A mixing apparatus (1) for mixing slaughter offal with a preservative agent, the apparatus comprising an offal collection tank (3) with a bottom (4) provided with a discharge opening (5) connectable to a closable discharge, an agitator (8) extending into the offal collection tank, and a pump unit (9) operatively connectable to the discharge, wherein the apparatus further comprises a preservative reservoir (7) mounted on top of the collection tank (3). A collection and preservation system is provided, wherein the addition of preservation agent can be strictly controlled, can easily and quickly be installed and connected when it is to be used. After use, the system is easily removed and cleaned.

A dispensing machine for dispensing fluid products comprising a dispensing zone (15) in which elongated support means (12) are disposed, configured to support a plurality of removable containing units (11) of the fluid products in a stationary manner along a longitudinal axis (X) is disclosed. The dispensing zone (15) further includes translation means (20) configured to allow moving a receptacle (18) positioned on a metering unit and disposed on the translation means (20) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) to delivery positions substantially vertically below said containing units (11) and measurement means (16) configured to meter a quantity of fluid product that is delivered from a containing unit (11) to the receptacle (18) in a delivery position corresponding to the respective containing unit. Also disclosed is the use of such dispensing machine for preparing customized formulations of fluid products as well as a method for preparing user-defined target formulation from a plurality of dispensable fluid products.

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.

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 carbonator for carbonating a beverage in a beverage container. The carbonator comprises a carbonating head with a dissolver nozzle for introducing carbonating medium into the beverage container, a support part for movably supporting the carbonating head between a vertically highest position and a vertically lowest position, a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked state and a locked state in which the carbonating head is retained in the vertically lowest position and a base part connected to the support part and comprising a beverage container stand for the beverage container. The locking mechanism comprises a first locking member arranged on the carbonating head and a second locking member arranged on the base part. A method of carbonating a beverage is also described.

A blending device is shown and described. The blending device may include a blending container and a power source operatively connected to the blending container. The power source may be configured to supply power to the blending container. The blending container may also include a feature that is powered by the power source.

An immersion mixer includes: a housing; a drive motor residing within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; blades attached to and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle including a first segment and a second segment attached to the first segment and to the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor. The trigger includes a first segment that is generally parallel with the first segment of the handle and a second segment that is generally parallel with the second segment of the handle. Engagement by a user of either the first segment of the trigger or the second segment of the trigger causes the drive motor to rotate the shaft and blades.

A vacuum blender having the ability to reduce oxidation of ingredients for a more nutrient-rich product. The blender includes a container for holding ingredients to be blended, the container being open at a top end and having blender blades at a lower end, a lid for covering the open end of the container, and a base having a motor contained therein for driving the blender blades, an interface for coupling with the blender blades of the container, a vacuum system for effecting a vacuum to the container and electronic controls for operating the motor and vacuum system. The vacuum system is configured to couple with the lid to draw a vacuum from the top of the container when activated.

A system for positioning a rotatable vessel includes a rotatable vessel having a target block fixed thereto. A protrusion that is configured to mate with the target block is coupled to a slide plate and moveable relative to the slide plate toward the target block. The slide plate is slidably adjustable relative to a fixed base plate. The precise rotational position of the vessel can be controlled by fixing the slide plate relative to the base plate, such that when the slide plate is locked to the base plate, extension of the protrusion into engagement with the target block will rotationally position the vessel. When the protrusion and the target block are engaged, the vessel and the slide plate are linked, and the position of the slide plate may be adjusted relative to the base plate to set an adjusted desired position of the vessel.

A food mixing machine includes a mixer body including a column and a head extending from the column. A rotatable output member extends downward from the head for receiving a mixer tool. A bowl support is mounted for vertical movement along the column between a lowered position away from the head and a raised position toward the head. A drive assembly is linked to selectively drive the rotatable output member. A user interface, including a touch-screen display, is located on the mixer body. A controller is associated with the user interface, wherein the controller is configured to communicate mixing machine condition information via the touch-screen display.