Bowl assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Kitchen appliances with a rotatable drive assembly are not well-suited for cooking operations like slow cooking, rice cooking, and sous vide water bath cooking, as the rotating tool obstructs ingredient movement and reduces usable space in the bowl.
Innovation Solution
A bowl assembly with an interchangeable tool mount and blanking plug system, where the tool mount and blanking plug have the same cross-sectional shape as the aperture, allowing them to fill and seal it, and a locking arrangement that secures either component to the bowl, preventing rotation and enabling sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable drive assembly with tool mount is provided in the bowl, then food processing capability is improved, but the usable space and ingredient movement are obstructed during certain cooking operations
Solution Approach 1:
The bowl assembly is segmented into interchangeable components: the tool mount can be removed and replaced with a blanking plug. This segmentation allows the bowl to be reconfigured for different cooking operations, eliminating the obstruction problem when food processing is not required while maintaining the food processing capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static configuration (permanent tool mount) to a dynamic configuration (interchangeable tool mount and blanking plug). This allows the bowl assembly to adapt its structure based on the cooking operation being performed, optimizing both food processing capability and usable space as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tool mount is permanently fixed in the bowl aperture, then food processing operations are enabled, but the bowl cannot be used for cooking operations requiring unobstructed ingredient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bowl assembly is designed with universal functionality through the interchangeable tool mount and blanking plug system. The same aperture can accommodate either the tool mount for food processing operations or the blanking plug for cooking operations, making the bowl versatile for multiple cooking methods without requiring separate equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration by enabling the user to remove the tool mount and install the blanking plug when cooking operations are required. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the bowl's suitability for different cooking operations while maintaining ease of operation through simple component interchange.
3Volume of moving object
If the aperture is left open for cooking operations, then usable space is maximized, but sealing and heat retention are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tool mount, which obstructs the aperture, is extracted from the system and replaced with a blanking plug specifically designed to seal the aperture. This extraction allows the aperture to be closed off when needed, maintaining sealing effectiveness while maximizing usable space during cooking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The blanking plug serves as an intermediary component that seals the aperture when the tool mount is not in use. This intermediary element provides the necessary sealing function during cooking operations, preventing heat loss and maintaining the integrity of the cooking environment while maximizing usable space.
Data Source
AI summary
A bowl assembly 110 for a kitchen appliance 1 arranged to process ingredients contained within the bowl assembly 110, comprising: a bowl 112 having an aperture 115 in its base; a drivable tool mount 200 for a food processing tool arranged to fit within the aperture 115; and a blanking plug 300 arranged to fit within the aperture 115; wherein the drivable tool mount 200 and blanking plug 300 are interchangeable with one another.