Convertible To Non-comminuting Apparatus Patents (Class 241/101.1)
  • Patent number: 11039715
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including an output shaft driven in a planetary manner. At least a first food processing tool and a second food processing tool can be changed in and out of the machine to be driven by the output shaft. A controller and associated tool detection system is configured to identify whether the first food processing tool or the second food processing tool is mounted on the machine and to select a stored load profile that is linked to the identified food processing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Thomas P. Jones
  • Patent number: 10849461
    Abstract: A food preparation appliance has a base, a blade member rotatable in a direction of rotation, and a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a tubular sidewall together defining an interior space of the container. The top of the container is configured for releasable connection with the base, with the blade member disposed within the interior space of the container. The sidewall has a rib projecting inward of the interior space of the container and extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the sidewall from the top of the container toward the bottom of the container. The rib has, in the direction of rotation of the blade member, a peak defined as the shortest transverse dimension measured from the center of the container to the sidewall at a respective height along the portion of the sidewall having the rib, the rib being asymmetric in transverse cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, David William Everett
  • Patent number: 10717060
    Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., Travis J. Mittanck, Javier E. Jimenez, Tyson D. Triplett, Craig C. Hardcastle, Scott C. Losee, Christian D. Mills, Gregory D. Jackson, Heber J. Redd
  • Patent number: 10518431
    Abstract: Size-reduction machines, feed units, and methods capable of producing reduced-size products from a variety of solid and semisolid materials. Such machines have an impeller that rotates on an approximately horizontal axis and an opening at an axial end of the impeller. A feed unit includes a feed hopper for feeding products to an interior of the impeller through the opening of the machine, and a slicing knife is mounted to the impeller and radially protrudes across the opening of the machine to slice products into segments as they enter the interior of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Alan Klockow, Nicholas Alan Underwood, Rudiger Heinrich Stenger
  • Patent number: 10208997
    Abstract: An ice crushing system includes multiple sets of interleaved blades with some of the blades being provided with a series of raised protrusions on one or more faces. With this arrangement, the spacing between the interleaved blades is reduced and a finer crushed ice consistency is established. In accordance with aspects of the invention, the raised protrusions are staggered along each side of a set of fixed blades, with the raised protrusions on one side of a fixed blade overlapping the raised protrusions on the opposing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Jerold M. Visin
  • Patent number: 10201790
    Abstract: A motorized kitchen apparatus including a processor module coupled to a non-volatile storage medium for storing a custom sequence; a user interface having a speed or power selection element and a record selector; a motor controller coupled to a blender motor, the processor module coupled to the motor controller for controlling operation of the motor according to user input selections. Upon user selection of the record selector, the processor module enters a record mode and records a sequence of user inputs made through the user interface; the sequence including data indicative of a power profile selected by the user over a period of time, and upon completion of the record mode, the processor module saves a custom sequence indicative of the recorded sequence to the non-volatile storage medium for subsequent playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BREVILLE PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Hoare, Khon Thai, Lochana Subasekara Widanagamage Don
  • Patent number: 9995522
    Abstract: An ice bin and a method of crushing ice using the same, in which the ice bin includes a case having an upper portion configured to store ice produced by an ice maker, and a dispensing port at one side of a lower end or surface of the case configured to dispense the ice; a transferring unit that transfers the ice from a lower portion of the case to the upper portion of the case; and a crushing unit configured to crush the ice transferred by the transferring unit and discharge the ice to the dispensing port, wherein the crushing unit selectively discharges the ice as ice cubes or as crushed ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gwang Ho Choo
  • Patent number: 9982933
    Abstract: An ice bin and a method of transferring ice using the same include a case having an upper portion configured to store ice produced by an ice maker, and a dispensing port at one side of a lower end of the case configured to dispense ice to the outside; a transferring unit that transfers ice from a lower portion of the case to the upper portion of the case; and a crushing unit configured to crush ice transferred by the transferring unit, and discharge the crushed ice to the dispensing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Gwang Ho Choo
  • Patent number: 9693581
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing, only with mechanical treatment, high-quality rice flour having a rounded particle shape, which is equivalent to fine flour obtained by using enzymes, has characteristics close to the characteristics of wheat flour, and is suitable for production of bread, cakes, noodles, and the like. In order to attain the object, a method for producing rice flour includes: providing primary crushing material rice subjected to soaking and adjustment of moisture content with a disintegrating and sizing device, fine grinding the primary crushed rice with an air mill, and then drying the fine ground rice with an air flow dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NARA MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sasako, Hidetoshi Iwamatsu, Ryuta Yamazaki, Kwan-Hei Park
