A hand-crank operated food processor includes a container with a removeable lid. The lid incorporates a number of gears that are operable by the hand crank to cause a drive shaft to spin, imparting a rotational force to a food processing implement such as a blade or a paddle carried on the drive shaft. The crank can be inserted into any one of a plurality of attachment points such that rotation of the crank handle in a selected attachment point will rotate the gears, and therefore the drive shaft, at a different rotational speed as compared to the rotational speed achieved at a different one of the plurality of attachment points at the same input speed from the crank.

A hand-crank operated food processor includes a container with a removeable lid. The lid incorporates a number of gears that are operable by the hand crank to cause a drive shaft to spin, imparting a rotational force to a food processing implement such as a blade or a paddle carried on the drive shaft. The crank can be inserted into any one of a plurality of attachment points such that rotation of the crank handle in a selected attachment point will rotate the gears, and therefore the drive shaft, at a different rotational speed as compared to the rotational speed achieved at a different one of the plurality of attachment points at the same input speed from the crank.

A handheld kitchen appliance assembly including a drive unit having a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, and a motor disposed within the housing and powered by the battery. The handheld appliance assembly also includes a tool having an attachment portion for releasably connecting the tool to the drive unit. The tool is selectively driven by the drive unit when the tool is connected to the drive unit. A charging unit includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive a portion of the drive unit. The charging unit includes a power supply and is configured to send a charging current to the battery of the drive unit to recharge the battery when the drive unit is received within the cavity. A cradle includes an opening sized and shaped to support the tool when the tool is disconnected from the drive unit. The cradle includes a linkage that is engagable with the charging unit for selectively connecting the cradle to the charging unit.

A handheld kitchen appliance assembly including a drive unit having a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, and a motor disposed within the housing and powered by the battery. The handheld appliance assembly also includes a tool having an attachment portion for releasably connecting the tool to the drive unit. The tool is selectively driven by the drive unit when the tool is connected to the drive unit. A charging unit includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive a portion of the drive unit. The charging unit includes a power supply and is configured to send a charging current to the battery of the drive unit to recharge the battery when the drive unit is received within the cavity. A cradle includes an opening sized and shaped to support the tool when the tool is disconnected from the drive unit. The cradle includes a linkage that is engagable with the charging unit for selectively connecting the cradle to the charging unit.

A versatile food processing system that can work with plurality of top-mounted food processing units of different types and sizes is disclosed. The motor base of the food processing system has a locking mechanism and safety actuators at different radial locations so that food processing units of different sizes can utilities the safety mechanism. One particular processing unit is especially useful for making noodles and vegetable strips. The processing unit comprises a stationary outer vessel and a rotating inner vessel. Blades are located on an inner lid of the inner vessel. The inner vessel spins in unison with the inner lid without a central shaft to avoid harm caused by the shaft to the quality of the resulting noodles.

A versatile food processing system that can work with plurality of top-mounted food processing units of different types and sizes is disclosed. The motor base of the food processing system has a locking mechanism and safety actuators at different radial locations so that food processing units of different sizes can utilities the safety mechanism. One particular processing unit is especially useful for making noodles and vegetable strips. The processing unit comprises a stationary outer vessel and a rotating inner vessel. Blades are located on an inner lid of the inner vessel. The inner vessel spins in unison with the inner lid without a central shaft to avoid harm caused by the shaft to the quality of the resulting noodles.

A grinder attachment for a food processing system is provided including a grinder base and a grinder cup defining a grinder chamber and a grinder opening. The grinder cup is mounted to the grinder base at a closed end of the grinder cup. The closed end is opposite the grinder opening. A rotatable blade assembly includes at least one blade positioned within the chamber of the grinder cup.

A grinder attachment for a food processing system is provided including a grinder base and a grinder cup defining a grinder chamber and a grinder opening. The grinder cup is mounted to the grinder base at a closed end of the grinder cup. The closed end is opposite the grinder opening. A rotatable blade assembly includes at least one blade positioned within the chamber of the grinder cup.

A blender system includes a base and a steamer basket. The basket is inserted into a container. The container has interior pillars. The basket contacts and rests on the pillars. The pillars keep the basket above blades disposed in the container. The basket receives foodstuff. The base includes a motor and a housing. The container is attached to the housing. The motor drives the blades to interact with contents within the container.