Abstract: A versatile food appliance includes a set of hardware components common to a plurality of single-purpose food appliances. The set of hardware components is controlled by a microcontroller executing a program from a repertoire thereof stored in the general-purpose food appliance. Many processing programs are stored for operating the appliance in different modes and for processing different kinds of food by using different ingredients. Each processing program is assigned a code and can be selected by specifying the code associated with it from a control panel. The programs may be further modified parametrically by a group of process parameters. Ingredients to be used in each of the programs may be in a premixed form in a package with the code optionally labeled thereon. The repertoire of programs is updatable by the user. In the preferred embodiment, a memory card interface allows updated programs to be introduced via a removable flash memory card.

Abstract: A kitchen robot comprises a housing (2) containing a motor unit (4) whose output shaft (6) vertically projects from the housing and with an upper face (10) for receiving a first removable accessory (22) comprising a bowl (33) housing a rotating implement (36) integral with a vertical shaft (38) coaxially coupled with the motor shaft (6). The housing has a base (12) run through by a driving shaft (14) connected to the motor shaft (6) by a belt hoisting mechanism (16) designed for receiving a second removable accessory (24). The bowl (33) is mounted movable on a base plate (50) run through by the motor shaft (6) and which, before the bowl is fixed, is mounted flatly adjustable on the housing (2) so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft (6), and is fixed on the housing (2) after being adjusted.

Abstract: In an automatic bread maker, after the temperature of temperature control means (7) reaches a predetermined temperature, the rate of energization of a heater (2) is fixed by control means (14), and by doing so, bread, having a predetermined baking color, can be stably prepared.

Abstract: The electric food processor has a housing in which there is disposed an electric motor with a motor shaft. The motor shaft, via a gear mechanism, drives three or more concentric output drives at different rotational speeds. The common axis of rotation of the output drives is spaced a distance from the motor shaft. Working tools are selectively coupled to the output drives and the working tools rotate in a working container which is placed on the housing. In order to expand the possible uses of the food processor, the fastest output drive rotates at a speed that is suitable for a mixing tool, and the gear mechanism has at least two sets of input gear teeth that are rotatably mounted independently of each other, so that the fastest output drive can be driven out of direct engagement with the slower output drives.

Abstract: A press for food products adapted to be reduced to a puree, comprising a working bowl (12) closed by a removable cover (21) and enclosing a rotatable press tool (23) comprising a central vertical shaft (27) which carries at least one pressing blade (30) whose external edge extends toward the lateral wall of the bowl (12), and which is coupled in rotation to a drive shaft (19) of a motor group by means of a coupling device (38). The blade (30) is maintained in contact against a sieve (40) fixed under the action of a return spring (44) associated with the blade-carrying shaft (27) so as to effect, upon turning, the pressing and the passage of the food products through the sieve, and the assembly formed by the blade (30) and the shaft (27) which carries the blade (30) being moreover adapted, in the case in which the blade (30) encounters a hard body, to rise against the force of the return spring (44).

Abstract: A filter assembly for a blender including a hollow cylindrical filter member, a main cap member, and a plunger assembly. The main cap member encloses a top opening of the blender such that the filter member is positioned within the container of the blender and surrounds the blade member located at the base of the container. A pusher plate of the plunger assembly forces the fruit pieces toward the bland member to be processed, where the fruit juice from the fruit pieces is allowed to flow through perforations on the filter member from a pulp compartment to a juice compartment while pulps are retained within the pulp compartment and the fruit juice can be poured out from an off-centered spout of the main cap member to be consumed without pulps.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety switch structure of a mixer adjustable for a juice extractor in which one safety switch is bound to a main body to which a mixer adjustable for a juice extractor is connected in turns; the bound switch is operated by each special pressing device; the pressing devices are installed to be connected to the pressing devices installed separately at the juice extracting cup and the mixing cup, whereby each safety switch is operated when each juice extracting cup or mixing cup is connected to the main body so that all of the juice extracting cup and the mixing cup used in two ways can be used safely.

Abstract: A magnetic induction drive for a rotatable driven member in a sealed housing, in particular, a shaft-mounted blade in a blender cup, uses a comparatively thin circular plate of a magnetizable material with circumferentially arrayed poles secured within the housing to the shaft. A brushless d.c. motor in a base separate from the housing has a rotor formed as an array of pie-shaped permanent magnet regions that interact with an electronically controlled, rotating electromagnetic field produced by a ring of stator coils. A second such permanent magnet is coupled to rotate coaxially and in unison with the rotor, with poles of opposite polarity aligned and adjacent one another. A steel disc is sandwiched between and bonded to the rotor and the second permanent magnet. The magnetic field (lines of flux) of the second magnet extends axially away from the rotor to induce magnetic poles of opposite polarity in the drive plate.

