Food Processor Door Assembly for Integrated Mixing and Pasta Extrusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home use pasta-making machines lack integrated pasta forming functionality and require separate accessories and manual handling of dough, limiting their versatility and compatibility with other recipes.
Innovation Solution
A food processing device with a mixing bowl and extruder connected via a door assembly that allows for both mixing and extruding of pasta or other food products, featuring a gear assembly for efficient dough formation and a cutting device for clean cuts, along with programmable functions for ease of use and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate pasta-making accessory is purchased and stored when not in use, then pasta forming functionality is added, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pasta-making accessory functionality directly into the mixing bowl assembly. The extruder is integrated within the mixing bowl, and the door assembly serves dual purposes as both a mixing bowl cover and an extruder access door. This merging eliminates the need for separate accessories and their associated storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing bowl is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a mixing container, an extruder housing, and provides access to both mixing and extruding components through the door assembly. The door assembly itself is multi-functional, serving as a seal for mixing and an access point for extruding. This universality reduces the number of separate devices needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dough is moved manually from one vessel to another attachment, then pasta formation is achieved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder is positioned directly within the mixing bowl, eliminating the need to transfer dough between separate vessels. The door assembly provides direct access from the mixing cavity to the extruder feed chute, allowing dough to be extruded directly from the mixing location without manual handling or transfer.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the door assembly is opened to access the extruder, then pasta extruding is enabled, but mixing bowl access is also opened
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into functional zones: the door portion provides access to the extruder feed chute, while the main body of the door acts as a seal for the mixing bowl. When the door is opened, only the extruder access portion is opened, while the door's main structure remains positioned to seal the mixing bowl opening, thus enabling extruder access while maintaining mixing bowl containment.
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 mixing and extruding of pasta and other food products with a single device, improving user experience by eliminating the need for separate accessories and manual handling, while ensuring safety and producing high-quality, cleanly cut products.
Implementation Method 1
an auger configured to rotate within the extrusion chamber to move contents from the inlet to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
The blade is arranged to move across the die face to cut the extruded food product in response to the mechanical release of the biasing member
Implementation Method 3
a blade operatively coupled to a biasing member. The blade is arranged to move across the die face to cut the extruded food product in response to the mechanical release of the biasing member
Data Source
AI summary
Food processing devices capable of performing multiple functions, including mixing and extruding pasta or other food products, are described. The food processing devices have a door assembly with a feed chute extending from an opening in the mixing bowl and leading to an extruder. The door assembly can be closed or opened, depending on the type of food processing to be performed. The food processing device mixes food ingredients within the mixing bowl while the door assembly is in a closed position. When the food ingredients are sufficiently mixed, the door assembly is moved to an open position to allow the mixed food ingredients to flow through the feed chute to the extruder. The disclosed food processing devices conveniently allow for both mixing and extruding of food products within a single device configured to efficiently and safely perform both tasks.