초록 ▼

A food processor includes a control unit that is operable in accordance with an initial control signal from a switch unit so as to activate a motor unit to operate in a sequence of an initial judgment mode and a food processing mode. The control unit switches operation of the motor unit from the ini

A food processor includes a control unit that is operable in accordance with an initial control signal from a switch unit so as to activate a motor unit to operate in a sequence of an initial judgment mode and a food processing mode. The control unit switches operation of the motor unit from the initial judgment mode to the food processing mode upon determining a first target rotary speed in accordance with a motor rotation signal generated by a sensor unit for indicating a rotary speed of the motor unit during operation of the motor unit in the initial judgment mode so as to drive rotation of a cutting blade unit provided in a container to process food items contained in the container. The control unit activates the motor unit to rotate at a second target rotary speed associated with the first target rotary speed during operation of the motor unit in the food processing mode.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A food processor comprising: a motor base including a housing and a motor unit mounted in said housing, said motor unit having a blade driving section disposed upwardly and outwardly of said housing; a container adapted for containing food items and having a container bottom mounted re

We claim: 1. A food processor comprising: a motor base including a housing and a motor unit mounted in said housing, said motor unit having a blade driving section disposed upwardly and outwardly of said housing; a container adapted for containing food items and having a container bottom mounted removably on said housing, said container bottom being provided with a cutting blade unit that is coupled to said blade driving section when said container bottom is mounted on said housing and that is to be driven rotatably by said motor unit; a switch unit mounted on said housing and operable so as to generate an initial control signal; a sensor unit mounted in said housing and associated operably with said motor unit, said sensor unit generating a motor rotation signal for indicating a rotary speed of said motor unit; and a control unit mounted in said housing and connected to said motor unit, said switch unit and said sensor unit, said control unit being operable in accordance with the initial control signal from said switch unit so as to activate said motor unit to operate in a sequence of an initial judgment mode and a food processing mode; said control unit determining a first target rotary speed (S1) in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit when said motor unit is operated in the initial judgment mode; said control unit switching operation of said motor unit from the initial judgment mode to the food processing mode upon determining the first target rotary speed (S1) so as to drive rotation of said cutting blade unit to process the food items contained in said container; said control unit determining a second target rotary speed (S2) in accordance with the first target rotary speed (S1); said control unit activating said motor unit to rotate at the second target rotary speed (S2) upon determining the second target rotary speed (S2) when said motor unit is operated in the food processing mode. 2. The food processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit applies a variable voltage to said motor unit to maintain the rotary speed thereof at the second target rotary speed (S2) when said motor unit is operated in the food processing mode. 3. The food processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate for a predetermined period when said motor unit is operated in the initial judgment mode, and determines a largest rotary speed (SH) of said motor unit in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit within the predetermined period; and said control unit calculates the first target rotary speed (S1) to be equal to a difference between a predetermined standard rotary speed and the largest rotary speed (SH). 4. The food processor as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said control unit further determines a second time period (T1) from a time at which said control unit deactivates said motor unit after the predetermined period of activation to a time at which said motor unit does not rotate in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit after the predetermined period when said motor unit is operated in the initial adjustment mode; and said control unit further determines a total processing period (T3) for the food processing mode in accordance with a predetermined standard average rotary speed, the largest rotary speed (SH) and the second time period (T1). 5. The food processor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control unit calculates the total processing period (T3) as follows: the total processing period (T3)=the second time period (T1)/a preset first parameter (x)+(7−a preset second parameter (z))×4+(the predetermined standard average rotary speed−the largest rotary speed (SH))/a preset third parameter (y). 6. The food processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the second target speed (S2) in further accordance with a first time period (T2) from a time at which said control unit initially activates said motor unit in the food processing mode to a time at which the rotary speed of said motor unit reaches the first target rotary speed (S1) in the food processing mode. 7. The food processor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control unit calculates the second target rotary speed (S2) as follows: the second target rotary speed (S2)=the first target rotary speed (S1)+(the first time period (T2)/20)×a predetermined constant. 8. The food processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the second target speed (S2) in further accordance with a current (I1) flowing through said motor unit in the food processing mode when the rotary speed of said motor unit reaches the first target speed (S1) in the food processing mode. 9. The food processor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said control unit calculates the second target rotary speed (S2) as follows: the second target rotary speed (S2)=the first target rotary speed (S1)+(the current (I1)/20)×a predetermined constant. 