Food processing tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing appliances, particularly hand-blenders, suffer from excessive suction during blending, leading to user discomfort and inefficient processing due to vortex formation, and previous solutions have not adequately addressed power consumption and noise issues while maintaining effective food entry.
Innovation Solution
A rotary blade assembly with three or more blades extending radially from a hub, featuring varying angles and lengths, balanced to locate the center of gravity within the hub, and a food processing bell with ribs and crenellations to disrupt vortexes and enhance food flow, reducing suction and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If three or more relatively large blades are used in close association with the bell/housing to reduce suction, then suction is reduced to an extent, but power consumption becomes excessive and the device becomes noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is segmented into multiple blades (three or more) of varying lengths arranged radially around the hub. This segmentation allows the blades to interact with the food material in a distributed manner, reducing vortex formation and suction while maintaining reasonable power consumption through optimized blade geometry and spacing
Solution Approach 2:
The blades are designed with local quality variations through different lengths and radial extensions. At least one blade extends further radially than others, creating different local interaction zones with the food material. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between suction reduction and power consumption by targeting vortex disruption at specific locations
2Use of energy by moving object
If the housing size is reduced to address power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but it becomes hard for food to enter the housing to be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The blade design incorporates dimensional variation through blades of different lengths extending radially from the hub. This dimensional diversity creates multiple entry pathways and processing zones within the housing, allowing food to enter easily while maintaining compact housing dimensions and reasonable power consumption
3Use of energy by moving object
If the number of blades or blade length is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but the problem of suction is not satisfactorily reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly employs asymmetric design with blades of varying lengths arranged at different radial distances from the hub. This asymmetry creates unbalanced vortex patterns that are less effective at generating strong suction while requiring less power than symmetric multi-blade designs. The differential blade lengths ensure adequate suction disruption without excessive power consumption
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 effectively reduces suction and power consumption, enhances food processing efficiency, and ensures balanced operation with minimal noise, allowing for larger food pieces to be processed without jamming or excessive vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary blade assembly for a food processing appliance comprising three or more blades extending radially away from a hub
Implementation Method 2
the problem of suction is a well-known one in the field of food processing appliances, particularly that of suction created by vortex-formation during blending/pureeing of food/beverage material
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 1e~1g
AI summary
There is provided a rotary blade assembly (100) for a food processing appliance, comprising: a hub (140) configured to rotate in use about an axis of rotation, and a plurality of blades (110, 120, 130) extending away from said hub, wherein at least two angles about the axis of rotation separating the blades differ.