  • Publication number: 20150144721
    Abstract: Provided is a food processor with a dicing function, including a driving device and a dicing assembly; the dicing assembly includes a main body, a lid, a driving axle, an annular supporting body and a dicing knife component; and a mesh shaper is disposed on the annular supporting body; the dicing knife component is rotatably disposed on the annular supporting body and is coupling connected to the driving axle; an annular flange of the annular supporting body is extended towards the lid in direction of a central axis of the driving axle, and a limiting groove is disposed on an inner surface of the annular flange; a radial outer end of the dicing knife component is capable of sliding inside the limiting groove. The food processor with a dicing function of the present disclosure has advantages of higher limit precision for cutting, better effect for dicing, and lower noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Tony WANG, Xuejun CHEN, Jianwei CHEN
  • Patent number: 9021679
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a material reducing machine convertible between a grinding configuration and a chipping configuration. The material reducing machine includes a rotary component that is rotatable about an axis of rotation, the rotary component defining a grinding configuration boundary that extends at least partially around the axis of rotation. The material reducing machine also includes a plurality of hammers secured to the rotary component, the hammers including end portions that project outwardly beyond the grinding configuration boundary of the rotary component. Furthermore, the material reducing machine includes a boundary enlarging structure that mounts over the rotary component, the boundary enlarging structure defining a chipping configuration boundary that extends at least partially around the axis of rotation when the boundary enlarging structure is mounted over the rotary component, the chipping configuration boundary being positioned outside the grinding configuration boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Keith Roozeboom
  • Patent number: 8960579
    Abstract: Food processing utensil comprising: paddles, central utensil comprising: shaft coupleable to food processor motor, and connected to base coupleable to food processor bowl, and cutting blades, the paddles coupled to the central utensil and the blades configured to allow uniform cutting of food, providing paddles are not on blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: David Menashes
  • Patent number: 8677895
    Abstract: A food processor defining a food processing path comprises a frame having a first compartment located within the food processing path and a second compartment located out of the food processing path and at least one dicing element configured to be received in both of the first and second compartments. When the dicing element is received in the first compartment, the dicing element dices food passing through the food processing path, and when the dicing element is received in the second compartment, the dicing element is stored out of the food processing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Beber, John Colasanti, Arren J. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20140021276
    Abstract: A pill is divided using a pill splitter and crusher device having a first member coupled to a second member. The first member comprises a pill-receiving cavity and the second member comprises a blade and an anvil. In some contemplated embodiments, the anvil is configured to crush a pill placed within the cavity and the blade is configured to split the pill within the cavity. Furthermore, the anvil is coupled to the second member, such that the anvil could move from a crushing position to a non-crushing position, which allows for crushing and splitting of the pill, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: KINN, INC.
    Inventors: Allen Chandler Young, Chi Hung Cao, Alexander James McKinnon
  • Publication number: 20130270376
    Abstract: A multi-grated is disclosed, comprising a volume approximating a tube defining a chute, a substantially planar cutting surface traversing the chute at the ventral end thereof and slideably coupled thereto, wherein the cutting surface has a linear gear disposed thereupon; a lever pivotably coupled to the chute with a radial gear disposed upon the ventral end thereof and complementorily engaged against the linear gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Hawker, Jessica Moreland, Christopher Trunek
  • Patent number: 8402886
    Abstract: A device for processing foodstuffs in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an upper part, a drive mechanism and a lower part with a working container, in which a working unit can be manually driven and made to rotate by means of the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a tractive cable drive and is operatively connected to the working unit by means of a releasable torque-coupled connection. The drive mechanism also includes a primary and secondary drive unit, which are operatively interconnected by means of a gear in such a way that a transmission ratio of between 1:1.5 and 1:4 and preferably between 1:1.8 and 1:1.9 is achieved. The primary and secondary drive units are axially parallel and dimensioned in such a way that at least one of the drive units intersects the rotational axis of the other respective drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Swizzzprozzz AG
    Inventor: Bruno Herren
  • Publication number: 20120325948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combined food processing machine which accepts the incorporation of multiple accessories and includes a fast anchoring and fixing device which can be actuated by a user to associate an accessory to said machine and multiple detectors, particularly magnetic, for the purpose of automatically identifying the type of accessory which has been associated with the machine and determining the operating condition of said accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SAMMIC, S.L.
