A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

The present invention relates to a kneading member (107) for a device for kneading a dough, comprising: a mounting disc (109); a kneading tool (111) for mixing the ingredients which constitute a dough, comprising: an upper portion (121), extending from said mounting disc, a mid-portion (123), in the extension of said upper portion, anda lower portion (125), in the extension of said mid-portion. The kneading member (107) according to the invention is noteworthy in that the kneading tool (111) consists of a circular helix, the angle of winding of which is non-constant between said upper, mid- and lower portions of the tool (111) and in that the angle of winding of the lower portion (125) is less than that of the mid-portion (123). The invention also relates to a kneading device fitted with such a kneading member.

The system includes a cup, a lid, a stir, and one or more bags. The cup is configured to hold fluids. The lid includes a top portion and a bottom portion configured to couple to and cover an open portion of the cup. The stir includes a knob, a longitudinal shaft, and a distal shaft extending outwardly from the longitudinal shaft. The knob is disposed on the top portion of the lid and coupled to the longitudinal shaft threaded through the bottom portion of the lid. The one or more bags are coupled along the length of the longitudinal shaft.

A counter-rotating dough making mechanism, including a drive shaft (9) that is provided with an upper dough hook assembly (1) and a lower dough hook assembly (2) is disclosed. The lower dough hook assembly (2) is preferably provided with a stir plate (3) which enhances the thorough mixing of flour during dough kneading. The upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2) are connected by gears (42a, 42b, 42c) so that they rotate synchronously but in the opposite direction. By the counter-rotating action of the upper dough hook assembly (1) and the lower dough hook assembly (2), the dough making process is more effective as compared to the usual single piece dough hook as used in many stand mixers. The design and construction of the disclosed counter-rotating dough making mechanism is simple, robust, and reliable, and can deliver superior performance in dough making.

A household mixer appliance having a mixing container with an inner surface and an open top, a drive arrangement and a hook. The hook has a sole attachment portion which, when attached to the drive arrangement, abuts a first inner surface portion of the mixing container inner surface. The sole attachment portion is attachable to the drive arrangement via a through hole in the first inner surface portion such that the hook is rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis of rotation within the mixing container when the hook is attached to the drive arrangement.

The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a dental milling block with a homogeneous color and/or translucency gradient. This process comprises the steps of providing a mold with a cavity having a z-direction and an x/y-direction, filling the cavity partially with a first powder up to a height H1, the first powder having a volume VP1 with a top and bottom surface, introducing a second powder on top of the first powder up to a height H2, the second powder having a volume VP2 with a top and bottom surface and, the top surface of the first powder being in contact with the bottom surface of the second powder and forming an intermediate region, providing a mixer unit with at least one rotatable mixing element, introducing the rotating mixing element in z-direction into the intermediate region, mixing the powder located in the intermediate region by rotating the mixing element, removing the rotating mixing element from the powder, compacting the powder, optionally applying heat to the compacted powder, the first powder differing from the second powder by its physical properties and/or chemical composition and/or color. The invention also relates to a process of producing a dental restoration using dental milling block obtainable according to this process.

A method of controlling a portable appliance includes measuring an input current supplied to a motor of the portable appliance and measuring a rotational speed of a shaft of the motor. The method also includes determining a current limit based on the rotational speed of the shaft using a substantially continuous function which relates a domain of rotational speeds to a range of current limits. The method further includes reducing, when the input current exceeds the current limit, the rotational speed of the shaft incrementally along the substantially continuous function until the input current is approximately equal to the current limit.

A household mixer appliance having an open top mixing container, a hook and a drive arrangement. The mixing container has a side wall portion with a through hole for the drive arrangement and the hook is arranged to be rotatable around an axis of rotation within the mixing container via the drive arrangement. A seal is arranged between the drive arrangement and the side wall portion of the mixing container, and the drive arrangement includes a quick-release mechanism to which the hook is attachable.

A portable power shaker blender includes a mixing body is made of a high density polyethylene material, along with a base that includes a rechargeable battery and a motor. The blade assembly extends inwards into the interior of the mixing chamber and includes a central shaft with a pair of extending crossbars that terminate in a connecting pair of vertical members. An additional diagonal bar extends between a pair of the corners thus created. All of these bars are cylindrical in cross-section to encourage agitation. The cap of the power/shaker engages with the mixing body either through a friction fit or a screw top engagement, which includes a swivel top and a swivel top handle that is generally U-shaped and is able to receive a latching engagement, such as a latching or locking carabiner.

Systems and methods for providing and using a bone cement mixer are described. While the systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a container that is configured to hold an amount of bone cement, a drive shaft coupled to the container, a mixing arm that is coupled to the container and configured to mix the bone cement when the bone cement is disposed within the container, and a vacuum pump configured to draw gas from within the container to form at least a partial vacuum within the container. In some cases, the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the mixing arm and the vacuum pump such that rotation of the drive shaft forces the mixing arm to move and the vacuum pump to be actuated. Other implementations are also described.