WO2002102219A1

WO2002102219A1 - Appliance with a security device

Info

Publication number: WO2002102219A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/002373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Dorfer; Thomas Sigot; Robert Suntinger
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; Schorn, Matthias
Priority date: 2001-06-20
Filing date: 2002-06-17
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: JP2004520922A

Abstract

In the case of an appliance (1) capable of being switched into an operating mode and comprising a main appliance part (2) and comprising an auxiliary appliance part (20) moveable relative to the main appliance part (2) between a non-operational position and an operational position and comprising a safety switch (12) being connected with the main appliance part (2) and comprising an operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), which is provided for switching on an operating mode, a safety device (44) is provided which cooperates both with the safety switch (12) and with the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and which, by moving of the auxiliary appliance part (20) from its non-operational position into its operational position, prevents undesired switching on of the operating mode of the appliance (1) when the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) having already been activated.

Description

Appliance with a security device

The invention relates to an appliance comprising a main appliance part and comprising an auxiliary appliance part adjustable relative to the main appliance part between a non-operational position and an operational position and comprising a safety switch being connected with the main appliance part, which safety switch, when being not activated, prevents switching of the operating mode, and comprising an activatable operating mode switch, which is provided for switching on the operating mode.

An appliance according to the configuration described above in the first paragraph was sold commercially by the applicant under the model designation HR1734 and is therefore known. This known appliance is a so-called blender, which comprises as main appliance part a drive unit comprising a housing and capable of being set down on a work surface and which comprises as auxiliary appliance part a goblet (blender jar) which may be positioned on the drive unit in the area of the top of the housing. The goblet contains a rotatably drivable blade, which may be driven by means of a motor accommodated in the drive unit and a drive shaft passing through the top area of the latter. The goblet may be closed with a lid, to prevent the contents of the goblet from spraying or spurting out when the blade provided in the goblet is driven. In the known appliance, a safety switch is provided in the above-mentioned top area in which the goblet can be positioned on the drive unit, which safety switch is activated when the goblet cis positioned on the drive unit and which is not activated when the goblet is removed from the drive unit and consequently prevents the known appliance from being switched into an operating mode. In the known appliance, a plurality of buttons are provided on the drive unit, which each constitute an operating mode switch and are provided for switching the known appliance into a plurality of operating modes. These buttons are provided in an area of the drive unit which is easily accessible with a hand or with the fingers of a hand, which is problematic since, when the goblet is positioned on the drive unit, a user usually holds the drive unit steady with one hand, in order to be able to effect positioning and fixing of the goblet on the drive unit as easily and securely as possible. This holding of the drive unit with one hand may lead to the undesirable situation in which one of the buttons is unintentionally moved into its on position, i.e. activated, which has the consequence with the known appliance that, during positioning of the goblet on the drive unit, so activating the safety switch and consequently enabling switching of the appliance into an operating mode, the appliance is switched into said respective operating mode after activation of the safety switch. The consequence of this is that the motor accommodated in the drive unit is switched on too soon and consequently the blade accommodated in the goblet is driven too soon and therefore set in rotation in a manner not expected by the user, which may have the consequence that some of the contents of the goblet may spray or spurt out due to the goblet lid not yet being closed.

An appliance of the type described in the first paragraph is also known from patent document DE 841 629.This known appliance comprises as its main appliance part a mixing and chopping machine and as its auxiliary appliance part a lid for a mixing bowl of the mixing and chopping machine.

It is an object of the invention to prevent the above-described problems and to provide an improved appliance.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, features according to the invention are provided for an appliance according to the invention, such that an appliance according to the invention may be characterized in the following way, namely:

An appliance capable of being switched into an operating mode and comprising a main appliance part and comprising an auxiliary appliance part moveable relative to the main appliance part between a non-operational position and an operational position and comprising a safety switch being connected with the main appliance part, and being activatable by moving of the auxiliary appliance part from its non-operational position into its operational position and which safety switch, when being not activated, prevents switching on the operating mode, and comprising an activatable operating mode switch, which is provided for switching on the operating mode, wherein safety means are provided, which cooperate both with the safety switch and with the operating mode switch and which are designed in that way that undesired switching on of the operating mode is prevented when the operating mode switch was activated prior to movement of the auxiliary appliance part from its non-operational position into its operational position.

