Food Processor Drive Assembly With Progressive Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms for kitchen utensils and processing devices lack efficient force transmission systems that allow for smooth and controlled rotation of processing implements, often resulting in inefficient energy transfer and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A drive device with a housing, actuating lever, and force transfer mechanism that pivots to rotate an output shaft, featuring a stepless gear mechanism and engagement systems like spiral radius and spur gears, allowing for progressive torque adjustment and directional control to drive processing implements effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a traditional drive mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but the force transmission efficiency is low and torque control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is segmented into multiple functional components: a first spiral gear for initial torque transmission, a second spiral gear for continued force transfer, and a ratchet mechanism for directional control. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, improving overall force transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate elements such as the ratchet mechanism and pawl as mediators between the spiral gears and the output shaft. These intermediaries enable unidirectional force transmission and provide torque control, resolving the contradiction by adding controlled complexity that significantly improves energy transmission efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If a simple rotation mechanism is used, then the device complexity is low, but the torque adjustment capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism employs dynamic elements including a movable pawl that can engage or disengage from the ratchet teeth, and spiral gears with varying lead angles. This dynamic configuration allows the torque transmission characteristics to be adjusted during operation, providing adaptability while the mechanical design keeps the overall structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism combines different gear types (spiral gears and ratchet gears) with complementary characteristics in a composite drive system. The spiral gears provide smooth torque transmission while the ratchet mechanism provides directional control and torque limitation, creating a versatile system that handles multiple operational requirements
3Reliability
If bidirectional rotation is allowed, then the operational flexibility is high, but the processing implement cannot operate in one direction only when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the directional control function from the overall rotation mechanism by introducing a separate ratchet-pawl subsystem. This extracted component specifically manages the bidirectional/unidirectional constraint while the main spiral gear system maintains operational flexibility, resolving the contradiction by separating concerns into dedicated functional elements
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism is designed to preemptively prevent reverse rotation by engaging the pawl with ratchet teeth before reverse motion can occur. This preliminary anti-action ensures reliable unidirectional operation when required, while the design allows the pawl to disengage when bidirectional operation is desired, maintaining operational flexibility
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 controlled rotation of processing implements with progressive torque adjustment, enhancing user experience and energy transfer efficiency by ensuring the processing implement operates in one direction only, improving the functionality of kitchen utensils and food processing devices.
Implementation Method 1
an actuating lever articulated on the housing in a lever bearing in a pivotable manner about a first axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
a force transfer mechanism driven by the actuating lever to rotate an output shaft extending from the housing into the base about a second axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assembly is provided. The drive assembly includes a gear housing comprising a support surface for a hand of a user, a gear drive mechanism disposed within the gear housing, and a handle member disposed on the gear housing proximate to the support surface. The gear drive mechanism includes a first drive gear rotatable about a first axis of rotation and engaged to the handle member, a second drive gear rotatable about a second axis of rotation, and a driven member engaged to the implement and driven by the second drive gear about a third axis of rotation that extends through the support surface. The driven member is disposed at least partially outside of the gear housing and is driven only when the handle member is moved from an unfired position to a fired position. The handle member does not cross the third axis of rotation during such movement.