Food processing apparatus

Abstract

The lid support member for the lid of a high speed food processing apparatus supports a mixing baffle blade through the center of the lid. The mixing baffle blade drive shaft is hollow for introducing liquids into the mixing bowl directly over the food processing blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for processing foodstuffs, including a mixing bowl having a drive shaft extending into the bowl through the bottom center thereof, a motor mounted outside the bowl and connected to rotate the drive shaft, food processing blades mountable on the drive shaft within the bowl for processing foodstuffs therein when the motor is operated, a cover system including a lid for closing the top of the bowl, and a mixing baffle blade and support mounted through the center of the lid for rotation along and around the inside surface of the bowl for removing and returning foodstuffs from the side of the bowl to the vicinity of the food processing blades for further processing thereby, the improvement comprising means defining a hollow drive shaft for said mixing baffle blade and support connecting through the center of the lid and being open in the top and bottom thereof for introducing liquids into the mixing bowl directly over the food processing blades and drive shaft while the motor is being operated. .Iadd. 2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a cap on the top of the drive shaft beneath said hollow drive shaft. .Iaddend..Iadd. 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cap has a diameter greater than that of said open bottom of said hollow drive shaft for spinning and flinging the liquids across the top of the main body of foodstuffs within the bowl when introduced through said hollow drive shaft. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. The combination of claim 2 or 3 further comprising means positioning said cap on the drive shaft sufficiently close to said hollow drive shaft to prevent splash back of ingredients therethrough and to shield said hollow drive shaft from foodstuffs which might otherwise be thrown out. .Iaddend.