AU2012216404B2

AU2012216404B2 - Kitchen appliance

Info

Publication number: AU2012216404B2
Application number: AU2012216404A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Maxim Guyatt; Nick O'loughlin; Mark Whitcombe
Original assignee: Newell Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Newell Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-25
Filing date: 2012-08-23
Publication date: 2016-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-23
Also published as: CN102949118A; AU2012216404A1

Abstract

A kitchen appliance comprising: a variable speed drive means for driving a processing member at variable speeds; user interface means for enabling at least one operating parameter to be selected for the variable speed drive means, said at least one parameter including speed; wherein said user interface means including a pause interface for pausing operation of the variable speed drive means, said pause interface being further operable to resume operation of the variable speed drive means without having to reselect said speed parameter. Figure 3

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Kitchen appliance The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 KITCHEN APPLIANCE Field of the invention The present disclosure relates to kitchen appliances and methods of using kitchen appliances. The disclosure may have particular application to kitchen appliances with cyclical 5 or rotary motion, including but not limited to mixers, blenders, juicers, food processors, stick mixers, hand mixer, kitchen machines and multifunction food preparation and cooking appliances. Background of the invention Many domestic kitchen appliances operate on a mechanical cycle to prepare food. This 10 includes mixing, chopping, slicing, blending, beating etc. Such appliances are useful in reducing the physical effort in cooking and food preparation. Food preparation often involves following recipes to very specific instructions, thereby providing a consistently good result. This may involve controlling variables including specifying the amount of ingredients, the speed, the duration, and other parameters in which 15 ingredients are processed, mixed, chopped, blended, beaten, folded, whipped, grated, shaved, chipped, shred, sliced or otherwise prepared. It would be desirable to provide a kitchen appliance where the user can easily control these input variables, thereby assisting the user to produce a consistent result. A known domestic kitchen appliance include stand mixers. Examples of stand mixers are 20 single attachment mixers, dual attachment mixers, and planetary mixers. Stand mixers typically include a stand which supports both a bowl and a mixing head. The bowl receives ingredients to be mixed, and the mixing head includes (or receives) mixing attachments which in use extend into the bowl and are rotated to mix the contents of the bowl. Some recipes require mixing ingredients, then adding further ingredients to the mix, and 25 subsequently, additional mixing. Therefore, the user may be required to turn on the mixer more than once, in particular where the mixing attachments do not readily allow the addition of certain ingredients into the mixing bowl when in motion and the user may need to stop, open the head, change, or clean the mixing attachment(s).

1001316164 3 Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. 5 Summary of the invention In a first aspect, there is provided a stand mixer comprising: a variable speed drive means for driving a processing member at variable speeds; user interface means for enabling a plurality of operating parameters to be selected for the variable speed drive means, said parameters including at least speed and timing parameters defining at least one operating cycle; wherein said 10 user interface means includes a pause interface for pausing operation of the variable speed drive means, said pause interface being further operable to resume operation of the variable speed drive means to complete said at least one operating cycle without having to reselect speed and timing parameters required to complete the operating cycle, and wherein the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between a 15 processing position in which the processing member is positioned for use, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, and wherein the stand mixer is configured such that, when the head unit is pivoted from the processing position to the clearance position, driving of the processing member is paused and such that, when the head unit is pivoted from the clearance position to the processing position, resumption of the driving of the 20 processing member occurs only after operation of the pause interface. In one form, the at least one operating cycle preferably corresponds with at least one food preparation or processing step. In one form, the speed parameters may be programmed to remain constant or to vary during each operating cycle. By way of example, the speed/time parameters may include a flat, 25 undulating, stepped or ramped profile, or combination of said profiles. In one form, the kitchen appliance gradually ramps up to the required speed parameter from the initial start, or from the pause operation. In one form, the actuation of the pause interface to resume operation including this gradual ramping up has the timing parameter associated with the completion of the operating cycle extended to allow for this. Alternatively, 4 the timing parameter associated with the completion of the operating cycle is not extended to take into account the time the appliance gradually ramps up to the required speed parameter. Conveniently, a controller for controlling the operation of the variable speed drive means may be provided, the controller being responsive to the user interface means. 5 The operating parameters described above include speed, and timing parameters, however it is to be appreciated other operating parameters, such as temperature, weight, energy, flow of material, volume, presets (such as recipes), instructions and other parameters may be included, In one form, the drive means drives the processing member in a cyclical motion. 10 In one form, the kitchen appliance further comprises a timer module for recording the duration of time when the processing member is driven by the drive means; wherein in use, the timer module is initiated and subsequently records the duration of time of when the processing member driven, and the timer module is paused when the pause interface is operated to pause driving of the processing member, and the timer module is resumed when the pause interface is 15 operated to resume the driving the processing member, and wherein the timer module outputs time information as a function of the total duration of time the processing member is driven by the drive means since initiating the timer module. In one form, the time information is the total duration of time the processing member has been driven by the drive means since initiating the timer module. In an alternative form, the time 20 information is a predetermined time value less the total duration of time the processing member has been driven by the drive means since initiating the timer. In one form, the kitchen appliance further comprises: an input device for receiving operating parameters; a memory device for storing operating parameters; an information display; and a microprocessor for processing operating parameters from the input device and/or memory 25 device, and transmitting processed information to the information display; wherein, in use, when the pause interface is operated to pause the drive means, the operating parameters from the input device are stored in the memory device, and when the pause interface is operated to resume, the microprocessor receives the stored operating parameters from the memory device.

