Lock for food pusher in feed tube protector of a food processor

Abstract

Lock for the food pusher in a feedtube protector of a food processor. The feedtube protector has an outer sleeve nestable in a predetermined position around the exterior of the feedtube with a first food pusher captured in telescoping relationship within the outer sleeve for enabling the captured food pusher to move up and down therein. This first food pusher is in alignment with the interior of the outer sleeve for causing the first food pusher to become aligned with a first larger food passageway in the feedtube only when the outer sleeve is nested around the feedtube. This first food pusher has a second smaller food passageway within itself adapted to receive a removable second food pusher plungable into this second food passageway for pushing smaller food items down into the bowl toward a rotating tool in the bowl. This second passageway is smaller than the first passageway for convenient processing of smaller food items without removing the feedtube protector from the food processor. To prevent the larger first food pusher from elevating and defeating operation of the smaller second food pusher, a manually operable horizontally movable locking mechanism on the outer sleeve prevents relative movement between first food pusher and the outer sleeve when the smaller second food pusher is being employed. Either the larger or the smaller food pusher may be locked when the other is being used.