PROGRAMMABLE BLENDER HAVING RECORD AND PLAYBACK FEATURES

• US 20140334248A1
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• 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 10,687,669 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 method for creating a blending sequence comprising the steps of:

providing a blender having a memory unit and at least one user adjustable feature;

placing the blender into a record mode;

without initiating a previously stored blending sequence at the blender, adjusting the at least one user adjustable feature, so as to create a new blending sequence; and

simultaneously with the performance of said adjusting step, recording and storing the new blending sequence at the memory unit of the blender.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch before said adjusting step to initiate said recording step.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch after said recording step to terminate said recording and storing step.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a memory location in the memory unit to which the new blending sequence is to be stored, said selecting step being performed prior to said adjusting step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one user adjustable feature includes a motor speed setting that controls the speed of a motor provided by the blender that rotatably carries a blade assembly.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

placing the blender into a playback mode;

selecting the new blending sequence stored at the memory unit; and

playing back the selected blend sequence, such that the blender automatically controls the at least one user adjustable feature of the blender in accordance with the new blending sequence.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one user adjustable feature includes a motor speed setting that controls the speed of a motor provided by the blender that rotatably carries a blade assembly.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch after said selecting step to initiate said playing back step.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch to terminate said playback step.

10. A method of creating a blending sequence comprising the steps of:

providing a blender having a memory unit and at least one user adjustable feature;

placing the blender into a record mode;

adjusting the at least one user adjustable feature;

recording as a new blending sequence only the adjustments of the at least one user adjustable feature that are made during said adjusting step; and

storing the new blending sequence at the memory unit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch before said adjusting step to initiate said recording step.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch after said recording step to terminate said recording step.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of selecting a memory location in the memory unit to which the new blending sequence is to be stored, said selecting step being performed prior to said adjusting step.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one user adjustable feature includes a motor speed setting that controls the speed of a motor provided by the blender that rotatably carries a blade assembly.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

placing the blender into a playback mode;

selecting the new blending sequence stored at the memory unit; and

playing back the selected blend sequence, such that the blender automatically controls the at least one user adjustable feature of the blender in accordance with the new blending sequence.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one user adjustable feature includes a motor speed setting that controls the speed of a motor provided by the blender that rotatably carries a blade assembly.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of actuating an initiate switch after said selecting step to initiate said playing back step.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of actuating the initiate switch to terminate said playback step.