AU2014101657B4 - Kitchen appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Described herein is a kitchen appliance (100) comprising a motor(1302) and a controller (1300) for controlling the speed of the motor. The kitchen appliance further comprises a base (102), a head (106) comprising an attachment interface (114) adapted to receive a kitchen appliance 5 attachment, and a stand (108) for supporting the head on the base. The head is pivotable with respect to the stand between a raised and a lowered position. The attachment interface (114) comprises one or more drive outlets for cooperatively interfacing a selected kitchen appliance attachment with a drive shaft (1304) driven by the motor, and an attachment sensor arrangement (1312) configured to sense a type of the selected kitchen appliance attachment. The attachment 10 sensor arrangement communicates the type to the controller and, responsive to the type, the controller controls the operation of the motor.

Description

Kitchen appliance

Field of the invention

The present disclosure relates to multi-purpose kitchen appliances with attachments, and kitchen appliances with bowls. The disclosure may have particular application to stand mixers.

Background of the invention

Multi-purpose kitchen appliances, such as stand mixers, can operate with different attachments. Stand mixers are generally C-shaped, having a base which supports both the mixer and a bowl, and a head supported over the base by a stand. The attachments are fitted to the head and are driven by a motor typically housed in the head or the stand.

Some types of attachments are driven by a horizontal drive, such as a grinder attachment or a slicer attachment. Attachments such as beaters or mixing attachments are driven by a vertical drive and typically beat or mix the content of a bowl accommodated in the mixer. Multipurpose appliances are variable speed appliances, and the speed used can depend, for example, on the type of attachment used as well as the type of food being processed.

When a mixing attachment is used with a mixing bowl, the mixing attachment should preferably move flush with the inside of the bowl. Due to several potential reasons, for example wear and tear, or manufacturing tolerances, when the mixing attachment is used it may not be flush with the bowl. For example, the mixing attachment might push against the bowl, scratching the bowl when the stand mixer is operated. Alternatively, the mixing attachment might not reach the inside surface of the bowl, thereby leaving unprocessed food against the inside of the bowl that the mixing attachment is unable to reach. In some kitchen appliances it is possible to adjust the relative height of the bowl in relation to the attachment by altering the height of the stand thereby moving the head up or down, or by adjusting the connector receiving the mixing attachment thereby moving the attachment up or down.

It would be desirable to provide the public with the choice of a new and useful kitchen appliance.

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

1002764919 knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant and, in case of plural pieces of prior art, combined by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

In one embodiment disclosed within the following there is provided a kitchen appliance comprising: a motor; a controller for controlling the speed of the motor; a base; a head comprising an attachment interface adapted to receive a kitchen appliance attachment; a stand for supporting the head on the base, the head being pivotable with respect to the stand; the attachment interface comprising: one or more drive outlets for cooperatively interfacing a selected kitchen appliance attachment with a drive shaft driven by the motor; and an attachment sensor arrangement configured to sense a type of the selected kitchen appliance attachment; wherein the attachment sensor arrangement communicates the type to the controller and, responsive to the type, the controller controls the operation of the motor.

The attachment sensor arrangement may comprise one or more sensors configured to be activated by a kitchen appliance type indicator. The one or more sensors may comprise one or more switches. The attachment sensor arrangement may further comprise one or more pin and spring arrangements for activating the respective one or more switches.

In some arrangements, multiple activations of the one or more sensors may indicate the type to the controller when the controller counts the multiple activations.

The attachment sensor arrangement may be configured in a horizontal or vertical position relative to the kitchen appliance in order to sense the type when the type indicator is presented vertically or horizontally, respectively.

The sensor arrangement may include a plurality of sensors to accord with a plurality of type indicator positions as presented by the kitchen appliance attachment, each sensor configured to sense a presence of an indicator at each of the type indicator positions.

In another embodiment disclosed within the following there is provided a kitchen appliance attachment comprising: an interface for attaching the kitchen appliance attachment to a drive outlet of a kitchen appliance, the interface comprising: a locking means for securing the kitchen appliance attachment to the kitchen appliance; a shaft for cooperating with a drive outlet of the kitchen appliance; and a type indicator.

