Blade assembly and food processor having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Food processors experience poor sealing at the connection between the blade shaft and motor shaft, leading to liquid ingress and motor malfunction.

Innovation Solution

A blade assembly with an inner and outer joint assembly, featuring staggered sealing heads and anti-rotation ribs, ensures better sealing by guiding liquid away from the motor shafts and preventing water entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a simple single-layer sealing structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing effectiveness deteriorates allowing liquid ingress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is divided into multiple independent sealing layers (inner sealing head and outer sealing head) with each layer providing separate sealing functions. The inner sealing head seals the inner blade shaft connection, while the outer sealing head seals the outer blade shaft connection, creating a multi-barrier system that prevents liquid ingress more effectively than a single sealing layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner sealing head is nested within the outer sealing head structure, with the inner sealing head positioned inside the cavity formed by the outer sealing head. This nested arrangement allows both sealing heads to work simultaneously in a compact configuration, providing enhanced sealing without proportionally increasing overall size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If anti-rotation ribs and protective sleeves are added, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-rotation function is segmented into multiple independent ribs distributed around the circumference of the blade shaft. Each rib provides a portion of the total anti-rotation capability, and they can be manufactured as separate features that are then assembled together, allowing for modular manufacturing and quality control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protective sleeves are introduced as intermediary components that fit between the anti-rotation ribs and the corresponding grooves in the joint assembly. These sleeves act as mediators that protect the precision-machined rib and groove mating surfaces from damage during assembly and operation, while still allowing the anti-rotation function to work effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3850997B1Blade assembly and food processor having same
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 GUANGDONG MIDEA WHITE HOME APPLIANCE TECH INNOVATION CENT CO LTD
  • EP3850997B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3850997B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3850997B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A blade assembly (1) and a food processor having same; the blade assembly (1) comprises an inner blade shaft (10), an outer blade shaft (20), an inner joint assembly (30) and an outer joint assembly (40); the outer blade shaft (20) is externally sheathed on the inner blade shaft (10); the inner joint assembly (30) comprises an inner blade joint (310), an inner motor joint (330) and an inner sealing head (320); the inner sealing head (320) is connected between the inner blade joint (310) and the inner motor joint (330), and the inner blade joint (310) is connected to the inner blade shaft (10); the outer joint assembly (40) comprises an outer blade joint (410), an outer motor joint (430) and an outer sealing head (420); the outer sealing head (420) is connected between the outer blade joint (410) and the outer motor joint (430), and the outer blade joint (410) is connected to the outer blade shaft (20). The sealing between the blade assembly (1) and a motor is well ensured, which thereby reduces the rate of failure and improves the usage satisfaction of a user.