Food processing device with blade arrangement

Abstract

A food processing apparatus (1) with a food processing chamber (10) is disclosed, comprising a blade assembly (20) and a motor (50) arranged to drive the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly comprises a body (22) and a plurality of cutting blades (24), the body having a surface device (25) defining a cavity (3), and the cutting blades (24) extending from the surface device into the cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food processing apparatus having a food processing chamber, comprising a blade assembly and a motor for driving the blade assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Many food processors, such as blenders or smoothie makers, operate by rotating blades within a food processing chamber, such as a kettle. For this purpose, the blades typically extend outward from a central axis, which can be mechanically driven by a motor in a base on which the food processing chamber can be mounted, or it can be magnetically driven, as disclosed in WO 02018 / 104813, which discloses a food and beverage processing apparatus that utilizes a spatially varying magnetic field to rotate the blades. Other examples disclosed in WO 2010 / 012727 A1 or US 3 245 664 A also have a central axis to which the blades are attached and extend into the surrounding body, thus the motor directly drives the central axis.

[0003] To achieve the desired cutting action, such as a relatively uniform cut of ingredients within the food processing chamber, the blade assembly must rotate at a relatively high speed and with sufficient power to prevent large pieces of food from clogging it. This means that the blade assembly and motor (and its gearbox) typically generate considerable noise. For example, this high-speed rotation of the blade assembly often introduces unwanted vibrations to the blades, increasing the noise level generated by the food processing unit. Furthermore, to prevent such a motor from overheating, some form of ventilation is required to the base housing the motor, such as airflow driven by a fan in the base, which further increases the noise generated by the food processing unit. The final noise level generated by such a food processing unit is generally considered unpleasant or undesirable by most users.

[0004] Furthermore, the centrifugal force generated by the rotating blades within the food processing chamber causes food pieces to be thrown against the chamber walls. These pieces can adhere to the walls for extended periods, only being released through collisions with other food items or by gravity. This can result in the final processed food or the processing chamber still containing food pieces upon completion of the processing, both of which are undesirable and may lead users to perceive the food processing equipment as inadequate or even unsuitable. Additionally, during operation, the vortices generated by the rotating blades within the food tend to carry food pieces away from the blades due to their outward extension, impairing cutting efficiency and increasing blade wear. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a food processing apparatus that can produce improved food processing operations with reduced noise levels.

[0006] According to one aspect, a food processing apparatus having a food processing chamber is provided, including a blade assembly and a motor arranged to drive the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly does not include a central shaft and includes a body and a plurality of cutting blades, the body having a surface device defining a cavity, and the plurality of cutting blades extending from the surface device into the cavity.

[0007] This blade assembly benefits from the fact that the blades are not connected to a central axis but are distributed around the body, thus suppressing the amplification of vibration noise generated by blades connected to a common axis. Furthermore, because the blades extend inward into the cavity within the body of the blade assembly, a more efficient cutting action is achieved. The inward orientation of the blades pushes the food towards the center of the food processing chamber, rather than towards one or more walls if the blades are pointing outwards, thus avoiding the risk of food pieces being thrown against these walls. If needed, the more efficient cutting action also allows the food processing device to operate at lower rotational speeds, as the blade assembly generates higher torque by moving more towards the periphery of the food processing chamber, allowing the required torque to be obtained at lower rotational speeds. This further contributes to reducing the noise level generated by the food processing device. Moreover, because the blade assembly is arranged around the edge of the food processing chamber, the chamber can be widened without compromising cutting efficiency, thus allowing the processing of larger food pieces.

[0008] In a particular embodiment, the body is a cylindrical body, a shape that facilitates handling and cleaning, for example. However, in an alternative embodiment, the surface device can be multifaceted, for example, having a polygonal cross-section.

