Food processing apparatus and method
View Patent ↗Food processing apparatus and methods for processing food are disclosed. The apparatus may include stored sequences for operating a processing tool. The stored sequences may address various challenging aspects of blending solid foods and/or ice. In some embodiments, particular sequences are implemented with specific processing tools.
1. A food processing apparatus comprising:
a container including at least one rotatable, sharp blade;
a drive unit having a drive coupler to rotate the at least one blade;
a controller to control the drive unit; and
at least one non-transitory memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller, in response to a first user input, to sequentially:
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a first pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as first pause;
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a second pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as second pause;
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a third pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as third pause;
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a fourth pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as fourth pause;
activate the drive unit for at least fifteen seconds to rotate the drive coupler as a first blending segment;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds; and
activate the drive unit for at least fifteen seconds to rotate the drive coupler as a second blending segment.
2. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein a total time period of all activations of the drive unit is at least forty-five seconds.
3. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for the first blending segment is at least twenty seconds.
4. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for the second blending segment is at least twenty seconds.
5. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to, prior to a start of the first blending segment:
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a fifth pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as fifth pause;
activate the drive unit for three seconds or less to rotate the drive coupler as a sixth pulse;
pause the drive unit for at least two seconds as sixth pause.
6. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for the first pulse comprises activating the drive unit for at least 1.5 seconds.
7. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for the second blending segment has a shorter length of time than the activation of the drive unit for the first blending segment.
8. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for the second blending segment lasts longer than the activation of the drive unit for the first blending segment.
9. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the total time period of all activations of the drive unit that are at least fifteen seconds for blending segments is at least thirty-five seconds.
10. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the total time period of all activations of the drive unit that are at least fifteen seconds for blending segments is at least forty seconds.
11. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the total time period of all activations of the drive unit that are at least fifteen seconds for blending segments is at least forty-three seconds.
12. A food processing apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein a total time period from a first activation of the drive unit until a last activation of the drive unit is sixty seconds or less.
13. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein a total time period of all activations of the drive unit is at least fifty seconds.
14. A food processing apparatus as in claim 13 , wherein a total time period from a first activation of the drive unit until a last activation of the drive unit is sixty seconds or less.
15. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a first set of blades and a second set of blades, each mounted to a shaft having an axis of rotation, wherein:
the first set of blades includes first and second blades, each blade having at least a portion angled downwardly relative to a horizontal plane;
the second set of blades includes third and fourth blades, each blade having at least a portion angled upwardly relative to a horizontal plane, the upwardly angled portions of the third and fourth blades being positioned higher than the downwardly angled portions of the first and second blades.
16. A food processing apparatus as in claim 15 , further comprising a third set of blades, wherein the third set of blades includes a fifth blade and a sixth blade, each of which has a substantially vertical portion that includes a sharp, upper edge that is slanted relative to horizontal.
17. A food processing apparatus as in claim 16 , wherein each of the fifth and sixth blades rotates in a direction wherein a higher end of its upper edge leads a lower end of its upper edge.
18. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for at least fifteen seconds to rotate the drive coupler as a second blending segment is immediately subsequent to pausing the drive unit for at least two seconds.
19. A food processing apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to:
drive the drive unit to rotate the drive coupler at the first rotational speed for at least five seconds;
accelerate the drive unit to rotate the drive coupler at the second rotational speed, for at least five seconds; and
accelerate the drive unit to rotate the drive coupler at a third rotational speed, faster than the second rotational speed, for at least twenty seconds.
20. A food processing apparatus as in claim 19 , further comprising a third set of blades, wherein the third set of blades includes a fifth blade and a sixth blade, each of which has a substantially vertical portion that includes a sharp, upper edge that is slanted relative to horizontal.
21. A food processing apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pausing the drive unit for at least two seconds prior to the second blending segment comprises stopping the drive unit for at least 2.5 seconds.
22. A food processing apparatus as in claim 21 , wherein the activation of the drive unit for at least fifteen seconds to rotate the drive coupler as a second blending segment comprises supplying sufficient electrical energy to an electric motor such that the motor would accelerate to at least 20,000 rpm within one second when unloaded.