Abstract: A blade is provided for use in a blender wherein the blade is to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation. The blade is formed with a central hub portion defining a horizontal plane, and in a preferred arrangement, has four tines extending outwardly from said hub portion with each tine angularly spaced at 90.degree. to two adjacent tines to form two opposed pairs of tines, however, with the tines being arranged asymmetrical to one another. In order to reduce vibration and torque occasioned by the asymmetrical arrangement of the tines, each tine in an opposed pair is formed to be balanced to the other tine with respect to a first product of its mass times a distance of its center of mass from the center of rotation and with respect to a further product of its mass times a distance of its center of mass from the axis of rotation and times a distance of its center of mass from the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A magnetically driven agitator for a mixture contained in a recipient which agitator is supported by a collar hermetically mounted in a wall of the recipient and which collar is provided with a blind sleeve inside which is housed a drive shaft provided with a first magnetic coupling. A propelling screw is disposed around the blind sleeve and is provided with a second magnetic coupling adapted to cooperative with the first magnetic coupling for driving the propelling screw about an axis of rotation. A third magnetic element carried by the propelling screw is disposed opposite a cell for detecting the movement of the third coupling element during rotation of the propelling screw about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A combined baker and ice cream maker includes a base plate, a barrel-receiving container, and a bread baking unit and an ice cream making unit which are to be selectively received in the container. Each of the bread baking unit and the ice cream making unit has a bottom mounting portion. A heater is disposed inside the container. A barrel seat is mounted on the base plate for selectively seating the bread baking unit and the ice cream making unit thereon. A shaft extends through the base plate into the barrel seat. A driving unit is mounted on the base plate, and is connected to the shaft. A switch is mounted on the base plate, and is connected to the heater. A lever is pivotally mounted on the base plate and has opposite first and second ends. The first end extends to the switch, while the second end extends to the barrel seat.

Abstract: A cooking machine which has: a cooking vessel removably provided in a case cavity and having an open top; a rotary shaft extending through a bottom of the cooking vessel and having an upper end to be fitted with an agitator blade; a driving mechanism provided below the cooking vessel for rotatively driving the rotary shaft of the cooking vessel; a heater provided in the case cavity for adjusting an ambient temperature within the case cavity; and a steam generating mechanism for supplying steam into the cooking vessel. The cooking machine selectively performs a kneading process for kneading an ingredient put in the cooking vessel, a shaping/fermenting process for allowing an ingredient to expand to a predetermined level in the cooking vessel, a baking process for baking an ingredient, and a steaming process for steaming an ingredient in the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A juice extractor is provided that includes an induction motor supported by a housing and having a rotatable shaft that is operably interconnected with comminuting basket adapted to pulverize food products, e.g., fruit and/or vegetables, into juice bearing pulp. The comminuting basket extracts the juice from the pulp and ejects the juiceless pulp. A servo-control mechanism is arranged in electrical and controlling cooperation with the induction motor, and is responsive to the rate of rotation of the shaft for maintaining the shaft at a substantially constant rate of rotation when the induction motor is in a power-on state and the comminuting basket is comminuting the food products. A bowl is positioned in substantially surrounding relation to the comminuting basket so as to (i) collect the juice and (ii) direct the juice to an exit opening in the bowel.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus that employs mixing blades that are capable of producing rotational mixing action and a vertically oscillating mixing action so that the blades are moveable within the apparatus from an area of a relatively larger volume to an area of a relatively smaller volume.

Abstract: The method of treating an aqueous, cementitious slurry, to enhance fluidity, that includes providing a container for the slurry and effecting movement of the slurry via an impeller, in the container, and locating at least one vibrator in the interior of the vessel, and operating the vibrator to transmit vibration to the moving slurry.