    Inventors: Javier Hidalgo García, Aitor Aguirrezabalaga Zubizarreta, Aitor Gogorza Segurola
  • Publication number: 20120001003
    Abstract: A medical waste processing device includes an outer housing, chamber having a passageway through which material passes, and cutting member contained within the chamber that cuts and shreds the waste material before entering a waste receptacle. A plunger is also provided that may be inserted into the chamber to facilitate passage of the waste material through the device. A vacuum and filter system is further provided to capture and filter potentially harmful aerosols that may be emitted during operation of the device. A method is also provided for reducing the volume of waste material through operation of the electrical shredding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Mark DAVIS
  • Publication number: 20110168817
    Abstract: A contrasting device for a shredding plant comprising shredding members for shredding. The contrasting device comprises one or more contrast portions assembled in an independent and removable manner onto a frame of the plant, and assembly elements cooperating with each contrast portion, so as to determine the independent and removable assembly onto the frame. Each contrast portion comprises a symmetrical contrast profile with respect to a contrast edge. The profile is defined by a first segment and by a second segment substantially equal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: DANIELI DAVY DISTINGTON LTD.
    Inventors: John Lester, Craig Rose
  • Publication number: 20100251740
    Abstract: An ice dispenser for dispensing ice that includes a housing having an inlet opening for introducing uncomminuted pieces of ice into the housing and an outlet opening for dispensing at least one of the uncomminuted pieces of ice or comminuted pieces of ice from the housing. The ice dispenser further includes an ice comminution device including a rotatable shaft supporting a blade arrangement and a counterblade arrangement operable to rotate along with the rotatable shaft, and a locking device, wherein based on a position of the locking device, the counterblade arrangement is operated to rotate along with the shaft or to be fixed with the housing. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one counterblade of the counterblade arrangement includes a catch for engaging with a counter-catch of the locking device. As such, an undesired release of the counter blade for the locking means may be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerald Schmidt, Daniel Winter, Kasim Yazan
  • Patent number: 7571870
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for condensing, separating and storing recyclable materials. The apparatus, in one embodiment, stores recyclable materials and melts the recyclable materials into a condensed form. The apparatus may include an enclosure with one or more openings to receive an item made from a recyclable material, a storage compartment to enable removal of stored recyclable materials, at least one heating module to melt the recyclable material into a condensed form, and a receptacle configured to retain a melted form of the recyclable material. Thus, the recyclable material may be easily and conveniently stored for reprocessing. The apparatus may further separate the recyclable material according to the type of recyclable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Jody Langston
  • Patent number: 7562836
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for condensing, separating and storing recyclable materials. The apparatus, in one embodiment, selects a type of recyclable material, alters the recyclable material to a condensed form and stores the recyclable material in a designated receptacle. The apparatus may include an enclosure with one or more openings to receive an item made from a recyclable material, a selection module, a plurality of form altering modules, a plurality of receptacles, and a director module to automatically direct a recyclable material, responsive to a selection made with the selection module, to one of a plurality of receptacles according to the type of material selected. A system, in one embodiment, includes a recycling appliance and one or more modular form altering devices. The modular form altering devices may be interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Jody Langston
  • Patent number: 7461801
    Abstract: A multi-functional food processor contains a machine body and a top cover. It further includes a container and a driving device. The drive shaft of the driving device is extended to the container, and a juicer shredder, a vegetable shredder or a meat grinder blade is selectively installed in the transmission shaft, which is connected to the drive shaft. The top cover is provided with two feed tubes, where the first feed tube is used for feeding vegetables and fruits in conjunction with a first pusher. The second feed tube is used for feeding vegetables or meat into a vegetable shredder or a meat grinder blade in conjunction with push of the second pusher. A safety switch is mounted between the feed tubes, and it allows only one pusher to operate in each sole feed tube thus avoiding the food being fed into the wrong feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Lyu Jan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Li-Chen Wu Chang
  • Patent number: 7431229
    Abstract: A new method and concept for the recovery of valuable materials from solid waste and the conversion of organic solid waste and sewage into crude oil, gas, usable elemental solids and water uses a two step process, solid waste reduction and an organic fusion process. Two resources are used in the Waste Resource Process, solid waste (municipal garbage) and waste water (municipal sewage). Waste water goes directly into the Organic Fusion Process. Solid waste requires processing for removal of non-organic products and preparation of the organics that are used in the Organic Fusion Process. Solid waste organics used in the Organic Fusion Process include, plastics, papers, food and yard waste, organic construction debris, waste oils, many household and commercial chemicals; anything with a hydrocarbon molecular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Carl Gali
  • Patent number: 7264189
