Food processing apparatus and method

Abstract

A food processing apparatus is provided including a base configured to engage with at least one container. The base includes a drive unit, at least one button and a counter display. A controller disposed within the base is programmable to monitor how many cycles of said drive unit have occurred and display said cycle information of the counter display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food processing apparatus, comprising:
 a base configured to engage with at least one container, said base including a drive unit, at least one button, and a counter display; and   a controller disposed with said base, said controller being programmable to monitor how many cycles of said drive unit have occurred, and display cycle information on said counter display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a first button and a second button, when said first button is actuated to operate said drive unit, said controller is programmable such that actuation of said second button resets said counter display. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a first button and a second button, when said first button is actuated to operate said drive unit, said controller is programmable such that said release of said first button does not reset said counter display. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said controller is programmable to continue monitoring said cycles of said drive unit and display cycle information on said counter display if said first button is re-actuated after said first button is released. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container includes a personal serving container. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a processing assembly removably coupled to said at least one container, said processing assembly being positioned at least partially within an interior of said at least one container when said container is attached to said base. 
     
     
         7 . A food processing apparatus, comprising:
 a base configured to engage with at least one container, said base including at least one button; and   a controller disposed with said base, said controller being programmable to initiate a plurality of food processing operations upon actuation of said at least one button, at least one of said food processing operations including a plurality of segments having a stored length of time;   wherein said controller is programmable to alter said stored length of time of one or more of said plurality of segments of said food processing operation.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller is programmable to extend said stored length of time of said one or more of said plurality of segments of said food processing operation. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller is programmable to alter said stored length of time of one of said plurality of segments during said food processing operation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said controller is programmable to alter said stored length of time of one of said plurality of segments during said segment of said food processing operation. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller is programmable to alter said stored length of time of one segment of said plurality of segments, wherein said one segment is not a final segment in said plurality of segments. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one container includes a personal serving container. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus further includes a processing assembly removably coupled to said at least one container, said processing assembly being positioned at least partially within an interior of said at least one container when said container is attached to said base. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fooxd processing operations includes a first food processing operation including a first plurality of segments and a second food processing operation including a second plurality of segments, wherein at least one of said first plurality of segments and said second plurality of segments is different. 
     
     
         15 . A method of altering operation of a food processing system, comprising:
 programming a food processing operation within a controller of said food processing system, said food processing operation including a plurality of segments, each of said plurality of segments having a stored length of time;   providing a user input to said controller; and   altering said stored length of time of at least one of said plurality of segments via said user input.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said altering of said stored length of time of at least one of said plurality of segments occurs during said food processing operation. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said altering of said stored length of time of at least one of said plurality of segments occurs during said at least one of said plurality of segments. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said altering of said stored length of time of at least one of said plurality of segments includes extending said stored length of time. 
     
     
         19 . A food processing apparatus, comprising:
 a base including a plurality of buttons;   a personal serving container attachable to said base;   a processing assembly removably coupled to said personal serving container, said processing assembly being positioned at least partially within an interior of said personal serving container when said personal serving container is attached to said base; and   a controller disposed with said base, said controller being programmable to initiate a one of a plurality of food processing operations upon actuation of one of said plurality of buttons, each of said plurality of food processing operations being associated with one of said plurality of buttons.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of food processing operations include at least one of pulverize ice, prepare a puree, process fresh foods, and process frozen foods. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein each of said plurality of food processing operations include one or more segments, said segments including at least one of a pulse segment, a continuous run segment, and a pause segment, and a rapid acceleration segment. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said continuous run segment includes operation of a motor of said food processing apparatus at a steady state of at least one of a low speed, medium speed, and high speed. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein when said motor operates at low speed, said motor rotates at about 7,000 revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein when said motor operates at medium speed, said motor rotates at about 9.000 revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein when said motor operates at high speed, said motor rotates at about 11,000 revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of food processing operations includes a first food processing operation including a first plurality of segments and a second food processing operation including a second plurality of segments, wherein at least one of said first plurality of segments and said second plurality of segments is different.