A soft start circuit for a mixer is provided that includes an input for receiving an analog voltage representing a raw target speed; a current mirror for causing a speed target to change at a constant rate when the raw target speed represents a change from a current speed; and a comparator for receiving and comparing the raw target speed and an output from the current mirror and restricting the output from exceeding the raw target speed in order to restrict a soft start to only impede the speed target change when the raw target speed is increasing while not impeding the speed target change when the raw target speed is decreasing. The output of the soft start circuit is an analog representation of a soft start modified desired target speed.

A food chopper blade column for use in a food chopper having a receptacle and cover. The column will be rotated in a cutting direction within the chopper during use, and mounts a plurality of cantilevered blades spaced circumferentially about the column. The upper blades include a leading edge having a single bevel cutting edge on their lower face, as well as trailing edge which is angled downward. The lowermost blade includes a leading edge having a single bevel cutting edge on its upper face, and a flat trailing edge.

A blender having bi-directionally rotatable blades includes: a blade assembly including a main blade shaft that is provided to allow a first blade and a first main coupler to integrally rotate in a forward direction and a reverse-rotation blade shaft that is provided to allow a second blade and a first reverse-rotation coupler to integrally rotate in a reverse direction; and a gearbox assembly including a main gear shaft that is provided to allow a second main coupler and a main gear to rotate in the forward direction, at least one sub-gear that is engaged with the main gear and rotates in the reverse direction, a ring gear to which the sub-gear is internal and engaged, and a second reverse-rotation coupler that is configured to integrally rotate with the ring gear in the reverse direction and transmit the reverse rotation to the first reverse-rotation coupler.

A blender having bi-directionally rotatable blades includes: a blade assembly including a main blade shaft that is provided to allow a first blade and a first main coupler to integrally rotate in a forward direction and a reverse-rotation blade shaft that is provided to allow a second blade and a first reverse-rotation coupler to integrally rotate in a reverse direction; and a gearbox assembly including a main gear shaft that is provided to allow a second main coupler and a main gear to rotate in the forward direction, at least one sub-gear that is engaged with the main gear and rotates in the reverse direction, a ring gear to which the sub-gear is internal and engaged, and a second reverse-rotation coupler that is configured to integrally rotate with the ring gear in the reverse direction and transmit the reverse rotation to the first reverse-rotation coupler.

A micro puree machine has a drive motor positioned within a lower portion of a housing extending along a vertical axis. A mixing shaft positioned within an upper portion of the housing extends at a non-parallel angle relative to the vertical axis. The bowl of ingredients is installed to an angled surface of the upper portion of the housing along the mixing shaft axis, allowing for easier viewing of the bowl installation.

An exemplary auger stud extends along a longitudinal rotational axis that defines a proximal direction and a distal direction opposite the proximal direction. The auger stud generally includes a body portion, a stem, a first grind plate mounting section, a second grind plate mounting section, and a grind knife mounting section. The stem extends distally from the body portion. The first grind plate mounting section is positioned proximally of the body portion, and has a first circular cross-sectional geometry. The second grind plate mounting section is positioned proximally of the first grind plate mounting section, and has a second circular cross-sectional geometry. The grind knife mounting section is positioned between the first grind plate mounting section and the second grind plate mounting section, and has a first non-circular cross-sectional geometry.

A kitchen appliance includes a self-contained pull string drive device and a work unit. The device is configured for manually rotating a work unit around a rotation axis by pulling a string transversely to the rotation axis A. The device includes a drive wheel, a return spring, all positioned coaxially relative to the rotation axis A, a string, one end of which is wound around the drive wheel and the other end of which is connected to a handle. The work unit includes a lid closing a bowl. The pull string drive device is configured to be detachable from the lid of the bowl. The lid includes a male or female part joined to a drive interface, to cooperate with the drive wheel by mechanical coupling in order to transmit a rotational movement from the device to the work unit.

A frozen food appliance and related method of making a frozen food product. A rotational drive assembly configured in an axial alignment using a direct drive to produce rotational movement of a blade element to contact a frozen food precursor in a frozen food container associated with the frozen food appliance where the rotational drive assembly omits rotational speed modifying gears and transmissions positioned between a drive motor and the blade element. In another aspect, a rotational drive assembly may be kept in axial alignment with a frozen food container via a multi portioned container mount having a float connector.

Disclosed are a cutter assembly and a fruit and vegetable cutter using the cutter assembly. The cutter assembly includes a rotating shaft assembly, a forward-rotating blade and a counter-rotating blade. The rotating shaft assembly has a first mandrel and a first outer shaft. The end of the first mandrel and the end of the first outer shaft are each provided with a first transmission part coupled to a drive device; the blades are respectively arranged in the shaft assembly and perpendicular to the rotating shaft assembly; one blade is coupled to the first mandrel, and the other is coupled with the first outer shaft, so that the blades can be driven by the rotating shaft assembly to rotate in two opposite directions at the same time. The fruit and vegetable cutter includes a fruit and vegetable cavity, the cutter assembly and a driving device for driving the cutter assembly.

A hand-held mixer includes a housing, a pillar coupled to the housing at a pillar proximal end and extending to a pillar distal end, a motor within at least one of the housing and the pillar, a first beater hub removably receiving a first beater, and a battery receptacle at the pillar distal end. The battery receptacle receives a battery pack with a battery for powering the motor such that the battery pack is operable between a docked condition and an undocked condition. In the docked condition, the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor. In an undocked condition, the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle. The battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially perpendicular to a first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition.