Patent Description:
Food processors, also known as kitchen appliances for processing food, known in the prior art commonly perform, or assist a user to perform, one or more different operations, such as mixing, slicing, chopping, etc. Such operations are typically performed, at least in part, by a working tool arranged in a container. Said working tool is usually sharp, thus representing a safety risk for the user, as it could be cut or wounded by such working tool.

Some food processors known in the prior art further comprise heating means of at least part of a container wherein the food is being processed, so that further recipes or food preparations can be done and prepared. The aforementioned safety issues are increased in food processors that can heat the food being prepared, as said heating means represent a burn hazard.

In order to avoid, or at least greatly reduce, the risk for the users of the food processor, food processors typically have safety measures. In order to reduce or avoid safety risks to the users, known food processors typically only operate if the container wherein the food is prepared is closed by a lid or equivalent and if such container is properly attached or fixed to the food processor, provided that such container is removable.

<CIT> discloses a food preparation household electrical appliance comprising a housing containing a motor and a removable container that can be arranged on the housing by a simple vertical translation movement, the container comprising a working tool intended to be rotated by said motor and having a base comprising a peripheral skirt engaging on one or more centring projections provided on the housing, wherein said housing comprises at least one support boss formed on an outer wall of one of the centring projections, the boss engaging in an opening formed on the peripheral skirt of the base to fix the container in position on the housing along the vertical direction of engagement.

<CIT> discloses a food cooking mixer for the processing and preparation of food, of the type comprising a base structure on which is mounted a support adapted to sustain a container containing food to be processed; motorised driving means adapted to rotate removable stirring or cutting means inside said container; heat energy transferring means adapted to heat said food to be processed inside the container; and weighing means for weighing the container and its contents sustained on said support. The food cooking mixer disclosed in <CIT> comprises safety means that prevent operation of the driving means and/or heat energy transferring means if the cover does not close the container in a predetermined manner. However, said safety means do not prevent the container from being opened or removed from its support while the food cooking mixer is in operation. The safety means disclosed in <CIT> simply disable or stop the motorised driving means if the lid is opened while the food cooking mixer is in operation, but does not impede someone from removing the container from its support and/or open the cover of the container. Consequently, the safety means of <CIT> may not be able to prevent certain hazardous situations for the user or people having access to the food cooking mixer, for example, kids.

<CIT> discloses a household cooking appliance comprising a base and a work receptacle removably arranged on said base, the work receptacle being provided with a gripping handle and comprising an electric heating resistor, said electric heating resistor being supplied by a supply circuit comprising an electric connector establishing a disconnectable link between a portion of the supply circuit supported by the base and a portion of the supply circuit supported by the work receptacle, wherein said supply circuit comprises a switch for interrupting the electric supply to the heating resistor and wherein a safety device actuates said switch such as to interrupt the supply to the heating resistor prior to disconnecting the connector when the work receptacle is removed from the base thereof.

<CIT> discloses a kitchen device including: a base having a mechanism that is operated using electrical power to cause processing of food; a vessel removably mounted on the base and including a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a rim so as to provide a space to receive the food to be processed, with the rim surrounding an opening to the space; a lid removably coupled to the rim so as to at least partially close the opening; and an interlock system operatively associated with the mechanism to permit the delivery of the electric power to the mechanism, the system including a first interlock circuit and a second interlock circuit, wherein delivery of the electric power to the mechanism is permitted by the completion of the first interlock circuit and activation of the second interlock circuit, wherein the first interlock circuit includes a first coupling to complete the first circuit, the first coupling including a first portion mounted to the lid and a second portion mounted to the vessel adjacent the rim so that the first portion is located adjacent the second portion when the lid is coupled to the rim thereby completing the first circuit, and wherein the second interlock circuit includes a second coupling to activate the second interlock circuit, the second coupling including a first portion that is part of the second interlock circuit and mounted to the base, the first portion being operatively associated with a second portion that is mounted to the vessel and part of the first interlock circuit, wherein completion of the first interlock circuit causes operation of the second portion of the second coupling, thereby causing operation of the first portion of the second coupling to thus activate the second interlock circuit and permit delivery of the electric power to the mechanism.