Abstract: A material processor having an enclosure with an ingress to receive material into the enclosure, and a discharge to remove homogenous material from the enclosure. A spindle is located in the enclosure, has a longitudinal spindle axis, and is rotatable about the spindle axis. A drive is operatively connected with the spindle to rotate the spindle about the spindle axis. A centrifugal sieve is located in the enclosure and coupled with the spindle. The ingress feeds material into the sieve. A conveyor is connected with the discharge to transfer mixed material from the enclosure. The conveyor further has a generally cylindrical tube with a tube diameter, two opposing ends, and a tube axis extending through the ends. A helical blade extends along the tube axis between the two ends and is rotated about the tube axis. More particularly, the helical blade may have a series of blade tips that are spaced along the tube axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blender that employs a combination of mixing blades and a stirring bar that are capable of producing rotational mixing action and rotational stirring action. The invention includes mixing blades which are in communication with a drive source for the production of rotational movement and the use of a gear reduction transmission to provide rotational stirring action that operates at a slower rate of speed than the mixing blades.

Abstract: A baby formula preparation system is provided including a blender with a blade assembly for agitating fluid within the blender upon the actuation of an associated blending mechanism. Also included is a pump assembly situated adjacent to the blender for pumping fluid within the blender when actuated.

Abstract: A versatile food appliance includes a set of hardware components common to a plurality of single-purpose food appliances. The set of hardware components is controlled by a microcontroller executing a program from a repertoire thereof stored in the general-purpose food appliance. Many processing programs are stored for operating the appliance in different modes and for processing different kinds of food by using different ingredients. Each processing program is assigned a code and can be selected by specifying the code associated with it from a control panel. The programs may be further modified parametrically by a group of process parameters. Ingredients to be used in each of the programs may be in a premixed form in a package with the code optionally labeled thereon. The repertoire of programs is updatable by the user. In the preferred embodiment, a memory card interface allows updated programs to be introduced via a removable flash memory card.

Abstract: An automatic stirring apparatus for stirring food materials which are contained within a kitchen cooking implement such as a pot. The device comprises a telescoping housing having motor driven rotating wheels extending outward from each end. A plurality of elongated stirring wands extend from the housing. The housing is placed upon the bottom of a pot or upon the top lip of the side wall. Upon activation of the motor, the rotating wheels abut a wall of the pot and cause the housing to rotate, thus pulling the elongated stirring wands through the food material in a stirring motion.

Abstract: A bread maker wherein a bread vessel, having breadstuff charged therein, is mounted within an oven chamber having a heater, a kneader and a temperature sensor, and a kneading step, a fermentation step and a baking step are automatically effected, thereby making bread, comprises; a steaming plate for producing steam within the oven chamber; a cooking plate for supporting shaped dough pieces thereon can be removably mounted within the oven chamber in exchange for the bread vessel; and a fan device for convecting heat, generated by the heater, within the oven chamber.

Abstract: A motorized blender which includes a gasoline powered engine with an integral gas tank attached within a base frame assembly which has numerous steel tubing legs. The gasoline engine is attached utilizing rubber mounting brackets while vibration pads are provided on the ends of the tubing legs. The drive shaft of the gasoline engine mates with a blending drive unit attached to a top portion of the base plate member while a blender vessel is provided which attaches to a top portion of the base plate member. The base frame assembly includes two handle portions extending horizontally and from opposing sides of the base frame assembly and where an on/off operation switch is mounted near one handle and a rotational throttle control is mounted on the other handle so that the handles can be used for gripping the motorized blender when in use and wherein the blender controls are mounted next to and on the handles for easy use and operation of the blender.

Abstract: An automatic bread maker capable of permitting a user to easily perform a necessary work in using the bread maker, such as setting of menu and preparation of materials, without referring to an operation manual or a cooking recipe. This automatic bread maker comprises: a bread baking mold having a kneading blade at an inner bottom portion thereof; a baking case for detachably accommodating said bread baking mold and having a heater mounted along an inner wall surface thereof; a temperature detector for detecting temperature in the baking case; a memory for storing a plurality of bread making menus and data regarding each menu; a display device for displaying various data stored in the memory; an input operation panel for inputting a start command of a bread making operation and selection of the bread making menu; and controller for invoking various data from the memory in accordance with the bread making menu inputted through the input means.