By providing the features according to the invention, it is simply and cost- effectively ensured that, in the event of an operating mode switch already being unintentionally activated when the auxiliary appliance part is moved from its non-operational position into its operational position, undesired switching of the appliance into the operating mode associated with the unintentionally activated operating mode switch is prevented. The advantage is thus achieved that, in the case of an appliance according to the invention, movement of the auxiliary appliance part from its non-operational position into its operational position has always to be performed first and only thereafter may the appliance actually be switched into the deliberately selected, desired operating mode by actuation of an operating mode switch. If, in the case of the appliance according to the invention, an operating mode switch is unintentionally activated before the auxiliary appliance part has been adjusted from its non-operational position into its operational position, this advantageously does not result in switching on the relevant operating mode. In the case of an appliance according to the invention, the safety means may be obtained using mechanical components. However, it has proven particularly advantageous for the features as claimed in claim 2 to be additionally provided. This results in a particularly simple, cost-effective, above all wear-independent and operationally reliable implementation of the invention. In the above context, it has proven particularly advantageous for the safety means to be realized by means of a microcomputer.

The above-stated aspects of the invention and further aspects thereof emerge from the examples of embodiment described below and are explained with reference to these examples of embodiment.

The invention will be further described with reference to two examples of embodiments shown in the drawings, to which, however, the invention is not restricted.

Fig. 1 is an oblique view from above of an appliance according to a first example of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows part of the electrical circuit of the appliance according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a diagram, which illustrates schematically a number of operating situations which may arise in the appliance according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows part of an electrical circuit of an appliance according to a second example of embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an appliance 1, this being a kitchen appliance, indeed a so-called blender. The appliance 1 has six operating modes, distinguished by different speeds of rotation of a rotatably drivable blending tool and by different directions of rotation of said blending tool and by different drive periods for said blending tool and by pulsed drive of said blending tool.

The appliance 1 comprises a main appliance part 2, wherein the main appliance part 2 is a drive unit. The main appliance part 2 comprising a housing 3. The housing 3 accommodates a motor M, not shown in Fig. 1. By means of the motor M, a coupling element, not shown in Fig. 1, may be driven rotationally via a drive means. The housing 3 comprises a locating area 4. In the locating area 4 there are provided a total of four positioning ribs 5, 6, 7 and 8, which positioning ribs 5 to 8 additionally constitute components of so-called bayonet fastenings, this not being shown in detail in Fig. 1, however. A passage 9 is additionally provided in the locating area 4, through which passage 9 the above-mentioned coupling element is accessible to a mating coupling element. A further passage 10 is additionally provided in the locating area 4, through which passage 10 there projects a pushbutton 11 of a safety switch 12, not shown in Fig. 1.

Six operating mode switches 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are provided on the main appliance part 2 or on the housing 3 of the main appliance part 2. The operating mode switches 13 to 18 take the form of activatable touch control buttons, actuation and consequently activation of which with a finger cannot be prevented. Each of the six operating mode switches 13 to 18 is provided for switching into one operating mode.