The present invention is directed towards a kitchen appliance with enhanced safety or protective measures that prevents the operation of the kitchen appliance if a container and its lid are not correctly placed, and prevents said container from being removed from the kitchen appliance and the container from being opened while the kitchen appliance is in operation. In order to do so, according to a first aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed a kitchen appliance for processing food comprising: a housing having a support adapted to sustain a container for containing food to be processed; motorised driving unit adapted to rotate removable stirring or cutting tools inside said container; a heating unit adapted to heat food to be processed inside the container; a lid for closing the container; and one or more displaceable elements that cooperate with a portion or an appendage of said lid to prevent operation of the driving unit and/or heating unit by releasing an element triggering them, if the lid is not fitted to close the container in a predetermined manner; at least one sensor to detect the placement of the container on the support of the housing in a predetermined manner, said sensor being operatively connected to a control unit that prevents operation of the driving unit and/or heating unit if the container is not placed on the support of the housing in a predetermined manner; wherein the kitchen appliance further comprises a container locking unit including at least one motorised movable tab having a retaining position, in which it mechanically interferes with an opening of a skirt of the container, and a release position, in which it does not interfere with said skirt of the container, wherein the at least one motorised movable tab moves to its retaining position upon activation by said control unit when the container is placed on the support in a predetermined manner and the lid closes the container in a predetermined manner; and wherein said at least one movable tab in its retaining position mechanically prevents the opening of the lid of the container by interfering with at least one of said displaceable elements.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral skirt of the removable container may have a circular shape and may engage a centring projection of the support; and the container locking unit may comprise two motorised movable tabs arranged diametrically opposed with respect to the circular skirt that comprises two corresponding diametrically opposed openings, each movable tab mechanically interfering with the corresponding opening in their retaining position.

According to an example of the present invention, the peripheral skirt of the removable container may have a polygonal shape matching the shape of a centring projection of the support; and the container locking mechanism may comprise two motorised movable tabs, each movable tab mechanically interfering with a corresponding opening on different faces of the polygonal skirt in their retaining position.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container may house said one or more displaceable elements; at least one of said one or more displaceable elements may have at least one magnetic portion; and the housing may further comprise at least one Hall effect sensor arranged to detect said at least one magnetic portion when the lid closes the container in a predetermined manner.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container may comprise a handle attached to an outer wall thereof, said handle housing at least part of said one or more displaceable elements; said one or more displaceable elements may comprise at least one rod in a guiding configuration and having at least one magnetic portion, said rod being installed so that it is moved downwards against the force of a spring by said portion or appendage of the lid to a position in which the at least one magnetic portion of the rod is sufficiently close to said Hall effect sensor to be detected, said appendage being in the form of a pusher tab.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, said one or more displaceable elements may further comprise: a trigger that may project through an aperture formed in the handle of the container, said trigger may have a latch adapted to interfere with an aperture of the pusher tab of the lid, said trigger being movable between a retention position, in which said latch may interfere with the aperture of the pusher tab to retain the lid in a closed position, and a released position, in which the latch may be separated from the pusher tab; said trigger may be adapted to be pushed to move the movable element from the retention position to the released position; and at least one spring for pushing said trigger towards its retention position.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, said one or more displaceable elements may further comprise a locking element arranged slidably along the at least one rod, said locking element being movable between a locked position wherein it may interfere with the trigger preventing said trigger to move to its released position, and an unlocked position wherein it may allow the trigger to move to its released position; and wherein the at least one motorised movable tab in its retaining position may act as a stop preventing the locking element from moving to its unlocked position.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the at least one motorised movable tab may be driven by a corresponding motor and may pivotally move from the release position to the retaining position, and vice versa.

According to an example of the present invention, the at least one motorised movable tab may be driven by a corresponding motor and may slidably move from the release position to the retaining position, and vice versa.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container may comprise at least one ferromagnetic portion; and said heating unit may comprise an induction heating device mounted on said housing, said induction heating device may be separated from the support and arranged at a predetermined distance from said ferromagnetic portion of the container.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the kitchen appliance may further comprise a weighing unit for weighing the container and its content.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may comprise at least one microprocessor adapted to execute different cooking programs and/or digital recipe programs stored in an internal or removable memory.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may be operatively connected to a touch sensitive display. Said touch sensitive display may function as an input unit for selecting the operation, recipe, etc. that the kitchen appliance has to perform. Said touch sensitive display may provide information to the user regarding the status of the kitchen appliance. Said status may comprise the operation being performed, the next operation to be performed, selected recipe, next step of the recipe, etc..

