FOOD PREPARATION ARRANGEMENTS

This invention relates to food preparation arrangements, and it relates more particularly to such arrangements for increasing the usefulness of kitchen appliances such as stand mixers and food processors by providing them with additional capabilities.

Kitchen appliances such as those mentioned above are well known and established as useful and reasonably priced appliances with a reasonably broad range of capabilities. Because of design constraints, some of which have their origins in the pricing structure which has become established for such appliances, however, it is generally the case that, when such appliances are used to prepare ingredients for a recipe, other kitchen equipment, such as weighing scales, has to be utilised along with them. This tends to cause clutter on the work-top as a user prepares the ingredients, and it is necessary to provide sufficient space to accommodate the individual footprints of the various appliances and equipments.

One embodiment of the invention relates to arrangements including stand mixers, by which is meant the kind of kitchen machine in which a mixing bowl is supported on a pedestal which also supports an electric motor and a drive system including a drive outlet, overhead of the bowl, which permits a planetary mixing action to be imparted to tools suspended into the bowl from the overhead drive outlet.

Stand mixers, such as the Kenwood Chef kitchen machine, are well known and have been well established in use for many years. Over the years, mixers of this kind have been adapted and developed so as to perform an ever broadening range of functions, and many such devices incorporate, for example, a plurality of drive outlets running at different speeds and with differing torque characteristics enabling them to perform a wide spread of operations. The drive outlets are typically disposed at respective locations of the stand mixer and some at least of the locations present support surfaces to receive mixing or blending vessels appropriate in design and configuration to the intended function associated with the respective drive outlet.

It will be appreciated that, in general, there will be at least one unused outlet with a corresponding support surface, and this embodiment of the invention takes advantage of the availability of such unused surfaces to receive and support additional equipment which can be electrically coupled to the stand mixer itself through appropriate wired or wireless connections.

The invention is also applicable to food processors; particularly those having a plurality of separate drive outlets, associated with respective surfaces or platforms, for differing operations, such as blending and processing.

In this respect, prior proposals, such as that described in WO 02/43542 A2 have been made for temporarily standing additional equipment, such as weighing scales, on food processors, but the present invention aims to

incorporate functionality of weighing scales into a food preparation appliance; to achieve such incorporation economically and to provide reliable operation of the combined appliances at reasonable cost.

According to the invention there is provided a food preparation arrangement comprising a kitchen appliance having a casing containing an electric motor and an associated drive system coupled to a plurality of drive outlets associated with respective vessel-support surfaces of said casing and each capable of driving a food processing tool disposed within a vessel supported at the respective support surface associated therewith, the arrangement being characterised in that: (a) at least one of said vessel- support surfaces is further adapted to support a weighing device; (b) the weighing device and the appliance respectively incorporate co-operative coupling elements of a signal transmission system capable of conveying into said casing output signals provided by said weighing device and indicative of weights of ingredients measured thereby; and (c) said arrangement further comprises display means, supported by said casing, for displaying ingredient weight information derived from said output signals.

It is preferred that said at least one of said vessel-support surfaces is provided with a plurality of support locations adapted to receive respective standing feet of the weighing device, and that at least one of said support locations and the respective foot of said weighing device receivable therein bear said co-operative coupling elements of the signal transmission system.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the signal transmission system comprises a physical connection arrangement for the transfer of electrical signals between the casing and the weighing device. In such circumstances, the co-operative coupling elements may conveniently comprise plug and socket connectors.

In a plug-and-socket arrangement, one at least of said feet of the weighing device may be pin-like and configured and adapted to engage into a receptive socket; the pin-like foot bearing a plurality of electrical connections in communication with the operative elements of the weighing device, and the receptive socket comprises a corresponding plurality of electrical connections communicating with components housed in, or attached to, said casing.

Preferably, the receptive socket is provided with a cover adapted to be automatically dislodged by engagement with said pin-like foot. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the cover comprises a slidable shield resiliently urged to close said socket.

The co-operative coupling elements are preferably adapted and configured to supply operating power from the casing to the weighing device.

In other preferred embodiments, the signal transmission system comprises a contactless system utilising for example infra-red (IR) or radio-frequency (RF) signalling.

Preferably said display means includes an LCD display. In some preferred embodiments, the LCD display may also be used to display (simultaneously with weight information or otherwise) data, other than weight information, associated with the operation and/or usage of the kitchen appliance.

