basket, whereby water is driven from said vegetables and through said perforated sidewalls by centrifugal force upon rotation of said basket;
- electro-magnetic brake means for arresting rotation of said holding means by engaging said flywheel when in a de-energized condition and for permitting rotation of said holding means when in an energized condition;
- and
- circuit means for simultaneously energizing said motor means and said brake means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.