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed a method for operating a kitchen appliance according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising the steps of: placing in a predetermined manner a container in a support adapted to sustain said container, said support being located in a housing of the kitchen appliance; closing a lid of the container in a predetermined manner; sensing the placement of the container in a predetermined manner on the support of the housing with a sensor operatively connected to a control unit; driving at least one motorised movable tab from a release position to a retaining position, wherein it mechanically interferes with an opening of a skirt of the container immobilising it and wherein it further interferes with at least one displaceable element that cooperates with a portion of an appendage of the lid to prevent operation of a driving unit and/or heating unit it the lid is not fitted to close the container in a predetermined manner; operating the driving and/or heating unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the method may further comprise the steps of: stopping the driving and/or heating unit; driving the at least one motorised movable tab from the retaining position to the release position; opening the lid of the container allowing access to the inside; and optionally removing the container from the support.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the step of opening the lid of the container may comprise pushing a trigger that projects through an aperture formed in the handle of the container.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the step of driving the at least one motorised movable tab from the retaining position to the release position may be carried out after a certain amount of time has elapsed after stopping the driving and/or heating unit. This provides an enhanced safety feature as it prevents the user to have access to the inside of the container when doing so may be dangerous, for example, because the content is still too hot.

It will be understood that references to geometric position, such as parallel, perpendicular, tangent, etc. allow deviations up to ± <NUM>° from the theoretical position defined by this nomenclature.

It will also be understood that any range of values given may not be optimal in extreme values and may require adaptations of the invention to these extreme values are applicable, such adaptations being within reach of a skilled person.

Other features of the invention appear from the following detailed description of an embodiment.

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:.

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative way.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a kitchen appliance <NUM> for processing food according to the present invention. Said kitchen appliance <NUM> for processing food comprises a housing <NUM>, which comprises a motorised driving unit adapted to rotate removable stirring or cutting tools inside a container <NUM> for being arranged on the housing <NUM>, and in particular, for being arranged on a support <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in a removable condition.

In this exemplary embodiment, the container <NUM> is placed on the housing <NUM>, and can be removed from it, following a linear path, that in this case, is perpendicular to a base of the kitchen appliance <NUM>. It is understood that the bottom surface or base of the housing <NUM> is intended to be parallel to the surface on which it is placed, said linear path of the container <NUM> is also perpendicular to said surface on which the appliance <NUM> is placed. This differs from other kitchen appliances for processing food known in the art wherein the container is placed on the housing following a rotary path, due to the use of a bayonet connection, or similar, between the container and the housing. The placement, and removal, of the container <NUM> on the housing <NUM> following a linear path eases said connection between the container <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, as a linear path is simple and effective. Moreover, placing a container <NUM> on the housing <NUM> following a linear path can usually be done using a single hand, whereas placing a container following a rotary path usually requires the use of both hands.

The container <NUM> comprises a skirt <NUM>, which can be seen in greater in <FIG>, that increases the stability of the container <NUM> when placed on the housing as it increases the contact surface and the interference between the housing <NUM> and the container <NUM>, and in particular, increases the contact surface between a centring projection <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the support <NUM> and said skirt <NUM>. Moreover, as will be explained hereinafter, in the exemplary embodiment shown the container <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM> by interference of at least one motorised movable tab <NUM> with an opening <NUM> of the skirt <NUM>.

Holding or fixing the container <NUM> by the skirt <NUM> on its base provides a more compact arrangement of the kitchen appliance <NUM> compared to other known food processing devices wherein the container is hold by its lid, that is to say, the container is hold by its uppermost part. In these known devices, the kitchen appliance is bulkier than in the present invention wherein the locking unit is placed on the lowermost part of the housing <NUM>.

The container <NUM> is closed by a removable lid <NUM>, which besides preventing the food from being spilled, etc. outside the container <NUM> while the food is being processed, also provides an important safety feature as it avoids that someone places a limb, e.g., a hand, inside the container <NUM> while the appliance <NUM> is in operation. Placing a limb inside the container <NUM> while the kitchen appliance <NUM> is in operation would represent a serious risk of cut, amputation, burn, etc. Therefore, it is an aim of the present invention to ensure that the kitchen appliance <NUM> for processing food keeps the lid closed while it is in operation.

