Food processing device, using method thereof and food processing system

Abstract

A food processing device is disclosed, the food processing device comprising a motorized base and a container arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base. The motorized base has a base coupling configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The base coupling is shaped to engage a container coupling on the container such that rotation of the base coupling drives rotation of the container coupling about the axis of rotation. The container coupling includes a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by the container. The food processing device further comprises a fitting arranged to be removably coupled to the drive shaft of the container and to rotate within the container about the axis of rotation, and rotation of the fitting is driven by the container coupling via the drive shaft. A method of using the food processing apparatus and a food processing system are also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to food processing devices, and more particularly, to food processing devices having a motorized base configured to releasably receive and power one or more removable containers to achieve general food processing functionality. Background Art

[0002] There are a variety of devices for food processing. However, each food processing device itself can often only meet a small number of food processing needs. This may be due to mechanical layout limitations, which limit the way the device can be operated and used in different food processing situations. In addition, food processing devices are also limited in the extent to which they allow different mixing, stirring, whipping or other types of food processing accessories to be attached. This requires individuals or businesses to purchase and maintain many different devices to effectively meet the various food processing needs that may arise.

[0003] Certain existing kitchen tools have been developed that allow for interchangeable attachment of various types of attachments capable of performing different types of food processing functions. Specifically, top-driven kitchen tools (e.g., immersion blenders) sometimes have greater attachment compatibility than bottom-driven kitchen tools (e.g., food processors). However, most top-driven kitchen tools lack versatility in the types of containers and lids that can be used in conjunction with the device. Therefore, there is a need for a food processing device or kitchen tool with more versatile, evolvable, and flexible containers and attachment capabilities. Summary of the invention

[0004] A food processing device having a universal coupling power base (referred to herein as a "motorized base") that is capable of releasably coupling to one or more different containers is disclosed. Each container may have a different shape, volume capacity, and / or accessories mounted within the container. The container may contain any desired type of accessories, including blades, mixers, whisks, or accessories for chopping, grinding, frothing, or other food processing accessories. The accessories may be fixed within the container or removable from the container. The motorized base may be configured to detect an attached container and adjust the rotational speed of the motorized base's base coupling (which rotates a drive shaft within the container and drives the rotation of any accessories mounted to the drive shaft within the container) and / or its operating time accordingly to match the function or capacity of the attached container.

[0005] Some previously known portable blenders use blades that are fixed (non-removable) relative to the motorized base of the blender. In contrast, the food processing device disclosed herein may utilize a connection between a base and an attachable container or a blade holder containing the blade (which may be further attached to the container). Compared to blenders with blades fixed to a motorized base (which require the blades fixed to the base to be cleaned, typically by running the blender itself), the food processing device disclosed herein only requires cleaning the container after use, thereby eliminating the risk of water ingress to components within the motorized base. In addition, the unique connection configuration of the disclosed food processing device enables different functions (i.e., stirring, mixing, whipping, chopping, grinding, frothing, etc.) to be performed based on the container connected to the motorized base, thereby reducing the total number of food processing components required to perform these different tasks.

[0006] An illustrative food processing device including a motorized base and at least one container arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, and related devices and methods for providing general food processing capabilities are described. The motorized base has a base coupling configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The base coupling is shaped to engage a container coupling on a container so that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about the rotation axis. The container coupling includes a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by the container. The food processing device also includes one or more accessories arranged to be removably coupled to the drive shaft and rotated within the container about the rotation axis, and rotation of the accessories is driven by the container coupling via the drive shaft.

[0007] In some embodiments, the axis of rotation is vertical or substantially vertical. In these and other embodiments, the accessory is at least partially mounted to the drive shaft magnetically. However, in alternative embodiments, the accessory is at least partially mounted to the drive shaft mechanically. The accessory may include one or more of the following: a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, a beater, other types of food processing accessories, or any suitable combination of the above accessories. The motorized base may also include an accessory detection interface that is arranged to detect a container and output a detection signal. In some such embodiments, the motorized base also includes a controller that is electrically connected to the accessory detection interface, and the controller is arranged to (i) receive a detection signal from the detection interface, and identify the type of the container based on the detection signal, and (ii) adjust the rotation speed of the base coupling, the time period of the rotation of the base coupling, and at least one of the values ​​of another operating parameter of the food processing device based on the detection signal. In some embodiments, the motorized base also includes one or more bayonet features that are arranged to releasably fix the container to the motorized base. In these and other embodiments, the container has at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the container coupling to define a container cavity into which solid and / or liquid ingredients are processed by the fitting within the container. The motorized base may also include a motor arranged to drive the base coupling to rotate about the rotation axis, and the motor may be powered by a battery and / or a direct current (DC) power source.

