Food processor arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen machines for chopping food often require significant manual effort, pose safety risks due to exposure to rotating cutting tools, and occupy excessive kitchen space, with limited functionality and versatility.

Innovation Solution

A kitchen machine arrangement featuring a food processor assembly with a rotatably mounted rotation unit, a collecting pot, an adapter shaft, and a carrier shaft that securely transmits rotation to a comminution tool, ensuring safe operation and versatility through modular comminution tools for various chopping functions, while the collecting pot is designed for easy assembly and secure attachment to prevent axial displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cutting disc is rotatably arranged in the collecting pot to enable chopping function, then food processing capability is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to risk of contact with rotating cutting tool

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechopping functionVSAvoiduser safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary coupling mechanism between the drive shaft and the cutting disc. The cutting disc is not directly driven but is coupled through a specialized connection that allows torque transmission while preventing direct access to the rotating tool. This intermediary structure enables the chopping function while mitigating the safety hazard of direct exposure to the rotating cutting tool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the kitchen appliance assembly is designed as a multifunctional device with chopping capability, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemultifunctionalityVSAvoidappliance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal drive interface that can accommodate different types of comminution tools (cutting discs, grating tools, etc.) through a standardized coupling mechanism. The adapter shaft and coupling elements are designed to work with various tool types, allowing the single kitchen appliance assembly to perform multiple food processing functions without requiring separate specialized devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the cutting disc is directly mounted on the drive shaft for efficient power transmission, then chopping efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to direct accessibility of the rotating tool

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechopping efficiencyVSAvoidexposure to rotating tool
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an intermediary coupling structure consisting of an adapter shaft with specific coupling elements that transmit rotational force from the drive shaft to the cutting disc. This intermediary mechanism maintains efficient power transmission for effective chopping while creating a structural barrier that prevents direct access to the rotating cutting tool, thereby resolving the conflict between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the collecting pot is designed with open access for easy cleaning and loading, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to accessibility of the cutting disc

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to collecting potVSAvoiduser safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary structure that allows the collecting pot to maintain open access for easy loading and cleaning while simultaneously preventing access to the cutting disc. The adapter shaft and coupling elements are positioned such that they block direct contact with the rotating tool even when the collecting pot is accessible, thus enabling ease of operation without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4287917B1Food processor arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 WUNDERMIX GMBH
  • EP4287917B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4287917B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4287917B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a food processor arrangement comprising a food processor assembly and a chopping assembly, wherein, in order to provide a chopping operating state of the food processor arrangement for chopping food such as vegetables and/or fruit, the chopping assembly and the food processor assembly are put together to form an operating state structure. The invention also relates to a chopping assembly for the aforementioned food processor arrangement, wherein the chopping assembly, in order to provide a chopping operating state of the food processor arrangement for chopping food such as vegetables and/or fruit, is designed to be put together with the food processor assembly to form an operating state structure. With the food processor arrangement and chopping assembly of the invention, operational and user safety during the chopping of food can be improved.