Grinder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grinders for condiment solids require metallic springs to reset the inter-burr distance, increasing manufacturing costs and potentially contaminating condiments with metal, while also being inconvenient for repeated use.
Innovation Solution
A grinder design that uses a non-metallic, compressively resilient undulating ring to adjust and reset the inter-burr distance between inner and outer burrs, eliminating the need for a metallic spring and allowing for controllable grain size without metal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metallic coil spring is used to reset the inter-burr distance, then the grinder can return to default position after grinding, but the manufacturing cost increases and metal contamination risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic grinder where the entire grinding mechanism including the reset mechanism is designed as a single-use unit. The plastic housing with integrated resilient elements eliminates the need for durable metallic springs, aligning with the disposable nature of the product and reducing metal contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional metallic spring mechanical system with a plastic resilient housing structure. The housing itself is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to push the burrs apart after grinding without requiring separate metallic spring components, thereby eliminating metal contamination while maintaining the reset function.
2Ease of operation
If a metallic coil spring is used to reset the inter-burr distance, then the grinder can return to default position after grinding, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with the reset function by designing the housing itself to be elastically deformable. This integration eliminates the need for separate metallic spring components, reducing part count and manufacturing complexity while maintaining the automatic reset functionality for repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metallic spring to plastic resilient housing. By selecting plastic material with appropriate elastic properties, the housing can provide the necessary rebound force to reset the inter-burr distance without requiring expensive metallic springs, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining operational convenience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the inter-burr distance is made adjustable for grain size control, then grain size can be controlled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustable mechanism where the outer burr can be manually moved along the axial direction relative to the inner burr. This allows the inter-burr distance to be dynamically adjusted for different grain size requirements. The adjustment is simplified by allowing the outer burr to slide or rotate along a guide structure, maintaining ease of use while providing grain size control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the grinding mechanism into an inner burr fixed in the first body part and an outer burr in the second body part that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows the inter-burr distance to be controlled by relative movement between the two body parts, providing grain size adaptability without requiring a completely complex adjustment mechanism.
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
Reduces manufacturing costs and enhances food safety by avoiding metal contamination, while maintaining user convenience through adjustable grain size settings.
Implementation Method 1
an undulating ring that is non-metallic and compressively resilient. The undulating ring is positioned between the first and second body parts and is arranged to push the first and second body parts away from each other after the user stops compressing the first and second body parts
Data Source
AI summary
In a grinder, inner and outer burrs are used for grinding condiment solids into fine grains with a grain size controllable by an inter-burr distance. The grinder has a first body part aligned with a second body part. A separation between the first and second body parts is adjustable by at most a predetermined limited distance, allowing a user to select the grain size by compressing the first and second body parts to alter the inter-burr distance. An undulating ring that is non-metallic and compressively resilient is positioned between the first and second body parts to push the two body parts away from each other after the user stops compressing the two body parts, avoiding the inter-burr distance to be stuck at a most-recently used value without a need of using a metallic spring to rebound the two body parts. A manufacturing cost of the grinder is reduced.