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The type indicator may comprise: a first number of type indicator positions; and a second number of indicators; wherein each indicator position is adapted to have an indicator, and the second number is equal to or less than the first number. The second number of indicators may be selected from a group including: bumps, notches, protrusions, dots, resistors, radio frequency identification and magnets. The type indicator may be located on the locking means.

In another embodiment disclosed within the following there is provided a kitchen appliance with a base comprising a bowl receiving arrangement for holding a bowl, the bowl receiving arrangement comprising: a receptacle for receiving the bowl; an attachment means for securing the bowl in the receptacle; and a height adjustment means for adjusting a height of the bowl secured in the receptacle relative to the base.

The height adjustment means may comprise: a vertical adjuster configured to move vertically; and an adjusting disc configured to rotate about an axis; wherein axial movement of the adjusting disc results in vertical movement of the vertical adjuster.

The vertical adjuster may have an annular adjuster wall with a thread around the outside; the adjusting disc may have an annular disc wall that fits over the adjuster wall, the disc wall having a groove along the inside; and the thread and groove may cooperate to cause the vertical movement of the vertical adjuster when the adjusting disc rotates.

The base may comprise two or more stationary vertical rods positioned below the receptacle; and the vertical adjuster may comprise two or more feet mating with the stationary vertical rods thereby limiting axial movement of the vertical adjuster.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a kitchen appliance comprising: a body having a base, a stand, and a head; an attachment interface on the head adapted to receive a kitchen appliance attachment and adapted to receive a cover; and a cover storage adapted to receive the cover.

The cover may attach to the attachment interface and to the cover storage via a magnet inside the cover. The cover storage may be on one of: the base, the stand, and the head.

This kitchen appliance may further comprise a controller for controlling operation of the kitchen appliance; the attachment interface may comprise an indicator sensing arrangement for sensing the presence of the cover; and the indicator sensing arrangement may communicate sensor data

1002764919 to the controller and, responsive to the sensor data, the controller may then control operation of the kitchen appliance.

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 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

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a stand mixer operable with a number of different attachments.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a first type of attachment that can be used with the kitchen appliance shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a partial cross-section of the head of the stand mixer with the first type of attachment attached.

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a second type of attachment that can be used with the kitchen appliance shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a partial cross-section of the head of the stand mixer with the second type of attachment attached.

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of a stand mixer attachment’s attaching interface cooperating with an embodiment of a sensor arrangement inside the head of the stand mixer.

Figures 7A and 7B show front and back perspective views, respectively, of the head of a kitchen appliance with a cover over the drive outlet.

Figures 7C and 7D show front and back perspective views, respectively, of the head of a kitchen appliance with the cover stored in the cover storage.

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Figure 8 A is a back perspective view of the cover.

Figure 8B is a front view of the cover.

Figure 8C is a side section view of the cover.

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Figure 9 is an exploded view of the base of a stand mixer with a mixing bowl.

Figure 10 is a partial section of the mixing bowl secured to the base.

Figures 11A, 11B and 11C show perspective views of the stand mixer with the mixing bowl at the highest, middle, and lowest positions respectively.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a twin beater mixer with an adjustable bowl height.

Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the working of the controller that controls the operation of the mixer.

Figure 14 is a flow diagram showing some of the operations of the controller.

Detailed description of the embodiments

The present disclosure relates to kitchen appliances such as stand mixers, planetary mixers and twin beater mixers that support mixer attachments on a vertical axis. These types of mixers typically also have a direct drive attachment interface (also called an attachment port) on a horizontal axis. Figure 1 shows a generally C-shaped stand mixer 100 having a mixer base 102 which supports both the mixer 100 and a bowl 104, and a head 106 supported over the mixer base 102 by a stand 108. A mixer attachment 110 is attached to a vertical drive attachment port 112, and other attachments may be fitted to the head 106 at the attachment interface 114, which in this case is a hexagonal drive. The attachments are driven by a motor typically housed in the head 106 or in the stand 108. The head 106 pivots up so that attachment 110 can be removed/attached and the bowl 104 can be removed/placed into the mixer 100. A user interface 116 is disposed on the stand 108 and includes a dial 118 and a display 120, the display optionally including one or more buttons 122. Additionally or alternatively a top-mounted display 120A is disposed on the head 106 together with top-mounted buttons 122A. A top-mounted dial or control knob (not shown) can also be present on the head 106.