Abstract: A stirring device for a container, such as a baby bottle, said stirring device exhibiting a recess which closes off the container opening when the container is inverted. The recess is fitted with an inner wall section with an inside thread for screwing in the container. A drive shaft of a stirrer extends through the bottom of the recess. The housing consists of an outer wall section, the inner wall section with the bottom and a ring section which connects the outer wall section with the inner wall section. The housing is closed off with a bottom plate. The batteries that supply electrical power to the stirrer motor are placed vertically between the outer wall section and the inner wall section.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance in the form of an oven for baking, roasting and broiling is associated with a bread making apparatus featuring a bread baking pan adapted to be selectively placed into the oven. The oven includes heating elements at least at the top and bottom of the oven chamber. The bread making apparatus includes a metallic pan with a structure for locating the pan at a predetermined position within the oven chamber. In this position, a drive mechanism can rotate a blade for kneading dough in the pan.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for homogenizing and/or heating a liquid or mashy substance contained in a container. The container is connectable with the device. The device includes a socket element for retaining and fixing a container containing the liquid or mashy substance and a base body capable of being connected with the socket element. The base body includes a device for homogenizing the liquid or mashy substance and/or a device for heating the liquid or mashy substance.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus with a base unit (1) which has at least two separate mounts (2, 3), each for one processing bowl (4, 6), with one drive member (7, 8) positioned in the area of each of the mounts (2, 3) and being in driving connection with an electric motor, is equipped with a safety device. This safety device serves the purpose of ensuring that only one processing bowl (4) at a time can be mounted on the appliance in an operating position, while the safety device inhibits a second processing bowl (6) from being accommodated in the other mount (3). To accomplish this, a safety element (11) is provided which is adjustable between two blocking positions. When the safety element (11) is in the one position, the first mount (2) is rendered unable to accommodate a processing bowl while the second mount (3) is enabled to accommodate a processing bowl.

Abstract: A vertical feed mixer has a mixing chamber containing a rotatable auger having a generally helical flight that is tapered to converge from bottom to top. The flight has a periphery with several successive substantially straight sections where each straight section has a blade at a trailing end thereof. A curved vertical blade is mounted on the lowermost portion of the flight near the periphery. The mixer requires much less horsepower to mix the same amount of feed as conventional mixers.

Abstract: An automatic bread maker comprises: an oven chamber having a heater, a kneader and a temperature sensor; a bread vessel mounted within the oven chamber, ingredients being charged into the bread vessel; and controller for controlling the heater so as for a temperature within the oven chamber, which is detected by the temperature sensor to be maintained at a fermentation temperature.

Abstract: A breadmaker having a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor. Because the container is sealed in place in the housing, no foodstuff can enter the housing. Because the heating of the container is direct, less heat is wasted. The paddle may be lifted at the end of the baking cycle to aid removal of the cooled bread loaf. A hinged lid that is partially opened by a spring biassed plunger at the end of each baking cycle allows for ventilation of the container.

Abstract: A rotating mixer for mixing drinks utilizes a tumbler-type container attached to a base and a rotatable whisk. The whisk is turned by rotatable gears, one of which is attached to a motor and one of which is attached to the base of the container. The motor is housed in a motor housing unit and is powered by batteries, or, alternatively, by an AC adapter. The motor housing unit includes a collar that is inserted into a sleeve in the bottom of the container base to provide a stable guide for aligning the motor gear and whisk gear. The detachable base also provides a stable platform for the container when it is not engaged with the motor housing unit. The detachable base may be a lightweight, yet sturdy, two-piece unit comprising a sleeve section and a coupling section. The motor housing unit fits into a tray which is adapted for use as a serving tray and which also functions as a battery recharger when plugged into an electrical outlet. The tray comprises holders for holding one or more containers.

Abstract: A roasting apparatus includes an outer annular wall, an inner annular wall disposed in the outer annular wall to define a roasting chamber, a radiant heating element disposed on an inner surface of the inner annular wall, an oil accumulating plate disposed in the roasting chamber and having a hub portion underneath thereof and coaxial with a rotating shaft in the roasting chamber, a roasting rack member above the oil accumulating plate, a speed reduction mechanism to couple the rotating shaft and the hub portion such that the latter rotates at a speed slower than that of the rotating shaft to drive the oil accumulating plate and the roasting rack member.

Abstract: A food processor having two mutually spaced sensors (14, 15) in the upper part (13) of the stand. One of the sensors or both of the sensors is/are adapted to coact with sensor-parts (16, 17, 18) placed respectively in a container lid (7) and a feed device (11). Either the lid or the feed device is provided with a sensor-part adapted to co-act with solely one (14) of the sensors in the stand (1) while the other of the lid or the feed device is provided with two mutually spaced sensor-parts adapted to co-act with both of the sensors (14, 15) in the stand. The stand sensors (14, 15) are connected to a control circuit (21) which functions to sense which of the sensors is active and to cause the motor regulating circuit (23) to activate the motor in two different speed ranges, depending on whether only one or both of the sensors (14, 15) is/are active.

