Hand Mixer Control Module Preassembly for Early Functional Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliances with electric motors and control circuit boards are inflexible and complicated to assemble and test, requiring full disassembly for error detection and correction, which hinders easy operation and efficient production.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen appliance design where the operating part of the actuator can be preassembled with the carrier and control circuit board, allowing for functional testing before final assembly, and featuring latching and counter-latching means for precise operation and user feedback, enabling mechanical and electronic tests outside the appliance housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the control circuit board and control panel are integrated into the appliance housing for final assembly, then the device structure is compact, but testing and error detection require full disassembly making the process laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel assembly is segmented from the main appliance housing, allowing it to be assembled and tested as a separate module. The control panel includes the control circuit board, actuator, and operating elements mounted on a common support structure that can be detached from the housing, enabling independent testing without disassembling the entire appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel assembly is pre-assembled and pre-tested before being integrated into the final appliance. This preliminary assembly allows functional testing of the control circuit board and actuator mechanisms in advance, so that errors can be detected and corrected before final assembly, avoiding laborious disassembly later.
2Productivity
If the control panel is installed inside the appliance housing, then the structure is compact, but subsequent disassembly is required for testing faulty components increasing production time
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is designed as a separable module that can be quickly removed from the housing without tools. This segmentation allows technicians to access and replace control panel components rapidly, eliminating time-consuming disassembly of the entire appliance for testing or repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel assembly is pre-tested as a complete unit before installation in the housing. This preliminary testing identifies and resolves faults before final assembly, so that no additional disassembly or testing time is required during production or maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If the control circuit board is difficult to handle due to lack of space in the handle, then the appliance structure is compact, but assembly and testing become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit board is mounted on a support structure that forms part of the control panel assembly, which can be handled as a complete module. This segmentation allows the control board to be accessed and manipulated through the control panel interface without requiring direct access to the cramped interior of the handle housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel acts as an intermediary interface between the user and the control circuit board. All operations on the control board are performed through the control panel's operating elements and display, which are accessible from the exterior, eliminating the need to manually handle the control board in the confined handle space.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance, in particular a hand mixer, comprising an electric motor for driving at least one tool, a control board (10) for the electric motor, which includes an actuator (11) with a control element (12) for adjusting the motor speed; and a carrier (13) for holding the control board (10), wherein the control element (12) of the actuator (11) is designed to be pre-assembled with the carrier (13) in such a way that they are already in a testable functional connection to each other in the pre-assembled state. According to the invention, this functional connection between the control element and the carrier allows a functional test to be performed in the pre-assembled state of the kitchen appliance without requiring complete assembly. This reduces production time, which in turn can lead to the cost-effective manufacture of a kitchen appliance.