10. The food processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch unit includes a power key for selectively enabling and disabling supply of electric power to said control unit, a pulse key operable so as to forcibly enable said control unit to activate said motor unit, and a first processing key, the initial control signal being associated with pressing of said first processing key and corresponding to a predetermined food processing state. 11. The food processor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said switch unit further includes second to fifth processing keys, the initial control signal being associated with a pressed one of said first to fifth processing keys. 12. A food processor comprising: a motor base including a housing and a motor unit mounted in said housing, said motor unit having a blade driving section disposed upwardly and outwardly of said housing; a container adapted for containing food items and having a container bottom mounted removably on said housing, said container bottom being provided with a cutting blade unit that is coupled to said blade driving section when said container bottom is mounted on said housing and that is to be driven rotatably by said motor unit; a switch unit mounted on said housing and operable so as to generate an initial control signal; a sensor unit mounted in said housing and associated operably with said motor unit, said sensor unit generating a motor rotation signal for indicating a rotary speed of said motor unit; and a control unit mounted in said housing and connected to said motor unit, said switch unit and said sensor unit, said control unit being operable in accordance with the initial control signal from said switch unit so as to activate said motor unit to operate in a sequence of an initial judgment mode and a food processing mode; said control unit determining a first target rotary speed (S1) in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit when said motor unit is operated in the initial judgment mode; said control unit switching operation of said motor unit from the initial judgment mode to the food processing mode upon determining the first target rotary speed (S1) so as to drive rotation of said cutting blade unit in accordance with the first target rotary speed (S1) to process the food items contained in said container; when said control unit detects an abnormal condition while said motor unit is activated by said control unit, said control unit switching operation of said motor unit to an abnormal processing mode. 13. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate for a predetermined period when said motor unit is operated in the initial judgment mode, and determines a largest rotary speed (SH) of said motor unit in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit within the predetermined period; and said control unit calculates the first target rotary speed (S1) to be equal to a difference between a predetermined standard rotary speed and the largest rotary speed (SH). 14. The food processor as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said control unit further determines a second time period (T1) from a time at which said control unit deactivates said motor unit after the predetermined period of activation to a time at which said motor unit does not rotate in accordance with the motor rotation signal generated by said sensor unit after the predetermined period when said motor unit is operated in the initial adjustment mode; and said control unit further determines a total processing period (T3) for the food processing mode in accordance with a predetermined standard average rotary speed, the largest rotary speed (SH) and the second time period (T1). 15. The food processor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control unit calculates the total processing period (T3) as follows: the total processing period (T3)=the second time period (T1)/a preset first parameter (x)+(7−a preset second parameter (z)×4)+(the predetermined standard average rotary speed−the largest rotary speed (SH))/a preset third parameter (y). 16. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said control unit determines a second target rotary speed (S2) in accordance with the first target rotary speed (S1); and said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate at the second target rotary speed (S2) upon determining the second target rotary speed (S2) when said motor unit is operated in the food processing mode. 17. The food processor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control unit determines the second target speed (S2) in further accordance with a first time period (T2) from a time at which said control unit initially activates said motor unit in the food processing mode to a time at which the rotary speed of said motor unit reaches the first target rotary speed (S1) in the food processing mode. 18. The food processor as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control unit calculates the second target rotary speed (S2) as follows: the second target rotary speed (S2)=the first target rotary speed (S1)+(the first time period (T2)/20)×a predetermined constant. 19. The food processor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control unit determines the second target speed (S2) in further accordance with a current (I1) flowing through said motor unit in the food processing mode when the rotary speed of said motor unit reaches the first target speed (S1) in the food processing mode. 20. The food processor as claimed in claim 19, wherein said control unit calculates the second target rotary speed (S2) as follows: the second target rotary speed (S2)=the first target rotary speed (S1)+(the current (I1)/20)×a predetermined constant. 21. The food processor as claimed in claim 16, wherein said control unit applies a variable voltage to said motor unit to maintain the rotary speed thereof at the second target rotary speed (S2) when said motor unit is operated in the food processing mode. 22. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the abnormal condition is that the rotary speed of said motor unit is less than a predetermined rotary speed for a predetermined period while said motor unit is activated by said control unit during one of the initial judgment mode and the food processing mode. 23. The food processor as claimed in claim 22, wherein, when said motor unit is operated in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate alternately in a first direction for a predetermined first period and in a second direction opposite to the first direction for a predetermined second period in cycles until the rotary speed of said motor unit is no longer less than the predetermined rotary speed for the predetermined period. 24. The food processor as claimed in claim 23, wherein the number of the cycles of alternating rotation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode is not greater a predetermined number. 25. The food processor as claimed in claim 24, wherein: in a first cycle of operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit applies a predetermined standard voltage to said motor unit to activate rotation thereof in the first direction for the predetermined first period, and subsequently applies a voltage equal to the predetermined standard voltage times a predetermined multiple to said motor unit to activate rotation thereof in the second direction for the predetermined second period; and in each of the other cycles of operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit applies the predetermined standard voltage to said motor unit to activate rotation thereof in the first direction for the predetermined first period, and subsequently applies a voltage equal to the voltage applied to said motor unit in a preceding cycle times the predetermined multiple to said motor unit to activate rotation thereof in the second direction for the predetermined second period. 26. The food processor as claimed in claim 25, wherein: each of the predetermined first and second periods is a time period of 1 second; and the predetermined multiple is 1.5. 27. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the abnormal condition is that a rotary speed increasing rate of said motor unit is greater than a predetermined rotary speed increasing rate during operation of said motor unit in the food processing mode. 28. The food processor as claimed in claim 27, wherein, during operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate intermittently for a predetermined number of cycles. 29. The food processor as claimed in claim 28, wherein, in each of the predetermined number of cycles of operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate for a predetermined first period and then stop for a predetermined second period. 30. The food processor as claimed in claim 29, wherein: the predetermined number of cycles is 5 cycles; and each of the predetermined first and second periods is a time period of 1 second. 31. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the abnormal condition is that a rotary speed variation rate of said motor unit is greater a predetermined rotary speed variation rate during operation of said motor unit in the food processing mode before the rotary speed of said motor unit reaches the first target rotary speed (S1). 32. The food processor as claimed in claim 31, wherein, during operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate intermittently for a predetermined number of cycles. 33. The food processor as claimed in claim 32, wherein, in each of the predetermined number of cycles of operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate for a predetermined first period and then stop for a predetermined second period. 34. The food processor as claimed in claim 33, wherein: the predetermined number of cycles is 5 cycles; and the predetermined first period is a time period of 3 seconds, and the predetermined second period is a time period of 1 second. 35. The food processor as claimed in claim 31, wherein, during operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate intermittently and alternately in opposite first and second directions for a predetermined number of cycles. 36. The food processor as claimed in claim 35, wherein, in each of the predetermined number of cycles of operation of said motor unit in the abnormal processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate in the first direction for a predetermined first period, stop for a period until said motor unit does not rotate, and then rotate in the second direction for a predetermined second period. 37. The food processor as claimed in claim 36, wherein: the predetermined number of cycles is 5 cycles; and each of the predetermined first and second periods is a time period of 3 seconds. 38. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said control unit further activates said motor unit to operate in a food pre-processing mode, where said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate intermittently for a predetermined number of cycles, between the initial judgment mode and the food processing mode. 39. The food processor as claimed in claim 38, wherein, in each of the predetermined number of cycles of operation of said motor unit in the food pre-processing mode, said control unit activates said motor unit to rotate for a predetermined period and then stop for a period until said motor unit does not rotate. 40. The food processor as claimed in claim 39, wherein: the predetermined number of cycles is 5 cycles; and the predetermined period is a time period of 1 second. 41. The food processor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said switch unit includes a power key for selectively enabling and disabling supply of electric power to said control unit, a pulse key operable so as to forcibly enable said control unit to activate said motor unit, and a first processing key, the initial control signal being associated with pressing of said first processing key and corresponding to a predetermined food processing state. 42. The food processor as claimed in claim 41, wherein said switch unit further includes second to fifth processing keys, the initial control signal being associated with a pressed one of said first to fifth processing keys.