[0009] In one embodiment, the cutting blades are offset from each other along the central axis of the body. This increases the cutting volume of the blade assembly, thereby further improving its cutting efficiency, while the distribution of the blades on the inner surface of the body, such that the blades are located in different horizontal planes when the central axis of the cylindrical body is vertically oriented, also provides a particularly quiet blade assembly.

[0010] The main body is preferably located near the edge of the food processing chamber. For example, the main body may form an integral part of the food processing chamber, or it may be fixed against the bottom portion of the food processing chamber. For this purpose, the food processing apparatus may also include a retaining ring arranged to secure the blade assembly to the bottom portion of the food processing chamber, for example, the retaining ring may be screwed onto the bottom portion of the food processing chamber.

[0011] In a specific set of embodiments, a motor is mechanically coupled to a food processing chamber to rotate the chamber, which includes a blade assembly, for example, by utilizing gravity and centrifugal force to increase the movement of ingredients within the chamber. This drive mechanism can be used when the blade assembly is integral with the food processing chamber, and when the blade assembly can be detached from the chamber, for example, when the blade assembly is secured against the chamber by a retaining ring. In this set of embodiments, the motor can be mechanically coupled to the food processing chamber in any suitable manner, such as through a central hole in the bottom portion of the chamber to the blade assembly, to a sealing ring (if present), or directly to the chamber, for example, when the chamber is closed at the bottom, allowing the motor to engage with the bottom portion of the chamber.

[0012] In this set of embodiments, the food processing apparatus may also include a protective cover that at least partially covers the food processing chamber to prevent a user from touching or otherwise approaching the rotating food processing chamber, which may, for example, help prevent accidental injury to the user.

[0013] When the blade assembly rotates together with the food processing chamber, the blade assembly itself cannot rotate. However, when the blade assembly will rotate independently of the food processing chamber, or the food processing chamber will rotate independently of the blade assembly, the blade assembly may also include an additional body rotatably mounted on the additional body. In this case, the body typically includes a cylindrical outer surface to facilitate such rotation. For this purpose, a motor may be mechanically coupled to the body to rotate the body within the food processing chamber. Alternatively, a motor may be mechanically coupled to the food processing chamber to cause the food processing chamber (and the additional body) to rotate about a fixed body.

[0014] In any of these embodiments, the mechanical connection may include a central shaft driven by a motor and at least one engaging member coupled to the central shaft, the engaging member being arranged to engage with a retaining ring or body. Such a drive mechanism may simply include a central shaft, or alternatively, at least one engaging member may be mounted on an additional cylindrical body attached to the central shaft, or may include multiple engaging members individually mounted on respective arms extending radially from the central shaft.

[0015] In the above embodiments, the blade assembly is mechanically driven by a motor. However, in an alternative set of embodiments, the blade assembly can be magnetically driven. For this purpose, the motor may include a stator arranged to generate a rotating magnetic field, wherein the body responds to the rotating magnetic field. For example, the body may be made of a paramagnetic material, such as a paramagnetic metal like iron, and include an arrangement of magnets or magnetic poles surrounding the body so that the body responds to a rotating magnetic field having a rotational direction perpendicular to the central axis of the body, thereby causing the body to rotate about its central axis. The stator is preferably arranged around the body to optimize the coupling between the induced rotating magnetic field and the body.

[0016] In a particular embodiment, the food processing apparatus further includes a docking station for the food processing chamber, the docking station comprising a base portion and a cover portion opposite the base portion. The base portion includes a motor for engaging with a bottom portion of the food processing chamber, which includes a blade assembly, and the cover portion for engaging with a top portion of the food processing chamber. Dating the food processing chamber in this docking station further reduces the operating noise of the food processing apparatus. Preferably, the food processing chamber is tilted when docked in the docking station, such that the orientation of the central axis of the body lies between a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. This creates a tumbling effect on the food pieces within the food processing chamber, which contributes to cutting efficiency and reduces the load force exerted on the cutting blades by the food pieces.

