A method for controlling pressure in a blending apparatus includes sealingly coupling a blade platform to a rim of a vessel including foodstuffs to form a blending chamber. The blade platform includes a blade assembly. The method includes injecting fluid via an opening defined within the blade platform into the blending chamber while the blade platform is sealingly coupled to the vessel. The injection of fluid causes a change in pressure in the blending chamber. The method includes rotating blades of the blade assembly to process the foodstuffs in the blending chamber. The method includes introducing air into the blending chamber to decrease a difference between the pressure within the blending chamber and a pressure external to the blending chamber. The method includes decoupling the blade platform from the rim.

The present invention utilizes a high-speed intensive mixer in a fluidizing-type, solid-phase, neutralization reactor to blend solid-state alkali hydroxide with any humic acid sources. The final product is a dry humic acid salt. The purpose of this innovative method is to eliminate a series of complicated unit operations commonly employed by the traditional process. These removed steps may include dissolving caustic soda, mixing in a paste-like formation, extrusion, granulation, drying, and grinding, etc. The invention contributes to a simplified flowsheet, resulting in sharply reduced equipment investment, plant space, and labor and energy costs. All of these factors coupled with increased productivity will drastically lower the overall production cost. Also, the reduction of dust pollution will greatly minimize the impact in environmental protection and safety issues.

A device for shredding deep-frozen food products provided in block form comprises a tool coupled to one end of a rotatable shaft which rotates the tool about an axis of rotation and advances the tool along the axis of rotation in the direction towards the block, thereby scraping layers off the block. The tool can be uncoupled from and recoupled to the end of the shaft without using a tool. When the tool is coupled to the end of the shaft it axially abuts the shaft's end and is thereby held in a force-locking manner on the end of the shaft for the transmission of drive forces from the shaft to the tool. The device includes a tool detection device to determine whether a tool is arranged on the end of the shaft as intended so that operation can occur only when the tool is connected as intended.

An electrical control system for slurry mixing includes a processing module, an input module, a display module and an inspection module. The input module is configured to input the configuration information and send an action command and the configuration information to the processing module. The inspection module is configured to obtain the status information and send the status information to the processing module. The processing module is configured to receive the configuration information and the action command from the input module and the status information from the inspection module, form a production action according to the configuration information or the action command, and then send the configuration information, the action information and the status information to the display module. The display module is configured to receive the configuration information, the action information and the status information, and display the configuration information, the action information and the status information.

A method for treating in particular viscous, paste-like materials in a housing (1) with kneading elements (2, 3), in which at least one kneading element (2, 3) is to be monitored.

A device and method for injection of oxygen-rich gas into a body of liquid with oxygen recycling are disclosed. The device comprises a rotary hollow shaft vertically passing through a float partially immersed in the liquid, an impeller attached to the lower end of the rotary hollow shaft, a columnar structure, surrounding the rotary hollow shaft, mounted on the bottom side of the float and vertically extending into the liquid, a gas diffusion chamber formed by the columnar structure, the float and the liquid surface under the float, and a gas injection conduit passing through the float for delivering the oxygen gas into the gas diffusion chamber, wherein a vacuum is generated in the body of the liquid around the impeller when the impeller is driven to rotate, so that the oxygen-rich gas in the gas diffusion chamber is sucked into the body of the liquid and mixed therein.

A carbonation machine includes a pneumatic chamber with a movable wall. The wall moves outward to depress a pin of a gas release valve of a gas canister that is held in a canister holder of the machine when air pressure in the chamber is increased. An air release valve is closable to retain air in the chamber. An air pump is operable to pump air from the ambient atmosphere into the chamber so as to increase air pressure in the chamber. A controller is configured to close the air release valve and to operate the air pump to increase the air pressure in the chamber to move the movable wall outward to open the gas release valve of the canister to cause release of gas from the canister to carbonate a liquid, and to open the air release valve to enable the gas release valve to close.

A system and an associated method for starting up stirring machines in a sediment in a controlled manner are provided, which system has the following: a container for receiving materials to be processed; a stirring device with stirring blades for stirring the materials to be processed in the container; a purging device; and a device for operating stirring machines. The purging device is arranged in such a way and set up so as to feed a medium for purging to a deposited sediment. Furthermore, a controller is provided which initiates controlled re-starting of stirring machines after purging.

A nitrous oxide gas mixer includes at least one mixing chamber having at least one nitrous oxide gas connection and at least one oxygen gas connection for introduction of oxygen gas and nitrous oxide gas and at least one flow rate controller, by which a volume flow of the two gases can be respectively adjusted separately and/or together.

At least one O.sub.2 emergency button is mounted to the mixing chamber for emergency flooding the mixing chamber with oxygen gas and/or with ambient air.

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.