A food preparation appliance includes a food preparation pot, a rotatable tool for chopping food in the food preparation pot and a sensor, in particular for weight determination of a food in the food preparation pot. A control unit is provided and configured such that, when a food is comminuted by the tool, the control unit is able to determine, based on a sensor signal from the sensor, whether a predetermined chopping state of the food has been reached.

An apparatus and method of cleaning a food processor including providing a food processor base that includes a rotary power driver having a rotatable shaft. A bowl is mounted on the base. A food processing blade attached to the shaft within the bowl. A cleaning accessory is placed in the bowl above the food processing blade. A cleaning fluid is introduced into the bowl, and the food processing blade with the rotatable shaft agitate the cleaning fluid in conjunction with the cleaning accessory.

A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including an output shaft driven in a planetary manner. At least a first food processing tool and a second food processing tool can be changed in and out of the machine to be driven by the output shaft. A controller and associated tool detection system is configured to identify whether the first food processing tool or the second food processing tool is mounted on the machine and to select a stored load profile that is linked to the identified food processing tool.

A hand-crank operated food processor includes a container with a removeable lid. The lid incorporates a number of gears that are operable by the hand crank to cause a drive shaft to spin, imparting a rotational force to a food processing implement such as a blade or a paddle carried on the drive shaft. The crank can be inserted into any one of a plurality of attachment points such that rotation of the crank handle in a selected attachment point will rotate the gears, and therefore the drive shaft, at a different rotational speed as compared to the rotational speed achieved at a different one of the plurality of attachment points at the same input speed from the crank.

A manual food processor includes a container with a removeable lid. The container includes a plurality of container undulations spaced along an upper portion of the container to form a seat. The lid is removably attachable to the container to enclose the interior space, and includes a food processing tool carried on a drive shaft. The lid further has a plurality of lid undulations which are complementary to and engageable with the plurality of container undulations, preventing the lid from rotating with respect to the container, and allowing removal of the lid without rotation of the lid.

A manufacturing method for a granulated body includes supplying powder agitated by a dry agitator to a wet agitator, and agitating the powder supplied from the dry agitator with a liquid component in the wet agitator by rotating blades that have inclined surfaces, so as to form a granulated body. The blades are rotated when the powder is supplied to the wet agitator from the dry agitator. The dry agitator agitates the powder in a dry state, and the wet agitator is positioned below the dry agitator. The wet agitator includes an agitation chamber and the blades rotating around a center axis orthogonal to a direction in which the powder is supplied.

A food recycler can include a housing defining an interior and an access opening to the interior. A mixing bin can be located within the interior and can have an inlet and an outlet. The food recycler can further include an output bin, the output bin having an inlet. The outlet of the mixing bin can couple or connect to the inlet of the output bin.

A cutting tool adapter for creating an underpinning structure and method of creating the underpinning structure are provided. In some examples, the cutting tool adapter may connect a cutting tool to a working machine arm to enable the cutting tool to cut and dislodge soil below an existing foundation or structure. As the soil is cut and dislodged, it is mechanical mixed with an additive, such as a cementitious material, via the cutting tool. The mixed soil and additive may then harden in the area below the existing structure or foundation to create an underpinning structure to provide additional support for the existing structure or foundation.

A food recycler can include a housing defining an interior and an access opening to the interior. A mixing bin can be located within the interior and can have an inlet and an outlet. The food recycler can further include an output bin, the output bin having an inlet. The outlet of the mixing bin can couple or connect to the inlet of the output bin. The food recycler further has a transfer assembly for transferring food waste from the mixing bin to the output bin. The transfer assembly includes a chute mounted to the housing and operably coupling the first outlet of the mixing bin to the second inlet of the output bin, and at least one vibration damper positioned between the housing and the chute configured to allow flexibility of the chute to vibrate relative to the housing.

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.