The appliance 1 further comprises an auxiliary appliance part 20, which, in the case of the appliance 1, takes the form of a so-called goblet. The auxiliary appliance part 20 consists of a container 21 and a lid 22 connected detachably with the container 21. The container 21 comprises a mating locating area 23 on its side remote from the lid 22.The mating locating area 23 may be positioned on the locating area 4 of the main appliance part 2 and turned relative to the locating area 4, wherein, upon such turning of the auxiliary appliance part 20 relative to the main appliance part 2, the positioning ribs 5 to 8 assist in forming in each case a bayonet fastening. The auxiliary appliance part 20 further comprises a handle and a pouring spout 25. It should also be mentioned that an opening 26 is provided in the lid 22, through which material to be processed may be introduced into the container 21. A rotatably drivable blending tool is accommodated in known manner in the container 21 of the auxiliary appliance part 20, but is not shown in Fig. 1. The blending tool is connected with the above-mentioned mating coupling element, which is surrounded by the mating locating area 23. As has long been known, the blending tool may thereby be driven rotationally via the mating coupling element and the coupling element of the main appliance part 2 drivable by the motor M. The auxiliary appliance part 20, i.e. the goblet, may be moved (adjusted) relative to the main appliance part 2 between a non-operational position and an operational position. Fig. 1 shows the auxiliary appliance part 20 in its non-operational position, in which non-operational position the auxiliary appliance part 20 has been removed from the main appliance part 2. As has already been mentioned, the auxiliary appliance part 20 may be positioned with its mating locating area 23 on the locating area 4 of the main appliance part 2 and turned relative to the main appliance part 2, wherein the auxiliary appliance part 20 then assumes its operational position. As has already been mentioned above, a safety switch 12 is connected with the main appliance part 2, of which the pushbutton 11 is visible in Fig. 1. In the event of the auxiliary appliance part 20 being adjusted (moved) from its non-operational position shown in Fig. 1 into its operational position not shown in Fig. 1, the safety switch 12 may be activated in that the auxiliary appliance part 20 enters, with its mating locating area 23, into active connection with the pushbutton 11 and thereby pushes the pushbutton 11 down, which has the consequence of activating the safety switch 12, in this case closing it. It is clear from the part 30, illustrated in Fig. 2, of the electrical circuit of the appliance 1 according to Fig. 1 that two mains connections 31 and 32 are provided, which are connected with a mains cable, not shown. A voltage processing circuit 33 is connected to the two mains connections 31 and 32. By means of the voltage processing circuit 33, a motor supply voltage VM is produced from the mains voltage supplied thereto, which motor supply voltage VM is made available at two outputs 34 and 35 of the voltage processing circuit 33. By means of the voltage processing circuit 33, a d.c. supply voltage VD may further be produced, which is made available at two further outputs 36 and 37 of the voltage processing circuit 33.

The motor supply voltage VM serves to supply the motor M. To this end, the motor supply voltage VM is applied to a series circuit comprising the motor M and a motor supply circuit 38. The motor supply circuit 38 is so designed that, by means thereof, the motor M may be driven at different rotational speeds and in mutually opposing directions of rotation. The respective speed of rotation and the respective direction of rotation of the motor M is determined by the operating mode selected in each case, to which the appliance may be switched by means of one of the six operating mode switches 13 to 18. The motor supply circuit 38 comprises altogether four control inputs 39, 40, 41 and 42. Via the first control input 39, a first control signal CS1 may be fed to the motor supply circuit 38, with which first control signal CS1 drive of the motor M may be enabled. Three further control signals CS2, CS3 and CS4 may be fed to the three further control inputs 40, 41 and 42. By means of the three further control signals CS2, CS3 and CS4, the respective direction of rotation and the respective speed of rotation of the motor M may be fixed.

The appliance 1 further comprises a microcomputer 43. The microcomputer 43 provides a series of means and functions, of which only safety means of importance in the present instance will be examined in more detail below.

Safety means 44 are provided by means of the microcomputer 43. The safety means 44 cooperate, as illustrated schematically in Fig. 2, both with the safety switch 12 and with all six operating mode switches 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Both the safety switch 12 and the six operating mode switches 13 to 18 are connected to ground at one end, such that, by closing each of these switches 13 to 18, ground potential may be fed to the microcomputer 43 and consequently to the safety means 44, whereby it is ensured that, from the respective activation time of the safety switch 12 and the six operating mode switches 13 to 18, the fact that a particular switch 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 has been activated may be signaled to the safety means 44 by supplying the ground potential. In the case of the appliance 1, the safety means 44 are designed in that way that the safety means 44 prevent undesired switching of the appliance 1 to the relevant operating mode if the relevant operating mode switch 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 was activated prior to adjustment of the auxiliary appliance part 20 from its non-operational position shown in Fig. 1 to its operational position not shown in Fig. 1. In the present case, the safety means 44 are realized by means of an electronic component, namely by means of the microcomputer 43. The safety means 44 are designed to detect the respective activation instants of the safety switch 12 and each operating mode switch 13 to 18. In this context, it should be mentioned that detection of the activation instant of a switch using a microcomputer has of course long been known per se, for which reason it has not been disclosed in any more detail here. In the present case, the safety means 44 are advantageously further designed in that way that they only enable switching on of an operating mode by means of the relevant operating mode switch 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 when the activation instant of the safety switch 12 is prior to the activation instant of the relevant operating mode switch 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18. If the activation instant of the safety switch 12 is prior to the activation instant of one of the operating mode switches 13 to 18, the consequence is that the safety means 44 produce the first control signal CS1 and feed it to the motor supply circuit 38, so enabling the power supply to the motor M, i.e. the motor M may ensure drive of the blending tool accommodated in the auxiliary appliance part 20 and consequently the operating mode activated by means of the activated operating mode switch may be implemented. If, on the other hand, the activation instant of one of the six operating mode switches 13 to 18 is before the activation instant of the safety switch 12, the consequence is that the safety means 44 do not output a first control signal CS1, which in turn has the consequence for the motor supply circuit 38 that power supply to the motor M is prevented.

Fig. 3 shows a total of five operating situations, which may occur with the appliance 1 according to Fig. 1. In the diagram according to Fig. 3, the first line relates to the on state and the off state of the safety switch 12, the second line to the on state and the off state of the first operating mode switch 13 and the third line to the on state and the off state of the motor M. The first operating mode switch 13 is selected to represent one of the six operating mode switches 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

In the first operating situation A, although the first operating mode switch 13 is in its on state, the safety switch 12 assumes its off state, the consequence of which is that the safety means 44 do not output the first control signal CS1 to the motor supply circuit 38, such that the motor M remains in its off state.

In the second operating situation B, the first operating mode switch 13 is already in its on state. The safety switch 12 then changes from its off state into its on state, in that the auxiliary appliance part 20 is positioned onto the main appliance part 2. In this case, the safety means 44 detect that the activation instant (time) of the safety switch 12 is after the activation instant (time) of the operating mode switch 13, which has the consequence that the safety means 44 do not output the first control signal CS1 to the motor supply circuit 38, such that the motor supply circuit 38 prevents the motor M from being switched on, i.e. the motor M remains in its off state, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the case of the third operating situation C, possible directly after the second operating situation B, the safety switch 12 assumes its on state and the first operating mode switch 13 changes from its on state into its off state. This has the consequence that the motor M remains in its off state.

If, subsequently, the second operating situation D arises, in which the safety switch 12 has already assumed its on state, which means that the auxiliary appliance part 20 has already been positioned on the main appliance part 2, and subsequent thereto the first operating mode switch 13 changes for a given period TD from its off state into its on state, which is effected by touching the touch control button constituting the first operating mode switch 13, the consequence is that the safety means 44 detect that the activation instant of the safety switch 12 is before the activation instant of the first operating mode switch 13, which in turn has the consequence that the safety means 44 produce the first control signal CS1 and output it to the motor supply circuit 38, so enabling the motor M to be supplied with power, such that motor M changes from its off state to its on state, as indicated in Fig. 3. In other words, the operating mode selected with the first operating mode switch 13 is subsequently implemented in the appliance 1.

If the fifth operating state E subsequently arises, i.e. if the safety switch 12 changes from its on state to its off state, which happens when the auxiliary appliance part 20 is removed from the main appliance part 2, the consequence is that the safety means 44 detect the change of the safety switch 12 from its on state into its off state, which in turn has the consequence that output of the first control signal CS1 to the motor supply circuit 38 is terminated, which in turn has the consequence that the motor M is changed from its on state to its off state, as indicated in Fig. 3.