It is particularly preferred that the weighing device incorporates load cells comprising strategically deployed strain gauges comprised of resistors formed upon strain-sensitive regions of a beam body and connected into a bridge circuit configured to provide said output signals.

Certain embodiments of the invention are intended to provide a weighing function only when the motor is stationary. In such circumstances, it is preferred that the display is blanked, or provided with a suitable message or graphic, when the motor is energised.

In arrangements according to the invention and capable of providing a weighing function whilst the motor is running, it may be preferred to provide means, such as piezoelectric or other sensors associated with one or more of the feet of the kitchen appliance, to detect out-of-balance forces, and to generate compensatory electrical signals, indicative of the detected out-of-balance forces, to permit electronic stabilisation processing to be effected upon the weighing signals.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, certain embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a conventional stand mixer in accordance with one example of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, incorporating a stand mixer similar to that shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows, in general perspective view, one example of a typical food processor;

Figure 5 shows an arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, incorporating a food processor similar to that shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a possible deployment of co-operative portions of a scale device and a supporting surface on a stand mixer or food processor; and

Figure 7 shows the arrangement of Figure 5, in partly cut-away form to illustrate a typical layout of components and connectors.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an example of a stand mixer which can advantageously host an arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the stand mixer 10 comprises a pedestal 20 which supports a bowl platform 30 and a casing 40. The casing 40 houses, in conventional fashion, an electric drive motor (not shown) and

gearing (not shown) which conveys the motive power supplied by the motor to a plurality of drive outlets to which various tools can be attached to perform a wide variety of tasks in the kitchen.

In this particular example, there is provided a high-speed blender drive outlet behind covers 41, a slow-speed mincer drive outlet behind cover 42 and a planetary drive, intended for food mixing, overhead of the bowl location, at 43, although it will readily be appreciated that more, fewer and/or different drive outlets can be provided in accordance with desired functionality of the stand mixer.

A shanked mixing tool, attached as is conventional, to a socket (shown at 44 in Figure 3) of the outlet 43, will depend in use into a mixing bowl placed on the bowl platform 30, and is configured to rotate about both the axis of the socket 44 and the central axis 45 (see Figure 3) of the outlet 43, thus performing a planetary mixing action. The necessary relationships between the relative shapes and dimensions of the bowl and the mixing tool to ensure thorough and repeatable mixing of ingredients are well known and established in use over many years.

As shown, the stand mixer 10 is, in this example, provided with a pair of latches, one of which can be seen at 31, within a recess 33 provided in the bowl platform 30, and these latches co-operate with components on the base of the bowl to form a bayonet latching system which ensures firm and ready location of the bowl on its platform. Other latching systems, such as screw-threading for example, can be used as an alternative to bayonet latching if preferred.

The upright part 46 of the casing 40 is configured with a break line 47, and a suitable mechanism to permit the top part 48 of the stand mixer to be hinged away from the platform 30 end of the pedestal part 20, in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the mixing tools and the bowl.

A first example of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention will now be described with additional reference to Figures 2 and 3, in which features common to Figure 1 share the same reference numbers.

Regarding Figures 2 and 3, one embodiment of the invention provides an arrangement whereby, when it is intended to use the stand mixer 10 to perform a mixing operation in a bowl placed on the bowl platform 30, a shanked mixing tool, attached as is conventional, to a socket (shown at 44 in Figure 3) of the outlet 43, will depend in use into a mixing bowl placed on the bowl platform 30. An electronic weighing scale 50 can be disposed on the vessel support platform 55, which is associated with the blender drive and accessed by removing the covers 41 (see Figure 1); the scale 50 being coupled to the platform 55 by means (to be described later) capable of establishing electrical connections with the stand mixer 10. By way of these electrical connections, measurement data can be transferred between the stand mixer 10 and the weighing scale as required. Optionally, these or additional connections can also be employed to enable operating power for the scales to be derived from a suitable connection point within the casing 40 and/or operational control signals to be exchanged between the stand mixer 10 and the scale 50.

It will be noted that the stand mixer 10 is provided with a display 60, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) by means of which weight information derived from the scale 50 and transferred into the casing 40 of the stand mixer by way of the aforementioned coupling between the scale and the stand mixer. The display 60 is preferably integrated into the casing 40, and may be fixed, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may be pivotally mounted, or otherwise movable, relative to the casing 40 in order to present a convenient viewing angle for the user.

