Abstract: Juicing unit having a support for an automatic juicing machine of the type in which the juicing unit comprises one or more female drums that move synchronously with one or more male drums that allows easy removal of the juicing unit as a whole for cleaning, such that the support comprises two plates with different openings that sandwich between them the main elements of the juicing unit such as the male and female drums, both plates being joined by at least one removable rod that is fastened via an anchor that allows a strong coupling and easy opening, such plates additionally comprising elements for anchoring to other elements of the juicing unit as well as elements for anchoring to the main body of the juicing machine.

Abstract: Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines comprising a sweeper associated with a filter, the sweeper comprising a carrier band mounted on at least two shafts. The carrier band can perform the filtering function itself as it is made from a filtering material or is provided with suitable orifices. The carrier band is flexible and preferably elastic. The shafts on which the band is mounted are supported by a casing, where at least one of said shafts engages a drive element comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor. At least one scraper is provided joined to the casing in order to clean the carrier band. The motor of the drive element is independent from the motor of the juicing machine, the device having sweeping and filtering cycles independent of the juicing cycles of the main machine.

Abstract: Juicing unit having a support for an automatic juicing machine of the type in which the juicing unit comprises one or more female drums that move synchronously with one or more male drums that allows easy removal of the juicing unit as a whole for cleaning, such that the support comprises two plates with different openings that sandwich between them the main elements of the juicing unit such as the male and female drums, both plates being joined by at least one removable rod that is fastened via an anchor that allows a strong coupling and easy opening, such plates additionally comprising elements for anchoring to other elements of the juicing unit as well as elements for anchoring to the main body of the juicing machine.

Abstract: Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines comprising a sweeper associated with a filter, the sweeper comprising a carrier band mounted on at least two shafts. The carrier band can perform the filtering function itself as it is made from a filtering material or is provided with suitable orifices. The carrier band is flexible and preferably elastic. The shafts on which the band is mounted are supported by a casing, where at least one of said shafts engages a drive element comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor. At least one scraper is provided joined to the casing in order to clean the carrier band. The motor of the drive element is independent from the motor of the juicing machine, the device having sweeping and filtering cycles independent of the juicing cycles of the main machine.

Abstract: A beverage mixer and dispenser is disclosed. The housing of the beverage mixer and dispenser includes a mixing chamber and an extract container positioned above the mixing chamber. A metering device is positioned between the extract container and the mixing chamber to allow dispensing of a desired amount of extract from the extract container into the mixing chamber. The beverage mixer and dispenser includes a feed opening, which is exposed at an exterior surface of the housing and leads into the mixing chamber to allow for manual addition of drink additives to the mixing chamber. The beverage mixer and dispenser also includes a cream chamber. The cream chamber is adapted to receive a liquid-extract combination from the mixing chamber. A rotatable mixing rotor is positioned within the mixing chamber and a rotatable first cream rotor is located within the cream chamber to provide thorough mixing of the liquid-extract-cream combination.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. When the cover is secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole, and when the cover is not secured to the lid, the one-way air valve allows air flow into the container.

Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid body with a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body, a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening, and a pressure-indicating protrusion. The cover impedes air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The pressure-indicating protrusion, which has a cavity in it, is in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening. The pressure-indicating protrusion contracts toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole while allowing air flow out of the container via the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover removed, the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole. An outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container.

Abstract: Appliances for the preparation of hot drinks are described herein. The appliances include a water container having a container outlet from which, via a heating device and a riser, water heated by the heating device can be supplied to a mixing device. A specific water level height in the riser can be kept at least largely constant by a constant level holding device.

Abstract: A beverage mixer and dispenser is disclosed. The housing of the beverage mixer and dispenser includes a mixing chamber and an extract container positioned above the mixing chamber. A metering device is positioned between the extract container and the mixing chamber to allow dispensing of a desired amount of extract from the extract container into the mixing chamber. The beverage mixer and dispenser includes a feed opening, which is exposed at an exterior surface of the housing and leads into the mixing chamber to allow for manual addition of drink additives to the mixing chamber. The beverage mixer and dispenser also includes a cream chamber. The cream chamber is adapted to receive a liquid-extract combination from the mixing chamber. A rotatable mixing rotor is positioned within the mixing chamber and a rotatable first cream rotor is located within the cream chamber to provide thorough mixing of the liquid-extract-cream combination.

