Abstract: A blending apparatus can include: a blender jar defining a blending cavity; a lid positionable over the blender jar, the lid defining an opening into the blending cavity; a gasket positioned around a periphery of the opening in the lid; an enclosable sound dampener positionable around the blender jar and the lid, the enclosable sound dampener defining an access hole corresponding to the opening in the lid; and a tamper insertable through the access hole and the opening. In particular examples, when the tamper is inserted through the access hole and the enclosable sound dampener is in a closed state, blending noise is at least partially contained within the enclosable sound dampener. Further, in some examples, when the tamper is inserted through the opening, the tamper contacts the gasket around the tamper to seal contents within the blending cavity.

Abstract: Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a blender control system to monitor the usage of a blender system. The blender control system may decrement a remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count each time that the blender is used. The blender control system may disable or partially disable at least some functions of the blender system once the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count is depleted. Additional blend cycles and/or blend runtime may be purchased directly via an interface on the blender system, through a mobile application, by phone, or via a web portal. The blender control system replenishes the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining cycle count in response to the purchase.

Abstract: Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.

Abstract: Blender and food processing devices dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. One blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: A food preparation apparatus is presented that has fast-stop capability. It includes a base unit, a mixing container attached to the base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move within the mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit within the base unit is connected to the motor. A contact sensor is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to stop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of a human hand. In some cases, contact with the mixing tool stops the motor, and in other cases, contact with an outer surface or user interface of the base unit stops the motor.

Abstract: A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.

Abstract: A variable-engagement planetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixing apparatus is presented. The tool has a body that has a driveshaft engagement portion and a first longitudinal axis. The tool also has a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear has a first helical gear surface. A planet gear with a second longitudinal axis is also included, wherein the second longitudinal axis is non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The planet gear has a second helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planet gear is configured to engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in one or more positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixing member is connected to the planet gear and moves around the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.

Abstract: A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.

Abstract: A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.

Abstract: A machine for processing a chilled food product includes a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The machine mixes the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flows the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shears at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. The machine may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.