1001316164 5 In one form, the kitchen appliance is a mixer. In a further form, the mixer is any one of a stand mixer, planetary mixer, twin beater or hand mixer. In another form, the kitchen appliance is any one of a multi-functional kitchen appliance, food preparation appliance, cooking appliance, blender, food processor or juicer. 5 In one form, the pause interface comprises at least one button for toggling the kitchen appliance to pause and resume the cyclical motion. In a further form, the at least one button is operated independently of the speed selector. In one form of the kitchen appliance, the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between an processing position in which 10 the processing member is positioned for use, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, and wherein, when the head unit is pivoted from the processing position to the clearance position, the pause interface pauses the driving of the processing means, when the head unit is pivoted from the clearance position to the processing position, the pause interface is operable to resume the driving of the processing means. 15 In an alternative form, the kitchen appliance may resume driving of the processing mean if the head unit is pivoted from the clearance position to the processing position without interaction of the pause interface from the user. In another aspect, there is provided a method of operating a stand mixer having a drive means for driving a processing member at variable speed, a user interface means for enabling at 20 least one operating parameter to be selected and further including a pause interface adapted to pause and resume the drive means, the method comprising the steps of; receiving a desired speed parameter in response to a selection from the user interface; pausing the drive means in response to input from the pause interface; and resuming the drive means at the desired speed parameter in response to user input to the pause interface; wherein in the step of resuming the drive means to 25 drive the processing member at the desired speed parameter, receiving a desired speed parameter in response to a further selection from the user interface is not required; and wherein the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between a processing position in which the processing member is positioned for use, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, and the 30 method further comprises the steps of: pausing the drive means 1001316164 5a driving the processing member in response to the head unit pivoting from the processing position to the clearance position; and resuming the drive means at the desired speed parameter in response to user input to the pause interface, and if the head unit is pivoted to the processing position. 5 In one form of the method, the kitchen appliance further comprises a timer to record the duration of time the processing member is driven by the drive means, the method comprising the steps of; initiating the timer to subsequently record the duration of time of when the drive means 6 drives the processing member; pausing the timer from recording time when the drive means is paused by the pause interface; resuming the timer to record time when the drive means driving the processing member is resumed by the pause interface, wherein the timer outputs time information as a function of the total duration of time the processing member is driven by the 5 drive means since initiating the timer. In one form of the method, the kitchen appliance further comprises, an input device, a memory device, an information display; and a microprocessor for processing operating parameters from the sensor and/or memory device, and transmitting processed information to the information display, the method further comprising: measuring operating parameters with the 10 input device; storing operating parameters to the memory device; processing with the microprocessor, operating parameters from the input device and/or memory device; transmitting processed information from the microprocessor to the information display; and displaying the processed information with the information display, wherein, in use, if the pause interface is operated to pause the cyclical motion, the operating parameters from the input device are stored 15 in the memory device, and if the pause interface is operated to resume, the microprocessor receives the stored operating parameters from the memory device. In one form of the method, the pause interface comprises at least one button for toggling the kitchen appliance to pause and resume the drive means, wherein the steps of pausing and resuming the drive means comprises the step of operating the at least one button. 20 In one form of the method, the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between an processing position in which the processing member is positioned for use in moving in cyclical motion, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, wherein the method further comprises the step of: pausing the drive means driving the processing member in response to the head unit 25 pivoting from the processing position to the clearance position. A further form of the method comprises the steps of: resuming the drive means at the desired speed parameter in response to user input to the pause interface, and if the head unit is pivoted to the processing position.