[0008] In yet another aspect, a method of using a food processing device is described. The food processing device has a motorized base and one or more removable containers, each of the removable containers including a container coupling, the container coupling being shaped to engage a base coupling of the motorized base so that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about a rotation axis, and each container coupling including a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by each of the one or more removable containers. The method includes: attaching a first removable container containing a first accessory to the motorized base; engaging the first removable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, the first accessory being mechanically coupled to the first container coupling via a first drive shaft; and operating the food processing device to allow the first accessory to perform a first food processing function within the first removable container. The method also includes: removing the first accessory from the first drive shaft in the first removable container; attaching a second accessory to the first drive shaft in the first removable container; and operating the food processing device to allow the second accessory to perform a second food processing function within the first removable container.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method further includes: removing the first detachable container from the motorized base; attaching the second detachable container to the motorized base; and engaging the second detachable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, wherein the third accessory is mechanically connected to the second detachable container coupling via the second drive shaft. In some such embodiments, the method further includes operating the food processing device to allow the third accessory to perform a third food processing function in the second detachable container. In these and other embodiments, the first food processing function, the second food processing function, and the third food processing function are different. In selected embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the rotation speed of the accessory and the running time of the accessory based on the type of detachable container attached to the motorized base. In various embodiments, the method further includes automatically performing one of the first food processing function and the second food processing function when the first container is detected, and automatically performing the third food processing function when the second container is detected. In these and other embodiments, the first container and the second container have different volume capacities. In selected embodiments, the first accessory has a different structure from the second accessory. The first accessory and the second accessory may include one or more of a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, a whisk, another type of food processing accessory, or any suitable combination of the above accessories.

[0010] In another aspect, a food processing system having a motorized base, a first container and a second container is described. The motorized base has a base coupling configured to rotate around a rotation axis. The first container is arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, and the first container includes a first accessory configured to rotate in the first container. The second container is arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, and the second container includes a second accessory configured to rotate in the second container. The first container and the second container each include a container coupling, the container coupling being shaped to engage the base coupling so that the rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate around the rotation axis, and the rotation of the first accessory and the second accessory is driven by the container coupling. The motorized base also includes a detection interface, the detection interface being arranged to detect when one of the first container and the second container is coupled to the motorized base and output a detection signal. The controller is electrically connected to the detection interface, and the controller is arranged to detect a signal from the detection interface and identify the type of container associated with one of the first container and the second container based on the detection signal. The controller is also configured to adjust at least one of the rotation speed of the base coupling and the time period of the rotation of the base coupling based on the detection signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to make it easier for those skilled in the art to understand how to make and use the disclosed system, reference may be made to the following drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food processing device configured in accordance with some embodiments of the subject technology, the food processing device comprising a motorized base and a container configured to releasably couple to the motorized base;

[0013] Figure 2A-2B Shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a food processing device shown in FIG. Figure 2A The container is shown disconnected from the motorized base, and Figure 2B The container is shown coupled to a motorized base;

[0014] Figures 3A-3C Example accessories that may be used in some embodiments of the disclosed food processing apparatus are shown, specifically, Figure 3A The blade accessory is shown, Figure 3B A mixing paddle accessory is shown, and Figure 3C A whisk accessory is shown;

[0015] Figure 4 A block diagram showing a control system configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0016] Figure 5 A flow chart is included of a process for assembling and using the disclosed food processing device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The subject technology overcomes many prior art problems associated with food processing devices and / or kitchen tools by providing various container attachment possibilities and food processing functions that can all be powered by a single detachable motorized base. As described elsewhere herein, conventional food processing devices are limited in the types of container attachments that can be used with associated motor mechanisms. As described in detail elsewhere herein, the currently disclosed food processing device includes a motorized base that is arranged to be releasably connected to various containers (and drive various accessories installed in each container to rotate) to perform different types of food processing functions. The motorized base can be configured to detect the attached container and adjust the rotation speed and / or its running time of the accessory based on the type of attached container and the food processing function performed. The values ​​of other operating parameters of the food processing device can also be adjusted based on this detection.

