A blending apparatus can include: a blender jar defining a blending cavity; a lid positionable over the blender jar, the lid defining an opening into the blending cavity; a gasket positioned around a periphery of the opening in the lid; an enclosable sound dampener positionable around the blender jar and the lid, the enclosable sound dampener defining an access hole corresponding to the opening in the lid; and a tamper insertable through the access hole and the opening. In particular examples, when the tamper is inserted through the access hole and the enclosable sound dampener is in a closed state, blending noise is at least partially contained within the enclosable sound dampener. Further, in some examples, when the tamper is inserted through the opening, the tamper contacts the gasket around the tamper to seal contents within the blending cavity.
Systems and methods for a blender control system to monitor the usage of a blender system. The blender control system may decrement a remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count each time that the blender is used. The blender control system may disable or partially disable at least some functions of the blender system once the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count is depleted. Additional blend cycles and/or blend runtime may be purchased directly via an interface on the blender system, through a mobile application, by phone, or via a web portal. The blender control system replenishes the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining cycle count in response to the purchase.
G07F 11/70 - Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
Systems and methods are described herein for a blender control system to monitor the usage of a blender system. The blender control system may decrement a remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count each time that the blender is used. The blender control system may disable or partially disable at least some functions of the blender system once the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count is depleted. Additional blend cycles and/or blend runtime may be purchased directly via an interface on the blender system, through a mobile application, by phone, or via a web portal. The blender control system replenishes the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining cycle count in response to the purchase.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
A47J 43/044 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the top side
Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/04 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
6.
Method for making a mixing blade for blending apparatus
A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B23P 15/02 - Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass turbine or like blades from one piece
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.
B23P 15/02 - Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass turbine or like blades from one piece
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.
A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/16 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
Blending devices can be used to blend material in a disposable container such as a paper or plastic cup. A blending device may have a jar or container portion that is insertable into a disposable container and that seals its opening. A space within the jar or container portion contains a blending blade assembly that is rotatable to blend material in the disposable container. A shelf or overhanging structure may extend partially over the bottom surface of the jar or container portion to limit movement of material out of the space in the jar or container portion in a vertical and lateral direction to reduce stresses on the container during blending. After blending, the disposable container may be removed from the blending device and the blended material may be served directly in the container. Ducted blending and other flow control devices are also disclosed.
A47J 43/044 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the top side
A47J 43/04 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/06 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with a plurality of interchangeable working units
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
Blending devices can be used to blend material in a disposable container such as a paper or plastic cup. A blending device may have a jar or container portion that is insertable into a disposable container and that seals its opening. A space within the jar or container portion contains a blending blade assembly that is rotatable to blend material in the disposable container. A shelf or overhanging structure may extend partially over the bottom surface of the jar or container portion to limit movement of material out of the space in the jar or container portion in a vertical and lateral direction to reduce stresses on the container during blending. After blending, the disposable container may be removed from the blending device and the blended material may be served directly in the container. Ducted blending and other flow control devices are also disclosed.
A47J 43/00 - Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
Blending devices can be used to blend material in a container such as a reusable container or a disposable liner, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a reusable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter. In further instances, the reusable container can selectively couple a liner or multiple different sizes of liners to the adapter. The food product can be blended within the liner without any of the food product coming into contact with an interior of the container.
A47J 43/00 - Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
A47J 43/044 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the top side
A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.
A23G 9/12 - Batch production using means for stirring the contents in a non-moving container
A23G 9/22 - Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups
A23G 9/28 - Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups for portioning or dispensing
B01F 7/08 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with helices
B02C 18/06 - Disintegrating by knives or other cutting or tearing members which chop material into fragmentsMincing machines or similar apparatus using worms or the like with rotating knives
A machine for processing a chilled food product includes a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The machine mixes the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flows the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shears at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. The machine may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.
A23G 9/00 - Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-creamMixtures therefor
A23G 9/12 - Batch production using means for stirring the contents in a non-moving container
A23G 9/04 - Production of frozen sweets, e.g. ice-cream
A23G 9/28 - Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups for portioning or dispensing
20.
BLENDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH BLADE ASSEMBLY DAMPENING
Blender and food processing devices are described that dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. An example blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. A motor in the blender base drives the jar shaft to rotate the blending blade in the blending jar. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
21.
Blending systems and methods with blade assembly dampening
Blender and food processing devices dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. One blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.
B01F 7/16 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/04 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
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.
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
B01F 7/14 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with stirrers having planetary motion
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
B01F 7/14 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with stirrers having planetary motion
A23P 10/00 - Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the products
A variable-engagement planetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixing apparatus is presented. The tool has a body that has a driveshaft engagement portion and a first longitudinal axis. The tool also has a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear has a first helical gear surface. A planet gear with a second longitudinal axis is also included, wherein the second longitudinal axis is non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The planet gear has a second helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planet gear is configured to engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in one or more positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixing member is connected to the planet gear and moves around the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
B01F 7/14 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with stirrers having planetary motion
B01F 7/16 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
B01F 7/30 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis with stirrers having planetary motion
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.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B01F 7/14 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with stirrers having planetary motion
A food preparation apparatus is presented that has fast-stop capability. It includes a base unit, a mixing container attached to the base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move within the mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit within the base unit is connected to the motor. A contact sensor is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to stop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of a human hand. In some cases, contact with the mixing tool stops the motor, and in other cases, contact with an outer surface or user interface of the base unit stops the motor.
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
B01F 7/14 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with stirrers having planetary motion
F16P 1/00 - Safety devices independent of the control or operation of any machine
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
B01F 7/18 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis with paddles or arms
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
30.
Liquid level detection and autonomous calibration for self-serve blending apparatus and method
A self-serve drink blending device includes a blend chamber, at least one product source, a water source, an ice source, a liquid level sensor, a controller and a dispenser. The blend chamber includes a blending blade. The at least one product source is configured to deliver a volume of product to the blend chamber. The water source is configured to deliver a volume of water to the blend chamber. The ice source is configured to deliver a volume of ice to the blend chamber. The liquid level sensor is mounted to the blend chamber and configured to create a liquid level signal when contents in the blend chamber reach a predetermined level. The controller is configured to automatically calibrate the at least one product source, the water source, and the ice source based on the liquid level signal. The dispenser is arranged to dispense contents from the blend chamber.
A blender jar with ridges has a bottom wall positioned below a movable blending member, a sidewall surface extending upward from the bottom wall, and a plurality of ridges extending inward from the sidewall surface. The ridges are positioned reflectively asymmetric relative to the mixing area in the jar. The ridges may improve blending consistency and uniformity, and may reduce blending time.
B01F 13/00 - Other mixers; Mixing plant, including combinations of dissimilar mixers
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
B01F 7/16 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
A blender jar with ridges has a bottom wall positioned below a movable blending member, a sidewall surface extending upward from the bottom wall, and a plurality of ridges extending inward from the sidewall surface. The ridges are positioned reflectively asymmetric relative to the mixing area in the jar. The ridges may improve blending consistency and uniformity, and may reduce blending time.
An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.
G01F 11/20 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation of the valve type, i.e. the separating being effected by fluid-tight or powder-tight movements wherein the measuring chamber rotates or oscillates
38.
Liquid level detection and autonomous calibration for self-serve blending apparatus and methods
A self-serve drink blending device includes a blend chamber, at least one product source, a water source, an ice source, a liquid level sensor, a controller and a dispenser. The blend chamber includes a blending blade. The at least one product source is configured to deliver a volume of product to the blend chamber. The water source is configured to deliver a volume of water to the blend chamber. The ice source is configured to deliver a volume of ice to the blend chamber. The liquid level sensor is mounted to the blend chamber and configured to create a liquid level signal when contents in the blend chamber reach a predetermined level. The controller is configured to automatically calibrate the at least one product source, the water source, and the ice source based on the liquid level signal. The dispenser is arranged to dispense contents from the blend chamber.
A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.
A47J 43/046 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
B01F 7/16 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