7 As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described 5 in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Fig. I is a perspective view of a planetary mixer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the mixing head being depicted in a mixing position; 10 Fig. 2 is a side view of the planetary mixer of Fig. 1, the mixing head being depicted in a mixing position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the planetary mixer of Fig. 1, the mixing head being depicted in a clearance position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotary speed selector and start/pause button of the 15 planetary mixer of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side view of the digital display panel of the planetary mixer of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a multi-function kitchen appliance in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of the kitchen appliance, with the timer in 20 count up mode; Fig. 8 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of the kitchen appliance, with the timer in count down mode. Fig. 9 is a side view of the planetary mixer of Fig. I with a processing member attached. Fig. 10 is a sectioned side view of the planetary mixer of Fig. I with the mixing head 25 depicted in a mixing position, with internal details of the motor, drive mechanism, and micro switch.

8 Fig. 11 is a sectioned side view of the planetary mixer of Fig. I with the mixing head depicted in a clearance position, with internal details of the motor, drive mechanism, and micro switch. Detailed description of the embodiments 5 First embodiment Figs. 1 to 3 provide a perspective and two side views of a kitchen appliance in the form of a planetary stand mixer 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. It will be appreciated that not all components of the mixer are shown, with some standard parts (e.g. the mixing attachments for the mixing shaft and mixing bowl) being omitted for the sake of clarity. 10 In the embodiment depicted, mixer 100 is generally C-shaped (in side view). Mixer 100 includes a generally L-shaped (in side view) stand assembly 102, which includes a base 104 and a support 106. A mixer head unit 108 is mounted on the support 106. The mixer head unit 108 is pivotally attached to the support 106 via a pin (not shown) about which the mixer head unit 108 can pivot relative to the support 106. The mixer head unit 15 108, may be locked in the processing position (mixing position) as shown in Fig. 2, or locked in the clearance position as shown in Fig. 3. The mixer head unit 108 is locked in either position by a spring-biased head-unit locking pin (not shown) received in apertures aligned for the respective locked positions. The mixer head unit 108, is released by depressing the user operable head release button 131 that releases the head unit locking pin. The spring bias in the head unit 20 locking pin automatically locks the mixer head unit 108 when moved to the mixing or clearance position. A rotating planetary head 115, rotatable around a planetary head axis 116, is provided with a variable speed drive means in the form of a mixing shaft 118. The mixing shaft 118 has a rotating shaft axis that is on a parallel axis to the planetary head axis 116. The mixing shaft 118 25 is adapted to releasably receive a variety of processing members 99 (as illustrated in Fig. 9) in the form of mixing attachments such as beaters, hooks, whisks etc. During operation, the mixing attachments are driven by the mixing shaft, which is turn is driven by the drive mechanism 60 to mix or otherwise process ingredients placed in the bowl 112 (shown in phantom in Fig. 3).The mixing shaft 118 is provided with a key 128 for locking with the mixing attachments.