In the case of the appliance 1, a so-called stop button may further be provided, upon the actuation of which the motor M is changed from its on state to its off state, even when the auxiliary appliance part 20 remains on the main appliance part 2 and thus the safety switch 12 remains closed.

In the case of appliance 1 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the safety switch 12 is switched electrically between a d.c. voltage potential, namely ground, and an input of the microcomputer 43. It should be noted that such a safety switch 12 may also be accommodated downstream of a mains connection 31 or 32, thereby stopping the supply of any voltage to the appliance 1 when the safety switch 12 is open, voltage only being supplied to the microcomputer 43 and therefore also to the safety means 44 when the safety switch 12 is closed, this being detected by means of the safety means 44, such that in this way the respective activation instant of the safety switch 12 is again detected. The part 50, illustrated in Fig. 4, of an electrical circuit of an appliance according to a second example of embodiment of the invention is described below.

The part 50 of the circuit comprises a safety switch 12 with a pushbutton 11 and three operating mode switches, of which only a first operating mode switch 13 and a second operating mode switch 14 are shown in Fig. 4, however. Both the safety switch 12 and the two operating mode switches 13 and 14 are connected by one terminal to a supply voltage +V. With their other terminals, the safety switch 12 and the two operating mode switches 13 and 14 are each connected with a resistor, i.e. respectively with a resistor Rl, a resistor R2 or a resistor R3. The part 50 of the circuit further comprises the motor M and the motor supply circuit 38, which is connected in series with the motor M, wherein the series circuit is connected to the motor supply voltage VM.

The part 50 further comprises a D-flipflop 51 triggerable by positive edges, which comprises a clock terminal C and a data terminal D and a reset terminal R responsive only to a low level L and a set terminal S likewise responsive only to a low level L and a first output Q and a second output Q , wherein the second output Q is not used, however. There are additionally provided a first AND gate 52 and second AND gate 53 and a first OR gate 54 and a second OR gate 55. A first input of the first AND gate 52 is connected with the output Q of the D-flipflop 51. A second input of the first AND gate 52 is connected with the first operating mode switch 13. A first input of the second AND gate 53 is likewise connected with the output Q of the D-flipflop 51. A second input of the second AND gate is connected with the second operating mode switch 14. The output of the first AND gate 52 is connected with a first input of the second OR gate 55. The output of the second AND gate 53 is connected with a second input of the second OR gate 55. An output of the second OR gate 55 is connected with the first control input 39 of the motor supply circuit 38.

The first operating mode switch 13 is connected on the output side with a first input of the first OR gate 54. The second operating mode switch 14 is connected on the output side with a second input of the first OR gate 54. The output of the first OR gate 54 is connected with the clock input C of the D-flipflop 51. The first operating mode switch 13 is additionally connected on the output side with the second control input 40 of the motor supply circuit 38. The second operating mode switch 14 is additionally connected on the output side with the third control input 41 of the motor supply circuit 38. A third operating mode switch, not shown, is connected on the output side with the third control input 42 of the motor supply circuit 38.

It should be mentioned with regard to the D-flipflop 51 that both the data input D and the set input S are supplied with the supply voltage +V. The safety switch 12 is connected on the output side with the reset input R.

In the present case, the D-flipflop 51 and the two AND gates 52 and 53 and the two OR gates 54 and 55 constitute safety means 56, which cooperate both with the safety switch 12 and with each of the operating mode switches 13 and 14 and which prevent undesired switching of the appliance to the relevant operating mode in the event of an operating mode switch 13 or 14 already being activated when an auxiliary appliance part is moved (adjusted) from its non-operational position into its operational position. In this case, the safety means 56 comprise a plurality of electronic components, namely the components 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. In the case of the solution according to Fig. 4, however, the respective activation instants of the safety switch 12 and the operating mode switches 13 and 14 are not detected, it being established in another way whether the safety switch 12 is activated first and then one of the operating mode switches 13 and 14 or whether one of the operating mode switches 13 and 14 is activated first and then the safety switch 12.

