APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED BLENDER LOCKING MECHANISM
A system for processing foodstuffs includes a container platform, a blade platform, and a locking mechanism. The container platform defines a container receptacle configured to receive a container including foodstuffs. The blade platform includes blades configured to rotate to process the foodstuffs. The locking mechanism is configured to couple the container platform to the blade platform to form a blending chamber including the blades and the container subsequent to determining that the container is received by the container receptacle and prior to rotation of the blades.
1 . A system for processing foodstuffs, comprising:
a container platform defining a container receptacle configured to receive a container including foodstuffs;
a blade platform including blades configured to rotate to process the foodstuffs; and
a locking mechanism configured to couple the container platform to the blade platform to form a blending chamber including the blades and the container subsequent to determining that the container is received by the container receptacle and prior to rotation of the blades.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the blade platform includes a seal configured to engage at least one of the container receptacle or the container while the container platform is coupled to the blade platform.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the seal has a seal diameter that is greater than a container diameter of a rim of the container.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a recess of the seal defines the seal diameter.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the blade platform and is configured to engage a lock feature of the container platform.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to bias the blade platform to be adjacent to the container platform while the container platform is at a loading position at which the container receptacle receives the container.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the blade platform is configured to rotate while coupled to the container platform by the locking mechanism from a first position at which the container platform receives the container to a second position at which the blades are coupled to a blade actuator prior to rotation of the blades.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch operable between an unlatched position and a latched position, the latch configured to be actuated from the unlatched position to the latched position to engage a lock feature of the container platform to draw adjacent faces of the blade platform and the container platform together prior to rotation of the blades.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the latch is configured to be actuated from the latched position to the unlatched position to disengage the lock feature of the container platform.
10 . The system claim 1 , further comprising a blade shield configured to be moved to a clean position adjacent to the blade platform, the blade shield including a surface sized to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the blade assembly when at the clean position, the locking mechanism including a latch configured to lock the blade shield to the blade platform.
11 . A method for processing foodstuffs, comprising:
determining that a container is received by a container receptacle of a container platform, the container including foodstuffs;
coupling the container platform to a blade platform, by a locking mechanism, subsequent to determining that the container is received by the container receptacle; and
rotating blades of a blade assembly of the blade platform to process the foodstuffs subsequent to coupling the container platform to the blade platform.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sealing at least one of the container receptacle or the container to the blade platform while the container platform is coupled to the blade platform.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the seal has a seal diameter that is greater than a container diameter of a rim of the container.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a recess of the seal defines the seal diameter.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the blade platform, the method further comprising engaging, by the locking mechanism, a lock feature of the container platform.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising biasing the blade platform to be adjacent to the container platform while the container platform is at a loading position at which the container receptacle receives the container using the locking mechanism.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising rotating the blade platform while the blade platform is coupled to the container platform from a first position at which the container platform receives to the container to a second position at which the blades are coupled to a blade actuator prior to rotation of the blades.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating a latch of the locking mechanism from an unlatched position to a latched position to engage a lock feature of the container platform to draw adjacent faces of the blade platform and the container platform together prior to rotation of the blades.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising actuating the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position to disengage the lock feature of the container platform.
20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving a blade shield to a clean position adjacent to the blade platform, the blade shield including a surface sized to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the blade assembly when at the clean position, and actuating a latch of the locking mechanism to lock the blade shield to the blade platform.