Control system for mixers
View Patent ↗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.
1. A food mixer, comprising:
a base unit having a tool attachment portion and a sensor, the tool attachment portion having a drive shaft;
a detection magnet positioned in the drive shaft, the sensor being configured to sense a magnetic field of the detection magnet;
a mixing bowl attached to the base unit;
a motor attached to the drive shaft, the motor having operational settings, the motor being configured to apply a torque to the drive shaft of the tool attachment portion;
a mixing tool removably attached to the tool attachment portion;
a controller unit connected to the sensor, the controller unit being 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 magnetic field of the detection magnet.
2. The food mixer of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine a distance between the detection magnet and the sensor.
3. The food mixer of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect movement of the detection magnet.
4. The food mixer of claim 1 , wherein the detection magnet is biased toward or away from the sensor by a biasing member.
5. The food mixer of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet holder and a second magnet, the magnet holder being positioned within the tool attachment portion, the detection magnet being attached to a first end of the magnet holder, the second magnet being attached to a second end of the magnet holder, wherein the second end is positioned proximate to the sensor in comparison to the first end.
6. The food mixer of claim 1 , wherein the operational settings comprise at least one of an operating speed, an operating time, and an operating power of the motor.
7. The food mixer of claim 1 , wherein the controller unit is configured to detect a power level and a rotation speed of the motor and to output a signal if the rotation speed of the motor rises above an upper threshold value or falls below a lower threshold value for the power level and for the mixing tool detected.
8. The food mixer of claim 7 , wherein the signal disables the motor.
9. The food mixer of claim 7 , wherein the signal outputs a message to a user interface.
10. A food mixer, comprising:
a base unit having a drive shaft, the drive shaft being connected to a tool attachment portion;
a magnet holder positioned in the drive shaft;
a mixing bowl attached to the base unit;
a motor attached to the base unit, the motor having operational settings, the motor being configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion;
a mixing tool removably attached to the tool attachment portion, wherein attachment of the mixing tool to the tool attachment portion changes a magnetic field of the magnet holder;
a controller unit 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 changes to the magnetic field, wherein the controller unit is configured to output a signal if the rotation speed of the motor rises above an upper threshold value or falls below a lower threshold value for the power level and for the mixing tool detected.
11. The food mixer of claim 10 , wherein the magnet holder is movable within the drive shaft relative to the controller unit.