The lid <NUM> of the exemplary embodiment shown comprises a small opening (for example, an opening with a diameter equal or smaller than <NUM>, preferably with a diameter equal or smaller than <NUM>, even more preferably equal or smaller than <NUM>), closed by a removable cap <NUM>. Said small opening allows for the introduction of ingredients, for example, salt, oil, milk, etc. while food is being processed without requiring the opening of the lid <NUM>, which would also require the kitchen appliance <NUM> to stop the heating unit and/or the motorised driving unit. However, said small opening is small enough to prevent the introduction of a limb inside the container <NUM>. The removable cap <NUM> can be transparent or translucent to allow inspection of the interior of the container <NUM> while the food is being processed. However, it could also be made of an opaque material. Said small opening is optional and may not be present in other embodiments. It is also possible that the kitchen appliance forms part of a kit comprising two lids <NUM>, a first one having said small opening closes by said removable cap and a second one without any opening.

The container of the exemplary embodiment shown further comprises a handle <NUM> for handling the container <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is specially envisaged for placing the container <NUM> on the housing <NUM> of the appliance <NUM> and for remove it from there, increasing the ergonomics of said procedures. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the container <NUM> comprises a single handle <NUM> arranged following a longitudinal direction of the container <NUM>. However, other embodiments of the present invention can comprise more than one handle <NUM>, which may also be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container <NUM>. In other embodiments, the handle <NUM> can also be in the form of a flange around the periphery of the opening or mouth of the container <NUM>. In the latter case, the handle <NUM> could be in the form of a single flange around the entire periphery of the mouth of the container, or comprise one or more handles <NUM>, preferably two, arranged radially around the mouth of the container.

As will be explained hereinafter in more detail, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the handle <NUM> houses displaceable elements that cooperate with an appendage <NUM>, or a portion thereof, of the lid <NUM> to prevent operation of the driving unit and/or of a heating unit if the container <NUM> is not placed on the support <NUM> in a predetermined manner and if the lid <NUM> is not properly closing said container <NUM>.

The food preparation household electrical appliance <NUM> of the exemplary embodiment shown further comprises a touch sensitive display or screen <NUM> acting as an input unit of the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM> so that the user can, for example, enter, or choose from a predetermined list, the commands, operations, temperatures, recipes, etc. that the kitchen appliance <NUM> has to perform. Besides being configured for providing inputs to the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, the touch screen <NUM> can also be configured to provide feedback to the user. Said feedback may be, for example, which is the next step of a recipe, elapsed time of a recipe, status of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, errors detected, ingredients needed, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention can substitute the touch screen <NUM> by a button and dial input unit, in which case the kitchen appliance <NUM> can still comprise a screen for presenting information to the user. It is also possible that a household electrical appliance <NUM> according to the present invention lacks any touch screen <NUM>, display, button like input unit, etc., in which case the appliance <NUM> can be controlled by a separate device associated with the appliance <NUM>, as for example, an app or computer program installed on a smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. which is operatively connected to the appliance <NUM>, wirelessly or by wire.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the kitchen appliance <NUM> further comprises a weighing unit for weighing the container <NUM> and its container. This is particularly useful in recipes or operations wherein the amount and proportion of the ingredients is crucial. An integrated weighing unit makes unnecessary to have a separate weighing scale.

The kitchen appliance <NUM> of the exemplary embodiment shown further comprises a weighing unit for weighing the container <NUM> and its content. Said weighing unit can comprise at least one weight transducer mounted on the housing <NUM>. Certain embodiments of the present invention can comprise only one weight transducer, whereas other embodiments can comprise two or three of them, and even more. In the case of multiple weight transducers, the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM> can perform a calculation based on the combined readings of the weight transducer with subtraction of the tare, including the weight of the container <NUM>. The exemplary embodiment shown in <FIG> comprises four weight transducers. The net weight value of the content, e.g., food, of the container <NUM> may be shown on the display <NUM>.

The weighing unit allows various weighing operations during food processing, once it is completed or before starting, but the reading of the weight transducer <NUM> is always taken with the motorised driving unit stopped, i.e., when there are neither masses in movement nor vibration that could cause errors in said weighing operations.

The presence of a weighing unit can be very advantageous, especially when preparing recipes in which the amounts and/or proportions of ingredients are particularly important.