1. Using attachments with the stand mixer

Various types of attachments can be used with both the vertical drive and the horizontal axis direct drive. Attaching to the attachment interface 114, attachments for the horizontal axis drive can be for example (and not limited to) a mincer, vegetable slicer, or a pasta roller.

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Different top speeds are recommended for different types of attachments, for example the recommended top speed for a mincer is typically 155 rpm ±10°, for a vegetable slicer is 160-200 rpm + 10° (depending on whether hard or soft vegetables are sliced), and for a pasta roller is 120 rpm± 10°.

Figure 2 shows a mincer attachment 200 that includes a body 202 housing a mincing assembly (including for example a blade, auger and meat screen) that is kept in place by the ring nut 204. The mincer attachment also includes a funnel 206 with a pusher 208, and an interface 210 for attaching the attachment to the stand mixer. The interface 210 includes a shaft 212 for interfacing with the motor’s drive outlet and a locking means such as a bayonet fastener 214 for securing the attachment to the stand mixer. Different kinds of fasteners can also be used, such as a screw fit, taper fit or tight cylinders with a grub screw.

The interface 210 also includes a type indicator 216. In this embodiment, the type indicator 216 includes 3 bumps 218 indicating that this attachment is a mincer attachment. Other types of attachments will have a different number of bumps (e.g. 1 or 2) and/or a different arrangement of bumps (e.g. 3 bumps spaced apart or grouped differently). In this embodiment, the bumps 218 of the type indicator 216 are placed on a flange 220 of the bayonet fastener 214. Of course, if a different type of fastener is used, then the type indicator’s location and/or configuration will differ as appropriate.

Referring to Figure 3, sensor arrangement 300 is used to detect the type of attachment used. While the attachment 200 is being attached to the mixer 100, as the attachment 200 is being rotated during coupling, the bumps 218 move past a pin (and spring) 302 resulting in a sequential activation of switch 304 depending on the number of bumps of the indicator 216. The switch communicates this information to a controller (not shown) which in turn interprets the sensed type information in order to control the speed of the motor 306 so that the speed range is limited according to the type of attachment being used. (The operation of the controller is described elsewhere herein with reference to Figures 13 and 14.)

The type indicator 216 and sensor arrangement 300 in this embodiment includes bumps 218 and a microswitch 304. Other combinations of indicators and sensors can also be used, such as (and not limited to) notches and switches, printed dots and optical sensors, various types of resistance-based sensors, a sensor arrangement based on radio frequency sensing (such as an

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RFID and sensor), or magnets and reed switches (or a magnetometer, such as a hall effect sensor).

Furthermore, the configuration with which the type indicator 216 and the sensor arrangement 300 are implemented can differ, for example as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The attachment 200 in Figure 4 has a similar interface 400 to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, however the type indicator 402 includes four protrusions 404 in flange 406, separated by three notches 408. Referring to Figure 5, when this kind of type indicator 216 is used, it cooperates with sensor arrangement 500 which (in comparison to the horizontal configuration of sensor arrangement 300) has a vertical configuration. As the attachment 200 is attached to the mixer 100, the protrusions 404 move past pin (and spring) 302 resulting in a sequential activation of switch 304 depending on the number and/or spacing of protrusions on the indicator 216 because each protrusion 404 pushes the pin (and spring) 302 which in turn pushes against the switch 304 thereby activating the switch 304, and when the pin (and spring) 302 slide down into each notch 408, the switch 304 is not activated.

