Abstract: A blender includes a spindle support, a spindle motor secured to the spindle support, an inner spindle drive shaft permanently coupled to the spindle motor, and a spindle assembly removably coupled to the spindle support. The spindle assembly includes a quick release coupler, a tube, and a blending tool fixed to an end of the tube. The blending tool includes a plurality of blades. The inner spindle drive shaft extends into the tube and is drivably coupled to the tube to transmit rotational energy from the spindle motor to blending tool via the tube when the spindle assembly is coupled to the spindle support.

Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.

Abstract: A motor control circuit with power factor correction capabilities that optimizes the voltage and current load applied to an electric motor for different motor speeds and torque levels. The preferred motor control circuit includes a power factor correction circuit and a step down conversion circuit through which current passes before it reaches the motor. A microprocessor preferably monitors the current supplied to the motor and the motor's speed. If the microprocessor determines that the current supplied to the motor is too high, it can reduce the level of current by either using a pulse width modulation (PWM) digital-to-analog control circuit to instruct the power factor correction circuit to reduce current or it can use a PWM digital control circuit to instruct the step down conversion circuit to reduce current. An output voltage limiter circuit can be used to detect the voltage of current supplied to the motor and turn off current to the motor if the voltage is above a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method of operating a blender having a rotatable cutting blade in a food preparation chamber includes providing a sensing light assembly, generating at least one sensing light beam below the food preparation chamber, inserting a cup containing food to be blended into the food preparation chamber, generating an error signal if a foreign object crosses the sensing light beam, and preventing or stopping rotation of the cutting blade in response to the error signal.

Abstract: An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

Abstract: A motor control circuit with power factor correction capabilities that optimizes the voltage and current load applied to an electric motor for different motor speeds and torque levels. The preferred motor control circuit includes a power factor correction circuit and a step down conversion circuit through which current passes before it reaches the motor. A microprocessor preferably monitors the current supplied to the motor and the motor's speed. If the microprocessor determines that the current supplied to the motor is too high, it can reduce the level of current by either using a pulse width modulation (PWM) digital-to-analog control circuit to instruct the power factor correction circuit to reduce current or it can use a PWM digital control circuit to instruct the step down conversion circuit to reduce current. An output voltage limiter circuit can be used to detect the voltage of current supplied to the motor and turn off current to the motor if the voltage is above a predetermined level.

Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.

Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.

Abstract: An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.

Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.

Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.

Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning emitter electrodes of air conditioner systems are provided. The air conditioning system includes an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a high voltage generator to provide a high voltage potential difference between the emitter and collector electrodes. The system also includes a cleaning member having a channel through which the emitter electrode passes. A plunger mechanism and a spring, or a lever and a fulcrum, are used to force the cleaning member to travel upward along the emitter electrode to thereby frictionally removing debris from the emitter electrode. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures and the claims.

Abstract: An air-transporter conditioner device includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. An electro-kinetic system is disposed in the housing to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet. A timer measures a time period corresponding to the electro-kinetic system and causes an indicator light to illuminate when the measured period reaches a threshold. An arc sensing circuit detects arcing between the first and second electrode arrays of the electro-kinetic system. The electro-kinetic system is turned off in response to arcing being detected by the arc sensing circuit. An indicator light can also specify that arcing has been detected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for moving air using an air-conditioning system therein, whereby the air-conditioning system preferably includes at least one emitter electrode, at least one collector electrode, at least one driver electrode disposed adjacent to the collector electrode, and/or at least one trailing electrode positioned downstream of the collector electrode. The collector electrode and the driver electrode are removable from the device. In one embodiment, the driver electrodes are removable from the device and/or the collector electrode. The ability of remove the collector electrode as well as driver electrode allow for easy cleaning of the electrodes. In one embodiment, the present device includes a removable exhaust grill upon which the driver electrode and/or the trailing electrode are coupled to. The removable grill allows the user to easily clean the driver electrode without having to remove the collector electrode.

Abstract: An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. A bias electrode, electrically coupled to the second array electrodes, affects net polarity of ions generated. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is thus conditioned.