[0017] The tilt orientation can be adjusted during the operation of the food processing device so that the tilt angle of the food processing chamber can be optimized as a function of the progress of the food processing operation, such as changing the direction of ingredient movement and changing the speed of ingredient movement, thereby reducing the potential accumulation of ingredients at specific locations and thus improving cutting efficiency.

[0018] Food processing apparatus can take any suitable shape. In a particular embodiment, the food processing apparatus is a blender or smoothie maker, but other types of food processing apparatus that utilize blades to achieve the cutting function are also conceivable, such as grinders, shredders, etc. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 A top view of the blade assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0021] Figure 2 A perspective view of a blade device according to an exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0022] Figure 3 A top view of a blade assembly according to another exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0023] Figure 4 A top view of a blade device according to yet another exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0024] Figure 5 An exploded cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to one embodiment is schematically depicted.

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view of the food processing apparatus according to the first set of embodiments is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to one embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0027] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to another embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0028] Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to yet another embodiment is schematically shown;

[0029] Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to another set of embodiments is schematically depicted;

[0030] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus according to yet another embodiment is schematically depicted;

[0031] Figure 12 A schematic cross-sectional view of the details of a food processing apparatus according to another set of embodiments is shown.

[0032] Figure 13 Another cross-sectional view schematically depicting details of a food processing apparatus according to another set of embodiments; and

[0033] Figure 14 A schematic cross-sectional view of the details of a food processing apparatus according to yet another embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0034] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are schematic only and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used in all the drawings to denote the same or similar parts.

[0035] Figure 1A schematic top view of a blade assembly 20 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The blade assembly 20 includes a body 22, and a plurality of cutting blades 24 extending inwardly from a surface device 25 of the body 22 into an internal space or cavity 3 defined by the surface device 25, toward the center of the body 22. The body 22 and the cutting blades 24 can be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, suitable plastic, etc. The body 22 can be made of the same material as the cutting blades 24, or it can be made of a different material. The cutting blades 24 can have any suitable shape. For example, the cutting blades 24 can be primarily planar, or they can have a curved or angled shape. The shape of the cutting blades 24 can be optimized according to their orientation within the food processing chamber of the food processing apparatus. In some examples, the cutting blades 24 can be adjustablely mounted on the surface device 25 of the body 22 such that the configuration of the cutting blades 24 can be adjusted, for example, to optimize a configuration for a specific food processing task or as a function of a selected orientation of the food processing chamber including the blade assembly 20.

[0036] Mounting the cutting blades 24 in this manner means that each cutting blade 24 is individually mounted on a separate portion of the surface device 25 of the body 22, rather than having a blade assembly as in the prior art where outwardly pointing cutting blades share a central axis. This has the advantage that the vibration experienced by an individual cutting blade 24 is transmitted to the other cutting blades 24 of the blade assembly 20 to a much lesser extent than in the case of cutting blades sharing a central axis. Therefore, there is less positive interference between the vibrations of the individual cutting blades 24. Furthermore, since each cutting blade 24 is mounted individually, the mounting mechanism can be manufactured to be more robust or rigid compared to cutting blades sharing a central axis, which further reduces the vibration of the cutting blades 24 during operation. Therefore, the blade assembly 20 can operate more quietly than blade assemblies with cutting blades sharing a central axis.

[0037] The specific configuration of the cutting blade 24 on the surface device 25 of the main body 22 further enhances the cutting efficiency of the blade device 20. Due to this configuration, the cutting action of the cutting blade 24 is guided inward, thereby forcing the food towards the center of the main body 22, i.e., into the cavity 3, rather than towards the periphery of the food processing chamber as would be the case if the cutting blade extended from the central axis. This is further enhanced by the vortex generated by the rotating cutting blade 24 that draws the food into the center of the main body 22 rather than pushing it towards the periphery of the food processing chamber. Furthermore, because the load force exerted by the food interacting with the cutting blade 24 is distributed across the surface device 25 of the main body 22, this further enhances the cutting efficiency and reduces noise.

