A kitchen appliance for processing content is described. The kitchen appliance comprises a body portion, a removable accessory received by the body portion, the removable accessory being in contact with the content during processing thereof; and at least one sensor incorporated into the removable accessory. The kitchen appliance also comprises a wireless transmitter associated with the removable accessory, the transmitter receiving input from the at least one sensor and transmitting parameters associated with the input; and a controller in the body portion for controlling operation of the kitchen appliance based upon the parameters. The removable accessory is a food processing attachment that rotates with a mixing action.

A stand mixer appliance includes a casing that includes a base, a column mounted to the base, and a motor housing mounted to the column that extends outwardly above the base. A motor is positioned within the motor housing. The motor includes three pins. The motor housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion includes three slots where one of the three slots is elongated along a transverse direction of the motor, and the other two of the three slots are elongated along a lateral direction of the motor. The three pins of the motor extend perpendicular to the transverse direction, and each of the three pins of the motor are disposed within a respective one of the three slots of the second portion of the motor housing.

A method for operating an appliance, such as a stand mixer appliance, is provided. In one example implementation, the method can include injecting, via a controller of the stand mixer appliance, a high-frequency signal into a motor of the stand mixer appliance. The method can further include, responsive to injecting the high-frequency signal into the motor, processing, via the controller, one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection. The method can further include, responsive to processing the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection, determining, via the controller, one or more operating parameters based at least in part on the high-frequency signal injection.

A stand mixer (10) comprises a head unit (50) having a lower surface presenting, in operation, a downwardly-facing drive outlet for driving in rotation at least one tool suspended therefrom. The head unit is supported with the downwardly-facing drive outlet above a receiving location (30) for a mixing bowl (40). Driving means, including an electric motor (70) and associated transmission means for conveying rotary drive to the drive outlet, are provided. The mixer further comprises first (80) and second (90) coaxial driving outlets presented on an upper surface (52) of the head unit (50); the coaxial outlets (80, 90) run at different speeds and are driven from the motor (70) by means of an epicyclic gearbox (100). The motor (70) is housed in the support means (60) with its drive shaft (72) in substantial alignment with the coaxial drive outlets (80, 90).

A module includes a housing, a sealing feature, a locking feature, and an agitator. The housing has an opening separating inner and outer surfaces and a boss that extends through the housing such that part of the outer surface forms an inner bore of the boss having a terminus pointing toward the opening. The agitator has a base, a shaft, and a mixing element coupled to the base such that the base, in cooperation with the sealing feature, circumferentially seals the opening of the housing to form a cavity defined by the inner surface. The shaft passes through the inner bore. The locking feature when engaged permits independent or simultaneous translational and rotational movement of the shaft while an area between the terminus of the boss and the shaft remains mechanically sealed during the movement against liquid or powder encroachment into a clean area of the inner bore.

A damper mechanism for a stand mixer includes a swing body coupled to a pivot pin and operable along an actuation path between first and second positions. A piston damper is configured to provide a damping effect to a downward movement of a mixer head and is coupled to the swing body. The piston damper includes a damper housing and a piston rod, wherein the piston rod is operable between extended and compressed positions relative to the damper housing. The piston damper provides a damping effect along a portion of the actuation path of the swing body as a mixer head moves towards the closed position relative to a pedestal of the stand mixer.

An automated additive assembly for a micro-puree machine has a body including a reservoir configured for holding an additive ingredient. A channel is defined through the body, and a passage is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the channel. A plunger is configured for movement within the reservoir. Movement of the plunger within the reservoir in a first direction forces the additive ingredient through the channel such that the additive ingredient is combined with the processed ingredients extruded through the nozzle.

A bowl assembly for a micro-puree machine includes a processing bowl that is open on both ends. One end of the bowl is capped with a processing lid and the other end of the bowl is capped with an extrusion lid. The processing lid includes a blade that is engageable with to a driven shaft of the machine for processing the ingredients. The processing lid is also couplable to a nozzle for dispensing the finished product during the extrusion process. The extrusion lid includes a plunger that is also engageable with the driven shaft for extruding the processed ingredients through the nozzle as it moves through the bowl.

A food processing tool is provided with a base forming an operative surface disposed above a work surface. A first blade is disposed adjacent and generally parallel to the operative surface. A main body has a sidewall forming a chamber with front and rear openings. A rotatable rod extends into the chamber, and an external handle rotates the rod. A pusher element is attached to the rod and includes a set of pins extending from its lower surface to engage a food item. A second blade may be mounted in a slot adjacent the work surface and have a plurality of cutting points extending upwardly from a central spine, generally perpendicular to the first blade. A cover is removably attachable to the operative surface to cover the blades. A top face of the cover has a pin receiving structure to assist in removing the pusher from the rod.

A food processing apparatus (1) is disclosed comprising, when assembled, a collection bowl (30) comprising an alignment portion (32) on a bowl floor (31); a separation basket (40) mounted in the collection bowl and comprising a lower central aperture (41) facing the alignment portion (32); a drive unit (50) comprising a power delivery interface (51); and a food processing assembly. The food processing assembly comprises a food processing member (20) having a maximum diameter larger than the lower central aperture diameter within the separation basket and having a body (21) comprising an engagement portion (22) facing the alignment portion; and a shaft (10) for engaging the food processing member with the power delivery interface, the shaft comprising an engagement member engaging with the alignment portion (32) and having an upper portion extending through the lower central aperture towards the drive unit, the upper portion having a maximum diameter smaller than the lower central aperture diameter and being slidably engaged with the engagement portion.