A partial schematic representation of another embodiment is shown in Figure 6. In this case, the type indicator 216 also includes protrusions 404. In this instance 4 protrusions in total are possible, and as shown this particular attachment 600 is distinguishable because it has 3 out of the possible 4 protrusions, with position 602 not having a notch. The multiswitch sensor arrangement 604 differs from the embodiments described above in that it includes a pin 606 and switch 608 for each possible protrusion position. As shown, when the attachment 600 is attached, the leftmost 3 switches 610 are activated whereas the rightmost switch 612 is not. Using the multiswitch sensor arrangement 604 means that the attachment 600 can be identified if it is already in the stand mixer 100 when the mixer is powered on (as opposed to requiring the insertion process in order to count the number of protrusions as described above).

When the sensor arrangement communicates what type of attachment has been attached to the controller so that the motor’s speed range can be adjusted accordingly, the controller also configures the user interface 116 to display information appropriate for the relevant attachment using display 120 (or 120A), and/or to receive user inputs appropriate for the attachment. For example, if a mincer attachment is used, the top speed that a user can achieve turning dial 118 clockwise will be limited to the mincer attachment top speed. Also, the display 120 (or 120A) can show what mode the mixer is being used in, i.e. mincer mode, what the speed range or top

1000775008 speed of the mixer is in this mode, e.g. 150 rpm, and what the actual speed is. Any other relevant information can also be shown, for example the time since the start of mincer operation. The display 120 (or 120A) can also indicate what type of operation has been selected by the user, for example PAUSE or REVERSE: if the user presses dial 118 the machine’s operation is paused, and if the dial is in the OFF position and the user turns it further anti-clockwise, then the motor will turn in the opposite direction resulting in the mincer running in reverse. The display 118 may also have an OVERLOAD indicator in the event that the motor is overloaded.

In accordance with one embodiment, the text displayed on the display 120 (or 120A) may be, for example:

VEGETABLE SLICER MODE

TOP SPEED 150RPM

CURRENT SPEED 5-75RPM

CARROT/HARD VEGETABLES

00:00 TIME SINCE START

PAUSE

OVERLOAD

REVERSE

In some embodiments, the same kind of type indicator and sensor arrangement as described above can be used for attachments used with the vertical drive when they are attached to the vertical drive attachment port 112. In such embodiments the mixer attachment 110 has a type indicator on its interface with the vertical drive, and the vertical drive attachment port 112 includes a sensor arrangement that senses the type indicator and communicates the type to the controller. The controller in turn controls the operation of the mixer in response to the type of attachment that is attached, e.g. a speed range for the motor can be set and/or the type of attachment, its operation mode and/or relevant operation information can be displayed on the display 120 (or 120A).

Likewise, in some embodiments a similar kind of type indicator and sensor arrangement can be used when a bowl is attached to the base 102. A bowl sensor arrangement in the base 102, upon sensing the type indicator of a bowl, communicates the type of the bowl to the controller which in turn controls the operation of the mixer in response to the type of bowl being used, e.g. the type of bowl and/or relevant operation information is displayed on the display 120 (or 120A) and/or the speed of the motor is controlled according to the appropriate speed for the attachment

1000775008 that is associated with the type of bowl detected. For the bowl, the sensor arrangement may include a weight sensor.

As shown in Figure 7A, when an attachment is not used and attachment interface 114 is not in use, a cover 700 is used to cover attachment interface 114. When the cover 700 is removed, it can easily get lost. To help prevent this, a cover storage 702 is provided, for example, at the back of the head 106 as shown in Figure 7B. The cover storage 702 may be positioned in any suitable area on the body of the stand mixer 100, for example on the back, front, or side of the stand 108. The cover storage 702 may be positioned on the bowl, on a bowl handle, on the attachment itself, or on an attachment canister or holder. When the cover 700 is removed from the attachment interface 114 as shown in Figure 7C, then the cover 700 can be stored as shown in Figure 7D.

The cover can be attached in various ways to the attachment interface 114 and to the cover storage 702, for example a threaded attachment or a clip. In the embodiment of a cover 800 shown in Figures 8A to 8C, the cover 800 includes a body 802, a grip 804 on the outside of the body 802 to facilitate the removal and attachment of the cover 800 by a user, and a magnet 806 held inside the body 802 by a magnet cup 808 which is screwed onto the body 802. The magnet 806 holds the cover 800 in place over the attachment interface 114 and in the cover storage 702, both metallic and/or magnetised components to facilitate holding the cover 800.

