Electric food processing device
An electric food processor is of the type in which the user applies pressure to the food item against a rotary processing member ( 4 ) against during processing. A pressure indicator ( 10 ) is provided for displaying a signal at least representing the user-applied pressure.
1. An electric food processor comprising:
an input opening for receiving a food item to be processed;
a pressure applicator enabling pressure to be applied by a user to the food item in the input opening during processing;
a rotary processing member against which the food item is to be pressed during the processing;
a motor for driving the rotary processing member; and
a pressure indicator for outputting a signal to the user in response to the user-applied pressure.
2. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator comprises an output which indicates when the user-applied pressure is too high.
3. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator comprises a set of outputs for indicating that the user-applied pressure is too high, or too low, or at a suitable level.
4. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator comprises one or more lights.
5. An electric food processor, comprising:
an input opening for receiving a food item to be processed;
a pressure applicator enabling pressure to be applied by a user to the food item in the input opening during processing;
a rotary processing member against which the food item is to he pressed during the processing;
a motor for driving the rotary processing member;
a pressure indicator for providing a signal representing the user-applied pressure; and
a current sensor for sensing a drive current of the motor, wherein the drive current is representative of the user-applied pressure.
6. The food processor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the current sensor comprises a current sensing resistor and voltage measurement unit.
7. The food processor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the current sensor comprises a current sensing transformer and voltage measurement unit.
8. The food processor as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a circuit for generating the signal representing the user-applied pressure from the sensed current.
9. The food processor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the current sensing is of an AC current or a DC current.
10. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the food processor is a juicer, and the rotary processing member comprises a juicing member for extracting juice.
11. The food processor as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:
an outlet to which the extracted juice is provided during juicing;
a pulp container for storing pulp separated from the extracted juice; and
an indicator for indicating when the pulp container is full.
12. The food processor as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a current sensor for sensing a drive current of the motor, wherein the pulp container is determined as full based on the current sensed.
13. The food processor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the pulp container is determined as full based on a minimum value of the current sensed.
14. The food processor as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising an indicator to indicate when the pulp container is determined as full and/or an interrupt to halt operation of the motor when the pulp container is determined as full.
15. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the food processor is one of:
a masticating juicer; or
a rasping plate juicer; or
a mincer; or
a fruit press; or
a grinder; or
a blender; or
a slicer.
16. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator comprises one or more sounds.
17. The food processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator comprises a tactile output.