Abstract: A kneading paddle extraction device for removing the kneading paddle from a loaf of bread made by an automatic bread making machine, while minimizing damage to the loaf, is provided. A kneading paddle containing a substantially central aperture for receiving a motor shaft is grasped by one or more rods, each rod having a hook which is inserted through the aperture, with the preferred embodiment additionally utilizing a sliding wedge for grasping the kneading paddle.

Abstract: An apparatus for baking bread and making ice cram includes a housing unit, a bread baking assembly, an ice-cream making assembly and a base assembly. A selected one of the bread baking assembly and the ice-cream making assembly can be mounted into the housing unit and can be activated by a motor-driven member of the base assembly.

Abstract: The device serves for mixing and degassing a free-flowing compound (5), in particular a casting resin containing filler. The device has an evacuable container (1, 6) of cylindrical design, the container axis (2) of which is aligned essentially in the vertical direction. Provided in the interior of the container is a rotatable plate (13), fastened on an axially guided shaft (12), for distributing compound (5) fed into the container (1, 6), as well as a thin-layer degassing system (14) which can be heated and cooled and degasses the compound (5) fed by the distributing plate (13). A stirrer homogenizes the degassed compound collected in the interior of the container. The thin-layer degassing system (14) occupies the major part of the space present between the shaft (12) and the wall of the container (1, 6).

Abstract: An automatic cooker is capable of cooking food according to automatic cooking data stored in a control card. The automatic cooker includes a cooking container for receiving raw food therein, a cooking implement assembly for performing at least one cooking operation on the food in the cooking container, a housing formed with a card slot for insertion of the control card, and a card-type controller mounted in the housing and connected to the cooking implement assembly. The controller receives removably the control card that is inserted from an exterior of the housing via the card slot, and reads the automatic cooking data stored in the control card so as to control operation of the cooking implement assembly in accordance with the automatic cooking data read from the control card in order to cook the food in the cooking container.

Abstract: A single loaf breadmaker has a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor . Because the container is sealed in place in the housing and because the heating of the container is direct, no foodstuff can enter the housing and much less heat is wasted. Means are described for lifting the paddle at the end of backing to aid removal of each cooked bread loaf.

Abstract: A blender comprising a jar or jug having a wall, an inner surface of which extends substantially vertically except towards the lower end and which has on the inner surface a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ribs projecting from the wall towards the central axis of the jar or jug there being on a central vertical spindle near the bottom of the jar or jug a first rotating blade assembly having at its lower end a drive connection for an electric motor, the blade assembly consisting of a pair of blades projecting radially from the central axis, a second assembly of blades being mounted on the central spindle at a level higher than that of the first assembly, the second assembly consisting of a plurality of blades extending radially outwards from the central axis at about the same level but in different directions and at different angles to the central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase has at least two parts (1, 4) which can be driven with the aid of at least one drive and caused to rotate relative to one another, form a processing gap (6, g1, g2, g1', g2') between one another and are mounted relative to one another by means of at least one rotary bearing (2 or 3). One part is in the form of processing container (1) having at least one feed orifice (9) and at least one outflow orifice (11). The other part (4) is arranged essentially concentrically with the first part (1) and with the axis of rotation (A). At least one of the two parts (1 or 4) is provided with shearing tools (7, 8) on the surfaces (12, 16) facing one another. The processing container (1) is essentially conical, the cone having its smaller end face on the side of the feed orifice (9).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional food processing machine, comprising: a main part, having a first tooth element on the upper side, a second tooth element around the first tooth element on the upper side and a motor, which drives a rotational movement of the first and second tooth elements, the motor being controlled by a switch; and a processing part, sitting on the upper side of the main part, the processing part having a casing, a rotatable third tooth element, which engages with the first tooth element or the second tooth element, and a processing unit, which is connected with the third tooth element, rotating therewith, and housed in the casing; wherein the processing unit rotates, as controlled by the switch, so as to process food.

Abstract: A container is provided for slurry; an impeller is provided to effect slurry movement in the container; and a vibrator is operated for transmitting sufficient vibration to the moving slurry to lower the water/cement ratio to a low level, and at a water temperature within a specified range. The location of vibration transmission from the vibrator can be adjusted along the wall of the container.