In some embodiments, the cover 700 includes an indicator (not shown) and the attachment interface 114 includes an indicator sensor arrangement (not shown) so that the presence of the cover on the attachment interface 114 is sensed. The indicator-sensor arrangement can be similar to those described above, namely (and not limited to) one or more bumps and a microswitch, a notch and switch, printed dot(s) and an optical sensor, any type of resistance-based sensor, an RFID and sensor, or a reed switch that senses the presence of the cover’s magnet (or any other type of magnetometer, such as a hall effect sensor).

In some embodiments the indicator sensor arrangement communicates the presence of the cover 700 on the attachment interface 114 to the controller, and the controller controls the operation of the motor as well as messages displayed to the user as appropriate. For example, the controller may prevent operation of the drive outlet while the cover 700 is in place.

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In some embodiments the cover 700 includes a similar kind of type indicator as is used with the attachments used with the horizontal axis drive. For example, when the attachments use the protrusion type indicator shown in Figure 4, then the cover also has a bayonet fastener with protrusions. When the cover is attached to the attachment interface 114, then the type indicator on the cover interacts with the sensor arrangement 500 shown in Figure 5 and the sensor arrangement then communicates to the controller that a cover is attached. In response the controller controls the operation of the motor as well as messages displayed to the user as appropriate.

2. Using a bowl with the stand mixer

Figure 9 is an exploded view of the mixer base 102 of a stand mixer 100 including a bowl receiving arrangement 900 that holds a mixing bowl 902. The bowl 902 is held in a receptacle that is made up of a cut-out 904 in the mixer base 102 and a vertical adjuster 906. The base 908 of the bowl 902 includes a slot 910 that cooperates with a fastener 912 (such as a bayonet fastener, as shown here) on the vertical adjuster 906 for securing the bowl 902 to the mixer base 102. Other types of attachment means can also be used, such as a clip or a screw.

The feet 914 of the vertical adjuster 906 are hollow cylinders that fit over the rods 916 on the base underside 918 thereby restricting lateral translation or rotation of the vertical adjuster 906. This means that a bowl 902 attached to the vertical adjuster 906 (via the fastener 912) will also not rotate.

An adjusting disc 920 is sandwiched between the vertical adjuster 906 and the base underside 918. Together, the adjusting disc 920 and the vertical adjuster 906 form a height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the bowl 902 relative to the base 102 of the stand mixer 100. The adjusting disc 920 includes a flange 932, an annular wall 926, a groove 924 around the inside of wall 926, and a grip 930. When assembled, the flange 932 abuts the shallow rim 934 of the cut-out 904. The adjusting disc 920 rotates about an axis that is common to the adjusting disc 920 and the vertical adjuster 906. The adjuster thread 922 of the vertical adjuster fits into the groove 924 around the inside of wall 926 of the adjusting disc 920 so that rotation of the adjusting disc 920 (using the grip 930 on the side of the adjusting disc 920) results in the thread 922 riding up/down the groove 924, thereby pushing the vertical adjuster 906 up/down resulting in the bowl 902 sitting higher/lower on the mixer base 102. The result of this is that, as

1000775008 shown in Figure 10, the position of the mixer attachment 110 relative to the bowl 902 can be adjusted so that the mixer attachment 110 sits flush with the inside of the bowl 902.

Figure 11A shows the mixer 100 with the grip 930 in a forward position so that the bowl 902 is in the highest position, in Figure 11B the height adjustment means is set so that the bowl is held in a mid position, and in Figure 11C the adjusting disc 920 is turned so that the vertical adjuster 906 is in the lowest position, thereby holding the bowl 902 in the lowest position relative to the base 102 of the stand mixer 100.

Figure 12 shows a twin beater mixer 1200 with twin beaters 1202. The height of the bowl 1204 is adjusted using the same type of height adjustment means as described above where a user turns the adjusting disc 902 using grip 930 clockwise or anti-clockwise in order to move the bowl higher or lower, respectively.