The exemplary embodiment shown of a kitchen appliance <NUM> according to the present invention further comprises a heating unit for heating the food to be processed inside the container <NUM>. In particular, the container <NUM> comprises at least one ferromagnetic portion and said heating unit comprise at least one induction heater device installed on the housing <NUM> of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, said induction heater device being arranged at a predetermined distance from said ferromagnetic portion of the container and separated from its support <NUM>.

Unlike with electric resistance heater elements employed in food cooking mixers known in the art, the electromagnetic induction heater devices do not have to be in contact with the body to be heated in order to produce efficient heating of the same, but instead they can be located at a predetermined distance from the body to be heated and even a body "transparent" to the electromagnetic waves may be interposed between the induction coil and the body to be heated, which has to be at least partly ferromagnetic, without the heating efficiency being affected. Moreover, an induction heater device provides a faster and more efficient heating than electric resistance heating elements, and greater energy performance leading to a better energy efficiency.

The mentioned predetermined distance at which the induction heater device is able to operate can be, for example, between <NUM> and <NUM> with respect to the outer surface of the container <NUM>, which allows, for example, to have the induction heater device in the form of a coil wrapped around a lower portion of the container <NUM>, with a wall of the support <NUM> being interposed between the coil and the container <NUM> without any contact between the support <NUM> and the heater device. The mentioned wrapping induction coil arrangement has several advantages. Firstly, for a jug-shaped container <NUM>, like the one of the exemplary embodiment shown, the surface of the container <NUM> that can be heated with said wrapping coil arrangement is greater compared to a flat coil arrangement underneath the base <NUM> of the container (see <FIG>). In addition, the wrapping coil arrangement can be installed further away from the movable members of the motorised driving unit associated with the removable stirring or cutting means inside said container <NUM> compared to a flat coil arrangement underneath the container base <NUM>. Thanks to this, some of said members, such as shafts and bearings, can be advantageously made of a ferromagnetic material without any risk of them being heated by the induction heater device.

Another advantage of induction heating is that the heater device itself is not heated, only the ferromagnetic material of the container is heated. This produces less accumulation of heat inside the housing <NUM> of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, which reduces the need for a forced ventilation to remove the heat from inside the housing and reduces the risk of burns to the user, and moreover it also reduces the risk of weighing errors due to thermal expansion of the weight transducers, as well as increases the life expectancy of the internal components as it is known that extreme temperatures can damage or reduce the life expectancy of some of them, especially the electronic ones.

A jug-shaped container <NUM>, like the one of this exemplary embodiment, is more suitable for housing stirring or cutting tools inside than, for example, a lower, wider container, such as a pan or similar.

In the heating unit of the exemplary embodiment shown the heater device is separate, not only from the container <NUM>, but also from the container support <NUM>. Among other benefits, this enables the container <NUM> to be supported on a weight transducer attached to the base structure in order to weigh the support with the container and its contents without including the weight of the heater device in the weighing. This layout provides better precision in the weight value of the food inside the container because the tare included in the weighing is less.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the support <NUM> adapted to sustain the container <NUM> of the exemplary embodiment of a kitchen appliance <NUM> for processing food shown in <FIG>. The support <NUM> of this exemplary embodiment is of a substantially cylindrical shape, although in other embodiments said support may be polygonal. If the support <NUM>, or at least its centring projection <NUM>, is polygonal, the skirt <NUM> of the container <NUM> is also polygonal, typically matching the shape of the projection <NUM>.

The centring projection <NUM> comprises a coupling element <NUM> for the reception of a projection of matching shape of the removable stirring or cutting tools (not shown) placed inside the container <NUM>. Said coupling element <NUM> is operatively connected to a motorised driving unit that drives said removable stirring or cutting tools. The connection between the coupling element <NUM> and a motor of the motorised driving unit may be direct or via a transmission. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support <NUM> comprises a ridge <NUM> that prevents any liquid from leaking to the coupling element <NUM> or any element underneath it. Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, in order to drain any liquid that might accidentally be spilled on the support <NUM>, the upper surface of the centring projection may be sloped and the base of the support <NUM> may comprise a drain <NUM> to drain any liquid that might be present on the support, due to, for example, spillage or condensation. Drained liquid may be directed to a reservoir or to the surface on which the kitchen appliance <NUM> rests.

