US2281258A - Food grinder plate - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1942. w. H. BENTON FOOD GRINDER PLATE Filed Sept. 26, 1940 N W M H. w.

Patented Apr. 28, 1942 zeigte FOD GRNDER PLATE Wade H. Benton, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application September 26, 1940, Serial No. 358,546

9 Claims.

This invention pertains to food choppers, sometimes termed meat grinders, and is especially directed to the plate Which cooperates With the cutter to comminute the food and to discharge it from the chopper in comminuted form.

In conventional practice the cutter and the discharge plate are rotatable relative to each other and are disposed in face to face contact relationship for the cutter blade to Wipe across the contact surface of the discharge plate. Apertures in the plate, into which the meat or other material is'projected under pressure by the feed screw, cooperate With the cutter to comminute the food to a degree of neness determined by the size of the holes.

The present invention is directed to a discharge plate which is readily adjustable to comminute food to more than one predetermined degree of ineness. It consists of a discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece, the primary member providing apertures of a size larger than the conventional apertures for nne comminution, which cooperate With the cutter to comminute food to a coarse degree. The companion piece comprises inserts positionable selectively into and out of the apertures of the primary member to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

The discharge plate, as in conventional practice, is circular, the primary member and companion piece of the present invention each being circular and concentrically disposed with reference to each other and with reference to the axis of relative rotation between the cutter and discharge plate. The primary member and companion piece are movable relative to each other axially and circumferentially for adjustment to position the inserts of the companion piece selectively into and out of the apertures of the primary member. tioned in the apertures of the the discharge plate is adjusted tion. When the inserts are the apertures of the primary member, for ne comminupositioned out of primary member, the discharge plate is adjusted for coarse comminution f of the food.

The primary member of the discharge plate provides a surface of contact against which the cutter operates. The inserts when positioned in the apertures of surfaces of contact positioned in the plane of the surface of contact of the primary member, both surfaces of contact of the primary member and companion piece cooperating with the cutter When the inserts are posithe primary member provide to comminute the food to a ne degree. For the 5b (Ci. 14S- 189) purpose of fine comminution the primary member is provided with apertures through its surface of contact which are of a smaller size than the apertures which receive the inserts of the companion piece. The inserts of the companion piece are also provided with apertures through their surfaces of contact similar to the smaller apertures in the primary member, which cooperate with the cutter together With the smaller apertures in the primary member during comminution of a finer degree.

The discharge plate is provided With simple adjusting mechanism between primary member and companion piece which facilitates the ready positioning of the inserts into and out of the larger apertures of the primary member to enable quick and easy conversion of the chopper for ne and coarse comminution of the food. By this means the food chopper can be readily adjusted for coarse comminution of the food, and then quickly and easily adjusted for comminuting the food a second time to a finer degree.`

The nature of the invention and its several advantages will be readily appreciated from the preferred practical embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is an end view of a food chopper embodying the invention adjusted for ne comminution, certain parts being removed for clearness of illustration;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the food chopper partly in longitudinal cross section;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevation similar to Figure l, embodying the invention adjusted for coarse comminution of food, and with unimportant parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure'fl; and

Figures 6 and 7 are companion perspective views of the principal elements of the discharge plate of the invention.

Viewing the drawing, especially 'as illustrated in Figures l and 2, the invention pertains to a food Vchopper which, according to conventional practice, comprises a hopper Il, food feeding passage I2, feed screw I3, and the support member Id. The support member I4 is shown broken away and may provide any suitable and conventional construction for attaching the food chopper to a table or other base.

The feed screw I3 rotates concentrically with the food passage and is provided with the spiral food advancing fin I5 which operates to transport the food from the hopper II along th'e food passage I2 under pressure into engagement with the cooperating cutter I6 and discharge plate indicated generally at I1. The feed screw I3 is bearinged at I8 at one end of the food passage I2, the shaft of the feed screw projecting at I9 outside the housing of the food passage. Attached to the shaft projection I9, as by winged nui'J 20, is the handle 2| or other suitable means for rotating the shaft I9 and the fed screw I3 integral therewith.

