A food processor is provided with a wide feed tube. The food processor has a pusher that cooperates with a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism comprises a linkage assembly that prevents the food processor's motor from operating unless the pusher is inserted into the feed tube.

A feed chute having a feed opening cooperating with a transparent pusher is disclosed. The transparent pusher is dimensioned to slide through the feed chute to push food articles into a food processor for processing by a food processing element. The feed chute comprises at least one signal processor disposed on the interior surface of the feed chute to ensure consumer safe operation.

A feed chute assembly includes a lid coupleable to a container of a food processing system. The lid has a feed chute for introducing food towards rotating blades at the top of the container. A linkage cover housing a linkage component for activating the motor couples to the feed chute. The linkage cover defines a channel within an inside perimeter of the feed chute. A user inserts a pusher into the feed chute such that a rib on the pusher extends into the channel, operatively engaging the linkage component to activate the motor. When the user removes the pusher from the feed chute, the motor stops the spinning blades.

A magnetic safety device for food processing machines includes a motor block containing a motor axis, a processing cuvette incorporating a paramagnetic transmitter, and a cover. A rotary downholder rotates on the cover through an opening-closing axis and incorporates an insertion mouth. There is a magnetic detector existing in the motor block and having a tilting positioner body which at one end has a permanent magnet and at the opposite end a rotating bushing capable of receiving the opening-closing axis. In the broken central part of the tilting positioner body, there is at least one abutting protrusion which in its free rotation abuts against at least one abutting and pushing projection of the rotating downholder.

An activation device for transmitting a user input to a control device has an engaging element that forms a first housing part and a feeding element that forms a second housing part. The engaging element has a push magnet, whose magnetic field extends into the feeding element and the feeding element has a push magnet that can be displaced without contact through exposure to the magnetic field. The engaging push magnet can be displaced in the direction of the feeding element by pressure-activating the activation device, and is set up to exert a magnetic force on a corresponding feeding push magnet. The engaging element and feeding element each have at least one rotating magnet that can be displaced parallel to an intermediate plane running between them. The engaging rotating magnet of the engaging element exerts a magnetic force on a corresponding feeding rotating magnet of the feeding element.

A food processor assembly is provided with a bowl base adapted to receive a rotary input, and an interlock. A bowl is separate from, and sized to be supported upon, the bowl base, to receive and process food products therein. A lid is sized to attach to the bowl to enclose the bowl and to interact with the bowl base interlock. The interlock of the bowl base is isolated from the bowl and the lid.

A food processor is provided with a wide feed tube. The food processor has a pusher that cooperates with a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism comprises a linkage assembly that prevents the food processor's motor from operating unless the pusher is inserted into the feed tube.

A food processing device including: abase having a drive motor; a vessel removably mounted on the base and including a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a cover member, the cover member including a feed tube extending upwardly therefrom; a pusher member adapted to be slidably received in the feed tube; and an interlock system operatively associated with the drive motor to enable operation of the drive motor, the system including: a light transmitter and a light sensor, the transmitter being operable to provide a path of light that is receivable by the light sensor; a light channel having an input end portion associated with the light transmitter and an output end portion associated with the light sensor to allow the path of light to travel therethrough; and a light blocker located between the input and output end portions of the light channel, the light blocker being movable between: a closed position to block the path of light travelling through the light channel, and an open position to permit the path of light through the light channel such that the sensor receives the path of light, thereby enabling operation of the drive motor, wherein the light blocker is movable to the open position by engagement of the pusher member.

A food processor apparatus. The apparatus may include: a base having a motor; a processing bowl that is releasably couplable to the base; a lid for the processing bowl having a feed tube. A pusher device, having a body and a safety rail that extends from the body, cooperates with the feed tube. A longitudinal slot, is located about the feed tube, and has a pilot opening that is located about the top of the longitudinal slot for receiving the safety rail. A linkage assembly is located about the longitudinal slot. The safety rail engages the linkage assembly when the safety rail is at least partially inserted into the longitudinal slot. A majority of the longitudinal slot, as located below the pilot opening, has a full width of the longitudinal slot directly exposed to an interior of the feed tube.

A food processor assembly is provided with a bowl base adapted to receive a rotary input, and an interlock. A bowl is separate from, and sized to be supported upon, the bowl base, to receive and process food products therein. A lid is sized to attach to the bowl to enclose the bowl and to interact with the bowl base interlock. The interlock of the bowl base is isolated from the bowl and the lid.