Food Processor Centrifugal Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors that steam and blend food in a single vessel face issues such as food being dipped in water during steaming, incomplete blending due to improper blade positioning, and increased cleaning burden, particularly when processing small quantities like baby food.
Innovation Solution
A food processor design featuring a vessel with a steaming system, a support to retain food above the base during steaming, and a shared drive arrangement to rotate the support and blender blade about a common axis, allowing for automated steaming and blending without user intervention, optimizing both functions and simplifying cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blade is positioned low to support food during steaming, then the food can be supported during steaming, but the food may be dipped in water during steaming
Solution Approach 1:
The food support structure is segmented into a removable basket that can be positioned independently from the blending blade. This allows the basket to be placed at the optimal height for steaming (above water level) while the blade remains at the base for blending, resolving the conflict between support stability and water contact prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static blade position to a dynamic configuration where the food support basket can be removed and repositioned. During steaming, the basket is positioned high; during blending, it is removed, allowing the blade to access the food at the base without water contact issues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the blade is positioned high to avoid water contact, then water contact is avoided, but part of the food remains uncut at the bottom of the vessel during blending
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic reconfiguration between steaming and blending phases. The food support basket is removed during blending, allowing the blade to operate at the base of the vessel and process all food including items at the bottom, ensuring complete blending without water contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The food processing system is segmented into separate functions: the removable basket handles steaming, while the fixed blade at the base handles blending. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
3Reliability
If the blade area is increased to support food during steaming, then food support capacity is improved, but the amount of food adhered to the blade increases and cleaning burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The food support function is segregated from the blending blade. The removable basket provides the necessary support capacity during steaming without increasing blade size. The blade remains small and simple, designed only for blending, which significantly reduces food adhesion and simplifies cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The food support function is extracted from the blade and placed in a separate removable basket. This extraction allows the blade to be minimized to its essential blending function, reducing its surface area and thereby reducing food adhesion and cleaning requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a separate food basket is used mounted above the blade, then steaming and blending functions are separated, but user intervention is required to tip the basket manually
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic automation where the food support basket is designed to be easily removed and repositioned by the user, and the blade is automatically activated upon basket removal. This provides functional separation during steaming while enabling automated blending operation without requiring manual tipping or intervention during the blending phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed so that removing the basket automatically initiates the blending function. The blade activation is self-triggered by the basket removal action, eliminating the need for separate manual control or tipping motions, thereby increasing automation while maintaining functional separation.
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 and automated processing of any food quantity, minimizing user interaction, reducing processing time, and simplifying cleaning by ensuring effective steaming and blending without water contact and using a smaller, optimized blender blade.
Implementation Method 1
The support is rotated to release the retained food. Thus, this accelerates the food (which frictionally engages with the support) and causes the food to be displaced outwardly by centrifugal forces
Implementation Method 2
a steaming system for delivering steam to the vessel for steaming the food
Implementation Method 3
This accelerates the food (which frictionally engages with the support)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A food processor combines steaming of food on a support, and blending. The support is rotated about the same shaft as the blender blade, to release the food on the support centrifugally so that it drops to the blender blade. This enables an automated process with optimized steaming and blending.