An interlocking method and blending apparatus is provided which includes a base, container, and lid. The apparatus comprises light emitters, light sensors, and light reflectors. Light is emitted by the light emitters from the base, through the container, and toward the lid. Light reflectors in the lid reflect the light back through the container and toward the base. The light sensors detect the reflected light and can be used to control operation of the blender and illumination of the container. Light may be in the visible spectrum, or sub-visible spectrum. The light emitters and light sensors may be at the base and/or the bottom of the container.

Provide a cooking device capable of processing food with a simple configuration while inhibiting oxidation of food and also inhibiting pressure inside a cooking container from rising excessively.

A cooking device processes food in an accommodation space by a processing tool rotated by a motor while an air in the accommodation space in which the processing tool to process the food is arranged is exhausted and includes a driving device (a closing member) and a check valve. The driving device opens/closes the accommodation space. The check valve allows an outflow of the air out of the accommodation space when the air in the accommodation space closed by the driving device is exhausted and also stops an opposite flow of the air after the air is exhausted.

A food processing system includes a processing container having a motor-driven processing blade positioned at a bottom of the processing container, a lid receivable atop the processing container, a motor-driven dasher assembly connected to the lid and being configured to scrape interior sidewalls of the processing container, the motor-driven dasher assembly having a hub, and a motor having an output shaft. The output shaft is moveable between a raised position where the output shaft is vertically spaced from the hub of the motor-driven dasher assembly, and a lowered position where the output shaft is engaged with the hub.

Provided is a household electrical food-cooking appliance including: a housing having a container arranged such as to receive the food to be cooked; a removable cover arranged such as to close the container while cooking; at least one safety switch arranged in the housing in order to turn off at least one electrical circuit of the appliance when the cover is not closing the container and in order to turn on said at least one electrical circuit when the cover is closing the container; and a cam having at least one control surface arranged such as to actuate a key for controlling said at least one safety switch in a direction in which the control key is pressed. Said appliance is characterized in that the cover includes a control finger arranged such as to actuate a surface for inputting the cam in a direction for moving the input surface in a direction that is different from the one in which the key is pressed while the container is open, such as to turn off said at least one electrical circuit, and while the container is closed, such as to turn on said at least one electrical circuit.

A food preparation apparatus is presented that has fast-stop capability. It includes a base unit, a mixing container attached to the base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move within the mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit within the base unit is connected to the motor. A contact sensor is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to stop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of a human hand. In some cases, contact with the mixing tool stops the motor, and in other cases, contact with an outer surface or user interface of the base unit stops the motor.

Disclosed is a blender including a noise blocking device. The blender includes: a container receiving food therein and having a processing member in which a processing member for processing food accommodated in the container is rotatably mounted thereon; a handle connected to the container; a body configured to allow the container to be mounted on an upper side thereof and receiving a drive device for supplying drive force for rotation of the processing member; and a noise blocking device connected to the body to define a closed space for receiving the container, wherein the handle is disposed outside the noise blocking device. The blender has a compact and simple structure, and provides user convenience. The noise blocking device of the blender can have an improved noise blocking effect.

A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.

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 variable-engagement planetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixing apparatus is presented. The tool has a body that has a driveshaft engagement portion and a first longitudinal axis. The tool also has a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear has a first helical gear surface. A planet gear with a second longitudinal axis is also included, wherein the second longitudinal axis is non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The planet gear has a second helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planet gear is configured to engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in one or more positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixing member is connected to the planet gear and moves around the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.

A blender for processing comestible matter includes a base with a motor, a blade assembly, and a container. The blender further comprises a first safety mechanism and a second safety mechanism. The first safety mechanism functions to ensure that the container is securely attached to the blade assembly before the blade assembly can be mounted to the base. The second safety mechanism functions to ensure the motor in the base can only be powered on when the container and the blade assembly are securely mounted to the base. The blender is operable by affixing the container to the blade assembly, and then the assembly to the base, such that both safety mechanisms are released to permit the motor to be activated.