DESCRIPTION
ELECTRIC FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to electric food preparation
apparatus for preparing cooked food such as juice by putting
vegetables and fruits into a container and cutting and agitnting
them.
BACKGROUND ART
Fig. 6 shows electric food preparation apparatus with a
conventional safety device. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a key part of
conventional electric food preparation apparatus.
In Fig. 6, main body 1 of conventional electric food preparation
apparatus has electric motor 2 and energizing mechanism 3 that are
built-in and first pin 10 which is a safety device ganged with
energizing mechanism 3. Also, cooking cup 4 mounted on main body
1 has cutter 5 which is driven by motor 2 via connector 7 on the main
body side and connector 8 on the cup side.
When cooking cup 4 is mounted on main body 1, bottom
protrusion 6 provided on the outside bottom of cooking cup 4 pushes
first pin 10 downwards and pushes switch button 9 of energizing
mechanism 3 thus turning on switch button 9 and causing cutter 5 to
rotate. However, when cooking cup 4 is removed from main body 1,
first pin 10 goes up thus cutting off energizing mechanism 3.
Accordingly, as electric motor 2 does not operate even when switching
button 9 is pushed, and connector 7 on the main body will not rotate

(ref. Patent Literature 1, for example).
However, in the structure of a conventional electric food
preparation apparatus, when cooked food such as juice adheres to
first pia 10 under a cpnditipn in which cooking cup 4 is mounted on
main body 1, electric motor 2 remains in a current-conducting state
as adhered first pin 10 remains pushing energizing mechanism 3.
Thus, conventional electric food preparation apparatus suffered a
problem that, when switching button 9 is turned on, electric motor 2
starts to operate thus causing connector 8 on the side of the main
body to rotate.
Patent Literature l:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
58-122030
The electric food preparation apparatus in accordance with the
present invention includes
a main body for housing an electric motor and an energizing
mechanism to control energization,
a first pin for turning on and off the energizing mechanism,
a second pin coupled to the first pin in an opposite direction
via a movable mechanism,
a cooking cup placed on the main body in a
mountable/demountable manner,
a motor-driven cutter provided inside the cooking cup, and
a bottom protrusion provided on the outer bottom of the
cooking cup for pushing the first pin and the second pin, wherein,

when the bottom protrusion pushes the first pin, the energizing
mechanism is made conducting, and when the bottom protrusion
pushes the seeond pin, tfef energizing mechanism is made
when the cooking cup is mounted on or demounted from the main
body.
Even when the first pin adheres in a state of being pushed in,
the second pin is pushed in by the bottom protrusion when mounting
or demounting the cooking cup. And the moving mechanism
removes the adhesion by pushing up the first pin thus providing safe
electric food preparation apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1A is a side sectional view of a key part of electric food
preparation apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. IB is an enlarged view of an area in the vicinity of the
switching button in Fig. 1A.
Fig. 2A is a partial plan view including a perspective view of
seesaw structure of a cup receiver of electric food preparation
apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 2B is a partial sectional view of a cooking cup of the
electric food preparation apparatus.
Fig. 2C is a side sectional view of an area in the vicinity of an
energizing mechanism of the electric food preparation apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of an area in the vicinity of

the energizing mechanism of the electric food preparation apparatus
in an occasion in which the second pin of the electric food preparation
apparatus is pushed thus becoming unable to carry a current.
Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the area in the vicinity of
the energising mechanism ef the electric food preparation apparatus
in an occasion in which the first pin of the electric food preparation
apparatus is pushed thvis being sble tp carry a current.
Fig. 5A is a sectional side elevation of an area in the vicinity of
the cup cover of the electric food preparation apparatus in a second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5B is an enlarged view of an area in the vicinity of the
movable mechanism of the electric food preparation apparatus.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a key part of conventional electric
food preparation apparatus.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
1 main body
2 electric motor
3 energizing mechanism
4 cooking cup
5 cutter
6 bottom protrusion
6a, 6b, 6c slant surface of bottom protrusion
10 first pin
11 second pin
12, 18 movable mechanism
13 seesaw structure

apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is essentially the same as that of conventional electric food
preparation apparatus shown in Fig. 6, elements similar to those in
the first exemplary embodiment have the same reference number,
and the descriptions of those elements are omitted.
Main body I houses motor 2 and energizing mechanism 8 for
controlling the passage of eleetric current. First pin 10 for turning
on/off energizing mechanism 8 its disposed in a groove (net shown) of
the cup receiver 14 of main body 1 in a manner such that it can not
be easily pushed by a finger and the like. And first pin 10 is
mechanically secured to coupling plate 8a. More upward force is
constantly applied to coupling plate 3a fey coupling spring 8k of
energizing mechanism 8.
Second pin 11 in provided in a groove of cup receiver 14 in the
same manner as the first pin 10. And first pin 10 and second pin 11
are constructed with seesaw structure 13 centered around shaft 12a
of movable mechanism 12 in a manner such that they move in
mutually opposite directions. That is, second pin 11 is coupled to
first pin 10 through movable mechanism 12 in an opposite direction
of motion. Here, the safety device of the electric food preparation
apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention comprises first pin 10, second pin 11 and movable
mechanism 12.
In energizing mechanism 3, sliding plate 3b is provided in
parallel to coupling plate 3a in a manner such that downward force is
constantly applied by sliding plate spring 3j. Sliding plate nail 3c of
sliding plate 3b is so constructed that it is supported from below by

coupling plate 8a thereby filing the position of sliding plate 8b.
Switch button 9 for making energizing mechanism 8
electrically conducting has on coupling 84 that comes in
contact with sliding plate groove 8f of sliding plate 8b. Also switch
button 9a that makes energizing mechanism 8 non conducting has
off coupling section 8e that comes in contact with sliding plate groove
8h of sliding plate 8b.
When switch button 9 is pushed in on arm section 8p shown in
Fig. 2C causes conducting plate 8r and contact 8q come in contact
with each other, and on coupling section 8d shown in Fig. 1B is
secured to hooking nail of sliding plate groove 8f. Also when switch
button 9a is pushed in, off coupling section 8e shown in Fig. 1B
moves sliding plate 8a upwavd by means of the slant face of sliding
plate groove 8h, and off arm section 8n shown in Fig. 2C releases
circuit breaker 3m for cutting electric current in the event of an over
current.
As shown in Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, cooking cup 4 mounted on main
body 1 in an attachable/detachable manner is provided with cooking
cup protrusion 15 which is a part of a bayonet mechanism. Also,
slant surface of bottom protrusion 6a and slant surface of bottom
protrusion 6b are provided on bottom protruding 6 in both directions
of rotation of the bayonet mechanism. Cup receiver 14 is nearly
annular in shape centered around the shaft of motor 2 on which
cooking cup 4 on main body 1 is mounted.
Here, bottom protrusion 6 is provided on the outer bottom of
cooking cup 4. Also, cutter 5 driven by motor 2 is provided inside
cooking cup 4.

As shown in Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B. Fig. 2C, cup receiving dent 16 of
the bayonet mechanism that fits cooking cup 4 is provided on cup
receiver 14 of main body 1. Also, on cup receiving dent 16 is
provided insertion port 16a for inserting cooking cup pretrusion 15
and holding part 16b for holding cooking cup protrusion 15
the construction is such that when cooking cup protrusion 15 comes
to the position of insertion port 16a, bottom protrusion 6 comes to the
Position of operating second pin 11, and when cooking cup pretrusion
15 comes to the position of holding part 16b, bottom protrusion 6
comes to the position of operating first pin 10. And when bottom
protrusion 6 pushes in first pin l0, energizing mechanism 3 is made
conducting, and when bottom protrusion 8 pushes in second pin 11,
energizing mechanism 3 is made non-conducting.
When cooking cup 4 is not mounted on main body 1, first pin 10
is in the state of being lifted together with coupling plate 3a due to
coupling spring 3k of energizing mechanism 3. Conversely, second
pin 11 takes an opposite position of the other end being lowered due
to seesaw structure 13 of movable mechanism 12. At this time, as
coupling plate 3a of energizing mechanism 3 shown in Fig. IB lifts up
sliding plate nail 3c, the position of sliding plate 3b is slid upward.
And, as on-coupling section 3d of switch button 9 is positioned at
slide plate groove 3g and cannot be moved in the direction of pushing
in, motor 2 cannot be energized.
Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the vicinity of the
energizing mechanism when second pin of the electric food
preparation apparatus in the exemplary embodiment 1 of the present
invention is pushed making it unable to be energized. As shown in

Fig, 8, wfesi? jpounting sgokiiij swp 4 e" win ^9C^ J. "<^Jsi#ff n$
pessitism ef the jagsrfiea pint J6§ "*gyi48d on eigp receiver 14 ai
main body 1, And, by turning cooliing $U£ 4 wstil unuking cup
protrusion 16 touches holding eectipn 16b of cup rec^ivimff dent |§,
ro&in body 1 find cooking gup 4 a?s secureci. As & result, ^onnfjqtoy f
on %h% oiaiR body spd sgaaeete? 8 en the CUR aide a*e cqiipled thue
enabling cutter § to, rotate,
Si¥"b Wkm mm#M ceoking ?up 4 on pain body |, bottom
protrueipp 6 pushes ^cond g^ U in ffytiftM pf ft?at pi"5 1Q, As a
result, jpvgfji m an Qqcj^sioci of ftret pin |@ bging adhered under en
energising oonditiOQ, the fsyatam @$g be scoufely raaintained at a
n9j|-"neKgi?iixg state.
Fig, 4 tM sfgfioiifil side §!$"&%$ of ihe yieinity pf the
eauyfiiiftf jijeebaniew in a "at^t@ in which first pi" of the e^ctfic food
preparation apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment >4' the
present invention is pushed in making the energising system
energized. As shown in Fig. 4, first pin 10 is held at a lowered
position by being smoothly pushed behind slant surface of bottom
protrusion 6a of bottom protrusion 6 of cooking cup 4 while the tip of
second pin 11 is lifted .upward to a position higher than bottom
protrusion 6. And, as shown in Fig. IB, as coupling plate 3a of
energizing mechanism 3 coupled to first pin 10 is pushed downward,
sliding plate 3b supported by sliding plate nail 3c is slid downward.
As a result, on-coupling section 3d of switch button 9 is made possible
to move in the direction of pushing relative to sliding plate groove 3f.
When on-coupling section 3d is pushed to sliding plate groove 3f,
9

on-arm section 3p makes conducting plate 3r and contact 3q come
into contact with each other thus energizing motor 2.
In case some food adhered to first pin 10 and cooking cup 4 has
been left idle on main body 1, even when bottom protrusion 6 is
detached from the top surface of first pin 10 by turning cooking cup 4,
first pin 10 remains adhered and energizing mechanism 3 keeps
motor 2 in an energizable state. When cooking cup protrusion 15 is
rotated to insertion port 16a of cup receiving dent 16 in an attempt to
detach cooking cup 4 from main body 1, slant surface of bottom
protrusion 6b comes in contact with second pin 11. As second pin 11
is gradually pushed downward by slant surface of bottom protrusion
6b, first pin 10 is lifted by see-saw structure of movable mechanism
12 thus releasing adhesion of the safety device as shown in Fig, 3.
In this way, bottom protrusion 6 pushes in second pin 11 when
cooking cup 4 is mounted on or dismounted from main body 1.
Accordingly, even when first pin 10 is adhering in a state of being
pushed in, second pin 11 is pushed in by bottom protrusion 6 while
mounting or demounting cooking cup 4. And movable mechanism
12 pushes up first pin 10 to remove adhesion thus providing safe
electric food preparation apparatus.
(Second Exemplary Embodiment)
Fig. 5A is a sectional side elevation of the vicinity of a cup
cover of electric food preparation apparatus in the second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5B is an enlarged view
of the vicinity of a movable mechanism of the electric food
preparation apparatus. By the way, elements of the electric food
preparation apparatus of the second exemplary embodiment similar