In some embodiments, the stand mixer 10 is provided with a receiver, for example in the form of an antenna formed on or coupled to a radio- frequency (RF) transmissive window in the casing 40, for RF control signals from a remote control handset (not shown) which permits the stand mixer to be instructed to perform, or be conditioned to perform, some at least of its functions remotely. In other embodiments, remote control signals for the stand mixer are input by means of a suitable device into the mains wiring and sent to the stand mixer over that wiring.

Before describing in greater detail the means used to couple the scale 50 to the stand mixer 10 in order to enable weight information to be displayed on the display 60, another embodiment of the invention will be described. Since the coupling procedure used may be independent of the kind of kitchen appliance used to host arrangements in accordance with the invention, the provision of a common description of the procedure will avoid unnecessary duplication of wording.

Figures 4 and 5 will now be referred to in order to describe an embodiment of the invention hosted by a food processor.

The conventional food processor 110 shown in Figure 4 includes a casing 120 which, as is well known, houses an electric motor (not shown) and a drive system (not shown) disposed and arranged to provide rotational drive outputs for use with a blender section 130 and a food processor section 140.

The blender section 130 comprises a relatively high platform 131, atop the part 121 of the casing 120 which houses the motor; the platform having associated therewith a relatively high speed drive outlet, typically running at the operational speed of the motor and configured to drive a rotary tool located in the base of a goblet 132. The goblet 132 is formed, as is known, with a spout 133 and a handle 134, and it is capped by a removable lid 135. An interlock system is normally provided to prevent operation of the motor unless the lid 135 is correctly attached to the goblet 132.

The food processor section 140 comprises a relatively low platform 141 beneath which, and within a lower part 122 of the casing 120, are provided elements of a speed-reduction system, linked to the motor, which provides, centrally of the platform 141, a relatively lower speed drive outlet capable of rotating cutting, chopping and other tools inserted into a blender bowl 142. The bowl 142 has a handle 143, a lid 144 and a feed-tube 145 through which ingredients can be added to the bowl whilst

the motor is running, provided that the lid 144 is in place on the bowl 142.

Usually, the dimensions of the feed tube 145 are configured so as to prevent insertion of a user's hands or fingers into the bowl therethrough, at least to within touching distance of the rotating tool. Some food processors, however, utilise a wide feed-tube to allow the addition of relatively large ingredients to the bowl. Such wide feed-tubes are provided with further interlocks to protect the user; such further interlocks usually being based around the detection of a pushing device in correct placement in the tube, whereby the user has to employ the pushing device to urge ingredients into the bowl 142, and the motor will not run unless the pushing device is located in the feed-tube.

Referring now to Figure 5, one embodiment of the invention provides an arrangement whereby, when the food processor section 140 is in use, an electronic weighing scale 150 can be disposed on the relatively high platform 131 associated with the blender section 130; the scale 150 being coupled to the platform 131 by means (to be described later) capable of establishing electrical connections with the food processor 110. By means of these electrical connections, operating power for the scales can be derived from a suitable connection point within trie casing 120 and operational control signals and measurement data can be transferred between the food processor 110 and the weighing scale as required. It may also be arranged that the scale 150 can be placed on the relatively low platform 141 of the food processor section 140, and electrically

interconnected with the food processor 110 as before, when the blender section 130, rather than the food processor section 140, is in use.

It will be noted that the food processor 110 is provided with a display 160, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) by means of which weight information derived from the scale 150 and transferred into the casing

120 of the food processor by way of the aforementioned coupling between the scale and the stand mixer can be displayed. The display 160 is preferably integrated into the casing 120 and may, as shown in Figures 5, be pivotally mounted, or otherwise movable, relative to the casing 120 in order to present a convenient viewing angle for the user. Alternatively, the display 160 may be fixedly mounted in the casing 120.

In some embodiments, the food processor 110 is provided with a receiver, for example in the form of an antenna formed on or coupled to a radio- frequency (RF) transmissive window in the casing 120, for RF control signals from a remote control handset (not shown) which permits the stand mixer to be instructed to perform, or be conditioned to perform, some at least of its functions remotely. In other embodiments, remote control signals for the stand mixer are input by means of a suitable device into the mains wiring and sent to the stand mixer over that wiring.

The following description, with reference to Figure 6, is applicable to all embodiments of the invention, whether hosted by stand mixer such as 10 or a food processor such as 110, or by some other appliance.