The exemplary embodiment shown further comprises a temperature sensor <NUM>, which in the present case is a thermocouple, to measure the temperature of the container <NUM>. Said temperature sensor <NUM> is operatively connected to the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM>. In this exemplary embodiment, the temperature sensor <NUM> is arranged and shaped so that it also orientates the container <NUM> as it can only be placed on the centring projection <NUM> in an angular position wherein the temperature sensor <NUM> matches an opening <NUM> of the skirt <NUM> of the container <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The exemplary embodiment shown comprises two independent motorised movable tabs <NUM> arranged diametrically opposed with respect to the support <NUM> and the skirt <NUM> of the container <NUM>. Each motorised movable tab <NUM> has a retaining position, wherein it mechanically interferes with a corresponding opening <NUM> of the skirt <NUM> of the container <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>), and a release position, wherein it does not interfere with said skirt <NUM> of the container <NUM> so that the container can be removed from the support <NUM> of the housing <NUM> of the kitchen appliance <NUM>. In order to move from the release position to the retaining position, and vice versa, each independent movable tab <NUM> pivotally moves through an aperture <NUM> in the support <NUM> of the housing. In other embodiments, the movable tabs <NUM>, for example, can move from the release position to retaining position, and vice versa, for example, following a linear path.

Each movable tab <NUM> is driven by a corresponding motor <NUM> operatively connected to the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM>. The motors <NUM> may be actuated individually or simultaneously.

Although two motorised movable tabs <NUM> are preferred as they provide a good balance between complexity and attachment of the container <NUM> to the support <NUM>, in other embodiments only one motorised movable <NUM> can suffice. It is also possible to have more than two independent motorised movable tabs <NUM>, for example, one for each face in case of a polygonal skirt.

<FIG> shows a top perspective view of the container <NUM>, with its handle <NUM> partly sectioned, of the exemplary embodiment of a kitchen appliance <NUM> for processing food shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> shows a detail view of the container <NUM> and its partly sectioned handle <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In these figures the container <NUM> is depicted with its lid <NUM> closing its mouth so that its appendage <NUM> cooperates with the displaceable elements housed inside the handle <NUM>.

In this exemplary embodiment, said displaceable elements comprise two rods <NUM> (only one can be seen as the other rod <NUM> is hidden in the non-sectioned part of the handle <NUM>) arranged in a guiding configuration, so that each rod <NUM> can move linearly.

When the lid <NUM> is closed in a predetermined manner, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each rod <NUM> is moved downwardly by an appendage <NUM> of the lid <NUM>, and in particular, by a pusher tab <NUM> formed in said appendage <NUM>. Each rod has a magnetic portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) in its lowermost part and the housing <NUM> comprises at least one Hall effect sensor, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is arranged on the base of the support <NUM>, so that when the lid <NUM> is closing the container <NUM> in a predetermined manner and the container is placed on the support <NUM> in a predetermined manner, said magnetic portion <NUM> is detected by said Hall effect sensor operatively connected to the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, so that the control unit is aware that the container is in place and properly closed and, thus, the driving and/or heating units of the kitchen appliance <NUM> are ready to be activated after the movable tabs <NUM> are placed in their retaining position.

When the lid <NUM> is opened, a spring <NUM> pushes the rod <NUM> upwardly, so that the Hall effect sensor can no longer detect the magnetic portion <NUM> of the rod, thus preventing the activation of the driving and/or the heating unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM>. It the lid <NUM> is not opened, but the container <NUM> is removed from its support <NUM>, the situation is similar, as the Hall effect sensor cannot detect the magnetic portion <NUM> of the rod and, thus, activation of the driving and/or heating unit is prevented.

In other embodiments the Hall effect sensor and the magnetic portion <NUM> of the rods <NUM> can be replaced, for example, by an optical sensor or by a limit sensor.

In order to open and close the lid <NUM> of the container <NUM>, the movable elements of the exemplary embodiment shown further comprises a trigger <NUM> that projects through an aperture formed in the handle <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The end projecting through said aperture in the handle <NUM> acts as a pushbutton. Said trigger <NUM> comprises, at the end opposite the one acting as a pushbutton, a latch <NUM> adapted to interfere with an aperture <NUM> of the pusher tab <NUM> formed in the appendage <NUM> of the lid <NUM>.

Said trigger <NUM> is movable between a retention position, in which its latch <NUM> interferes with the aperture <NUM> of the pusher tab <NUM> to retain the lid <NUM> in a closed position, and a released position, in which the latch is separated from the pusher tab <NUM> so that the lid <NUM> can be opened. The movable elements further comprise two springs <NUM> (one is hidden in <FIG> and <FIG>) for returning the trigger <NUM> to the retention position once the user stops pressing the end acting as a pushbutton.

