Multi-function sink with centrifugal food dryer and drain

Abstract

A multi-function sink includes a basin, a motor and a colander. Advantageously, the basin is supported by a frame, which frame is sized and shaped to fit into a corresponding aperture in a counter. Wet food is placed into the colander and the colander is placed into the basin. A sink-based coupler mates with a colander-based coupler. The user activates the motor, thereby causing the motor to rotate the colander and centrifugally dry the food. The building-in of the multi-function sink into a counter provides advantages over stand-alone centrifugal food driers in that the location of the food drier is readily known and, in those embodiments that include a faucet assembly, a ready supply of water is available for washing the food before centrifugally drying the food. Further advantageously, when the colander is removed, the multi-function sink may be used as a simple basin having a drain.

1 . A multi-function sink apparatus comprising:
 a frame adapted to be installed in an aperture in a counter;   a basin supported by said frame, said basin having a drain outlet;   a colander sized to be received in said basin; and   a motor attached external to said basin, said motor adapted to rotate said colander when said colander is installed in said basin.   
   
   
       2 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a basin lid for forming a releasable seal closing an open top end of said basin. 
   
   
       3 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a colander lid for forming a releasable seal closing an open top end of said colander, said colander lid arranged to engage said colander and rotate with said colander. 
   
   
       4 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said basin lid includes a transparent section and said colander lid defines a viewing aperture allowing viewing of an interior of said colander through said transparent section and said viewing aperture. 
   
   
       5 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said colander lid attaches to said basin lid in a manner that allows said colander lid to rotate while said basin lid remains static. 
   
   
       6 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a safety switch adapted to enable said motor only when said basin lid is closed. 
   
   
       7 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said motor is further adapted to rotate a shaft extending into an interior of said basin. 
   
   
       8 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said motor directly drives said shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said motor drives said shaft using a belt-drive, wherein said motor drives a first sheave that transmits rotation to a second sheave on said shaft using a belt. 
   
   
       10 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said motor drives said shaft using a gear-drive, wherein said motor drives a first gear and rotation of said first gear is transmitted to a second gear on said shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said motor has a plurality of predetermined rotational velocities and said apparatus further comprises a controller for said motor, said controller having a user interface that allows a user to select a candidate rotational velocity from among said plurality of predetermined rotational velocities. 
   
   
       12 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of predetermined rotational velocities include a high speed and a low speed. 
   
   
       13 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second basin supported by said frame. 
   
   
       14 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said basin and said frame are formed from a single piece of sheet metal. 
   
   
       15 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a faucet positioned adjacent to said basin to dispense liquid into said basin. 
   
   
       16 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said a faucet is mounted to said basin. 
   
   
       17 . The multi-function sink apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said basin further comprises a removable stopper corresponding to said drain outlet.