[0038] exist Figure 2In a specific embodiment schematically shown, the corresponding cutting blades 24 are offset relative to each other along the central axis 29 of the body 22, so that the cutting blades 24 are distributed as widely as possible on the surface device 25 of the body 22, such that the cutting action occurs over the entire volume of the body 22, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the cutting action of the cutting blades 24. The enhanced cutting efficiency of the blade device 20 means that a food processing apparatus with the blade device 20 deployed can achieve the same food processing results as a food processing apparatus with a blade device having cutting blades extending outward from the central axis, while operating at a lower blade rotation speed and thus producing less noise than such prior art food processing apparatuses.

[0039] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the main body 22 is a cylindrical body, wherein surface device 25 forms the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and another surface device 26 forms the outer surface of the cylindrical body. In other words, surface device 25 and the other surface device 26 each form a single (cylindrical) surface. However, other embodiments of the main body 22 are also possible. For example, as... Figure 3 As shown, the body 22 may have a multifaceted surface device 25, such as a surface device 25 with a polygonal cross-section, from which the cutting blade 24 extends into the internal space or cavity 3 defined by the surface device 25. In this embodiment, an additional surface device 26 may still have a circular cross-section, i.e., an outer surface shaped like a cylinder, for example to facilitate rotation of the body 22 within another body, which will be explained in further detail below. However, as Figure 4 As shown, the additional surface device 26 can also be multifaceted, for example having a polygonal cross-section, which may be the case, for example, when the blade device 20 rotates together with the food processing chamber on which the blade device 20 is mounted, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0040] The blade assembly 20 can be installed in the food processing chamber 10 of the food processing apparatus 1 in any suitable manner. For example, as... Figure 5Schematably, the food processing chamber 10 of the food processing apparatus 1 may have a top portion 12 defining an entrance to the food processing chamber 10, which may be sealed with a lid 11 or the like. A blade assembly 20 may be inserted into the food processing chamber 10, such as a cup, wide-mouthed jar, bowl, etc., through a central hole 13 defined by a bottom portion 14, and clamped between the bottom portion 14 and a retaining ring 15, which may be screwed onto the bottom portion 14. For this purpose, both the inner surface of the retaining ring 15 and the outer surface of the bottom portion 14 may be threaded, and these threads may engage when the retaining ring 15 is screwed onto the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10 as indicated by the curved box arrow. A seal 28, such as a sealing ring, may be clamped between the blade assembly 20 and the bottom portion of the food processing chamber 10 to prevent leakage from the food processing chamber 10 when liquid is present in it. The seal 28 may be secured between the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10 and the blade assembly 20 in any suitable manner. For example, the blade assembly 20 may include a flange 27 surrounding the body 22 for supporting a seal 28, such that when the blade assembly 20 is mounted on the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10, the seal 28 is clamped between the edge of the bottom portion 14 and the flange 27. It should be readily understood that the blade assembly 20 can be sealed to the food processing chamber 10 in any suitable manner. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the blade assembly 20 may be mounted on the drive shaft of a motor of the food processing apparatus.

