Abstract: A variety of embodiments of blending containers are shown herein. In one embodiment, the blending container includes a mixing blade that rotates on an axis adjacent to the bottom of the blending container. The blending container includes one or more walls that extend upward from the bottom and a handle secured to the one or more walls. The blending container may be configured so that a vortex created when liquid is blended inside the container is not positioned over the axis. The blending containers may also be configured to stack inside one another.

Abstract: A blending container may include one or more walls and a handle secured to the one or more walls. The blending container may have a generally rectangular shape. The blending container may also include a mixing blade that rotates on an axis. The blending container may be configured so that a vortex created when liquid is blended inside the container is not positioned over the axis. The blending containers may also be configured to stack inside one another.

Abstract: A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.

Abstract: A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.

Abstract: A blending jar apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of walls and a handle secured to one of the plurality of walls. One of the plurality of walls may comprise a truncated wall. The handle may include an aperture extending at least partially through the handle. The handle may be secured to the truncated wall. Methods of stacking blending jars are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blending jar apparatus is disclosed and includes a plurality of walls and a handle secured to one of the plurality of walls. The handle includes an aperture receptive of a handle of another blending jar apparatus. One of the plurality of walls may include a truncated wall, to which the handle is secured.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes an articulable housing operatively coupled to one or more switches to actuate a blending motor. Upon mounting a mixing jar and associated lid on top of the housing, downward pressure is placed on the lid/jar assembly which places, in turn, downward pressure on the housing. Such downward pressure on the housing causes the housing to articulate and actuate the switch, which in turn provides power to the motor to rotate the blade mounted within the mixing container at a first rotational speed. In one embodiment, the switch is interposed between the housing and a stationary base. A second switch may also be utilized to rotate the blade at a second, increased rotational speed upon additional articulation of the housing.

Abstract: A multipurpose electric food mixing appliance specially adapted to mix and knead bread dough in combination with a blender device utilizes one power source to drive both the blender and the mixer. The appliance can sense when dough is properly kneaded and automatically shut itself off. The load on the appliance motor during kneading of the dough is monitored by monitoring the power supplied to such motor and the motor is stopped when the load on the motor begins to decrease after a period of increasing load. With an A.C. motor, the phase angle of power supplied to the motor while keeping the speed of the motor substantially constant is a measure of the load on the motor.

Abstract: A selectively operable, continuous-loop conveyor provides support and transporation of containers containing spices or the like to and from a transfer station in which the containers are inserted in or removed from carriers which support them along the conveyor. The carriers include guide members which maintain the relative orientation between the carriers and the track. A drive hub with fingers extending into the track forces carriers disposed in that region adjacent to the fingers along a portion of the track, and thereby forcing other carriers in the track around the track. Further, a bar extending across the face of the rack has two ends, each of which may be pushed to drive the carriers in a corresponding different direction. Each carrier is in the form of a downwardly facing cup with spaced inwardly extending, biased members which engage the edges of a container inserted in the cup.

Abstract: A rotary mill for milling particulate material is described.