Appliance with receptacle lighting function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Kitchen appliances with receptacles for processing food items often lack adequate illumination, making it difficult for users to monitor the processing of food, which can compromise safety and comfort.
Innovation Solution
The appliance features a light guide system where a light source on the base unit is coupled with a light guide section in the receptacle, ensuring efficient illumination of the interior through an air gap, and a control unit adjusts light properties based on coupling status, temperature, and recipe information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is integrated into the receptacle, then illumination of the food processing area is improved, but the receptacle can no longer be easily removed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into two separate parts: a light source integrated into the base unit and a light guide section integrated into the receptacle. This segmentation allows the receptacle to be removed for cleaning while the light source remains in the base unit, resolving the contradiction between providing illumination and maintaining ease of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide section acts as an intermediary between the light source in the base unit and the interior of the receptacle. The light guide transmits light through an air gap, enabling illumination without direct integration of the light source into the receptacle, thus preserving the receptacle's removability for cleaning.
2Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned close to the receptacle interior, then illumination efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase due to proximity to food processing area
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide section serves as an intermediary that transmits light from the base unit to the receptacle interior through an air gap. This intermediary approach maintains close proximity for efficient illumination while keeping the electrical light source isolated from the food processing area, thereby ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/electrical integration of the light source into the receptacle with an optical transmission system using a light guide. This substitution allows light to reach the interior without the physical presence of electrical components in the food processing area, eliminating safety risks.
3Ease of operation
If an air gap is introduced between light guide sections, then receptacle removability is improved, but light coupling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap between the light guide sections is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the receptacle to be easily removed and reattached. The positioning elements ensure proper alignment during coupling while maintaining the air gap during operation, balancing removability with light coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gap acts as an intermediary medium that allows optical coupling between the light guide sections without physical contact. This intermediary approach enables the receptacle to be removable while still maintaining sufficient light transmission through the gap, especially when combined with positioning elements for proper alignment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances user safety and comfort by providing reliable illumination of the food processing area, preventing accidental activation when the receptacle is not correctly positioned and adapting light conditions for different processing tasks.
Implementation Method 1
The first light guide section and the second light guide section may be positioned and/or designed and/or configured such that at a light transfer point the rear end face of the first light guide section is facing the front end face of the second light guide section
Implementation Method 2
The rear end face of the first light guide section and the front end face of the second light guide section may be designed and/or configured such that light is coupled and/or guided from the rear end face of the first light guide section over an air gap into the front end face of the second light guide section
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
An appliance (100) is described which comprises a base unit (120) and a receptacle (110), which are configured to be joined and to be disjoined. The base unit (120) comprises a light source (322) and a first light guide section (222), and the receptacle (110) comprises a second light guide section (212). The first light guide section (222) and the second light guide section (212) are such that at a light transfer point a rear end face (323) of the first light guide section (222) is facing a front end face (313) of the second light guide section (212), when the base unit (120) and the receptacle (110) are joined. Furthermore, a rear end face (315) of the second light guide section (212) is facing the interior of the receptacle (110). The first light guide section (222) is configured to guide light (324) which is emitted by the light source (322) to the light transfer point, and the second light guide section (212) is configured to guide light (324) from the light transfer point to the rear end face (315) of the second light guide section (212) for illuminating the interior of the receptacle (110).