received by the International Bureau on 05 August 2013 (05.08.2013)

1. A discoidal plate (50) having a first major surface (51) bearing comminuting means for processing foodstuffs urged against said first major surface whilst the plate (50) is rotated in a food processor bowl (20), the plate being apertured to permit processed foodstuffs to fall through the plate into the bowl (20) and to accumulate therein; characterised in that a second major surface of the disc (54) is formed with or supports tab-like protrusions (55), the protrusions (55) being configured so that, should processed foodstuffs build up within the bowl 20 into a pile of height sufficient to approach the second major surface 54 of the discoidal plate 50, the protrusions (55) are effective to knock foodstuff material off the top of the pile and redistribute it more evenly within the bowl 20.

2. A plate according to claim 1 wherein the said protrusions (55) are stamped, punched or otherwise bent out of the plate (50).

3. A plate according to claim 1, wherein the said protrusions (55) are formed separately from the plate (50) and subsequently attached to said second major surface (54) thereof.

4. A plate according to claim 4, wherein each of said protrusions (55) comprises a metal part fixed by welding to the discoidal plate (50).

5. A plate according to claim 4, wherein each of said protrusions (55) comprises a moulded plastics component pressed into a retaining aperture preformed in the plate (50). 6. A plate according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said protrusions (55) are disposed at respective radial locations on the second major surface (54) of said discoidal plate (50).

7. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said protrusions (55) protrudes by approximately 3mm from the second major surface (54) of said plate (50).

8. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said protrusions (55) is approximately 6mm wide.

9. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the said comminuting means born by the first major surface (51) of said plate (50) comprises an array of hood-like projections (52) having sharp, open ends which face in the direction of rotation of the plate 50 for comminuting said foodstuffs; each projection (52) being associated and co-sited with a respective aperture (53) through the plate (50) through which comminuted foodstuffs are urged.

10. A food processor (10) including said bowl (20) in which foodstuffs are processed, and further comprising a lid (21) for the bowl having an aperture (22) therein, a feed-tube (23) through which foodstuffs to be processed can be introduced into the bowl (20); said feed-tube (23) being carried by the lid (21) and aligned with said aperture (22), a discoidal plate (50) according to any preceding claim, a drive shaft (40) mountable in said bowl (20) to support said plate (50) for rotation therein near the underside of said lid (21), and a motor adapted to drive the shaft in rotation; wherein the first major surface (51) of said plate (50) is disposed in operation to face said lid (21) and bears said comminuting means (52) for processing foodstuffs introduced into said bowl (20) via said feed-tube (23).