The movable elements of the exemplary embodiment shown further comprise a locking element <NUM> arranged slidably along the rods <NUM>, said locking element <NUM> being movable between a locked position, in which it interferes with the trigger <NUM> preventing said trigger <NUM> to move to its released position, and an unlocked position, in which it allows the trigger <NUM> to move to its released position. In the present case, the locked position corresponds to its uppermost position and the unlocked position corresponds to its lowermost position.

When the at least one motorised movable tab <NUM> is in its retaining position (see <FIG>), besides interfering with the opening <NUM> of the skirt <NUM> so that the container <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> of the kitchen appliance <NUM>, said movable tab <NUM> also interferes with the movement of the locking element <NUM>, preventing said locking element <NUM> from moving to its unlocked position and keeping it in the locked position, so that the trigger <NUM> cannot be moved to its released position, and, thus, preventing the opening of the lid <NUM>.

Once the motorised movable tab <NUM> moves to its release position, the locking element <NUM> is able to be pushed downwards by the trigger <NUM> to its unlocked position, allowing said trigger to move to its released position, thus allowing the opening of the lid <NUM>.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control unit of the kitchen appliance <NUM> may be configured to move the motorised movable tab <NUM> to its unlocked position only after a certain amount of time has elapsed after the end of the food preparation or recipe. This may depend on the kind of preparation or recipe performed and can be especially useful, for example, when a preparation involving high temperatures has been performed, in which case the control unit may delay the opening of the container (as stated above, if the movable tab <NUM> is in its retaining position the lid <NUM> of the container <NUM> cannot be opened) until the temperature of the content of the container has reached a safe value. In order to do so, the control unit can comprise a timer as such or said timer may be implemented as a computer program or software.

Other embodiments of the present invention can lack such timer or delayed opening of the container <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a bottom perspective view of part of the container <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. This bottom perspective view shows elements that in <FIG> and <FIG> are hidden due to the perspective used.

The container base <NUM> comprises an orifice <NUM> at the centre thereof for the passage of the removable stirring or cutting tools (not shown) and, in particular, for the passage of a shaft that connects the stirring or cutting blades with the coupling element <NUM> previously described.

The skirt <NUM> of this exemplary embodiment, besides the openings <NUM> for the passage of motorised movable tabs <NUM>, also comprises an opening <NUM> for enhancing air flow in the cavity defined by the skirt <NUM> and the centring element <NUM>. In this figure, the movable tab <NUM> shown is depicted in its retaining position wherein it acts as a stop of the locking element <NUM> preventing the opening of the lid <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Kitchen appliance for processing food comprising:
a container (<NUM>) for containing food to be processed;
a housing (<NUM>) having a support (<NUM>) adapted to sustain the container (<NUM>);
a motorised driving unit adapted to rotate removable stirring or cutting means tools inside said container (<NUM>);
a heating unit adapted to heat food to be processed inside the container (<NUM>);
a lid (<NUM>) for closing the container (<NUM>);
one or more displaceable elements that cooperate with a portion or an appendage (<NUM>) of said lid (<NUM>) to prevent operation of the driving unit and/or heating unit by releasing an element triggering them, if the lid (<NUM>) is not fitted to close the container (<NUM>) in a predetermined manner;
at least one sensor to detect the placement of the container on the support (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) in a predetermined manner, said sensor being operatively connected to a control unit that prevents operation of the driving unit and/or heating unit if the container (<NUM>) is not placed on the support (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) in a predetermined manner;
characterised in that it further comprises a container locking unit including at least one motorised movable tab (<NUM>) having a retaining position, wherein it mechanically interferes with an opening (<NUM>) of a skirt (<NUM>) of the container (<NUM>), and a release position, wherein it does not interfere with said skirt (<NUM>) of the container, wherein the at least one motorised movable tab (<NUM>) moves to its retaining position upon activation by said control unit when the container (<NUM>) is placed on the support (<NUM>) in a predetermined manner and the lid (<NUM>) closes the container (<NUM>) in a predetermined manner;
and in that said at least one movable tab (<NUM>) in its retaining position mechanically prevents the opening of the lid (<NUM>) of the container (<NUM>) by interfering with at least one of said displaceable elements.