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.

A dust containment system is provided for containing, collecting and extracting airborne contaminants produced during the operation of a machine, such as a bread dough mixer. The containment system includes a hood to fit over the upper portion of a bread mixer to envelop the space above the mixing bowl in order to contain flour dust produced during dough mixing. A vacuum system may be attached to an exhaust port in the hood to create a negative pressure differential on the interior of the containment system and to extract airborne flour dust. A control access panel through the hood is provided to allow a user to operate the control switch of the bread mixer without removing the containment system from the machine.

A grain and flour supply apparatus is provided, including a holding bin provided above a container and having an exhaust port from which gas is discharged, an introduction port into which grain and flour are introduced, and a supply port which supplies the grain and flour to the container; a first vacuum breaker valve opening and closing the exhaust port; a second vacuum breaker valve opening and closing the introduction port; a third vacuum breaker valve opening and closing the supply port; a temperature sensor measuring the temperature in the holding bin; a vacuum device drawing a vacuum in the holding bin; and a control device configured to control the first vacuum breaker valve, the second vacuum breaker valve, the third vacuum breaker valve, and the vacuum device, and set with a target temperature.

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.

The disclosure discloses a bevel planetary gear mechanism applied to a stand mixer, including a center bevel gear (2), a first bevel planetary gear (10), a second bevel planetary gear (3), a third bevel planetary gear (4), an internal bevel gear (5) and a bevel planetary gear bracket (11), wherein, the center bevel gear (2) is mounted on a spindle (1); the first bevel planetary gear (10), the second bevel planetary gear (3) and the third bevel planetary gear (4) are all engaged with the center bevel gear (2); the internal bevel gear (5) surrounds the first bevel planetary gear (10), the second bevel planetary gear (3) and the third bevel planetary gear (4) and are engaged with such three gears. By using the bevel planetary gear mechanism provided by the disclosure, the stand mixer has a pitched kneading hook, thereby improving the kneading effect of the stand mixer.

A mixing system includes a mixing machine and a device for collecting material of the mixture that remains adherent to the implement of the machine, at the end of a mixing step. The collecting device has a collecting surface that is associated to movement means designed to guide the surface in a first direction and a second direction, so that this can pass, as a result of the movement in both directions, from a first condition, where the surface extends at least prevalently in the first direction, to a second condition, where the surface extends at least prevalently in the second direction.

A mixing system includes a mixing machine and a device for collecting material of the mixture that remains adherent to the implement of the machine, at the end of a mixing step. The collecting device has a collecting surface that is associated to movement means designed to guide the surface in a first direction and a second direction, so that this can pass, as a result of the movement in both directions, from a first condition, where the surface extends at least prevalently in the first direction, to a second condition, where the surface extends at least prevalently in the second direction.

A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, a rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, and a gear system for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. An electric motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the gear system. A variable frequency drive is connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque. The variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors. A diagnostic control is configured and operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce an alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of at least one of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.

A kitchen appliance (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for receiving flour, said compartment comprising a sensor (120) for producing a sensor reading indicative of a dielectric property of said flour or a product comprising said flour. The kitchen appliance further comprises a processing arrangement (130) communicatively coupled to the sensor for determining an initial moisture content of said flour or product from said sensor reading and adapted to generate a control signal indicative of an amount of water to be added to the compartment as a function of the determined moisture content. A method of controlling a flour product-based food preparation process is also disclosed.

A gear box for a reciprocating kneader. A primary rotational gear is attached to a gear box primary shaft and rotates in concert therewith. A secondary rotational gear is engaged with the primary rotation gear and rotates therewith. A secondary shaft is attached to the secondary rotational gear and rotates therewith. A primary oscillation gear is attached to the gear box primary shaft and rotates therewith. A secondary oscillation gear is rotationally engaged with the primary oscillation gear and rotates on the secondary shaft. An eccentric is coupled to the secondary oscillation gear and rotates in concert therewith. A yoke is engaged with the eccentric and oscillates on an axis perpendicular to the secondary shaft in response to the lobe. The gearbox secondary shaft moves along its axis in concert with yoke oscillation. A housing is pivotally attached to the yoke and pivotally attached to a casing at a casing.