[0018] Advantages and other features of the systems and methods disclosed herein will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate representative embodiments of the invention. The same reference numerals are used herein to represent the same parts. In addition, words indicating orientation, such as "upper," "lower," "distal," and "proximal," are used only to help describe the position of components relative to each other. For example, the "upper" surface of a part is used only to describe a surface that is separate from the "lower" surface of the same part. There are no words indicating orientation used to describe an absolute orientation (i.e., the "upper" part must always be at a higher altitude).

[0019] Figure 1 An example of a food processing device 100 configured in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. The food processing device 100 includes a motorized base 10 and a container 20 arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base 10. Figure 1 A perspective view of the food processing device 100 is shown with the container 20 decoupled from the motorized base 10 . Figure 2A-2B A cross-sectional view of a food processing device 100 is shown. Figure 2A The container 20 is shown disconnected from the motorized base 10, and Figure 2B The container 20 is shown coupled to the motorized base 10 .

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the motorized base 10 has a base housing 12 with a base coupling 14, and the container 20 includes a container coupling 22 configured to engage with the base coupling 14. Although not clearly shown, the base housing 12 may include a container coupling 22 arranged to drive the base coupling 14 around a rotation axis (e.g., axis A, Figure 2B The motor can be a conventional motor, such as known in the prior art. The motor can be powered by a battery and / or a direct current (DC) power source housed in the base housing 12.

[0021] As previously mentioned, the container 20 includes a container coupling 22. The container coupling 22 is configured to engage the base coupling 14 so that rotation of the base coupling 14 drives the container coupling 22 to rotate about the rotation axis (A). The container coupling 22 also includes a drive shaft 24 extending into a cavity 28 defined by the container 20, such as Figure 2A As shown. The container coupling 22 and the base coupling 14 can be configured to mechanically interlock with each other. For example, Figure 1 As shown in , the container coupling 22 may include a plurality of ribs or teeth that couple to grooves formed in the base coupling 14. It should be noted that although six ribs and corresponding grooves have been found to be effective, other numbers of attachment geometries and / or interlocking features may also be used, such as two, three, four, five, or more than six.

[0022] In some embodiments, the food processing device 100 further includes an accessory 30 that is arranged to be detachably coupled to the drive shaft 24 and rotate around the rotation axis (A) within the container 20. The rotation of the accessory 30 is driven by the container coupling 22 via the drive shaft 24. Figure 2B As shown, the axis of rotation (A) may be vertical or substantially vertical.

[0023] The accessory 30 can be mounted to the container 20 (specifically, to the drive shaft 24 within the container 20) using any desired mechanism. In some embodiments, the accessory 30 is fixedly mounted to the drive shaft 24, while in other embodiments, the accessory is removable from the drive shaft 24. In some embodiments, the accessory 30 is at least partially magnetically mounted to the drive shaft 24. However, in these and other embodiments, the accessory 30 is at least partially mechanically mounted to the drive shaft 24.

[0024] In some embodiments, the fitting 30 is integrated with the container 20. In some such embodiments, the container 20 includes a drive shaft 24 that is integral with the fitting 30 fixedly attached to the drive shaft 24. However, other embodiments in which the fitting 30 is removable from the container 20 are possible and are contemplated herein.

[0025] The accessory 30 can be shaped to perform any desired type of food processing function. For example, the accessory 30 can include one or more of the following: a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, and a whisk. Figures 3A-3C Various types of possible accessories (30a, 30b, 30c) that may be used in the food processing device 100 are shown. Figure 3A A blade accessory 30a is shown, Figure 3B A mixing paddle assembly 30b is shown, and Figure 3C A whisk accessory 30c is shown.

[0026] In some embodiments, the motorized base 10 further includes an accessory detection interface 16 arranged to detect an attached container 20 and output a detection signal. Figure 2A-2BAs shown in , the accessory detection interface 16 can be positioned to engage the identification feature 26 on the container 20 when the container 20 is coupled to the motorized base 10. In some embodiments, the accessory detection interface 16 includes one or more electrical connectors (e.g., retractable pins or other electrical connectors) positioned to receive and identify the identification feature 26 on the container 20. In other embodiments, the accessory detection interface 16 and / or 916 uses a wireless interface such as radio frequency identification (RFID) to detect the attached container 20. The detection interface 916 can use a male-female electrical connector, a magnetic sensor, an inductive sensor, and / or any other type of electrical, mechanical, and / or wireless detection device to detect the type of container 20 connected to the motorized base. In some embodiments, one or more sensors 906 are used to detect the type of container 20.