[0041] The food processing chamber 10 is typically mounted on a base 40 that houses the motor 50 of the food processing apparatus 1. If desired, it may also be equipped with any suitable cooling device (not shown) for the motor 50, such as a fan, water cooling system, semiconductor cooling system, etc. Any suitable mounting mechanism can be used for this purpose. Since such mounting mechanisms are well-known, they will not be discussed in more detail for the sake of brevity. The central shaft 52 typically extends from the motor 50 for driving the blade assembly 20, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0042] In the first set of embodiments, the body 22 of the blade device 20 is arranged to rotate within a stationary food processing chamber 10, or alternatively, the food processing chamber 10 is allowed to rotate about the stationary body 22. Figure 6An exemplary embodiment of such a blade device 20 is schematically illustrated, wherein, as previously described, the blade device 20 is mounted abutting against the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the blade device 20 includes a static body 21, from which a body 22 is rotatably mounted, for example using bearings, within the static body 21. In this embodiment, the additional surface device 26 is typically cylindrical, although the surface device 25 can take any suitable shape, such as cylindrical or the previously described multifaceted shape. The blade device 20 may also include a base plate 23 from which the body 22 extends, such that the cutting blade 24 extends inwardly over the base plate 23. The base plate 23 seals the bottom of the blade device 20 and can rotate with the body 22 when driven by the motor 50. Alternatively, the base plate 23 may be another static body, such that the body 22 is rotatably mounted between the inner static body 23 and the outer static body 21, in which case the surface device 25 is typically also cylindrical. Of course, other suitable arrangements for rotatably mounting the body 22 in the blade device 20 are contemplated.

[0043] Figure 6 and Figure 7 An exemplary drive mechanism for the blade assembly 20 is also schematically shown, wherein the motor 50 engages with the body 22 (e.g., a cylindrical body) via a further cylindrical body 54 on a central shaft 52, and a plurality of engagement members 56 (e.g., teeth, ribs, etc.) extend from the upper edge of the further cylindrical body 54 for engaging with further engagement members (not shown) (e.g., slots, grooves, etc.) on the bottom of the body 22. For example, this embodiment can be used to rotate the body within a stationary food processing chamber 10, or in which the blade assembly 20 and the food processing chamber 10 rotate in unison, i.e., together as a single unit, as will be explained in further detail below.

[0044] The engagement of the drive mechanism between the motor 50 and the body 22 can take any suitable shape or form, as readily understood by those skilled in the art. For example, as Figure 8 As shown, the central shaft 52 can extend between the motor 50 and the blade assembly 20, in which case the central shaft 52 can directly engage with the receiving structure on the base plate 23 of the blade assembly 20. This is, for example, a suitable embodiment in which the base plate 23 rotates together with the body 22 in the static body 21, as explained above, or in which the blade assembly 20 and the food processing chamber 10 rotate in unison. Figure 9 In another exemplary embodiment, schematically illustrated, a plurality of arms 55 may extend radially from the central axis 52 of the motor 50, wherein each arm 55 terminates at a connecting member 56 for engaging with another connecting member at the bottom of the body 22, as previously described. For example, this embodiment can be used to rotate the body within or together with the food processing chamber 10 while it is stationary.

[0045] In another set of embodiments, exemplary embodiments are as follows: Figure 10 The diagram schematically illustrates that the blade assembly 20 and the food processing chamber 10 are configured to rotate as a single unit, as indicated by the curved box arrow, or the food processing chamber 10 may rotate about the fixed body 22. In this embodiment, the coupling mechanism connecting the motor to the food processing chamber 10 can interact with the blade assembly 20 of the food processing chamber 10 in any suitable manner, for example, as... Figures 7-9 The difference between the shown and described in their detailed descriptions is that the body 22 is not rotatably mounted in the blade assembly 20, but rather the body 22 is also static, such that rotation of the body 22 via the motor 50 is transferred to the food processing chamber 10 via the blade assembly 20 mechanically coupled to the food processing chamber 10. Alternatively, the coupling mechanism connecting the motor 50 to the food processing chamber 10 may interact with the retaining ring 15 or directly with the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10, for example, in the case of a food processing chamber 10 without a central hole 13, where the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10 is closed. In the latter embodiment, the inner surface of the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10 may have some mounting mechanism, such as a screw engagement or a bayonet engagement, in which the blade assembly 20 may be mounted, or the blade assembly 20 may form an integral part of the food processing chamber 10, for example defining the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10. Another feasible mechanism is one in which the main body 22 of the blade assembly 20 is locked in a fixed position when the food processing chamber 10 is rotated by the motor 50. In this embodiment, the main body 22 is typically rotatably mounted in another main body 21, such that the other main body 21 rotates together with the food processing chamber 10 while the main body 22 remains stationary. Alternatively, the main body 22 can be locked to the base 40 to ensure that the main body 22 remains stationary during the rotation of the food processing chamber 10.