The method of operation of the part 50 of the circuit is described in more detail below. It is here assumed that both the safety switch 12 and the operating mode switches 13 and 14 have not been activated, i.e. assume their open, non-conductive state. In the above-described assumed starting state, the reset input R of the D- flipflop 51 is connected to ground via the resistor Rl, which has the consequence that a low level L is present at the output Q of the D-flipflop 51, irrespective of which levels are present at the data input D and the clock input C. Since the low level L is present at the output Q, the low level L is likewise present at the first input of the AND gate 52. A low level L is likewise present at the second input of the first AND gate 52, because the second input of the first

AND gate 52 is connected to ground via the resistor R2. This has the consequence that a low level L is also present at the output of the first AND gate 52. This low level L is supplied via the second OR gate 55 to the first control input 39 of the motor supply circuit 38, which has the consequence that the power supply to the motor M is blocked, such that the motor M remains in its off state.

If the safety switch 12 is then closed, which is effected by adjustment of the auxiliary appliance part from its non-operational position into its operational position, the consequence is that a high level H arises at the reset input R of the D-flipflop. This has the consequence that the D-flipflop 51 is changed to a state in which the signal present at the data input D is conveyed on to the output Q with each edge change at the clock input C. The voltage +V is always applied to the data input D, as already mentioned.

If the first operating mode switch 13 is then activated, i.e. closed, this has the consequence, via the first OR gate 54, that a change from the low level L to the high level H occurs at the clock input C of the D-flipflop 51, i.e. an edge arises, this having the consequence that the level value present at the data input D, i.e. the high level H, is then conveyed on to the output Q, such that a high level H consequently arises at the first input of the first AND gate 52. As a consequence of closure of the first operating mode switch 13, a high level H also arises at the second input of the first AND gate 52. Since a high level H is present at each of the two inputs of the first AND gate 52, the consequence is that a high level H also occurs at the output of the first AND gate 52, which high level H is supplied to the second OR gate 55 at its first input. As a consequence thereof, the second OR gate 55 feeds the first high level H as a first control signal CS1 to the first control input 39 of the motor supply circuit 38, which has the consequence that the motor supply circuit 38 enables the power supply to the motor M, i.e. changes the motor M to its on state. This has the consequence that, due to the high level H supplied as second control signal CS2 to the second control input 40 of the motor supply circuit 38 by actuation of the first operating mode switch 13, the motor M is driven by means of the motor supply circuit 38 at a given speed of rotation and in a given direction of rotation, which speed of rotation and which direction of rotation correspond to the operating mode which was selected by means of the first operating mode switch 13.

If, in the case of the operating mode switched on in the above-described manner, the first operating mode switch 13 is opened, the consequence is that low level L arises again at the second input of the first AND gate 52, because the first input is connected to ground via the resistor R2. This has the consequence that a low level L also arises at the output of the first AND gate 52, which low level L is fed to the first control input 39 of the motor supply circuit 38 via the second OR gate 55, which in turn causes blocking of the power supply to the motor M, which thus results in termination of the previously switched-on operating mode. If, when an operating mode is switched on, the first operating mode switch 13 remains closed while the safety switch 12 is opened, which arises when the auxiliary appliance part is adjusted from its operational position into its non-operational position, the consequence is that the reset input R of the D-flipflop 51 receives a low level L via the resistor Rl, which results in the D-flipflop 51 being reset, whereby the output Q is brought to a low level L, which has the consequence that a low level L is likewise present at the first input of the AND gate 52, which low level L results, irrespective of the high level H present at the second input of the first AND gate 52 (due to the closed first operating mode switch 13), in a low level L at the output of the first AND gate 52, which is supplied via the second OR gate 55 to the first control input 39 of the motor supply circuit 38 and has the consequence in the motor supply circuit 38 that the power supply to the motor M is terminated, i.e. the previously switched-on operating mode is terminated.