to those in th© ftrgt exemplary smbodj^enf; hw§ the same refeyeneg
numbers, and the deegriptioos of those olememe ure omitted.
Movable m.f<§|jp|$gi 18 of the elactrie food pt's^aratiqn
ap$f&|u§! @f the eegp&d ssempif*? smfegliim^ $?9?>?ia"9 ?m\®$
part 17 i" whiqh asgfc of f?|aj|t mrfese pf th§ vUfM&g p*Pt Ifs %^d
slant surface p! the sliding gart ITfe are inclined in opposite
4ir$^a§, Fpgt pin jjl^at; siwfftee J OR }p prsvi^sd $n first pin 10
that corresponds to s^nt fujfpf of sliding part 17e, &nd sp?ynd sin
slant surface Ha is prpvid&d on second pin U that corresponds to
slaat |ijjf"ff gf nl}$m$ %w% life. 499ftf Afeffty 4|¥"@tip?*? oj aatipa pf
first pin |6 and secqnd pin 11 can fcs ^eovjraly set to ppppsite
directions thus removing adhesion of first pin 10.
Sliding part 17 is so structured that, when first pin 10 is
lowered centered around axle 18a of movable mechanism 18, first pin
slant surface 10a is lowered thus pushing slant surface of sliding part
17a and moving sliding part 17 rightward of Fig. 5. And, as slant
surface of sliding part 17b pushes up second pin slant surface 11a
upward, second pin 11 is pushed upward. Conversely, when second
pin 11 is lowered, sliding part 17 moves leftward of Fig. 5 thus
pushing first pin 10 upward.
While lever shaft 20 is a part of bottom protrusion 6 of cooking
cup 4 and operates first pin 10, it is normally lifted upward by lever
spring 20a in the direction departing from first pin 10. When cup
cover 19 for covering top of cooking cup 4 is placed on cooking cup 4,
cup cover protrusion 19a pushes in lever shaft 20 thus making lever
shaft 20 come to a height at which first pin 10 can be operated.
The portion of bottom protrusion 6 excluding lever shaft 20 is

at a height to come in contact with second pin 11 and is provided with
slant surface of bottom protrusion 6c in the opening direction of the
bayonet mechanism. Conversely to the electric food preparation
apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, in the bayonet mechanism for fitting main body 1 and
cooking cup 4, cup receiver dent 15a is provided on cooking cup 4
and cup receiver protrusion 16c is provided on cup receiver 14 of
main body 1. Watertight cover 21 is provided between first pin 10
and main body 1, and between second pin 11 and main body 1. First
pin 10 is provided with slant shielding wall 22 covering upper part of
energizing mechanism 3.
In cup receiver 14, a bayonet mechanism is provided between
main body 1 and cooking cup 4 in a manner such that the rotation of
the bayonet mechanism stops rotating at the position at which first
pin 10 is pushed in by bottom face protrusion 6. As a result, cooking
cup 4 can be placed at a position at which cooking cup 4 can be surely
energized.
Also, the faces of bottom protrusion 6 that push in first pin 10
and second pin 11 are inclined relative to both directions of rotation
of the bayonet mechanism of cooking cup 4. As a result, action of
first pin 10 and second pin 11 can be smoothly performed.
In case cooked food adhered to first pin 10 and cooking cup 4
was left idle on main body 1, even when cooking cup 4 is rotated and
lever shaft 20 of bottom protrusion 6 is released from the top face of
first pin 10, first pin 10 remains adhered and energizing
mechanism 3 keeps motor 2 energizable. In the following,
description will be made on the case of removing cooking cup 4 from