9 The motor 50 is housed in either the head unit 108 or the support 106 of the casing 102 and may, for example, be an electric motor. The motor 50, through a drive mechanism 60 rotates the planetary head 115 on the planetary head axis 116. The motor 50 through the drive mechanism 60 also rotates the mixing shaft 118, thereby driving the attached mixing attachment. 5 The result is a mixer 100 having a mixing attachment moving with a planetary mixing action. The speed of rotation of the planetary head 115 is in a constant proportional ratio to the speed of rotation of the mixing shaft 118. This ratio may be determined by fixed gearing or other proportional drive system in the drive mechanism 60. The motor is actuated by a controller (not shown) which is responsive to input, including 10 the rotary control 124, timer control buttons 170, timer module (not shown) and "pause/start" button 125. In response to such inputs, the controller may pause and resume actuation of the motor, and thus cyclical motion. The controller may be linked to, or include a microprocessor, or in the form of a microcontroller with an integrated memory device to store operating parameters from the input devices. 15 In the mixing position (as shown in Fig. 1) the mixer head unit 108 is generally parallel to the base 104 and the mixing shaft 118 is positioned above recess 110. In use, when the head unit 108 is in the mixing position, the mixing attachments extend into the bowl 12 supported by the recess 110 in the base to allow for mixing/processing of ingredients in the bowl. In the clearance position (as shown in Fig. 3) the mixer head unit 108 (and any attachments received on the 20 mixing shaft 118) is lifted clear of the bowl 112, allowing a user to easily access the bowl 112 and mixing shaft 118 to remove or change the mixing attachments. The clearance position also allows a user easy access to detach and remove the bowl 112 from the recess 110. The mixer 100 also includes user interface means for the user to operate the mixer. This includes a speed selector in the form of a rotary control dial 124 (as best shown in Fig. 4) which 25 allows a user to operate the mixer 100 by turning the mixer on and off and setting the speed of the motor and, consequently, the speed at which mixing attachments received in the mixing shaft 118 are driven. The rotary control dial has a starting "off' position that rotates to incrementally increase speed setting until it reaches a "maximum" speed position. A user operable "pause/start" button 125, is located central to the rotary control 124, and 30 does not rotate with the rotary control 124. In use, the user operable pause button 125 for the 10 controller provides a pause interface to allow the user to pause the movement of the mixing shaft 118 and the rotating planetary head 115. A further operation of the pause button 125 resumes movement of the mixing shaft 118 and planetary head 115 to the mixing speed before the mixer 100 was paused. Thus the "pause/start" button 125 toggles with a dual function of pausing and 5 resuming the mixer 100. An information display, in the form of digital display 160 is provided to visually illustrate the selected speed setting, time information or other operating parameters. As shown in Fig. 5, the speed setting is indicated by bars 161 and in digital numerals 162. The time information is provided on the digital display 160 in digital numerals 163. 10 A timer module is adapted to count and record elapsed time. It is also adapted in specific modes, to record elapsed time of when the mixer 100 is mixing by movement of the processing member (mixing attachments) in cyclical motion. The timer module may be linked to, or be part of the microcontroller. The timer module, as part of a microcontroller can manipulate time information and output the manipulated time information through the digital information 15 display. Beneath the digital display 160 are further user interface means in the form of a set of timer control buttons 170. The timer control buttons include a timer increase button 174 and a timer decrease button 172, to allow the user to select timing parameters. The timer module has four modes of operation: 20 - Count up timer for counting the duration the mixer has been in operation. This is the default operation mode, and the mixer will return to this mode if the rotary control 124 is set to the "off' position and the timer buttons 172 and 174 are pushed simultaneously; - Count down timer for counting down the duration of time the mixer will operate before stopping. Usually, an initial duration for mixing is set by the user, which is then counted down 25 towards zero in accordance with the progression of time the mixer is in operation. To enter this mode from the default operation mode, the timer buttons 172 and 174 are pushed to set a desired mixing duration, and the rotary control 124 rotated to the desired speed setting. The mixer will then operate in this mode to count down the duration of time before the mixer will stop: S1I - Count up timer for counting elapsed time from operating the "pause/start" button. This is a function of a commonly used kitchen timer; and - Count down timer for counting down from a selected time. Once the selected period has elapsed and the timer counts to zero, an audible alarm will sound. This is also a function of 5 commonly used kitchen timers. The operation of the first two modes will be discussed in further detail below. The function and operation of the third and fourth modes are commonly known to the art and will not be discussed in detail. Operation - Count up mode 10 The operation of the mixer 100 in the "count up mode" 800 will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, and the flow diagram in Fig. 7. Firstly the user prepares the mixer 100. The head release button 131 is depressed, and the mixer head unit 108 is pivoted to the clearance position in Fig. 3, and the head release button 131 released to allow the head unit locking pin to lock the mixer head unit 108 in place. A desired 15 attachment, such as a beater, whisk or hook, is selected and attached to the mixing shaft 118. The key 128 ensures positive engagement and transfer of torque between the mixing shaft 118 and the attachment. A bowl 112 is then located in recess 110, and ingredients added to the bowl 112. The head release button 131 is then depressed, to unlock the mixer head unit 108, which is then lowered into the mixing position. 20 Before the commencement of movement of the mixing mechanism, power is supplied to the mixer 100, whereby the timer is initialised to zero at step 803. This is illustrated in Fig. 7 to occur before setting the desired speed, although it is to be appreciated initialisation can occur concurrently or immediately after the setting of the desired speed. The next step 805 is to receive the desired speed from the user interface, whereby the user 25 rotates the rotary control 124 from the "off" position to the desired speed setting for the mixing attachment. This desired speed setting is a function of the speed of the mixing shaft 118, and rotating planetary head 115. For simplicity, the movement of these three components will be referred to collectively as the "mixing mechanism". The user may visually confirm the desired speed by the speed displayed on the digital display 160.