Abstract: An agitator paddle rotor for mash kettles in brewing, the rotor being rotatingly arranged above the bottom of the mash kettle, comprising at least two radially extending agitator paddles of which each comprises at least one obliquely oriented paddle section. To obtain an effective thorough mixing, at least one paddle section has a front paddle portion which is the front one in rotational direction and which substantially ends in parallel with the bottom of the mash kettle, an upwardly oriented central paddle portion, and a rear paddle portion which is the rear one in rotational direction and is substantially oriented in parallel with the bottom of the mash kettle.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the heads of electrical welding robots, the heads including a gas casing and an electrical contact nozzle. The apparatus includes an open vessel which has connected thereto one or more ultrasonic generators which function to generate ultrasonic waves in a liquid contained in the vessel. The vessel has mounted therein a rotary device which is located beneath the upper surface of the liquid. The rotary device operates as a mode stirrer to help loosen rings of weld material that have been deposited at the gas casing outlet. Additionally, wire brushes and cutting tools can be provided on the rotary device and rotationally driven to assist in weld material removal from the casing outlet.

Abstract: A food processor that includes a machine stand, a basin, or jug, for receiving the foodstuff or foodstuffs to be processed, a basin lid, and one or more knives located at the bottom of the basin and driven by a drive shaft that projects up vertically through the bottom of the basin. The machine stand (1) includes a low front part (6) which is adapted to support the basin (2) when the processor is in operation, and a rear upstanding part (7) that extends up to approximately the same level as the upper level of the basin (2) when the basin is placed on the machine stands. A motor (8) is housed in the lower portion of the rear part (7); and a lid holder (9) is mounted at the upper portion of the rear part (7) and can be swung about a horizontal pivot shaft (10) between a raised first pivot position and a lowered second pivot position (FIG. 2 d).

Abstract: The invention concerns a food processor (1) with a mixing vessel (6) and a drive mechanism (8) for an agitator (10) in the mixing vessel (6), the lower region of which can be heated. As an improvement on a food processor (1) of this type, it is proposed that a weighing device (16) should be provided and that the weighing device (16) should determine the weight of a mixing pot support (7) including a heating unit (40).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical appliance for automatically preparing a baby-feeding formulation at a prescribed hour, and for maintaining the prepared formulation at a preferred temperature for a limited period of time prior to consumption by an infant. The device may be powered by any power source for providing either alternating current or direct current.

Abstract: An improved breadmaker not only has a baking pan placed inside a baking chamber above a heater but also a centrifugal fan for pushing air upward therethrough. A partition wall with upper and lower openings separates the fan from the baking pan such that the upwardly pushed hot air is caused to flow downward around the baking pan. The baking pan is thereby heated uniformly and heat energy is efficiently utilized. Many processing programs are stored for producing different kinds of bread by using different ingredients. Each processing program is assigned a code and can be selected by specifying the code associated with it from a control panel. Ingredients to be used in each of the programs may be in a premixed form in a package.

Abstract: A milkshake machine or similar apparatus uses the grinding and shredding principles employed by conventional impeller-type waster disposers. The milkshake machine has a housing that defines an upper grinding chamber and a lower receiving chamber separated by a rotatable impeller disk that mixes together and drives ingredients to be mixed against shredding surfaces on the inner wall of the grinding chamber. The receiving chamber has a discharge outlet, and a return inlet is provided in the housing above the grinding chamber. A discharge conduit is connected at one end to the discharge outlet at has a return port and a discharge spout at its opposite end. A return conduit is connected at one end to the return port of the discharge conduit and at its opposite end to the return inlet. A valve mechanism is provided to divert the mixed and ground ingredients expelled into the discharge conduit either into the return conduit and back into the grinding chamber or out of the discharge spout.

Abstract: A sealed bushing arrangement guides an agitator rotor shaft through an aperture located on the bottom surface of a popping bowl in a popcorn popping assembly. The bushing arrangement has a top portion raised above the bottom surface of the bowl, and may include a cover plate for retaining the seal or seals within the bushing and for securely attaching the bushing to the bottom surface of the popping bowl. The bushing further includes a lower bushing for operative association with the rotor shaft. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of stacked seals are provided within the bushing to prevent cooking oil from leaking out of the popping bowl along the agitator rotor shaft. The bushing further preferably includes an inner bushing for operative association with the agitator rotor shaft, a middle bushing, and an outer bushing. The inner and outer bushings are comprised of materials which have an expansion rate characteristic lower than that of the rotor shaft.