    Abstract: A hand-held hand-powered food processor having a pull cord motor for rotating a spindle that carries an arm. The arm can be a cutter blade or an elastomeric flexible peeler arm having a durometer of preferable between Shore 80A and Shore 82A. A food processor having a spindle, an elastomeric arm driven by the spindle, a stop block on a sidewall near the end of the arm, and a drive for rotating the spindle to rub against the skin of food in the processor for peeling the food. The cover of the processor has a flat outer periphery so the cover can be used as a storage unit for the contents of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Joshua R. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7258289
    Abstract: A combination food cutting, storage and shredder apparatus, having a cutting board and storage box containing a knife drawer and a garbage disposal drawer. A shredder is positioned just above the garbage disposal drawer and just below the cutting board for holding scraps and peelings left over from the cutting board for disposal. The storage box also contains an outwardly extending knife sharpener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Muzammal Butt
  • Patent number: 7163165
    Abstract: A tool for disintegrating coke has a housing attached to a drill stem in operation, at least one nozzle for cutting and one nozzle for drilling of coke, and at least one valve for closing and opening the nozzles, wherein the tool is adapted to have two different operating states and wherein the at least one valve closes off the cutting nozzles in the drilling operating state, while the drilling nozzles are closed off by the at least one valve in the cutting operating state, and wherein the housing, the valve and the nozzles are adapted so that water may flow unhindered from the drill stem through the housing and the valve and through the nozzles not closed off by the valve, wherein, the nozzles to be closed, for each chosen operating state, are closed off by the balls of a ball valve. An arrangement for operating the valve is arranged above the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ruhrpumpen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Paul, Dirk Heidemann, Maciej Bareikowski
  • Patent number: 7066418
    Abstract: A pepper grinder includes pepper and salt containers. The pepper container has first and second openings, through which first opening the container may be refilled with pepper seeds, and includes a pepper grinding mechanism in the second opening, through which ground pepper may be dispensed. The salt container has first and second openings, through which first opening the container may be refilled with salt and through which second opening salt may be dispensed. The two containers are releasably interconnected at their first openings, whereby both openings are closed. A coupler releasably connects the two containers together, which has a first part releasably connected to the pepper container first opening and a second part releasably connected to the salt container first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Wing Wo Plastic Manufactory Limited
    Inventor: Hong Wo Ng
  • Patent number: 6986476
    Abstract: A food processor (1) with two bowls (20, 21), which are of different constructions and each comprise a bottom wall (22, 31) and a tubular inner portion (28, 34) rising from the bottom wall (22, 31) into the bowl interior, comprises two transmission pieces (60, 61) which are preferably of different constructions and by means of which the formation of an inadmissible combination of a bowl (20, 21) and a tool (42, 45, 46), which can be introduced into the bowl (20, 21) and is associated with one of the bowls (20, 21), can be prevented in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Johann Unteregger
  • Patent number: 6827002
    Abstract: An automatic coffee maker having a grinding device is provided. Responsive to closing a door, activating an electromagnetic valve will move a covering member away from first apertures and counterclockwise pivot a stop with resilient means being expanded so that powering on a motor will activate a gear mechanism to transmit motion to an outer grinding mechanism for grinding coffee beans into powder which drops through aligned second and first apertures onto a filter cup in a base prior to falling into a bowl in the base by permeation. The coffee maker further comprises a particle fineness adjusting device so that a turning of a projecting bar thereof will adjust the powder fineness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 6298776
    Abstract: A turning device for food processors that include a rotatable cutter to cut foodstuffs to be processed. A stationary container is fitted with a lid, and a tubular member extends upwardly from the container bottom through which a driven shaft extends. The cutter is mounted on the shaft and includes a sleeve-like central part and radially-outwardly-extending cutting knives. The turning device includes at least a pair of strips that extend axially from a tubular holder that is adapted to fit over the central part of the cutter. In use, the turning device is disposed over the central part of the cutter with the holder positioned above the strips. The turning device extends longitudinally relative to the cutter to cover essentially the whole of the central part of the cutter above the position of the cutting knives, and it is stationary relative to the container during operation of the food processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: AB Hällde Maskiner
    Inventor: Ulf Ekström
  • Patent number: 6213008
    Abstract: A multi-functional food processor comprises a processing rack, a elevated device and/or a rotary device. An appropriate tool stand is selected to fixedly attach an end of the processor rack. Then, adjust the turning knob in the elevated device such that the wedge on the push lever displaces to actuate the wedge together with the base plate displacing vertically for changing the difference of elevation between the base plate and the cutter. When a treated food touches the cutter, the slice product with desired thickness or the powder product with desired grains can be cut or ground properly. For the treated food being cut into shreds, repeat procedures of selecting the tool stand and adjust the elevated device to obtain a desired difference of elevation between the base plate and the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Huo Feng Hsia Kuan