12 Alternatively, if the speed setting is already set, the mixer may perform this step 805 by receiving the desired speed setting from the rotary control 124 without further input from the user. Once the timer is initialised and the desired speed setting is received, the mixer is ready 5 to commence operation by running the motor at the set speed and adding count to the timer at step 807. To perform begin this step, if the rotary control 124 was initially in the "off' position, the mixer will commence movement of the mixing movement if it receives a desired speed setting (that is not zero). Alternatively, in the case where the speed setting is already set on the rotary control 124, the step 807 of running the motor at the set speed commences when the mixer 10 detects operation of the "pause/start" button 124 by the user. The step 807 is for the mixer 100 to run the motor, to achieve the desired speed. Once the mixing mechanism has commenced moving, the timer will begin counting up from zero, in one second increments. This effectively is the elapsed time that the mixing shaft is in motion, and is shown visually on the digital display 160, preferably in a format displaying minutes and 15 seconds elapsed. During mixing, the user may wish to pause the mixing task by pushing the "pause/start" button 24, as shown at step 809. The mixer 100 will then enter a paused condition 811 which will stop movement of the mixing mechanism, stop the timer, and with the elapsed time paused at the time when the "pause/start" button was pushed. The elapsed time, and speed setting are 20 stored in a memory device. The elapsed time when paused may be flashed continuously on the digital display 160, to alert the user that the machine in a paused condition 811. In the paused condition the user may unlock and move the mixer head unit 108 to the clearance position, add further ingredients to the bowl 112, and lower and lock the mixer head unit 108 back to the mixing position. 25 During the pause condition 811 and before resuming mixing by pushing the pause/start button 24 at step 815, it is optionally possible to reset (initialise) the timer back to zero, as shown at intermediate step 813 in Fig. 7. This may be achieved by pushing a "reset" input, such as pushing and holding timer increase 174 and timer decrease 172 buttons simultaneously. This provides the flexibility for the user to commence a new timer schedule.

