Blending volume reducing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blenders often have working volumes that are larger than necessary, leading to inefficiencies in blending and grinding processes, as food items like spices can bounce around and take longer to blend, and moderate to high liquid ratios can slow down the blending and heating processes due to ingredients jumping and splashing.

Innovation Solution

A blending volume reduction device that can be inserted into the blender container, featuring a cover member with apertures and a plug member, a handle, and seal members to reduce the working volume by mechanically nesting with the container, thereby confining ingredients and improving blending efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the working volume of the container is large, then the container can hold more food items, but the blending and grinding efficiency decreases due to ingredients bouncing around and taking longer to process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacity of containerVSAvoidblending efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container's working volume is segmented into two distinct zones: a larger storage volume for holding ingredients and a smaller working volume for actual blending operations. This segmentation is achieved through the volume reduction device that creates a confined blending chamber within the larger container, allowing the container to serve dual purposes of both storage and efficient processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blending function is extracted from the entire container volume and concentrated into a specific confined region. The volume reduction device isolates a smaller working volume within the larger container, separating the storage function (remaining volume) from the processing function (confined working volume), thereby improving blending efficiency while maintaining storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the working volume is reduced, then blending efficiency and heating efficiency improve, but the container capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblending speedVSAvoidcontainer capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container volume is divided into a storage portion and a working portion. The storage portion maintains the original container capacity for holding ingredients, while the working portion is confined to a smaller volume optimized for efficient blending and heating, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The volume reduction device is designed to be positionable at different heights within the container, allowing dynamic adjustment of the working volume size. This enables optimization of blending efficiency for different ingredient quantities and types while maintaining the overall container capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If the working volume is large, then more ingredients can be processed at once, but the time required for blending and heating increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of ingredientsVSAvoidblending time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processing volume is segmented into a confined working zone that concentrates ingredients around the blade assembly. This segmentation ensures that ingredients are processed in an optimized volume that reduces blending time while still accommodating sufficient quantities for practical use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The volume reduction device creates a working volume that is partially filled with ingredients, concentrating them in the optimal blending zone. This partial filling approach ensures efficient processing without requiring the entire container volume, thereby reducing blending and heating times while maintaining adequate processing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Productivity

If the working volume is reduced, then ingredients are confined and blending efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblending efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The volume reduction device is nested within the container, fitting inside the existing structure. This nesting approach allows the creation of a confined working volume without adding external components or significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the reduction device utilizes the container's existing space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The volume reduction device employs a flexible or thin-walled structure that can be positioned and secured within the container without requiring complex rigid frameworks. This approach simplifies the device structure while still achieving the goal of confining ingredients to a smaller working volume for improved blending efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS10321785B2Blending volume reducing device

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 VITA MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

AI summary

A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.