A modular appliance apparatus is disclosed for use in the preparation of food products. The modular appliance apparatus may have a housing to contain internal components. The housing may contain a motor, a controller, and electronic circuitry. On a bottom portion of the housing, at least one base contact may be present. An attachment may secure to the bottom portion of the housing and contain at least one attachment contact. An electronic connection between the at least one base contact and at least one attachment contact may be interpreted by the controller to determine a speed of operation by the motor. Depending on the type of attachment secured to the housing, various different combinations of electronic connections may be made to operate the motor at different speeds to meet the requirements for food preparation by the specific attachment.

A modular appliance apparatus is disclosed for use in the preparation of food products. The modular appliance apparatus may have a housing to contain internal components. The housing may contain a motor, a controller, and electronic circuitry. On a bottom portion of the housing, at least one base contact may be present. An attachment may secure to the bottom portion of the housing and contain at least one attachment contact. An electronic connection between the at least one base contact and at least one attachment contact may be interpreted by the controller to determine a speed of operation by the motor. Depending on the type of attachment secured to the housing, various different combinations of electronic connections may be made to operate the motor at different speeds to meet the requirements for food preparation by the specific attachment.

A mixer (1) having a measuring device (5) for determining a torque which can be applied using a mixing device drive (3) of the mixer to a medium to be mixed. The mixing device drive (3) is mounted to pivot within the housing (2) of the mixer (1) and is supported at least indirectly against at least one rotational direction of its two rotational directions. With the aid of the measuring device (5), a reaction force of this at least one support can be detected and from this, the torque applied by the mixing device drive can be determined.

A mixer (1) having a measuring device (5) for determining a torque which can be applied using a mixing device drive (3) of the mixer to a medium to be mixed. The mixing device drive (3) is mounted to pivot within the housing (2) of the mixer (1) and is supported at least indirectly against at least one rotational direction of its two rotational directions. With the aid of the measuring device (5), a reaction force of this at least one support can be detected and from this, the torque applied by the mixing device drive can be determined.

Disclosed are various embodiments of a rocker-style treatment tank equipped with instrumentation. In one embodiment, a rocker treatment tank includes a dasher configured to oscillate within treatment liquid in the rocker treatment tank. The dasher includes a dasher shaft, one or more dasher arms coupled to the dasher shaft, and at least one dasher blade coupled to the dasher arm(s). The rocker treatment tank also includes one or more sensors configured to provide data directly or indirectly indicating a torque transmitted to the dasher to effect oscillation.

Disclosed are various embodiments of a rocker-style treatment tank equipped with instrumentation. In one embodiment, a rocker treatment tank includes a dasher configured to oscillate within treatment liquid in the rocker treatment tank. The dasher includes a dasher shaft, one or more dasher arms coupled to the dasher shaft, and at least one dasher blade coupled to the dasher arm(s). The rocker treatment tank also includes one or more sensors configured to provide data directly or indirectly indicating a torque transmitted to the dasher to effect oscillation.

The present invention provides an automatic chemical analysis apparatus and an electrical impedance spectrometry device which make it possible to detect the state of a stirring mechanism prior to performing a stirring operation. The automatic chemical analysis apparatus dispenses a reagent and a sample to be analyzed into a reactor vessel 107, and performs stirring by applying sonic waves to the reactor vessel 107. The automatic chemical analysis apparatus comprises: a piezoelectric element 201 that generates sonic waves; a plurality of split electrodes 211 that are provided to the surface of the piezoelectric element 201; a power amplifier 203 that causes the piezoelectric element 201 to generate sonic waves by applying a voltage to each of the split electrodes 211; and a host computer and impedance measuring circuit that measure the electrical impedance spectrum of each split electrode 211 by applying a voltage to each of the split electrodes 211.

An apparatus for mixing bone cement for use in orthopedic surgeries includes a mixing region and an agitator for mixing the cement ingredients. The apparatus can be operated or acted on by a power tool for the mixing of the bone cement. The agitator may act as a generator to charge embedded electronics of the apparatus such as with a magnet in the agitator that interacts with a wire coil outside of the agitator. A timer of the apparatus may be started by a sensor of the apparatus, in response to a mechanical torque value, or by a magnetic sensor that can sense a start state of the apparatus. When the timer is complete, a cue by the apparatus signals to the user that the mixed cement is ready and able to be applied.

A blending device includes a motor, a motor controller, and a wireless controller configured to receive a wireless signal. The motor controller may be configured to alter the operations of the motor based the wireless signal. The wireless signal may include a blending program to be carried out by the blending device. The blending device may include one or more sensors configured to sense parameters of the blending device. The wireless signal may include information related to the sensed parameters. A blending device network may be formed by providing a second blending device having a wireless controller in communication with the first blending device wireless controller. The first and second blending devices may share information over the network.

A direct drive batch mixing system including a vessel having an interior region for receiving a batch, a direct drive electric motor attached to at least one rigid point, a multi-axis load cell located between the motor and the rigid point to provide signals representing forces and moments in multiple axes, and an impeller located within the interior region of the vessel and engaged with the motor such that the motor rotates the impeller. Forces and loads on the impeller are directly supported by the motor and measured by the multi-axis load cell. In some embodiments, a programmable controller generates control signals that control the motor's speed (RPM), torque and direction of rotation, and receives feedback signals for adjusting the motor's speed and/or torque and/or direction of rotation.