13 Additionally, during the pause condition, it is also optionally possible to vary the speed settings before resuming. This is also shown at intermediate step 813, and is achieved by first rotating the rotary control 124 to a new updated desired speed, which will be displayed on the digital display 160. The mixing is then resumed at the new desired speed by pushing the 5 "pause/start" button 24 at step 815. The timer will continue to count up from either the time displayed when it has entered the pause condition, or from zero if the timer module was reset. To resume mixing, the user pushes the "pause/start" button 24 again at step 815, and the mixer will resume the running step 807 by running the motor and the mixing mechanism at the desired speed setting and elapsed time as stored in the memory device. Thus the timer will then 10 resume to count up from the elapsed time displayed when it entered the pause condition. Advantageously, the mixer 100 utilises the timer "time" and the "speed" from the time the mixer 100 was paused. Thus it is unnecessary for the user to set the speed or timer after pausing, although it is optionally possible if the user desires. This assists the user providing accurate and consistent mixing in their recipes, regardless of the number of times the user chooses to pause 15 the mixer. To finish mixing whilst running the motor at step 807, the user may rotate the rotary control 124 to the "off' position at step 817, or push the "pause/start" button again at step 809. The mixer head unit 108 may then be unlocked and moved to the clearance position, and the bowl 112 with mixed ingredients removed. 20 Operation - Count down mode The operation of the mixer 100 in the "count down mode" 900 will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, and flow diagram in Fig. 8. The count down mode is useful when following a recipe that specifies mixing times. The initial steps attaching the mixing attachment, and locating the bowl and adding 25 ingredients can be performed in the same manner as described above. To set a duration of time 903 to mix, the mixer 100 receives this information from the user at step 903. The user operates the timer increase button 174 and timer decrease button 172 to select a desired mixing duration to be input to the mixer, which will be displayed on the digital display 160. In one embodiment, each operation of the timer increase button 174 will increase 14 the mixing duration by 30 seconds. Each push of the timer decrease button 172 would conversely decrease the mixing duration by 30 seconds. It is to be appreciated other increment levels can be used, such as I second, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 1 minute. For example, if the user requires two minutes of mixing, the timer increase button 174 is pushed four times until the 5 digital display 160 visually displays two minutes. The next step 905 is to receive a desired speed from the user. To select a desired speed the user turns the rotary control 124 from the "off' position to the desired speed setting of the mixing mechanism, and the mixing mechanism will start mixing at step 907 with the timer automatically counting down from the duration received at step 903, which in the present 10 example was from two minutes. An alternative to start the mechanism, if the speed setting 905 is already set before setting the duration of time 903, is to press the "pause/start" button 124 to commence mixing movement of the mixing mechanism, and the counting down of the timer at step 907. At step 907, the mixer 100 will then run the motor to achieve the desired speed. Once the 15 mixing mechanism has commenced moving, the timer will begin counting down from the desired mixing duration of time set, towards zero in one second increments. The digital display 160 displays this duration of time remaining. Whilst running the mixing mechanism at step 907, the controller monitors the remaining mixing time at step 920, and if the timer counts down to zero (i.e. two minutes of mixing has 20 elapsed for the present example) the mixing mechanism will then stop the motor and mixing mechanism at step 917. Optionally an alarm will beep to indicate completion of mixing. Otherwise, the mixer will continue running the motor at step 907. Furthermore, whilst the mixer is mixing during step 907, the user may wish to pause the mixing task. This is achieved by monitoring if the user has pushed the "pause/start" button at 25 step 909. If so, the mixer enters the pause condition 911, whereby the timer count down time and the speed settings are stored in the memory device. The time and speed settings (or other parameters) may be used when the mixer receives another input from the "pause/start" button at step 915, which will return the mixer to the mixing step 907. In the paused condition 911, the user may update the speed before resuming as shown at step 913 in Fig. 8. These functions are 15 substantially the same as the functions described in the pause condition described above during the count up mode. Furthermore, whilst in the paused condition 911 in the count down mode, the user may perform the steps of changing the count down time remaining at step 913. This is achieved by 5 operating either the timer increase button 174 or timer decrease button 172. In one embodiment, this will change the mixing duration remaining to the nearest 30 second increment. For example, the count down timer is set to three minutes, and the rotary control 124 is set to the desired speed to start mixing. After 1 minute and 25 seconds, the "pause/start" button is operated, and the mixer 100 enters the pause condition. The digital display will show the 10 remaining count down time of 1 minute and 35 seconds. The user pushes the timer increase button 174 once, and the display will then show 2 minutes, which is the nearest 30 second increment. Automatic pause safety feature An automatic pause safety feature may be provided to stop the mixing mechanism in the 15 event the mixer head unit 108 is pivoted from the mixing position to the clearance position whilst the mixing mechanism is moving. A sensor, such as a micro switch 88 is provided to indicate if the mixer head unit 108 is in the mixing position, as illustrated in Fig 11. If the mixer head unit 108 is not in the mixing position, thereby inactivating the micro-switch 88 as illustrated in Fig. 11, the controller will stop 20 the motor, thereby prevent the mixing