At its opposite end the feed screw I3 is provided with the shaft projection 22 through the discharge plate I1, which discharge plate is Withheld against rotation by the lug 23 fitting in the notch 24 of the plate. In this manner the cutter rotates relative to the discharge plate which is held stationary, although it will be understood that the invention is applicable to the so-called stationary cutter type of food chopper. Inwardly toward the feed screw I3 the shaft projection 22 is provided with the squared shank 25 which fits the companion hole 29 of the cutter I6, and requires the cutter to rotate with the feed screw I3, with the shaft projection 22 bearinged in the discharge plate I1 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

The discharge plate I1 comprises the primary member 28, Figure 6, and the companion piece 29, Figure '1, both pieces being circular as shown and concentrically disposed with relationship to each other to provide a discharge plate which is circular as in conventional practice. The primary member is provided with apertures 3I which are relatively large. The companion piece 29 is provided with inserts 32, Figure '1, which in the disclosed embodiment of the invention are of a size and shape to ll the apertures 3 I. The companion piece 29 is also provided with apertures 1 33 between the inserts 32 which register with the apertures 3| of the primary member when the food chopper is adjusted for coarse comminution. The primary member and companion piece are movable axially relative to each other on the shaft projection 22, Figure 2, and are thereupon movable circumferentially relative to each other into the position illustrated in Figure 4, with the apertures 3I of the primary member and the apertures 33 of the companion piece in registry with each other.

In this position of adjustment, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the food is projected by feed screw I3 into the apertures 3| to be comminuted to a coarse degree by the cutter I6 rotating relative to the discharge plate. The discharge plate comprising the primary member 28 provides the circular surface of contact 34 across which the blades of the cutter I6 wipe as they rotate relative to the discharge plate I1, thus cutting the food to a size determined by the size of the apertures 3 I.

Between the primary member 28 and companion piece 29, enclosed in the housing 36, is the compression coil spring 31 surrounding the shaft projection 22. The spring 31 tends to press the primary member and companion piece apart axially relative to each other. The holding band. 3S, is screw threaded to the disc enclosing ilared end 21 of the food feeding passage I2, and is provided with the flange 49 which overlaps the edge of the discharge plate I1 to hold the parts in operative position as illustrated in the drawing. Figures 1 and 4 show the band 38 removed, for clearness of illustration.

The holding band 33 operates against the compression of the spring 31 to press the primary member 28 and companion piece 29 together with the inserts 32 positioned in the apertures 3|. This positions the parts as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The companion piece 29 is provided With stufaces of contact 39 on the faces of the inserts 32 which are positioned in the plane of the surface of contact 34 of the primary member 23 when the inserts are positioned in the apertures 3| as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this position the surface of contact 34 and the surface of contact 39 together cooperate with the cutter I6, the blades 35 of the cutter wiping across the composite surface of contact 34 and 39.

Apertures 4I in the primary member 28, and similar apertures 42 in the inserts 32 of the companion piece 29, receive the food projected into them by the force exerted by the feed screw I3, the apertures 4I and 42 cooperating with the cutter I6 to comminute the food to a ne degree when the parts are in position, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The primary member 23 is provided with the lug 43 and the companion piece 29 is provided with the cooperating elongated notch 44 with limiting stops for limiting the relative circumferential movement between the primary member 28 and companion piece 29 in the two positions of adjustment. The stops of the notch 44 enable a ready adjustment for projecting the inserts 32 into the apertures 3I for ne comminution and for pressing the apertures 3I and 33 of the primary member 29 and companion piece 29 respectively in registry with each other in adjustment for coarse comminution.

The operation of the device is obvious from the showing. When the food chopper is to be adjusted for coarse comminution of the food, retraction of the holding band 38 will permit the spring 31 to press the primary member 28 and companion piece 29 apart axially of each other until the inserts have receded from position in the apertures 3l. The companion piece 29 can then be rotated relative to the primary member 28 on the axis of the shaft projection 22 until the lug 43 and the stop of the notch 44 positions the apertures 3l and 33 in registry with each other. A slight turning of the holding band 33 will cause the flange 49 to press the primary member 28 and companion piece 29 together, in the position of Figures 4 and 5, and the chopper is in adjustment for coarse comminution of the food. If it is desired to comminute the food to a ne degree, either before or after it has been comminuted coarsely according to the hereinbefore described adjustment, the holding band 38 can be retracted slightly to permit relative rotation between the primary member 28 and the companion piece 29 until the lug 43 and the stop of the elongated notch 44 engage each other to position the inserts 32 opposite the apertures 3I The holding band 38 can then be tightened to project the inserts 32 into the apertures 3| until the primary member and companion piece are pressed tightly together, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this position the contact surfaces 34 and 39 are in the same plane and the smaller apertures 4I and 42 are in position to cooperate with the cutter I6 to comminute the food to a fine degree.

If the food chopper becomes clogged during its use for ne comminution, the chopper can be adjusted for coarse comminution and a small quantity of food run through the chopper to correct the clogged condition. lt will be noted that the adjustment for i-ne and'coarse comminution is especially simple and readily accomplished.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawing presents one practical application of the inven-l tion. Obviously the disclosure will suggest a number of modifications within the spirit of the invention and the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The scope of the invention is determined by the accompanying claims.A

What I claim is:

l. A food chopper comprising, a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts pcsitionable in the apertures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of Contact of the primary member when the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces oi the primary member and companion piece smaller than the first named I- apertures cooperating with the cutter for finer comminution of the food, and means to adjust the primary member and companion piece with the inserts selectively positioned into and out of the iirst named apertures to regulate the degree 3- of neness of food comminution.

