Abstract: A countertop appliance comprises interchangeable containers including a first container and a second container each having a base. The first container includes a first magnet coupled to the base of the first container at a first distance and the second container includes a second magnet coupled to the base of the second container at a second distance. A housing includes a motor and an attachment portion. The interchangeable containers are selectively and operably coupled to the attachment portion of the housing. An analog magnetic sensor is disposed proximate the attachment portion of the housing. The analog magnetic sensor is configured to detect the first magnet at the first distance and the second magnet at the second distance. A controller communicatively coupled with the analog magnetic sensor is configured to identify one of the interchangeable containers based on the detected distance of one of the first magnet and the second magnet.

Abstract: A blender assembly includes a base, a heater assembly selectively coupled to the base and having a heating element and a biasing feature that biases the heating element away from the base, and a jar assembly selectively coupled to the heater assembly and having a jar and a heat transfer element coupled to the jar. Coupling the jar assembly to the heater assembly prompts the heat transfer element to contact the heating element, such that the heating element moves toward the base against the bias of the biasing feature.

Abstract: A laminating arrangement comprising: a laminating roller; a radiating element adapted to radiate energy therefrom towards the laminating roller; a temperature detecting arrangement, adapted to detect the temperature at the surface of the laminating roller; and a processor adapted to receive a signal from the temperature detecting arrangement device and to control the intensity of radiation emitted by the radiating element, wherein: a maximum warm-up rate is defined; and during a warm-up phase of the laminating arrangement, the rate of increase in temperature at the surface of the laminating roller is determined by the processor, and the intensity of radiation emitted by the radiating element is increased if the rate of increase of temperature is less than the maximum warm-up rate, and is decreased if the rate of increase of temperature is greater than the maximum warm-up rate.