main body 1.
When turning cooking cup dent 15a in an attempt to remove it
from cup receiver protrusion 16c, bottom protrusion 6 touches second
pin 11 as bottom protrusion 6 is provided on cooking up 4. As second
pin 11 is gradually pushed downward due to slant surface of bottom
protrusion 6c, second pin slant surface 11a pushes down slant surface
of sliding part 17b thus causing sliding part 17 of movable
mechanism 18 to slide leftward of Fig. 5B. And, first pin slant
surface 10a is lifted due to slant surface of sliding part 17a making
first pin 10 pushed up, thereby removing adhesion of the safety
device.
Bottom protrusion 6 goes up and down coupled with mounting
and demounting of cup cover 19 and is made to be at a height at
which first pin 10 can be pushed in only when cup cover 19 is
mounted. As a result, adhesion of first pin 10 can be removed by
mounting or demounting of cup cover 19.
Also, in case cooked food or water overflows into main body 1
beyond water-tight cover 21, shielding wall 22 provided on first pin
10 prevents spilling of cooked food or liquid and leads it to a charging
section (not shown) at some distance from energizing mechanism 3,
thus assuring safety.
As described above, with the electric food preparation
apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment 2 of the
present invention, sliding part 17 only makes simple horizontal shift
thus providing stabilized movable mechanism 18.
Also, lever shaft 20 interlocked with cup cover 19 operates
first pin 10, and second pin 11 is operated by slant surface of bottom

protrusion 6c of bottom protrusion 6. Accordingly, electric food
preparation apparatus is obtainable in which adhesion of first pin 10
can be released by mounting and demounting of cup cover 19.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
As the electric food preparation apparatus of the present
invention can remove adhesion of pins of a safety device in the event
of pin adhesion and assures operation of safety devices as described
above, it can be applied to a variety of safety devices for use in
equipment other than mixers, food processors, or mills that use pins.

WE CLAIM
1. An electric food preparation apparatus comprising:
a main body housing a motor and an energizing mechanism for
controlling energization;
a first pin for turning on/off the energizing mechanism;
a second pin coupled with the first pin via a movable
mechanism, the second pin operating in opposite direction of the first
pin;
a cooking cup that can be freely mounted on or demounted
from the main body,
a cutter driven by the motor and provided inside the cooking
cup,
a bottom protrusion provided on an outside bottom of the
cooking cup for pushing in the first pin and the second pin,
wherein the energizing mechanism is energized when the bottom
protrusion pushes in the first pin,
the energizing mechanism is de-energized when the bottom
protrusion pushes in the second pin, and
the bottom protrusion pushes in the second pin when mounting and
demounting the cooking cup on the main body.
2. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
main body further includes a cup receiver on which the cooking cup is
mounted,
the cup receiver is provided with a bayonet mechanism for the
main body and the cooking cup, and

the bayonet mechanism stops rotating at the position at which
the first pin is pushed in by the bottom protrusion.
3. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein,
when mounting the cooking cup on the main body, the bottom
protrusion pushes in the second pin prior to pushing in the first pin.
4. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 2, wherein a
plane on which the first pin and the second pin are pushed in is
slanted relative to both directions of rotation of the bayonet
mechanism of the cooking cup.
5. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
first pin is provided with a shielding wall covering upper part of the
energizing mechanism.
6. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
movable mechanism consists of a sliding part having a slant surface
inclined in an opposite direction.
7. The electric food preparation apparatus of claim 2, wherein a cup
cover to cover upper part of the cooking cup is provided, and the
bottom protrusion goes up and down coupled with the mounting and
demounting of the cup cover, and comes to a height to push in the
first pin only when the cup cover is mounted.

Electric food prepartion apparatus has a main body
containing an energizing mechanism to control a motor and
energization, a first pin for turning on/off the energizing
mechanism, a second pin coupled to the first pin in an opposite
direction through a movable mechanism, a cooking cup placed on the
main body in a freely mountable/demountable way, a rotatable cutter
provided inside the cocking cup and driven by a motor and bottom
protrusion provided on the outside bottom of the cooking cup and
having a bottom protrusion for pushing in the first pin and the second
pin, where, the energizing mechanism is energized when the bottom
protrusion pushes in the first pin and the energizing mechanism is de energized when the bottom pretrusion pushes in the second pin,
and the bottom protrusion pushes in the second pin when mounting
or demounting the cooking cup on or from the main body.