Compound Lever Arm Assembly for Low-Fatigue Food Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual food processing devices require substantial force for operation, leading to fatigue and inefficiency in food preparation tasks.
Innovation Solution
A food processing device with a compound lever mechanism in its arm assembly, which amplifies the input force applied to the arm, allowing for easier and faster operation by transmitting increased force to the squeezer, thereby reducing operator fatigue and improving processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual food processing device uses a simple single-lever mechanism, then the device structure is simple, but substantial force is required for operation causing operator fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The arm assembly is divided into two separate arms (first arm and second arm) that are pivotally coupled together. The first arm is pivotally coupled to the base plate, and the second arm is pivotally coupled to the distal end portion of the first arm. This segmentation creates a compound lever mechanism where each arm acts as an independent lever, distributing the mechanical advantage across multiple segments rather than requiring a single complex lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two lever mechanisms into a single integrated arm assembly. The first lever (first arm) and second lever (second arm) work together as a compound system, where the output of the first lever becomes the input for the second lever. This merging of levers amplifies the input force applied by the operator, reducing the effort needed to operate the squeezer while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If a manual food processing device requires substantial force for operation, then the processing power is sufficient, but the operation becomes effort-demanding and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The arm assembly incorporates dynamic pivotal movements at two different pivots (first pivot between base plate and first arm, second pivot between first arm and second arm). This dynamic configuration allows the lever arms to adjust their positions during operation, optimizing the mechanical advantage at different stages of the squeezing action. The slots in the bifurcated portions allow for slidable movement that facilitates this dynamic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The first arm acts as an intermediary between the operator's input force and the second arm. The operator applies force to the second arm, which transmits and amplifies this force through the first arm to the squeezer. This intermediary lever system (the compound lever mechanism) mediates the force transmission, converting a small input force into a larger output force that efficiently processes the food items.
3Force
If the arm assembly uses a compound lever mechanism with two arms, then the force amplification is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first arm serves multiple functions: it acts as the input lever for the second arm, provides structural support for the squeezer, and transmits force from the second arm to the processing element. The second arm similarly serves as both the operator's interface and the force amplifier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining relative structural simplicity while achieving force amplification.
Solution Approach 2:
The second arm is nested within the structure of the first arm through the pivotal coupling at the distal end portion of the first arm. The bifurcated portions of the second arm with slots allow for a compact configuration where the arms can be positioned close together during operation. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall space required for the compound lever mechanism while maintaining its force amplification capability.
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
The device enables faster and more effortless operation by leveraging the compound lever mechanism to increase the force applied to food items, enhancing the speed and ease of food processing without causing operator fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
an arm assembly configured to have a compound lever mechanism through which an input force applied to the arm assembly increases
Implementation Method 2
The arm assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm... the first arm comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion configured to be pivotally coupled to the base plate by the first pivot
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a food processing device, comprising a base plate provided with a first pivot and a second pivot, a processing element provided on the base plate, and an arm assembly pivotably coupled to the base plate. The arm assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm pivotally coupled to each other, each of the two arms being pivotally coupled to the base plate, whereby the first arm and the second arm form together a compound lever mechanism. A force applied by an operator onto the second arm increases as an output by the second arm, and the increasing force is conveyed to the first arm so that the food processing device is operated faster and easier, without making the operator more fatigued.