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. A special dough hook/stator arrangement reduces drag on the motor and an upwardly extending cover maximizes the effective volume of the mixing receptacle. A special blender blade configuration increases the effectiveness of the blender.

Abstract: In an electrical appliance for treating food products, the safety device which prevents access of the user's fingers to the tool mounted in the bowl when the motor is operating, is actuated by a rotating cam which, via a rod and ring, acts on the lid of the bowl. It is the lowering of this bowl which effects actuation of the angular immobilizing mechanism connected to the shaft of the motor and/or to the shaft of the tool, as well as control of the contactor connected to the circuit which supplies the motor.

Abstract: A blender is provided with a microprocessor for controlling energization of the blender drive motor, and a plurality of manually actuated switches for controlling the stepping of the microprocessor through a program which determines the mode and pattern of energization of the drive motor. There are N speed range selection switches, M speed selection switches and a pulse mode switch. Depending on the sequence in which these switches are actuated, the microprocessor controls the drive motor in a manual continuous mode at any one of N.times.M speeds, a manual pulse mode at any one of N.times.M speeds or an autopulse mode with any one of three patterns of energization. In the first pattern of energization the motor is energized to run at one of M constant speeds during intervals T1 which are separated by intervals T2 during which the motor is not energized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high speed homogenizer which has an adjustable gripping means to grip and hold containers of varying size. This gripping and holding means can be centered or decentered under the homogenizing tool. Decentering a container held by the gripping and holding means tends to minimize or even eliminate vortexing problems. The homogenizer also has electronic means for controlling the speed and time of operation of the homogenizing tool. The electronic control means of the homogenizer can also monitor the temperature of the sample being homogenized and respond to changes in temperature when necessary. The homogenizer can be easily adjusted up and down a vertical support post by a counter weighting mechanism such as a constant force spring.

Abstract: A machine specifically for making milkshakes and malts out of hard ice-cream in sixty seconds or less. The ice-cream and ingredients are placed in a container that can be locked and sealed to the underside of a housing designed especially for that purpose. Inside the housing are two gearmotors--one is used to rotate a shaft and mixing head at a given R.P.M. and torque. This gearmotor, with shaft and mixing head, is positioned vertically above the container and supported between two diametrically opposed rods, in a manner that permits easy vertical movement of the mixing head within the container. A second gearmotor provides the necessary R.P.M. and torque for this vertical movement. Secured to a mounting plate in the upper part of the housing; this second gearmotor, is linked to the first gearmotor by means of a rotor arm and rod member connected to a stud on the first gearmotor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing powdered or granular materials wherein a mixing vessel having a vertical axis is rotated 180.degree. about a horizontal axis from an initial upright position to an inverted mixing position, then rotated to an intermediate position angularly spaced from the initial position by an acute angle, and then returned to the initial position. The movement of the vessel from the initial position to the mixing position is faster than its movement from the mixing position to the intermediate position so that, when the vessel reaches the intermediate position, the surface of the material forms an angle to the vertical that is less than the acute angle. The vessel is maintained in the intermediate position for such a period of time that, when the vessel returns to its initial position, the surface of the material is substantially horizontal.

Abstract: A whipping machine comprising: a mixer body provided with a motor therein; a container placed on said mixer body; and an agitator with at least a disc portion provided in close proximity to the inner bottom surface of said container, said agitator being rotatably provided in said container substantially at the central portion of the bottom surface thereof in such a manner that the center axis of said discal portion is perpendicular to said bottom surface so as to agitate and whip a material charged into said container, and said disc portion being integrally provided with an indicator rod which protrudes upward from the center of the rotation of said disc portion and has a mark for indicating the height that the upper surface of the central portion of the whipped material is to reach when said material charged into said container has been whipped to said predetermined degree by the rotation of said agitator, which is suitable for whipping ice cream materials.

Abstract: A thermally insulated blender is comprised of a thermally insulated cover and container. The container has a bottom opening in which is sealably mounted a rotatable vertical driven shaft in a sealed bearing assembly. A base unit has a motor mounted within a housing. The top of the housing is adapted for receiving the bottom of the container in operating position. A vertical driving shaft extends from the top of the motor through an aperture in the top of the housing and engages the driven shaft in the container. A blade assembly on the driven shaft coacts with the contents of the container when the motor is actuated. Cold mixtures will remain cold in the container for prolonged periods.

Abstract: A splash guard (10) for a food mixer (11) having a housing from which a food agitator (17) downwardly extends including a base plate (22) having an opening (24) therein. A ring member (23) is positioned above the base plate (22) and surrounds the agitator (17). Rod members (27) carry the base plate (22) and ring member (23) so that when a cup (C) is placed below the base plate (22) and moved vertically, the base plate (22) and ring member (23) move upwardly with the rod member (27) while the agitator (17) enters the cup (C).

Abstract: A blender for installation under kitchen cabinets includes a housing mounted underneath the cabinet with a shaft detent connection bushing extending downwardly from the housing connected to a motor which is electrically controlled to provide various speeds to the bushing into which a shaft disengagingly connects having blending blades at the lower end with a cup shaped container with annular threads at the top edge which engage annular threads on the bottom wall of the housing to seal the container around the blender shaft with a switch to shut off the power with the cup container is not in position.