[0046] To protect users from contact with the rotating food processing chamber 10 during operation of the food processing apparatus 1, the food processing apparatus 1 may further include, for example: Figure 11 A protective cover or housing 60 is schematically shown, which at least partially surrounds the food processing chamber 10. The protective cover 60 can be made of any suitable material, such as glass, metal, or plastic. Figure 11 In this case, the protective cover 60 also surrounds the base 40, but it should be understood that this is merely a non-limiting example, as it is equally feasible for the protective cover 60 to extend from, for example, the base 40. Any suitable arrangement of the protective cover 60 can be envisioned.

[0047] In the aforementioned embodiment, the motor 50 is arranged to mechanically cause the rotation of the blade assembly 20 within or together with the food processing chamber 10. Figure 12A schematic cross-sectional view of a food processing apparatus 1 according to an alternative embodiment is shown, wherein a motor 50 is arranged within or together with the food processing chamber 10 to magnetically induce rotation of the blade assembly 20. This has the advantage of further noise reduction due to the fewer mechanically moving parts in the design of the food processing apparatus 1. For this purpose, the motor 50 may include a stator 70 arranged to generate a rotating magnetic field in any suitable manner. For example, the stator 70 may include a plurality of polarity-wound coils 72, such as two or three such coils equidistantly spaced around the blade assembly 20, which can generate a rotating magnetic field by driving each coil 72 with a sinusoidal alternating current, wherein the currents driving the respective coils 72 have a suitable phase difference, for example, a 90° phase difference in the case of two coils 72 and a 120° phase difference in the case of three coils 72.

[0048] In this embodiment, the body 22 is made of a magnetizable material, such as a metal like iron, and magnet devices 75 are distributed on other surface devices 26 of the body 22, such that the rotating magnetic field generated by the stator 70 can magnetize the magnetizable material and cause the magnet devices 75 to rotate in tandem with the rotating magnetic field, which is known in itself. An optional protective cover 60 can be placed around the stator 70, for example, in the case where the food processing chamber 10 is arranged to rotate together with the blade device 20, as described in more detail above. Figure 13 As shown, the stator 70 is preferably arranged in the base 40 such that it surrounds the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10, which includes the blade assembly 20. This not only optimizes the magnetic coupling between the stator 70 and the blade assembly 20, but also provides a particularly compact design for the food processing apparatus 1.

[0049] The food processing chamber 10 can be vertically mounted on the base 40, as shown in the embodiment described above. However, in Figure 14 In the schematically illustrated alternative embodiment, the food processing chamber 10 can be docked in a docking station 30, which includes a base portion 32 and an opposing cover portion 34, with the food processing chamber 10 docked between the base portion 32 and the opposing cover portion 34. This allows the food processing chamber 10 to dock in the docking station 30 in an inclined or even horizontal orientation, which promotes tumbling of food within the food processing chamber 10, promotes the breaking up of food pieces within the food processing chamber 10, and helps reduce the load force exerted on the cutting blade 24 by the food pieces, thereby extending the life of the cutting blade 24. In this embodiment, the blade assembly 20 can be mechanically driven or magnetically driven, as previously described.