Abstract: Appliances for the preparation of hot drinks are described herein. The appliances include a water container having a container outlet from which, via a heating device and a riser, water heated by the heating device can be supplied to a mixing device. A specific water level height in the riser can be kept at least largely constant by a constant level holding device.

Abstract: Steam iron having a sole plate with a steam chamber, and a sealed liquid reservoir. A drip valve supplies the steam chamber with liquid from the liquid reservoir. One or more one-way gas valves between the liquid reservoir and ambient air let air enter the reservoir in response to local negative pressures within the reservoir caused by movement of water within the reservoir, such as during reciprocal ironing motion. A pressure-equalizing passage is formed within a manually operable rod of the drip valve, such that only one opening is required in the lower wall of the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid defining a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body. The lid also includes a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening to impede air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The lid further includes a pressure indicating dome defining a cavity therein, the dome in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening, the dome having a membrane that collapses toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole while allowing air flow out of the container via the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover removed, the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole. An outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for chopping food, in particular ice cubes, which includes a container body (2) subdivided into an upper processing zone (20) and a lower collecting zone (21). The rotary chopping tool (3) received in the processing zone (20) serves to comminute the food materials. A sieve (4; 25; 26) is provided in the transition region from the processing zone (20) to the collecting zone (21). The device of the invention has the advantage of enabling both foodstuffs and ice cubes to be reduced to defined sizes readily. In addition, ice cubes may be reduced without major amounts of energy being absorbed by the chopping tool (3) and without the reduced parts beginning to melt.

Abstract: Steam iron having a sole plate with a steam chamber, and a sealed liquid reservoir. A drip valve supplies the steam chamber with liquid from the liquid reservoir. One or more one-way gas valves between the liquid reservoir and ambient air let air enter the reservoir in response to local negative pressures within the reservoir caused by movement of water within the reservoir, such as during reciprocal ironing motion. A pressure-equalizing passage is formed within a manually operable rod of the drip valve, such that only one opening is required in the lower wall of the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a steam iron (1) equippped with an electrically heatable soleplate (9) and having a residual heat warning device (16) which operates preferably independently of the line voltage and issues a flashing warning signal via a light emitting diode (17) when the temperature of the soleplate (9) exceeds a threshold temperature of about 60° C. Due to a capacitor which is chargeable during operation of the iron, a preferred warning system is operable also when the iron is disconnected from the supply after use.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ironing shoe with a fastening device for fastening and releasing the fastener of a pressing surface of an electric steam iron, with a soleplate base having soleplate openings for the discharge of steam, the underside of which is used for ironing the article needing to be ironed and the upper side of which has disposed thereon an insert arrangement having insert openings for the passage of steam from the steam iron to the soleplate openings. In order to improve the utility characteristics of the ironing shoe and in particular of the insert arrangement, it is proposed providing the insert arrangement with a capillary layer made of a moisture-absorbing material on the side close to the upper side of the soleplate base, and with an impermeable layer on the side close to the steam iron.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric pressing iron having a pressing iron body portion made of silicon containing cast aluminum and equipped with an electric heating unit and with a plate-shaped soleplate made of low-silicon aluminum and secured to the pressing iron body portion in a heat-conducting relationship thereto. In order to utilize the advantages of good formability and thermal conductivity afforded by the aluminum soleplate while at the same time obtaining high corrosion and wear resistance and excellent hardness characteristics with reasonable economy of manufacture, it is proposed providing the soleplate with a nickel and/or chromium containing coating applied by electrodeposition to the soleplate to a thickness of more than 40 &mgr;m, said coating being structured to increase progressively in hardness outwardly towards the ironing side of the aluminum soleplate. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing such an electric pressing iron.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for chopping food, in particular ice cubes, which includes a container body (2) subdivided into an upper processing zone (20) and a lower collecting zone (21). The rotary chopping tool (3) received in the processing zone (20) serves to comminute the food materials. A sieve (4; 25; 26) is provided in the transition region from the processing zone (20) to the collecting zone (21). The device of the invention has the advantage of enabling both foodstuffs and ice cubes to be reduced to defined sizes readily. In addition, ice cubes may be reduced without major amounts of energy being absorbed by the chopping tool (3) and without the reduced parts beginning to melt.