[0027] The motorized base 10 may also include a controller 902 (hereinafter referred to as controller 902) in electrical communication with the accessory detection interface 16 and / or 916. Figure 4 902). If present, the controller 902 may be arranged to: (i) receive a detection signal from the detection interface 16 and / or 916 and identify the type of container, such as container 20, based on the detection signal, and (ii) adjust at least one of the rotation speed of the base coupling 14 and the time period of rotation of the base coupling 14 based on the detection signal. In some embodiments, the memory 914 and / or the storage device 908 includes an accessory detection lookup table and / or database having a list of known detection signals associated with known types of containers. For example, a small 12-ounce container may be configured to press pins 1 and 3 of a four-telescopic pin interface when the container 20 is connected to the motorized base 10. The controller 902 may then detect a detection signal from the accessory detection interface 16 and / or 916 indicating that pins 1 and 3 have been pressed. The controller 902 may compare the detection signal to the list in the accessory detection lookup table, and when a match is determined with one of the types of containers in the list, the controller 902 determines that the container 20 connected to the motorized base 10 is a 12-ounce container. In an embodiment using a wireless accessory detection interface, a container 20 connected to the motorized base 10 transmits a wireless signal containing an identification code associated with the type of container to a receiver of the accessory detection interface 916, which then sends a detection signal based on the received wireless identification code, which the controller 902 can use to identify the type of container 20 connected to the motorized base 10. The controller 902 can compare the received detection signal with the accessory detection lookup table to identify the type of container, as discussed above. The controller 902 can use similar techniques to identify the type of container regardless of the physical configuration of the accessory detection interface 916.

[0028] Optionally, the motorized base 10 may also include one or more bayonet features 18 arranged to releasably secure the container 20 to the motorized base 10. For example, in some embodiments, the motorized base 10 includes two or more bayonet slots that are keyed to receive corresponding bayonet tabs of the container 20, such as Figure 1 In some such embodiments, clockwise movement of the container 20 on the motorized base 10 may attach the container 20 to the motorized base 10, and counterclockwise movement of the container 20 may release the container 20 from the motorized base 10. The bayonet feature 18 may allow the container 20 to be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the motorized base 10. Although Figure 1 One particular embodiment of a bayonet fit attachment scheme is shown in , but a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that many alternative coupling mechanisms for the container 20 are possible and are contemplated herein (e.g., press-in, snap fit, friction fit, or other).

[0029] like Figure 2A-2B , the container 20 has at least one sidewall 27 extending upwardly from the container coupling 22 to define a container cavity 28 into which solid and / or liquid ingredients are processed by a fitting 30 within the container 20. During use, solids and / or liquids may be placed within the container 20 for processing, and the container 20 may then be sealed as desired. In some such embodiments, a lid is used to seal the container 20. The container lid may have any desired shape, such as a wine vessel lid, a dropper lid, a nozzle lid, or other types of lids.

[0030] although Figure 1-2B 3 and only three types of accessories 30a-30c are shown, but those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the motorized base 10 can be configured to interchangeably receive, identify and / or control a variety of types of containers 20 and accessories 30 in addition to the containers and accessories described and shown herein. Moreover, in additional embodiments, the disclosed motorized base 10 is used to power other small appliances in addition to the containers 20 described herein.

[0031] In some embodiments, the food processing device 100 includes a control system. If present, the control system may be contained within the base housing 12. The control system may enable the food processing device 100 to detect the type of container 20 coupled to the motorized base 10 and automatically adjust the output from the motorized base 10 based on the detected type of container 20, as needed.

[0032] Figure 4is a block diagram of an illustrative control system 900 that may be housed within the base housing 12. The control system may include a microcontroller, a processor, a system on a chip (SoC), a client device, and / or a physical computing device, and may include hardware and / or virtual processors. In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown in , the control system 900 and its elements each involve physical hardware, and in some embodiments, one, more or all elements may be implemented using an emulator or a virtual machine. Regardless, the electronic control system 900 may be implemented on physical hardware.