[0050] The food processing chamber 10 can be mounted within the docking station 30 in any suitable manner. For example, a mounting post 36 or the like can extend from the bottom portion 14 of the food processing chamber 10 to the base portion 32 of the docking station 30, wherein the mounting post 36 can be secured in the base portion 32 of the docking station in any suitable manner. In the case where the blade assembly 20 is mechanically driven, the mounting post 36 can form any of the aforementioned drive mechanisms between the motor 50 and the food processing chamber 10. Additional mounting posts 38 or the like can extend from the cover 11 of the food processing chamber 10 and be secured in the cover portion 34 of the docking station in any suitable manner. Many other suitable docking mechanisms will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0051] The food processing chamber 10 can be stationary or rotatably mounted within the docking station 30, for example, when the food processing chamber 10 is designed to rotate together with the blade assembly 20 or, as previously described, rotate around the stationary body 22 of the blade assembly 20. In the latter case, a protective cover 60 can extend between the base portion 32 and the cover portion 34 of the docking station 30 to prevent access to the rotating food processing chamber 10 during operation of the food processing apparatus 1.

[0052] In some embodiments, the tilt angle of the food processing chamber 10 within the docking station 30 is fixed. However, in an alternative set of embodiments, the tilt angle of the food processing chamber 10 is adjustable. For this purpose, the docking station 30 may include an adjustment mechanism that can be operated by a user, for example, before operating the food processing device 1, or can be automatically adjusted during operation of the food processing device 1. For example, the base portion 32 and the cover portion 34 may be formed as part of a support on an adjustable pivot (not shown), adjusting which to change the orientation of the support on the pivot, thereby changing the tilt angle of the food processing chamber 10. The pivot may be motorized to facilitate automatic adjustment of the tilt angle. Of course, many other embodiments, such as an adjustable tilt mechanism, for the food processing chamber 10 are contemplated.

[0053] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative and not limiting of the invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to devise many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Any reference numerals placed in parentheses in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in the claims. The words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by hardware comprising several different elements. In device claims that enumerate several components, several of these components can be implemented by the same hardware. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these measures cannot be advantageously used.

Claims

1. A food processing apparatus (1) having a food processing chamber (10), comprising a blade assembly (20) and a motor (50) arranged to drive said blade assembly, characterized in that, The blade assembly does not include a central shaft and includes a body (22) and a plurality of cutting blades (24), the body (22) having a surface device (25) defining a cavity (3), the plurality of cutting blades (24) extending from the surface device into the cavity, wherein the motor (50) includes a mechanical coupling for coupling to a food processing chamber for rotating the food processing chamber (10) including the blade assembly, wherein the mechanical coupling includes a central shaft (52) driven by the motor and at least one engaging member (56) coupled to the central shaft, the at least one engaging member being arranged to engage with a retaining ring (15) or the body (22).

2. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (22) is a cylindrical main body.

3. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cutting blades (24) are offset from each other along the central axis (29) of the body (22).

4. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring (15) is arranged to secure the blade assembly to the bottom portion (14) of the food processing chamber.

5. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 further includes a protective cover (60) that at least partially covers the food processing chamber (10).

6. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the blade device (20) further comprises an additional body (21), and the body (22) is rotatably mounted on the additional body.

7. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (50) is mechanically coupled to the body (22) to rotate the body within the food processing chamber (10), or is mechanically coupled to the food processing chamber to rotate the food processing chamber relative to the body.

8. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one connecting member (56) is mounted on an additional body (54) attached to the central shaft (52), or the at least one connecting member comprises a plurality of connecting members (56) individually mounted on respective arms (55) extending radially from the central shaft (52).

9. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (50) includes a stator (70) arranged to generate a rotating magnetic field, and the body (22) is responsive to the rotating magnetic field.

10. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein the stator (70) is arranged around the body (22).

11. The food processing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1-10, further comprising a docking station (30) for the food processing chamber, the docking station comprising a base portion (32) and a cover portion (34) opposite to the base portion, the base portion comprising the motor (50) for engaging with a bottom portion (14) of the food processing chamber (10), the bottom portion comprising the blade device (20), and the cover portion for engaging with a top portion (12) of the food processing chamber.

12. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 11, wherein the food processing chamber (10) is tilted when docked at the docking station (30), and optionally, wherein the tilting orientation is adjustable during operation of the food processing apparatus.

13. The food processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the food processing apparatus is a mixer or a smoothie maker.

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