Food processor assembly for a blender base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blender bases, capable of high output speeds for blending, are not suitable for lower speed operations like slicing, shredding, and spiralizing due to their high rotation speeds, which are not effectively utilized in existing food processor designs.

Innovation Solution

A food processor assembly that includes a planetary gear transmission system to receive the high-speed rotary input from a blender base, reducing the rotation speed to appropriate levels for slicing, shredding, and spiralizing, and features a dual ratio gear set with different interfaces for various blade assemblies to perform cutting, slicing, and shredding operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a blender base operates at high rotation speeds for blending, then blending efficiency is improved, but it becomes unsuitable for lower speed operations like slicing and shredding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation speedVSAvoidsuitability for different operations

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a planetary gear transmission system that dynamically changes the output speed ratio while maintaining a constant high-speed input from the blender motor. The transmission mechanism allows the system to adapt between high-speed blending and low-speed food processing operations by internally adjusting gear engagement, enabling one motor to perform multiple functions at different speed requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes the blender base universal by adding a transmission system that enables it to perform both high-speed blending and low-speed food processing operations (slicing, shredding, spiralizing) using the same motor. The transmission acts as an intermediary that allows one power source to serve multiple functional requirements with different speed characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If the blender base directly drives food processing blades at high speed, then power availability is improved, but the cutting operation quality deteriorates due to excessive rotation speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower availabilityVSAvoidcutting operation quality

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The planetary gear transmission serves as an intermediary between the high-power blender motor and the food processing blades. It transmits the motor's power while reducing the rotation speed to an optimal range for cutting operations, thereby preserving power availability while improving cutting quality through speed reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a transmission system is added to reduce rotation speed, then adaptability to different operations is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed range for different operationsVSAvoidtransmission system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces what would traditionally require multiple independent motors (one for blending, another for food processing) with a single motor combined with a planetary gear transmission system. This mechanical substitution consolidates multiple drive systems into one, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability across different operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables efficient food processing operations such as slicing, shredding, and spiralizing by reducing the high-speed blender output to lower speeds, providing higher torque and allowing for continuous or sequential cutting operations, thereby enhancing the functionality of blender bases in food processing tasks.

Implementation Method 1

A planetary gear transmission is supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output from the blender base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlanetary gear transmission: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 2

provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input... providing higher torque

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11266270B2Food processor assembly for a blender base

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 VITA MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

AI summary

A food processor assembly is provided with a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products. A planetary gear transmission is supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output. A first transmission rotary output extends into the bowl cavity to provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input. A blade is connected to the first transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product. The blade has a first cutting edge formed adjacent the first transmission rotary output to perform a continuous cutting operation to the food products. The blade has a second cutting edge spaced radially from the first transmission rotary output to perform a sequential cutting operation to the food products.