mechanism from moving. This feature prevents the user from injuring themselves from the moving mechanism if the head unit is inadvertently pivoted. For example, a user has the mixer head unit 108 in the mixing position, with the rotary control 124 at a speed setting, and with the mixing mechanism moving. The user then depresses the head release button 131 and pivots the mixer head unit 108 from the mixing position. This 25 pivoting movement triggers the micro switch to indicate the mixer head unit 108 is no longer in the mixing position, whereby the controller automatically stops the mixer 100, and puts the mixer 100 in the pause condition. To continue mixing, the user must pivot the mixer head unit 108 to the mixing position, and then resume mixing by operating the "pause/start" button 24. Generally, the mixer 100 will 16 resume with the time and speed settings from immediately before the pause condition. However, if the user, whilst in the pause condition, alters the timer or speed settings before resuming, then the resumption of the mixer 100 will be in accordance with those changes. Advantages 5 An advantage of the described embodiment is that the kitchen appliance "remembers" parameters of the kitchen appliance when the function of the kitchen appliance has been paused. Therefore, if the operator pauses the kitchen appliance, it is not necessary to re-enter the parameters before resuming. This saves the user the effort of manipulating the controls, and having to memorise the settings of the machine prior to pausing. 10 This can be especially advantageous, where the user wishes to pause during use of the kitchen appliance to check on the state of the food being processed, and/or to add additional ingredients. Variations Further alternative embodiments are possible. For example, in the embodiment described 15 above and illustrated, the mixer 100 is shown as an integral unit (i.e. the head unit 108 being permanently attached to the support 106 and base 104). It is, however, possible to provide a stand assembly (including a base and support) which receives a portable hand mixer (i.e. a mixing unit that can either be hand-held by an operator or can be releasably mounted to the stand assembly to allow hands-free operation). With reference to such a mixer, an embodiment of the 20 invention extends to a stand assembly which is adapted to releasably receive a mixing head unit. As will be appreciated, in such an embodiment the support 106 and base 104 of the mixer 100 described above can largely be retained, the only potential modification being the pivotal attachment point. In the first embodiment, the mixer was a planetary mixer. However, it is to be 25 appreciated any other type of kitchen appliance with cyclical or rotary motion may be used, such as rotational, linear, and figure of eight motion. The agitator may include whisks, blades, spatulas etc. In another embodiment the kitchen appliance is in the form of multi-function kitchen appliance 300 as shown in Fig. 6, having a blender 301, and a food processor 303. The multi- 17 function kitchen appliance 300 is provided with a speed selector 324, a "pause/start" button 325 and a digital display 360. The multi-function kitchen appliance 300 is operable similar to the first embodiment described above in that the speed selector 324 is used to select the speed of the blender 301 and/or food processor 303. The digital display 360, displays the time information as 5 a function of the time appliance 360 has been switched on, such as count up, or count down as described above. The "pause/start" button 325 allows the user to pause the appliance 300, and resume again, with parameters such as speed and time to be "remembered" when resuming operation of the appliance. In the above mentioned embodiment, the kitchen appliance stores the desired speed and 10 duration of time information as operating parameters when the kitchen appliance has the processing motion paused, thereby allowing the information to be referenced when the agitation is resumed. However, it is to be appreciated other parameters may also be stored, such as weight, settings for specific weights, temperature, temperature settings, and other information. In one embodiment, the kitchen appliance gradually ramps up to the desired speed 15 setting. This may be achieved by programming the microcontroller to gradually increase the speed of the motor to the desired selected speed. Advantageously, this prevents ingredients, for example flour, from being flung out of the mixing bowl if the mixing attachment speeds up to a fast speed too quickly. Instead the flour will be mixed with the other ingredients at a relatively slower speed initially, and ramped up to the higher selected speed. In one embodiment, the timer 20 module resumes counting when the mixing attachment starts/resumes moving at the slower initial speed. In an alternative embodiment, the timer module resumes counting when the mixing attachment is operating at the desired selected speed, after ramping up from the slower initial speed. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends 25 to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A stand mixer comprising: - a variable speed drive means for driving a processing member at variable speeds; - user interface means for enabling a plurality of operating parameters to be selected for 5 the variable speed drive means, said parameters including at least speed and timing parameters defining at least one operating cycle; wherein said user interface means includes a pause interface for pausing operation of the variable speed drive means, said pause interface being further operable to resume operation of the variable speed drive means to complete said at least one operating cycle without having to 10 reselect speed and timing parameters required to complete the operating cycle; and wherein the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between a processing position in which the processing member is positioned for use, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, and wherein the stand mixer is configured such that, when the head unit is pivoted from the 15 processing position to the clearance position, driving of the processing member is paused and such that, when the head unit is pivoted from the clearance position to the processing position, resumption of the driving of the processing member occurs only after operation of the pause interface.

