Food processor having external slicing disc adjustment

Abstract

A food processor having an external slicing disc adjustment mechanism is provided. The food processor includes a work bowl and a lid configured to be selectively removable therefrom. The food processor further includes a slicing disc having a disc body and a slicing blade internal to the work bowl, and a mechanism for adjusting a spacing between the disc body and slicing blade. The mechanism includes a rotatable lever accessible form outside the work bowl.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food processor, comprising:
 a base;   a motor disposed within said base;   an output shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor;   a work bowl received on said base;   a lid removably received atop said work bowl, said lid having a food aperture that opens into said work bowl;   a cutting assembly positioned within said work bowl and driven by said motor to cut food items advanced through said food aperture, said cutting assembly having a blade element and a disk body whose planar separation from one another defines a cut thickness of said food items inserted through said food aperture; and   an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to said lid and operable to selectively move said disk body while said blade element remains stationary.   
     
     
         2 . The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said adjustment mechanism includes an actuation device external to said lid and accessible from a top of said lid, said actuation device being one of a rotatable lever and a rotatable knob.   
     
     
         3 . A food slicing mechanism for a food processor having a lid and a work bowl, comprising:
 a cutting assembly positioned within a work bowl, and said cutting assembly being driven by a motor to cut food pieces off a food item received through said lid, said cutting assembly including a blade element and a disk body being selectively positionable with respect to one another, thereby defining a plurality of cutting positions to produce cut food pieces of varying thicknesses,   an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to a lid received on top of the work bowl, and said adjustment mechanism being operable to move said cutting assembly between said plurality of cutting positions; and   wherein said adjustment mechanism selectively moves said blade element while said blade element remains stationary.   
     
     
         4 . The food slicing mechanism for a food processor having a lid and a work bowl, according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable lever external to said lid and accessible from a top of said lid;   wherein said lid includes a plurality of markings corresponding to said plurality of cutting positions;   wherein said lever is rotatable between said plurality of markings for selecting one of said plurality of cutting positions; and   wherein said plurality of markings is viewable from outside of the enclosed food processor for adjusting said lever to achieve desired cutting positions when said lid is received atop said work bowl, such that a thickness of said cut food pieces is indicated by said plurality of markings.   
     
     
         5 . A food slicing mechanism for a food processor having a lid and a work bowl, comprising:
 a circular cutting assembly positioned within a work bowl, and said cutting assembly is driven by a motor to cut food pieces off a food item, said cutting assembly being positionable between a plurality of cutting positions to produce cut food pieces of varying thicknesses;   an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to a lid received on top of the work bowl, and said adjustment mechanism being operable to move said cutting assembly between said plurality of cutting positions, said adjustment mechanism including a rotatable lever external to said lid and accessible from a top of said lid;   wherein said lid includes a plurality of markings corresponding to said plurality of cutting positions;   wherein said lever is rotatable between said plurality of markings for selecting one of said plurality of cutting positions, such that a user can adjust a thickness of cut food pieces according to said plurality of markings during the operation of said food processor.