Food Processor Citrus Press Head with Claw Clutch and Integrated Sieve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors with citrus fruit press attachments often require separate rotary drives for the press head, which can be cumbersome and risk shaft removal during operation, leading to potential damage, and do not effectively prevent juice spraying or pulp/seed contamination.
Innovation Solution
A claw clutch engages the rotor between mixing blades, with a bearing plug and splash guard funnel on the lid to provide a simple, secure rotary drive for the citrus press head, and a retaining sieve to contain pulp and seeds, ensuring the lid can be closed tightly with a conventional stopper for juice flow through a passage opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate rotary drive is provided for the citrus press head, then the press head can be driven independently, but the device complexity increases and the shaft may be removed during operation leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotary drive for the citrus press head with the existing rotor of the food processor. The shaft of the citrus press head is directly coupled to the rotor, eliminating the need for a separate rotary drive mechanism. This merging of functions reduces device complexity while maintaining independent operation capability during blending and pressing cycles.
2Reliability
If the shaft is securely engaged with the rotor via a coupling, then shaft removal is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the shaft and rotor is integrated into the existing rotor structure. The shaft is directly mounted on the rotor without requiring an additional separate coupling mechanism, thereby preventing shaft removal while minimizing device complexity.
3Productivity
If drainage channels are provided in the lid, then juice can flow out into the blender jug, but pulp and seeds may contaminate the juice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sieve as an intermediary element between the citrus press head and the drainage channels. The sieve is positioned to filter the juice as it flows from the press head, allowing liquid juice to pass through while retaining pulp and seeds, thus preventing contamination in the blender jug.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If a retaining sieve is mounted on the lid, then pulp and seeds are kept away from the through-opening, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining sieve is integrated into the lid structure, combining the filtration function with the existing lid assembly. This reduces the need for separate mounting mechanisms and minimizes device complexity while effectively containing pulp and seeds.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If splash guard funnels are placed on the cover, then juice spraying is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard funnels are integrated into the lid assembly, combining the spray prevention function with the existing lid structure. This eliminates the need for separate splash guard components and reduces device complexity while effectively preventing juice spraying.
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
This configuration allows for efficient citrus fruit pressing without a separate rotary drive for the press head, preventing juice spraying and pulp/seed contamination, while ensuring secure attachment and easy cleaning, and allows for tight closure with a conventional stopper for juice collection.
Implementation Method 1
This bearing plug can be or have a simple plastic slide bearing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A food processor (1) with a drive unit (2) is proposed, on which a mixing container (4) provided with a rotatably driven rotor (3) on the bottom side is placed, a lid (5) of the mixing container (4) being fitted with a citrus press head (6) which is inserted into a filling opening (7) of the lid (5), the citrus fruit press head (6) being extended beyond the citrus fruit pressing head base with a shaft (8) which is inserted in a bearing plug into the filling opening (7). (9) is rotatably mounted, which has at least one passage opening (11) and which is connected to the rotor (3) via a clutch (10) for rotary drive. In order to create advantageous pressing conditions, it is proposed that the clutch (10) is a claw clutch whose claws (16) are in engagement with the rotor (3) between the rotor (3) associated mixing blades (17) and that on the Lid (5), a retaining sieve (19) keeping fruit pulp and pips away from the passage opening (11) and a retaining sieve (19) radially surrounding the citrus press head (6), together with the retaining sieve (19) radially on a shoulder (20) on the lid surface of the lid (5 ) secured, splash guard funnel (21) are attached.