[0033] like Figure 4 As shown in , the control system 900 may include a user interface 912, which has, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch pad, or a sensor readout (e.g., a biometric scanner) and one or more output devices, such as a display, a speaker for audio, an LED indicator, and / or a light indicator. The control system 900 may also include a communication interface 910, such as a network communication unit that may include a wired communication component and / or a wireless communication component, which can be communicatively connected to the controller and / or processor 902. The network communication unit can utilize any of a variety of proprietary or standardized network protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP / IP (to name a few of many protocols), to enable communication between the processor 902 and another device, network, or system. The network communication unit may also include one or more transceivers that utilize Ethernet, power line communication (PLC), Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or other communication methods.

[0034] The control system 900 may include a processing element, such as a controller and / or processor 902, which contains one or more hardware processors, each of which may have a single or multiple processor cores. In one embodiment, the processor 902 includes at least one shared cache that stores data (e.g., computing instructions) utilized by one or more other components of the processor 902. For example, a shared cache may be local cache data stored in a memory for faster access by components that make up the processing element of the processor 902. Example processors include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU) and / or a microprocessor. The controller and / or processor 902 may utilize a processor based on, but not limited to, 8051 architecture, 68HCX, 80X86 and other computer architectures. Processor 902 may include (but is not limited to) 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit architectures. Figure 4Although not shown, the processing elements making up processor 902 may also include one or more other types of hardware processing components, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or a digital signal processor (DSP).

[0035] Figure 4 It is shown that the memory 904 can be operatively and communicatively connected to the processor 902. The memory 904 can be a non-temporary medium configured to store various types of data. For example, the memory 904 can include one or more storage devices 908, which include non-volatile storage devices and / or volatile memory. Volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM) can be any suitable non-permanent storage device. The non-volatile storage device 908 can include one or more disk drives, optical drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), tape drives, flash memories, read-only memories (ROMs) and / or any other type of memory designed to maintain data for a certain duration after a power outage or shutdown operation. In some configurations, if the allocated RAM is not enough to accommodate all working data, the non-volatile storage device 908 can be used to store overflow data. The non-volatile storage device 908 can also be used to store programs that are loaded into the RAM when such programs are selected for execution. The data storage area and / or storage device 908 can be arranged to store multiple food processing instruction programs associated with multiple food processing sequences. Such a food processing instruction program may include instructions to cause the controller and / or processor 902 to: start or stop the motor in the motorized base 10; operate the motor at a certain RPM for a certain time period during a particular food processing sequence; and issue one or more prompt instructions to the user interface 912, which are output to the user to prohibit a response, action and / or input from the user.

[0036] As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, software programs may be developed, coded, and compiled in a variety of computing languages ​​for a variety of software platforms and / or operating systems, and subsequently loaded and executed by processor 902. In one embodiment, the compilation process of a software program converts program code written in one programming language into another computer language so that the programming code can be executed by processor 902. For example, the compilation process of a software program may generate an executable program that provides coded instructions (e.g., machine code instructions) to processor 902 to implement a particular, non-general purpose, concrete computing function.

[0037] After the compilation process, the coded instructions may be loaded from the storage device 908, from the memory 904 to the processor 902 as computer-executable instructions or process steps, and / or embedded within the processor 902 (e.g., via a cache or onboard ROM). The processor 902 may be configured to execute the stored instructions or process steps so that the instructions or process steps are executed to convert the electronic control system 900 into a non-generic, specific, specially programmed machine or device. Stored data, such as data stored by the data storage area and / or storage device 908, may be accessed by the processor 902 during execution of the computer-executable instructions or process steps to indicate one or more components within the control system 900 and / or other components or devices external to the system 900.

[0038] The user interface 912 may include a display, a position input device (e.g., a mouse, a touch pad, a touch screen, etc.), a keyboard, a keypad, one or more buttons, or other forms of user input and output devices. The user interface component may be coupled to the processor 902 in a communication manner. When the user interface output device is a display or includes a display, the display may be implemented in various ways, including by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a light emitting diode (LED) display, such as an OLED display. The sensor 906 may include one or more sensors that detect and / or monitor environmental conditions in or around the food processing device 100, in or around the container 20, and / or in or around the accessory 30. Environmental conditions may include, but are not limited to, rotation, rotation speed, and / or movement of a device or component (e.g., a motor), temperature, pressure, current, position of a device or component (e.g., whether the accessory 30 is attached to the drive shaft 24 in the container 20), and / or the presence of a device or component (e.g., whether the accessory 30 is connected to the container 20 and / or whether the container 20 is fixed to the motorized base 10). The sensor 906 may also include one or more safety and / or interlock switches that prevent or allow operation of certain components, such as a motor within the motorized base 10, when certain conditions are met (e.g., allowing rotation of the drive shaft 24 only when a container is attached to the motorized base 10). A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the electronic control system 900 may include other components well known in the art, such as Figure 4 Power supplies and / or analog / digital converters not explicitly shown.

