Wide Feed Tube Interlock for Low-Vibration Food Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Food processors with larger feed tubes face issues of unwanted vibration and extra stress on components due to larger blades and motors, which can compromise safety and performance.
Innovation Solution
A safety rail mechanism on the pusher device that cooperates with a longitudinal slot in the food processor's lid, ensuring the motor only operates when the pusher is correctly inserted, along with a linkage assembly and display screen for user feedback and safety warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger feed tube is used to accommodate more and larger ingredients, then productivity and convenience are improved, but unwanted vibration and extra stress on components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the feed tube wider only at the top opening while maintaining a narrower lower section. This allows large ingredients to be easily inserted at the top while the narrower lower section constrains the ingredients during processing, reducing vibration and stress on motor and blades.
2Reliability
If safety interlock devices are added to prevent injury, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety interlock function with the pusher device itself. The pusher acts as both a functional component for pushing ingredients and as the safety interlock mechanism through its alignment features (protrusions and recesses) that must be properly engaged to enable motor operation, eliminating the need for separate safety devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety mechanism is self-service in that the proper insertion of the pusher device automatically engages the safety interlock through the alignment of protrusions and recesses, and the system self-verification through electrical contacts enables or disables motor operation without requiring additional user actions or complex external safety systems.
3Productivity
If larger blades and motors are used to power the larger feed tube, then productivity is improved, but stress on components and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feed tube design applies local quality by having a wider top section for ingredient insertion and a narrower lower section for processing. This allows the use of appropriately sized blades and motors that can handle the reduced cross-sectional area during actual processing, avoiding the need for oversized components that would generate excessive stress and vibration.
Data Source
AI summary
A food processor is provided with a wide feed tube. The food processor has a pusher that cooperates with a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism comprises a linkage assembly that prevents the food processor's motor from operating unless the pusher is inserted into the feed tube.