Referring now to Figure 6, the scale (50, 150) is mounted to a base 201 which is formed with at least three feet 202, 203 and 204; the feet being sufficiently long as to ensure that the base 201 does not foul any upstanding drive outlet provided on its associated vessel-support surface (55, 131, 141). The feet need not all be of the same shape, though it is preferred that a respective recess for each is formed in the surface of the associated vessel-support surface.

At least one of the feet (202) is, in this example, formed as a broad pin with chamfered edges, rather like the well-known earth-pin on a standard

UK 13 -amp plug. The pin-like foot 202 is made of plastic, but supports a plurality of electrically conductive tracks, such as 205 and 206, and the arrangement is such that, when the weighing scales (50, 150) are placed on the relevant vessel-support surface (55, 131, 141), the pin-like foot 202 dislodges a spring-loaded cover (not shown) over its recess and establishes contact between the conductive tracks, such as 205 and 206, and a connector device then exposed in the recess.

Sufficient conductive tracks and connections are used to establish such power feeds and data communications links as are required between the stand mixer 10 or food processor 110 and the weighing scales 50 or 150 respectively. In this example, positive and negative direct current power supply tracks are provided to convey operative power for the active weighing components, such as load cells, utilised within the scales (50, 150), and data output tracks are provided to convey weight information signal data from the scales to the stand mixer or food processor, as appropriate.

It will be appreciated that the tracks such as 205 and 206 carry only low voltages, whether they are used -for power transfer or data exchange, and thus there are no safety-related restrictions as to their placement. Tracks such as 205 and 206 may therefore be carried on exposed surfaces of the pin-like foot 202 and/or buried within it. In practice, some or all of the tracks may be buried in preference, in order to protect them from physical damage, but it is stressed that all options are available.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weighing scales 150 and the relatively low platform 141 associated with the food processor section 140 are configured such that, if the food processor section is not in use, the scales can be mounted to the platform 141 in exactly the same manner as they normally mount to the upper platform 131, so that ingredients for use with the blender 130 can be weighed. In this instance, of course, the platform 141 is provided with a shielded connector that can be accessed by the pin-like foot 202 (see Figure 6) of the weighing scales 150, and duplicate connections into the casing 120 are established from the connectors provided at platforms 131 and 141.

In all embodiments, the weight information provided by the weighing scales may be pre-processed within the scales (50, 150). Alternatively, and as shown schematically in Figure 7, weight information may be supplied as "raw" data which is processed as necessary in a microprocessor 300 housed within the casing 120 of the food processor 110. Although Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the invention hosted by a food processor, it will be realised that the foregoing description and,

indeed all comments made in relation thereto, apply equally to embodiments of the invention hosted by a stand mixer such as 10.

In all embodiments, it is preferred that internal connections between the connector coupled to the pin-like foot 202, the microprocessor 300 and the display (60, 160) are established physically by means of plug-and- socket connectors and conveyed by wires supported in parallel by non- conductive, tape-like substrates of the kind commonly found in electronic equipment.

Alternatively, or in addition, some or all connections may be established by infra-red (IR), radio-frequency (RF) or other reliable non-contact procedures.

In the embodiments of the invention described hitherto, it is intended that the weighing function is effective only when the motor is stationary (so- called "static" weighing). The display (60, 160) is thus blanked, or provided with a suitable message or graphic, when the motor is energised. In some embodiments of the invention, and where extended operation of (say) the food processor section is envisaged, it can be valuable to permit operation of the scales (50, 150) when the motor is running. Such a "dynamic" weighing function can thus be provided if desired, merely by providing the microprocessor with a "run" signal indicative of the motor condition so that the user can be alerted, by way of a warning signal such as illumination of a red light-emitting diode (LED) to a possible reduction in accuracy or to the likelihood that readings will fluctuate significantly. In the event that, despite such warning, the provision of an accurate

dynamic weighing function is rendered difficult as a result of operational characteristics, however, it is envisaged that out-of -balance forces may be detected by one or more suitable sensors such as (for example) piezoelectric sensors which may conveniently be associated with one or more standing feet of the stand mixer 10 or food processor 110, and used to generate compensatory electrical signals, indicative of the detected out- of-balance forces, which are fed into the microprocessor 300 to permit electronic stabilisation processing to be effected upon the weighing signals, thereby permitting, or improving, the operation of a dynamic weighing function.

It will be appreciated that software typically controls the various sampling and processing operations, and that such software is readily available, or can readily be adapted or devised, for use in arrangements intended to function in accordance with any chosen operational configuration.