Abstract: Food processing apparati including magnetic drives are described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, a food processing apparatus may include a motor having a motor shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on the motor shaft, and a stator producing an electromagnetic field for interacting with the rotor. The rotor may magnetically drive a drive plate coupled to an impeller inside a food-contact chamber.

Abstract: Food processing apparati including magnetic drives are described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, a food processing apparatus may include a motor having a motor shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on the motor shaft, and a stator producing an electromagnetic field for interacting with the rotor. The rotor may magnetically drive a drive plate coupled to an impeller inside a food-contact chamber.

Abstract: Food processing apparati including magnetic drives are described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, a food processing apparatus may include a motor having a motor shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on the motor shaft, and a stator producing an electromagnetic field for interacting with the rotor. The rotor may include a rotor magnet having an inner rotor magnet surface facing toward the motor shaft, and the stator may include an outer stator surface facing away from the motor shaft. The inner rotor magnet surface may at least partially face the outer stator surface.

Abstract: A magnetic induction drive for a rotatable driven member in a sealed housing, in particular, a shaft-mounted blade in a blender cup or a shaft-mounted blade in an ice shaver, uses a comparatively thin circular drive plate of a magnetizable material with circumferentially arrayed poles enclosed within a housing secured to a drive shaft. A brushless d.c. motor in a base separate from the housing has a rotor formed as an array of pie-shaped permanent magnet regions that interact with an electronically controlled, rotating electromagnetic field produced by a ring of stator coils. A second such permanent magnet is coupled to rotate coaxially and in unison with the rotor, with poles of opposite polarity aligned and adjacent one another. A steel disc is sandwiched between and bonded to the rotor and the second permanent magnet. The magnetic field (lines of flux) of the second magnet extends axially away from the rotor to induce magnetic poles of opposite polarity in the drive plate.

Abstract: In a food processing machine, a removable food receptacle and a platform on which the receptacle is positioned in the machine, are constructed so that the food receptacle, as it is introduced into the machine, is guided into proper position. The platform is provided with a raised shoulder that includes a portion that is contacted by the receptacle when inserted into the machine in an improper direction, and that causes the receptacle to turn to the proper direction. The raised shoulder further includes a portion to stop the receptacle from further insertion once it is in proper position, and portions to maintain the receptacle in proper orientation on the platform during processing and/or delivery of food.

Abstract: A drainage system for a food processing machine comprises a drain pan located at the base of the machine, the drain pan receiving unwanted liquid from various locations in the machine, and permitting the removal of the unwanted liquid from the machine. In a preferred embodiment, the drain pan is employed in an ice shaver/blender machine and receives unwanted liquid generated by the melting of ice stored in the ice hopper, unwanted liquid spilled in the shaver and blender areas, and unwanted liquid collected within the main body of the machine. The drain pan includes a plurality of outlets which may be selectively chosen to facilitate routing the unwanted liquid out of the machine in a desired direction.

Abstract: A magnetic induction drive for a rotatable driven member in a sealed housing, in particular, a shaft-mounted blade in a blender cup, uses a comparatively thin circular plate of a magnetizable material with circumferentially arrayed poles secured within the housing to the shaft. A brushless d.c. motor in a base separate from the housing has a rotor formed as an array of pie-shaped permanent magnet regions that interact with an electronically controlled, rotating electromagnetic field produced by a ring of stator coils. A second such permanent magnet is coupled to rotate coaxially and in unison with the rotor, with poles of opposite polarity aligned and adjacent one another. A steel disc is sandwiched between and bonded to the rotor and the second permanent magnet. The magnetic field (lines of flux) of the second magnet extends axially away from the rotor to induce magnetic poles of opposite polarity in the drive plate.

Abstract: A self-seating cover assembly for a removable food receptacle for a food processing machine, the cover being movably mounted on a support structure attached to the machine and shaped so that, by the act of positioning the food receptacle into the machine, the cover is caused to seat itself in desired position atop and extending partially into the receptacle. The cover is preferably removably mounted on the support structure through an aperture in the cover, and the structure and the cover are constructed to cooperatively maintain the cover in a desired rotational position. The cover may be mounted on a chute through which food is delivered into the receptacle through the mounting aperture in the cover.

Abstract: A magnetic induction drive for a rotatable driven member in a sealed housing, in particular, a shaft-mounted blade in a blender cup, uses a comparatively thin circular plate of a magnetizable material with circumferentially arrayed poles secured within the housing to the shaft. A brushless d.c. motor in a base separate from the housing has a rotor formed as an array of pie-shaped permanent magnet regions that interact with an electronically controlled, rotating electromagnetic field produced by a ring of stator coils. A second such permanent magnet is coupled to rotate coaxially and in unison with the rotor, with poles of opposite polarity aligned and adjacent one another. A steel disc is sandwiched between and bonded to the rotor and the second permanent magnet. The magnetic field (lines of flux) of the second magnet extends axially away from the rotor to induce magnetic poles of opposite polarity in the drive plate.