Abstract: An epicyclic mixing system for materials held in a tank is provided having dual concentric sun shafts which both orbit a pair of planetary drive shafts having mixing implements at their bottom ends and act to rotate the pair of planetary drive shafts about their own axes. The two concentric shafts are connected to dual drivers through separate drive systems so that the shafts can be selectively operated at different rotating speeds.Another epicyclic mixing system includes upper and lower housings driven about a central axis that extends through the upper housing by a sun drive shaft. The lower housing is adjustably secured to the upper housing. A first planetary drive shaft extends through the upper housing and a second planetary drive shaft extends through the lower housing. The first drive shaft is driven by a fixed sun gear about which the lower housing rotates so as to rotate the first drive shaft, which rotates the second drive shaft by way of a gear train.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: A food preparation appliance including a housing, an electric motor supported in said housing and adapted to receive alternating current. A tachometer senses rotation of said electric motor and feeds a tachometer signal to a frequency to voltage converter. A conversion ratio between said tachometer input signal and an output signal of said frequency to voltage converter is alterable by actuating a timer which causes a speed of the electric motor to decrease. The output signal of the frequency to voltage converter is supplied to an error amplifier where it is compared with a setpoint signal to generate an error signal supplied to a triac which controls a flow of electric power through the electric motor.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: A splatter shield (42) is positioned on a frontwall (34) of a hollow upright standard (14) of an electric drink mixer (10). The splatter shield includes a one-piece body (44) having a top flange (60) bent to form a rear flange (68) which engages an inner surface (38) of the hollow standard frontwall to cooperate with a mounting bolt (46) extending through an aperture (48) in the body into engagement with the frontwall to mount the splatter shield on the standard. A switch actuator mechanism (30) for activating a drink mixer motor (18) via a switch assembly (36) extends through a slot (32) defined in the frontwall and a slot (58) in the body to be contacted by a container (24) supported on a container support (54) which is also one-piece with the body.

Abstract: A blender for blending materials having a container with a container opening extending a distance therethrough and intersecting the upper end thereof, a cap removably connectable to the open upper end of the container, a mixer connected to the cap for blending the material and a drive assembly having a portion adapted to receive the cap with the container connected thereto and another portion removably engageable with the mixer for driving the mixer to blend the material contained in the container. The drive assembly is adapted to be battery operated and the blender of the present invention includes a recharger for recharging the blender batteries.

Abstract: A device for handling, like massage or mix, meat portions, provided with a wheeled container having a closing lid, for receiving a meat portion and stirring means operative in said container and beared in said lid wherein the inclination of the rotary axis of the stirring means is adjustable and the quantity of meat moved by the stirring means per rotation, is determined, and therefore the rate of massage, said stirring means being provided with at least one conduit for a cooling fluid to retain the meat temperature at a desired level.

Abstract: The drink mixer (10) includes a standard (12), base (14) and motor housing (16) formed to provide an integral, unitary wall structure adjacent a stirrer arm (18). The front of the standard and top of the base are protected by a removable splatter shield (22) which is properly positioned by a locator pin (118) formed on the standard (12). The splatter shield (22) is held in place by a cup support assembly (24) and a switch actuator assembly (26). This switch actuator assembly (26) operates a power switch assembly (58) including a flat slide plate (74) which shields a normally closed microswitch (96). The lower edge of the slide plate (74) contacts a switch actuating arm (100) to depress the microswitch button (98) when the slide plate is in an "off" position. The slide plate (74) moves away from the switch actuating arm (100) to release the switch button (98) and actuate the mixer ( 10).

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and stirring viscous liquids, particularly paints, contained in cans comprises a rotatable stand provided with circumferentially arranged tiltable trays for housing individual cans. A coupling member is rotatably mounted above each tray, and can be connected with a stirrer rotatably supported in the lid of the can housed in the respective tray.

Abstract: An electric household blender which effectively disables a person from placing his hand in the container while the blades are still rotating. The electric blender includes a container holder 2 and a motor base 4 having associated guide surfaces, a lock ring 9 rotatably mounted within said motor base, and lock bolts 8 arranged on the lock ring so as to protrude through openings 13 in the motor base housing. The lock bolts cooperate with pins 7 arranged on the container holder so as to align the lock bars with lock bolt supports 12 arranged in the container holder. The blender further includes a lock bar 11 which has a stud on one end and which defines a recess 29. The stud is adapted to cooperate with the lock ring for the rotation thereof, and the recess is adapted to selectively block or allow movement of a lock rod 26 equipped with a shoulder, which prevents rotation of said electric operating switch when the above locking elements are in their unlocked positions.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for a mixer latch utilized to prevent an undesirable unlatching of the mixer container when a mixer motor is still running after termination of mixing processing. The safety arrangement includes a locking arm to close the mixer including a catch at an end thereof, a base plate having an opening to receive the catch in a locking position, a motor contactor electrically connected to a mixer motor and having an axis. A cam with a curved outer surface is mounted on the axis of the motor contactor and is adapted to operatively engage a link mounted on the base plate for a swingable movement by rotation of the axis of the motor contactor. The link is operatively connected to a lever formed with an opening arranged to engage the catch of the locking arm when the latter is in a locking position.

Abstract: An appliance for making sorbet or ice cream and including means for preventing the mixer blades from becoming locked in the ice by effecting the progressive withdrawal of these blades from a vertical orientation towards a horizontal orientation under the action of the opposing torque applied to the blades by the hardening of the ice during freezing, and an automatic stopping device which is mechanically operable as a result of the withdrawal of the blades or a part associated therewith to break the motor supply circuit when the blades reach their withdrawn position.