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.

An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

A vibration damper system used in a food processor to reduce the vibration of a high power motor that has varying speed cycles is disclosed. The motor is suspended from a ceiling that is mounted to the motor base through a plurality of bolted joints. The bolted joints are surrounded by a grommet that has a unique shape. The grommet comprises generally three parts, which are an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion. The middle portion is smaller than other portion so that it creates a recess for the ceiling to be sandwiched between the grommet. In a preferred embodiment, the lower portion of the grommet further comprises a plurality of petal members that provide a non-uniform spring rate to the grommet so that the grommet is adapted best to reduce the upward impulse of the motor. The food processor also contains a novel air ventilation system.

A stand mixer includes a base configured for resting on a surface and a mixing head coupled to the base so as to be moveable between a lowered, operative position and a raised, non-use position. A locking mechanism is engageable between the base and the mixing head and has a solenoid having an operative end moveable between a rest condition and an actuated condition and a swing arm pivotably mounted with respect to the solenoid. The swing arm is moveable between a locked position, wherein the swing arm is engaged between the mixing head and the base, and a release position, wherein the swing arm is disengaged from the base. The solenoid acts on a lever end of the swing arm to move the swing arm into the release position when the solenoid is in the actuated condition.

A food processing apparatus includes a body. The food processing apparatus includes a first connection interface disposed on the body and configured to selectively receive a mixing tool. The food processing apparatus includes a drive unit disposed in the body and configured to rotate the mixing tool via the first connection interface. The food processing apparatus includes a second connection interface disposed on the body and configured to selectively receive an attachment having an electrical component. The second connection interface includes an electrical interface. The food processing apparatus includes a power circuit configured to supply electrical power to the electrical component via the electrical interface.

The present application relates to a lid (3) for a food processor (1). The lid is releasably attachable to a container (3) to enclose a food processing tool unit (4) which is operated by a drive unit (5). The lid (3) has a drive unit mount (28) to releasably mount a drive unit (5) to the lid (3), an attachment element to releasably attach the lid (3) to a container (2), and a locking element operable to engage a container (2) attached to the lid (3) when a drive unit (5) is mounted to the lid (3). Therefore, detachment of the lid (3) from a container (2) is prevented by the locking element when a drive unit (5) is mounted to the lid (3). The present application also relates to a food processor (1).

A hand-held blender includes a housing and a body. The body is disposed in the housing, and the body comprises a microprocessor, a pressure sensor, a pressure button, a driving device, a coupling, a stirring rod, a power switch and a safety protection device; the coupling is connected with the stirring rod and driving device, respectively; the microprocessor is connected with the driving device. The safety protection device includes a safety switch and a security processing chip; the security processing chip is connected with the safety switch and the microprocessor, respectively; the microprocessor unlocks or locks the whole circuit of the hand-held blender only after receiving the signal of unlocking or locking from the security processing chip; the pressure sensor is connected with the pressure button and the microprocessor, respectively; the microprocessor controls the voltage provided to the driving device in accordance with the pressure applied on the pressure button.

A child-friendly mixing apparatus for mixing various food substances is disclosed. The mixing apparatus includes a container with an opening, a lid that fits into the opening, and a mixing assembly. The lid includes a centrally located hole that has shaped sides, and a conductive ring. The mixing assembly includes a housing, a motor within the housing, a mixing attachment that is rotated by the motor, and two electrical connector pins. The mixing attachment fits through the lid hole and the lower end of the mixing assembly rests against the shaped sides of the lid hole. The electrical connector pins are connected electrically by the conductive ring when the mixing assembly is placed in the lid in an operational position, thus engaging the motor.

A stand mixer includes a casing forming a base, a column extending from the base, and a motor housing connected to the column, the casing including an air inlet and an air outlet; a motor assembly provided within the motor housing, the motor assembly including a motor shaft; and a cooling fan provided adjacent to the air inlet, the cooling fan being rotatable about a fan shaft. The fan shaft is separate from the motor shaft and the cooling fan is operated independently from the motor assembly.

A method of operating a blender having a rotatable cutting blade in a food preparation chamber includes providing a sensing light assembly, generating at least one sensing light beam below the food preparation chamber, inserting a cup containing food to be blended into the food preparation chamber, generating an error signal if a foreign object crosses the sensing light beam, and preventing or stopping rotation of the cutting blade in response to the error signal.