Programmable blender having record and playback features

• US 20080225636A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Kolar, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,899,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/206
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/06 Mixing of food ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/14 Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2214 Speed during the operation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3204 Motor driven, i.e. by means of an electric or IC motor

Abstract

A programmable blender having record and playback features includes a record mode and a playback mode. When the blender is placed into the record mode, a processor stores a user created blending sequence to a memory unit. Alternatively, when the blender is placed into a playback mode, the processor automatically controls the operation of the blender in accordance with the stored blending sequence.

Claims

1. A blender having record and playback features comprising a blade assembly;

a motor to rotate said blade assembly;

a processor coupled to said motor and having a memory unit; and

a setting switch coupled to said processor, said setting switch creating one or more blending sequences;

wherein said processor is configured to be placed into either a record mode, or a playback mode, such that when said processor is placed into said record mode, said processor stores said blending sequence in said memory unit, and when said processor is placed into said playback mode, said processor controls said motor in accordance with said stored blending sequence.

2. The blender of claim 1, further comprising a record/playback switch coupled to said processor to select between said record and playback modes.

3. The blender of claim 2, further comprising a program selector switch coupled to said processor, said program selector switch selectively identifying a memory location in said memory unit where said blending sequence is stored during said record mode.

4. The blender of claim 3, further comprising an initiate switch coupled to said processor, said initiate switch starting said recording mode when actuated.

5. The blender of claim 2, further comprising a program selector switch coupled to said processor, said program selector switch identifying a memory location in said memory unit from where said blending sequence is retrieved during said playback mode.

6. The blender of claim 5, further comprising an initiate switch coupled to said processor, said initiate switch starting said playback mode when actuated.

7. The blender of claim 1, further comprising a remote computing device adapted to communicate with said processor, said computing device maintaining at least one user invoked function;

wherein said processor transfers at least one of said one or more blending sequences to said remote computing device when said at least one function is invoked at said computing device.

8. The blender of claim 7, wherein said remote computing device includes a display for viewing said one or more blending sequences.

9. The blender of claim 7, wherein said remote computing device includes an input device to select a particular segment of said at least one transferred blending sequence.

10. The blender of claim 9, wherein said remote computing device modifies said selected blending sequence segment when another of said at least one user invoked function is invoked.

11. The blender of claim 7, further comprising a data interface, wherein said remote computing device communicates with said processor via a data interface.

12. The blender of claim 1, wherein said setting switch adjusts the speed of said motor.

13. The blender of claim 1, further comprising a display for showing an operational parameter of the blender.

14. A method for recording a blending sequence in a blender having a memory comprising the steps of:

providing a blender with user adjustable features;

placing the blender into a record mode;

adjusting at least one of the adjustable features, so as to create a blending sequence; and

recording the blending sequence to the memory of the blender.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch after said adjusting step to initiate said recording step.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch after said recording step to terminate said recording step.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of selecting a memory location in the memory unit to which the blending sequence is to be stored, said selecting step being performed prior to said adjusting step.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein one of said adjustable features includes the speed of the motor maintained by the blender.

19. A method for playing back a blending sequence in a blender having a playback mode comprising the steps of:

placing the blender into the playback mode;

selecting a blending sequence stored in the blender; and

automatically playing back the blend sequence selected at said selecting step.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch after said selecting step to initiate said playing back step.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch to terminate said automatic playback step of the blend sequence.