Food processor

A food processor comprising a frame, food hopper means removably attached to said frame and having an upwardly directed input opening for receiving the food preparitory to being processed and a downwardly directed discharge opening, food support means disposed subjacent said food discharge opening for restingly engaging the lowermost portion of food contained within said hopper means, means for swingably attaching said food support means to said frame with said food support means being free to swing between a first position that is in alignment with said food discharge opening and a second position that is displaced from said food discharge opening, a carriage assembly slidably attached to said frame for slidable movement within a horizontal plane toward and away from said food hopper means, a food processable element removably attached to said carriage assembly for workingly engaging at least a portion of the food, drive means coupled to said carriage assembly for causing reciprocating movement thereof with said food processable element being arranged to cyclically pass beneath said food discharge opening, and ejector means coacting with said carriage assembly and said food support means for ejecting particles of processed food downwardly away from said food processable element by causing said food support means to be moved between said first and second positions thereof, said ejector means including bias means for yieldably urging said food support means toward said first position thereof, said ejector means including at least one push rod member fixedly attached to said carriage assembly and reciprocates therewith for engaging and cyclically driving said food support means from said first position to said second position thereof, said bias means returning said food support means to said first position thereof.

A food processor comprising a frame, food hopper means removably attached to said frame and having an upwardly directed input opening for receiving the food preparitory to being processed and a downwardly directed discharge opening, food support means disposed subjacent said food discharge opening for restingly engaging the lowermost portion of food contained within said hopper means, means for swingably attaching said food support means to said frame with said food support means being free to swing between a first position that is in alignment with said food discharge opening and a second position that is displaced from said food discharge opening, a carriage assembly slidably attached to said frame for slidable movement within a horizontal plane toward and away from said food hopper means, a food processable element removably attached to said carriage assembly for workingly engaging at least a portion of the food, drive means coupled to said carriage assembly for causing reciprocating movement thereof with said food processable element being arranged to cyclically pass beneath said food discharge opening, and ejector means coacting with said carriage assembly and said food support means for ejecting particles of processed food downwardly away from said food processable element by causing said food support means to be moved between said first and second positions thereof, said ejector means including bias means for yieldably urging said food support means toward said first position thereof, said ejector means including at least one arm member fixedly attached to said food support means and reaching a predetermined distance toward said carriage assembly for movement with said food support means between said first and second positions thereof, and at least one push rod member fixedly attached to said carriage assembly for reciprocating movement therewith and reaching a predetermined distance toward said arm member for cyclical engagement therewith as said carriage assembly reciprocates, thus enabling said arm member and said push rod member to jointly drive said food support food support means from said first position to said second position thereof, and said bias means returning said food support means to said first position thereof.