Food Maker with Interchangeable Nozzles for Versatile Extrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food makers are difficult to clean, limited in versatility, and restricted to producing a single type of food in a fixed size and shape, making them inefficient and inflexible for various culinary applications.
Innovation Solution
A food maker with a modular design featuring interchangeable nozzles, a slidable plate for consistent extrusion, and a blocking plate for uniform shaping, allowing for easy cleaning and the production of various shapes and sizes of pasta, croquettes, and desserts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed dedicated extrusion nozzle is used, then the device structure is simple, but the versatility is limited to one type of food in one predetermined size and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The extrusion nozzle is divided into separable components that can be detached and replaced. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body and interchangeable nozzle tips, allowing users to swap between different nozzle configurations for different food types and shapes without replacing the entire extrusion system.
Solution Approach 2:
The extrusion system is designed with a universal nozzle body that can accommodate multiple types of nozzle tips. This universal interface allows a single base unit to perform multiple functions by simply changing the nozzle attachment, enabling the device to make various pasta shapes, croquettes, and other extruded foods.
2Ease of operation
If integrated cleaning components are added, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into detachable components including the nozzle assembly, cutting blade, and extrusion chamber. Each component can be separately removed and cleaned, eliminating the need for integrated cleaning mechanisms while maintaining ease of cleaning through simple disassembly and separate component washing.
3Manufacturing precision
If a slidable plate is added for consistent extrusion, then the extrusion consistency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable plate is positioned in advance within the extrusion chamber to pre-establish a consistent extrusion path and pressure distribution. This preliminary positioning ensures that food mixture is evenly distributed and pushed through the nozzle with consistent force, achieving uniform extrusion without complex real-time control mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If a blocking plate is added for uniform shaping, then the food shape uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking plate is pre-positioned at the nozzle outlet to define the exact shape and dimensions of the extruded food. By establishing the shaping constraint in advance before extrusion begins, the blocking plate ensures uniform food shapes without requiring complex real-time shaping mechanisms or post-extrusion processing.
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 solution enables easy cleaning, versatility in food shapes and sizes, minimal leftover mixture, and consistent cutting of extruded food, enhancing user convenience and the appearance of finished products.
Implementation Method 1
A plunger is provided to push down the food mixture in the container of the body. The plunger is provided with a closed bottom face for pushing down and forcing down the food mixture into the bottom of the container.
Implementation Method 2
an extruder for receiving the food mixture forced down into the bottom of the container by the plunger. The extruder has a nozzle through which the food mixture is forced by the plunger so that the food mixture is extruded as an elongated cylinder of uncooked food.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Food maker has a body including a container for holding a food mixture, the container having an open top and an open bottom. A plunger having an open top face and a closed bottom face is movable within container. Plunger has an outer wall configured for being received in container adjacent its inner sidewall, and inner sidewall and outer sidewall define an opening between each other. Opening provides that a portion of food mixture flows upwardly through opening past inner and outer sidewalls as plunger moves downwardly. An extruder nozzle is provided adjacent bottom of container, has an inlet and outlet, so that food mixture enters inlet and exits outlet as plunger moves downwardly. A slidable plate is located under outlet, so that food mixture exits outlet, is extruded onto plate, slides plate away from outlet, and extruded food is continually extruded evenly from outlet and received on plate.