3. The mixer controller

Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the working of the controller 1300 that controls the operation of the mixer 100. The controller controls the operation of the motor 1302 which drives a motor output shaft 1304 which, in turn drives the horizontal output 1306 and the vertical output 1308 via a gearbox 1310. The controller also controls an output user interface 1322.

The controller 1300 receives input signals from one or more sensor arrangements which may include a first attachment sensor 1312 that is a horizontal sensor and a second attachment sensor 1314 that is a bowl sensor in the base 102 of the mixer 100 as shown in Figure 13. The sensor arrangements may also include a vertical attachment sensor in the head 106 (not shown). The controller 1300 also receives input signals from the power supply 1316, the user input 1318 (which includes, for example, dial 118 and buttons 122), and a motor speed and direction sensor arrangement 1320.

The motor speed and direction sensor arrangement 1320 measures the speed and direction of the output shaft 1304 of the motor 1302 and communicates this to the controller 1300, responsive to which the controller 1300 controls the motor 1302 to maintain the desired motor speed. The motor speed and direction sensor arrangement 1310 also detects if the motor 1302 is overloaded or stalling and communicates this to the controller 1300. In response the controller

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1300 stops the motor 1302 and/or displays relevant information on the output user interface 1322 (which may include display 120 and/or 120A).

In response to the input signals received from the sensors 1312 and 1314, the controller 1300 controls the operation of the motor, for example by:

• limiting the speed range of the motor 1302;

• setting a fixed speed of the motor 1302;

• preventing operation of the motor 1302 if attachments are sensed at both the vertical and horizontal outputs;

• preventing operation of the motor 1302 if no attachments are sensed; and/or • preventing operation of the motor 1302 if a vertical attachment is sensed but the cover

700 is not attached to the attachment interface 114.

The controller 1300 also controls the output user interface 1322, displaying information relevant to what the sensor(s) sense, e.g. what type of attachment is attached, what the speed range is or whether a fixed output speed has been set, whether a cover is present on the horizontal attachment interface 114, or any number of error messages relating to attachments, the cover, overload or stalling of the motor, etc.

Figure 14 is a flow diagram 1400 showing some of the operations of one embodiment of a control process of the controller 1300. If, at step 1402, a cover is determined to be present on the attachment interface 114, then the type of attachment is determined in steps 1404, 1406 and 1408 from bowl sensor signals. Depending on what type of attachment is being used, the controller effects at step 1410 control of the motor speed range and/or a relevant display on the output user interface 1322. If no bowl is detected the controller controls the output user interface 1322 to display (at step 1412) a relevant message such as “No Attachment”.

If a cover is not present, then determining that a horizontal attachment is not present at step 1414 leads to a relevant message being displayed at steps 1416 if a vertical attachment is determined to be present at 1417, or a “No Attachment” message being displayed at step 1418.

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If a horizontal attachment is determined to be present at step 1414 then an error message is displayed at step 1420 if a mixing bowl is determined to be present at step 1422 (or alternatively, if a vertical attachment is determined to be present in the case where a vertical attachment sensor in the head of the mixer is used). The type of attachment as determined at 5 1424 results in the control of the motor speed and an appropriate message displayed at steps

1426. If the type of horizontal attachment cannot be identified an error message or “No Attachment” message is displayed at step 1428.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident 10 from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A kitchen appliance comprising:

a body having a base, a stand, and a head;

an attachment interface on the head adapted to receive a kitchen appliance attachment and

5 adapted to receive a cover; and a cover storage adapted to receive the cover.

2. The kitchen appliance of claim 1 wherein the cover attaches to the attachment interface and to the cover storage via a magnet inside the cover.

3. The kitchen appliance of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cover storage is on one of: the 10 base, the stand, and the head.

4. The kitchen appliance of any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the kitchen appliance;

wherein the attachment interface comprises an indicator sensing arrangement for sensing the presence of the cover; and

15 wherein the indicator sensing arrangement communicates sensor data to the controller and, responsive to the sensor data, the controller controls operation of the kitchen appliance.