If the starting point is the starting state in which neither the safety switch 12 nor one of the operating mode switches 13 and 14 is closed and it is assumed that the first operating mode switch 13 is closed, the consequence is that the high level H arising at the resistor R2 is supplied both to the second control input 40 of the motor supply circuit 38 and also, via the first OR gate 54, to the clock input C of the D-flipflop 51. Supplying the high level H to the clock input C does not have any effect at the output Q of the D-flipflop 51, however, because the reset input R of the D-flipflop 51 is located at a low level L due to the still open safety switch 12, the consequence of which is that the output Q is fixed at a low level L, irrespective of which levels are applied to the data input D and the clock input C of the D-flipflop 51. Thus, actuation of the first operating mode switch 13 has no effect while the safety switch 12 is still open and the motor M remains in its off state.

If, in the event of an already closed first operating mode switch 13, the safety switch 12 is then closed, the consequence is that, although a high level H arises at the reset input R of the D-flipflop 51, whereby the D-flipflop 51 is changed into its operating state, in which the high level H applied to the data input D may be conveyed on to the output Q, this does not happen because there is no level change at the clock input C, i.e. no edge arises. If such an edge subsequently arises, this may only be an edge from the high level H, already previously applied to the clock input C, to a low level L, which then has the consequence that a high level H arises at the output Q, which is supplied to the first input of the first AND gate 52. Thus, although a high level H is then present at the first input of the first AND gate 52, a low level L is then present at the second input of the first AND gate 52 due to opening of the first operating mode switch 13, which in turn results in a low level L arising at the output of the AND gate 52, which low level L results in the prevention of the power supply to the motor M. Thus, it is also ensured in this case that, in the event of closure of the safety switch 12 after previously performed closure of the first operating mode switch 13, undesired starting-up of the motor M and thus undesired switching-on of the operating mode, which may per se be switched on by means of the first operating mode switch 13, is prevented. The invention is not restricted to the two above-described examples of embodiment. The safety means for preventing undesired switching of the appliance to an operating mode may also be provided by means of mechanical components.

It should further be mentioned that the appliances according to the invention do not absolutely have to be only kitchen appliances. They may also be other appliances, which consist of a main appliance part and an auxiliary appliance part adjustable relative to the main appliance part between a non-operational position and an operational position, for example DIY appliances which consist of a basic appliance and a plurality of tools which may be connected with the basic appliance, wherein the basic appliance may be constructed in similar manner to a drill, for example, which may be connected with various auxiliary appliances.

An appliance according to the invention may also consist of a kitchen appliance in which a container for accommodating material to be processed is connected fixedly with the kitchen appliance and in which a lid for the container constitutes an auxiliary appliance part, which may be adjusted between non-operational position, in which it is open relative to the container, and an operational position, in which it closes the container.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An appliance (1) capable of being switched into an operating mode and comprising a main appliance part (2) and comprising an auxiliary appliance part (20) moveable relative to the main appliance part (2) between a non-operational position and an operational position and comprising a safety switch (12) being connected with the main appliance part (2), and being activatable by moving the auxiliary appliance part (2) from its non-operational position into its operational position, and which safety switch (12), when being not activated, prevents switching on the operating mode, and comprising an activatable operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), which is provided for switching on the operating mode, wherein safety means (44; 56) are provided, which cooperate both with the safety switch (12) and with the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and which are designed in that way undesired switching on of the operating mode is prevented when the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) was activated prior to movement of the auxiliary appliance part (20) from its non-operational position into its operational position.

2. An appliance (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety means (44) are provided by means of at least one electronic component (43) and wherein the safety means (44) are designed to detect the respective activation instants of the safety switch (12) and the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), and wherein the safety means (44) are further designed in that way that they only release switching on of the operating mode by means of the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) when the activation instant of the safety switch (12) is prior to the activation instant of the operating mode switch (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18).

3. An appliance (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the safety means (44) are realized by means of a microcomputer (43).

4. An appliance (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the appliance (1) being realized by a kitchen appliance.