Abstract: A food preparation appliance, such as a blending, mixing, or food processing appliance, allows for rotatable blade movement by a drive and/or driven shaft relative to a jar holding contents along with movement of the jar relative to the blade in the axial direction of the drive and/or driven shaft. For example, a vertical or axial movement of the blade relative to the jar, or vice-versa can be guided within defined limits. Aspects provide the consumer with an intuitive and proactive way of preventing cavitation and improving the blending performance by allowing the user to manually and indirectly physically agitate the mixture with an up and down motion of the jar during a blending operation. This option for manual operation is part of the disclosed blender design, so is always and conveniently available to the consumer as an anti-cavitation method.

Abstract: A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.

Abstract: A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.