US 4,634,061 A · Method and apparatus for grinding kernels of grain, coffee beans, and the like in a food processor

Abstract

Method and apparatus for quickly and effectively grinding kernels of grain, such as wheat or corn, coffee beans, and the like, in a food processor producing a finely divided or flour-like consistency food product or condiment. Nutritious home-ground whole-grain flour can be conveniently and quickly made. The kernels, grains, beans, or other food products to be ground are introduced into a hopper positioned above the bowl of the food processor and located above a grinder assembly including a downwardly converging then diverging stator grinding member which encircles a rapidly rotating rotor grinding member having a vertical axis of rotation and being positioned within the stator member. This rotor grinding member is coupled to the vertical tool shaft of the food processor which extends up into the bowl. The separation between stator and rotor grinding members is manually adjustable and settable by a hand knob located above the grinder assembly for controlling the consistency and fineness of the ground product, which is deposited from the grinder assembly into the bowl. The illustrated grinder attachment for a food processor may be conveniently operated, adjusted, controlled and cleaned in a safe, efficient manner utilizing without alteration the basic components of the food processor, namely the motor drive, safety interlock system, as well as the bowl.

Claims27

Dependent claims

Grinding apparatus for particulate food adapted to be mounted as an attachment on a food processor having a base containing a motor drive and tool drive means extending up vertically from the base into a bowl and being rotated by the motor drive, said food processor including actuatable control means for enabling the motor drive to be operated when said actuatable control means are actuated and for disabling the motor drive when said actuatable control means are not actuated, said grinding apparatus comprising:

mounting means for mounting said grinding apparatus on the bowl of the food processor in a predetermined position,
said mounting means including an actuator for actuating said actuatable control means when said mounting means are mounted on the bowl in said predetermined position for enabling the motor drive to be operated when said mounting means are mounted on the bowl in said predetermined position,
a grinding apparatus carried by said mounting means and having stator grinding means and rotor grinding means positioned coaxially with respect to each other,
said rotor grinding means being rotatable about a vertical axis,
said stator and rotor grinding means defining a downwardly extending convergent grinding zone therebetween,
said grinding assembly carried by said mounting means being positioned about the bottom of said bowl when said mounting means are mounted on the bowl in said predetermined position,
means for removably coupling said rotor grinding means to said tool drive means of the food processor for rotation thereby, and
a hopper carried by said mounting means positioned above said grinding assembly for directing the particulate food to be ground down into said grinding zone between said stator and rotor grinding means of said grinding assembly, whereby said particulate food is ground by said grinding assembly and the ground food product is deposited into said bowl of the food processor.

5 more elements

Particulate food grinding apparatus adapted to be mounted on a food processor having a base containing a motor drive and tool drive means extending up vertically into a bowl seated on said base, and rotated about a vertical axis in said bowl by said motor drive, the food processor including interlock switch means for preventing operation of the motor drive unless said interlock switch means are actuated, said particulate food grinding apparatus comprising:

mounting means for mounting the apparatus on the bowl of a food processor in a predetermined position on said bowl,
said mounting means carrying actuation means for actuating said interlock switch means for enabling the motor drive to be operated when the mounting means are mounted on the bowl in said predetermined position,
a hopper carried by said mounting means and having at least one outlet in the bottom,
said hopper being adapted to have particulate food introduced therein,
a grinding assembly carried by said mounting means and being positioned below the outlet in the bottom of said hopper,
said grinding assembly including rotor grinding means and bearing means for said rotor grinding means providing a vertical axis of rotation for said rotor grinding means,
said grinding assembly including stator grinding means coaxial with said rotor grinding means,
coupling means connected to said rotor grinding means for releasably coupling said rotor grinding means to said tool drive means extending up vertically into the bowl when said mounting means are mounted on the bowl of a food processor in said predetermined position thereon,
said rotor and stator grinding means defining a downwardly convergent grinding zone communicating with the outlet in the bottom of the hopper,
said downwardly convergent grinding zone having an open discarge end for discharging ground particulate food therefrom into said bowl, and
said grinding assembly also including adjustment means for adjusting the relative axial position of the stator and rotor grinding means for controlling the fineness of the ground particulate food being discharged from the open discharge end of the grinding zone.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for grinding kernels of grain, coffee beans, and the like in a food processor

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for grinding kernels of grain, coffee beans, and the like in a food processor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27