[0039] In some embodiments, the control system 900 and / or processor 902 comprises an SoC having multiple hardware components, including but not limited to: a microcontroller, a microprocessor or a digital signal processor (DSP) core and / or a multi-processor SoC (MPSoC) having more than one processor core; memory blocks, including a selection of read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory; timing sources, including oscillators and phase-locked loops; peripherals, including counter-timers, real-time timers, and power-on reset generators; external interfaces, including industry standards such as universal serial bus (USB), FireWire, Ethernet, universal synchronous / asynchronous receiver / transmitter (USART), serial peripheral interface (SPI), etc.; analog interfaces, including analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs); and voltage regulators and power management circuits.

[0040] SoC includes the hardware described above, as well as software that controls microcontrollers, microprocessors and / or DSP cores, peripherals and interfaces. Most SoCs are developed from pre-certified hardware blocks of hardware elements (e.g., called modules or components, which represent IP cores or IP blocks) and software drivers that control their operation. The above list of hardware elements is not exhaustive. SoCs may include protocol stacks that drive industry standard interfaces, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0041] Once the overall architecture of the SoC has been defined, individual hardware elements can be described in an abstract language called RTL, which represents the register transfer level. RTL is used to define circuit behavior. Hardware elements are connected together in the same RTL language to produce a complete SoC design. In digital circuit design, RTL is a design abstraction that models synchronous digital circuits based on the digital signal (data) flow between hardware registers and the logical operations performed on those signals. RTL abstraction is used to create a high-level representation of the circuit in hardware description languages ​​(HDLs) such as Verilog and VHDL, from which lower-level representations can be derived and actual wiring can be ultimately derived. RTL-level design is a typical practice in modern digital design. Verilog is standardized as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1364 and is an HDL for modeling electronic systems. Verilog is most commonly used for the design and verification of digital circuits at the RTL abstraction level. Verilog can also be used to verify analog circuits and mixed-signal circuits, as well as for designing genetic circuits. In some embodiments, the various components of the control system 900 are implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0042] Figure 5A flow chart of a method 500 for using a food processing device 100 as described herein is included. The method 500 involves using a food processing device having a motorized base and one or more removable containers, each of the removable containers including a container coupling, the container coupling being shaped to engage a base coupling of the motorized base so that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about a rotation axis, and each container coupling including a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by each of the one or more removable containers. The method 500 includes attaching a first removable container containing a first accessory to the motorized base (502). The method 500 continues by engaging the first removable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, the first accessory being mechanically coupled to the first container coupling via a first drive shaft (504). The method 500 also includes operating the food processing device to allow the first accessory to perform a first food processing function within the first removable container (506). The method 500 continues by removing the first accessory from the first drive shaft in the first removable container (508). The method 500 also includes attaching a second accessory to the first drive shaft in the first removable container (510). The method 500 ends with operating the food processing device to allow the second accessory to perform a second food processing function in the first removable container (512).

[0043] In some embodiments, method 500 further includes (i) removing the first detachable container from the motorized base and attaching the second detachable container to the motorized base, and (ii) engaging the second detachable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, wherein the third accessory is mechanically connected to the second detachable container coupling via the second drive shaft. In some such embodiments, method 500 further includes operating the food processing device to allow the third accessory to perform a third food processing function in the second detachable container. In these and other embodiments, the first food processing function, the second food processing function, and the third food processing function are different. In some embodiments, method 500 further includes automatically performing one of the first food processing function and the second food processing function when the first container is detected, and automatically performing the third food processing function when the second container is detected. In these and other embodiments, the first container and the second container have different volume capacities.

[0044] In some embodiments, method 500 further comprises adjusting at least one of a rotation speed of the accessory and a run time of the accessory based on identifying the type of detachable container attached to the motorized base. In selected embodiments, the first accessory has a different structure than the second accessory. In these and other embodiments, the first accessory and the second accessory comprise one or more of a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, and a whipper.