2. A- food chopper comprising, a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in contact With each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge lplate comprising a e primary member and a companion pie-ce, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in and tted to ll the apen tures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of contact of the primary member When the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces of the primary member and companion piece smaller than the rst named apertures cooperating with the cutter for ner comminution of the food, and means :f

to adjust the primary member and companion piece with the inserts selectively positioned into and out of the first named apertures to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

3. A food chopper comprising, a circular discharge plate and a cutter rotatable concentrically relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a concentric companion piece, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in and tted to ll the apertures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of -contact of the primary member When the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces of the primary member andcompanion piece smaller than the rst named apertures cooperating with the cutter for ner comminution of the food, and means to move the primary member and companion piece axially and circumferentially relative to each other for adjustment to position the inserts (selectively into and out of the first named apertures to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

4. A food chopper comprising a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating With the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in and tted to fill the apertures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of contact of the primary member when the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces of the primary member and companion piece smaller than the rst named apertures cooperating With the cutter for ner comminution of the food, spring means normally tending to spread the primary member and companion piece apart, and means to adjust the primary member and companion piece with the inserts selectively positioned into and out of the first-named apertures to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

5. A food chopper comprising a circular discharge plate and a cutter rotatable concentrically relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a concentric companion piece, the primary member providing a surface of Contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food., the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in and iitted to iill the apertures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface oi contact of the primary member when the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces of the primary member and companion piece smaller than the rstmamed apertures cooperating with the cutter for ner comminution of the food, spring means normally tending to spread the primary member and companion piece apart, and means to move the primary member and companion piece axially and circumferentially relative to each other for adjustment to position the inserts selectively into and out of the first-named apertures to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

6. A food chopper comprising a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in Contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in the apertures of the primary member, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of contact of the primary member when the inserts are positioned in the apertures, additional apertures through the contact surfaces of the primary member and companion piece smaller than the first-named apertures cooperating with the cutter for finer comminution of the food, spring means normally tending to spread the primary member and companion piece apart, and means to adjust the primary member and companion piece with the inserts selectively positioned into and out of the rst-named apertures to regulate the degree of neness of food comminution.

'7. A food chopper comprising a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece relatively movable toward and from each other and rotatably with relation to each other, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of t -e food, the companion piece providingr a surface of contact comprising inserts positionable in the apertures of the primary member to regulate the degree of coarse coinminution of the food and said surfaces of the primary member and companion piece being provided with additional apertures smaller than the firstnamed apertures cooperating with the cutter for ner comminution of the food, and means for axially adjusting the primary member and companon piece when the inserts are in line with the apertures to move said inserts into and out of the apertures and for rotatably adjusting the primary member and companion piece with relation to each other to move the inserts into and out of alinement with the apertures.

8. A food chopper comprising a discharge plate and a cutter rotatable relative to and in contact With each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a companion piece axially adjustable toward and from each other and rotatably with relation to each other, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter with apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in the apertures of the primary member to regulate the degree of coarse comminution of the food and said surfaces of the primary member and companion piece being provided With-additional apertures smaller than the first-named apertures cooperating with the the cutter for i'lner comminution of the food, the inserts each providing a surface of contact for the cutter positioned in the plane of the surface of contact of the primary member when the inserts are positioned in the apertures, spring means tending to spread the primary member and companion piece apart, and means for axially adjusting the primary member and companon piece when the inserts are in alinement with the apertures to move said inserts into and out of the apertures and for rotatably adjusting the primary member and companion piece with relation to each other to move the inserts into and out of alinement with the apertures.

9. A food chopper comprising a circular discharge plate and a cutter rotatable concentrically relative to and in contact with each other cooperatively to comminute food, the discharge plate comprising a primary member and a concentric companion piece axially adjustable to- Ward and from each other and rotatably with respect to each other, the primary member providing a surface of contact for the cutter With apertures therethrough cooperating with the cutter for coarse comminution of the food, the companion piece comprising inserts positionable in the apertures of the primary member to regulate the degree of coarse comminution of the food and said surfaces of the primary member and companion piece being provided With additional apertures smaller than the first-named apertures cooperating with the cutter for ner comminution of the food, and means for moving the primary member and companion piece axially toward and from each other to move the inserts into or out of the apertures or for moving the primary member and companion piece circumferentially relative to each other to move the inserts into or out of alinement with the apertures.

WADE H. BENTON.

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