2. A stand mixer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one operating cycle corresponds 20 with at least one food preparation or processing step.

3. A stand mixer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the speed parameters are constant during the operating cycle.

4. A stand mixer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the speed parameter is variable during the operating cycle. 25

5. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand mixer gradually ramps up to the required speed parameter from the initial start, and/or from the pause operation.

6. A stand mixer according to claim 5, wherein the actuation of the pause interface to resume operation including this gradual ramping up has the timing parameter associated with the 1001316164 19 completion of the operating cycle extended to account for the duration of time for gradual ramping up.

7. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive means drives the processing member in a cyclical motion. 5

8. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising: a timer module for recording the duration of time when the processing member is driven by the drive means; wherein in use, the timer module is initiated and subsequently records the duration of time of when the processing member is driven, and the timer module is paused when the pause 10 interface is operated to pause driving of the processing member, and the timer module is resumed when the pause interface is operated to resume the driving the processing member, and wherein the timer module outputs time information as a function of the total duration of time the processing member is driven by the drive means since initiating the timer module.

9. A stand mixer according to claim 8, wherein the time information is the total duration of 15 time the processing member has been driven by the drive means since initiating the timer module.

10. A stand mixer according to claim 8, wherein the time information is a predetermined time value less the total duration of time the processing member has been driven by the drive means since initiating the timer. 20

11. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising: an input device for receiving operating parameters; a memory device for storing operating parameters; an information display; and a microprocessor for processing operating parameters from the input device and/or 25 memory device, and transmitting processed information to the information display; wherein, in use, when the pause interface is operated to pause the drive means, the operating parameters from the input device are stored in the memory device, and when the pause interface is operated to resume, the microprocessor receives the stored operating parameters from the memory device. 1001316164 20

12. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, when the pause interface is operated to pause the drive means, one or more of the operating parameters can be adjusted via the user interface means.

13. A stand mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pause interface 5 comprises at least one button for toggling the stand mixer to pause and resume the cyclical motion.

14. A stand mixer according to claim 13, wherein the at least one button is operated independently of a speed selector of the user interface.

15. A method of operating a stand mixer having a drive means for driving a processing 10 member at variable speed, a user interface means for enabling at least one operating parameter to be selected and further including a pause interface adapted to pause and resume the drive means, the method comprising the steps of; receiving a desired speed parameter in response to a selection from the user interface; pausing the drive means in response to input from the pause interface; and 15 resuming the drive means at the desired speed parameter in response to user input to the pause interface; wherein in the step of resuming the drive means to drive the processing member at the desired speed parameter, receiving a desired speed parameter in response to a further selection from the user interface is not required; and 20 wherein the processing member is disposed on a head unit that is attached to a stand, the head unit being pivotable between a processing position in which the processing member is positioned for use, and a clearance position, in which the processing member is positioned out of use, and the method further comprises the steps of: pausing the drive means driving the processing member in response to the head unit 25 pivoting from the processing position to the clearance position; and resuming the drive means at the desired speed parameter in response to user input to the pause interface, and if the head unit is pivoted to the processing position.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the stand mixer further comprises a timer to record the duration of time the processing member is driven by the drive means, the method 30 comprising the steps of: 1001316164 21 initiating the timer to subsequently record the duration of time of when the drive means drives the processing member; pausing the timer from recording time when the drive means is paused by the pause interface; 5 resuming the timer to record time when the drive means driving the processing member is resumed by the pause interface, wherein the timer outputs time information as a function of the total duration of time the processing member is driven by the drive means since initiating the timer.

17. A method according to either claim 15 or 16, wherein the stand mixer further comprises, 10 an input device, a memory device, an information display; and a microprocessor for processing operating parameters from the sensor and/or memory device, and transmitting processed information to the information display, the method further comprising the steps of: measuring operating parameters with the input device; storing operating parameters to the memory device; 15 processing with the microprocessor, operating parameters from the input device and/or memory device; transmitting processed information from the microprocessor to the information display; and displaying the processed information with the information display, 20 wherein, in use, if the pause interface is operated to pause the cyclical motion, the operating parameters from the input device are stored in the memory device, and if the pause interface is operated to resume, the microprocessor receives the stored operating parameters from the memory device.

18. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the pause interface comprises 25 at least one button for toggling the stand mixer to pause and resume the drive means, wherein the steps of pausing and resuming the drive means comprises the step of operating the at least one button.