[0045] All orientations and arrangements of the components shown herein are used as examples only. In addition, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art that, in alternative embodiments, the functions of several elements are performed by fewer elements or single elements. Similarly, in some embodiments, any functional element performs fewer or different operations compared to the operations described with respect to the illustrated embodiments. In addition, the functional elements shown as different for the purpose of illustration can be incorporated into other functional elements in the specific implementation.

[0046] Although the present disclosure specifically shows and describes a particular embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the present application is intended to encompass such changes. Therefore, the foregoing description of the embodiments of the present application is not intended to limit the full scope conveyed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A food processing device, characterized in that: The food processing device comprises: a motorized base including a base coupling configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a container arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, the container including a container coupling shaped to engage the base coupling such that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about the rotation axis, the container coupling including a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by the container; and A fitting is arranged to be detachably coupled to the drive shaft and to rotate within the container about the rotation axis, wherein rotation of the fitting is driven by the container coupling via the drive shaft.

2. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is vertical or substantially vertical.

3. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the accessory is at least partially magnetically mounted to the drive shaft.

4. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the accessory is at least partially mechanically mounted to the drive shaft.

5. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the accessories include one or more of the following: a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, and a whisk. 6 . The food processing device of claim 1 , wherein the motorized base further comprises an accessory detection interface arranged to detect the container and output a detection signal.

7. The food processing device of claim 6, wherein the motorized base includes a controller in electrical communication with the accessory detection interface, the controller being arranged to: i) receiving the detection signal from the detection interface, and identifying the type of the container based on the detection signal; and ii) adjusting at least one of a rotation speed of the base coupling and a time period of rotation of the base coupling based on the detection signal.

8. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the motorized base further comprises one or more bayonet features arranged to releasably secure the container to the motorized base.

9. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the container has at least one side wall extending upwardly from the container coupling to define a container cavity into which solid and / or liquid ingredients are processed by the fitment.

10. The food processing device of claim 1, wherein the motorized base comprises a motor arranged to drive the base coupling to rotate about the rotation axis, and the motor is powered by a battery and / or a direct current (DC) power supply.

11. A method of using a food processing device having a motorized base and one or more removable containers, characterized in that: Each of the removable containers includes a container coupling configured to engage a base coupling of the motorized base such that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about a rotation axis, each container coupling including a drive shaft extending into a cavity defined by each of the one or more removable containers, the method comprising: attaching a first removable container containing a first accessory to the motorized base; engaging a first removable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, the first accessory being mechanically coupled to the first container coupling via a first drive shaft; operating the food processing device to allow the first accessory to perform a first food processing function within the first removable container; removing the first accessory from the first drive shaft in the first removable container; attaching a second accessory to the first drive shaft in the first removable container; and The food processing device is operated to allow the second accessory to perform a second food processing function within the first removable container.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: It further includes: i) removing the first removable container from the motorized base and attaching a second removable container to the motorized base; and ii) engaging a second removable container coupling to the motorized base coupling, wherein a third accessory is mechanically coupled to the second removable container coupling via a second drive shaft.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: It further includes operating the food processing device to allow the third accessory to perform a third food processing function in the second removable container.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first food processing function, the second food processing function and the third food processing function are different.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein: It further includes adjusting at least one of a rotation speed of the accessory and a run time of the accessory based on identifying the type of removable container attached to the motorized base.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein: It further includes automatically performing one of the first food processing function and the second food processing function when a first container is detected, and automatically performing a third food processing function when a second container is detected.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first container and the second container have different volume capacities.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first accessory has a different structure than the second accessory.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first accessory and the second accessory comprise one or more of a mixing paddle, a blade, a blender, a chopper, a frother, a grinder, and a whisk.

20. A food processing system, characterized in that: The food processing system comprises: a motorized base having a base coupling configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a first container arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, the first container comprising a first fitting configured to rotate within the first container; a second container arranged to be releasably coupled to the motorized base, the second container comprising a second fitting configured to rotate within the second container, wherein the first container and the second container each comprise a container coupling shaped to engage the base coupling such that rotation of the base coupling drives the container coupling to rotate about the rotation axis, and rotation of the first fitting and the second fitting is driven by the container coupling; a detection interface arranged to detect when one of the first container and the second container is coupled to the motorized base and output a detection signal; and a controller in electrical communication with the detection interface, the controller being arranged to: i) receiving the detection signal from the detection interface and identifying a type of container associated with one of the first container and the second container based on the detection signal; and ii) adjusting at least one of a rotation speed of the base coupling and a time period of rotation of the base coupling based on the detection signal.

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