Immersion mixer with trigger manipulable from multiple grasping locations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial immersion mixers face challenges in meeting safety regulations, such as unintentional activation, and have issues with power cord failures that require costly replacement or extensive service efforts.
Innovation Solution
The immersion mixer design includes a handle with multiple segments and a trigger configuration allowing activation from different hand positions, a detachable power cord for easy replacement, and a drive speed dial for adjusting rotational speed, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single-location trigger is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of operation is reduced and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger is divided into multiple segments (first trigger segment and second trigger segment) positioned at different locations on the handle. Each segment can independently activate the mixer when pressed, allowing users to operate the device from various hand positions and grips, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
2Ease of repair
If a fixed power cord is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of repair is reduced and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord assembly is segmented into a detachable power cord and a housing connection interface. The power cord can be separated from the housing through a release mechanism, allowing easy replacement of the power cord without disassembling the entire device, thus improving ease of repair and reliability while keeping the overall assembly relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The power cord connection transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic detachable connection. The release mechanism allows the power cord to be easily connected and disconnected, providing flexibility for maintenance and replacement while maintaining structural simplicity
3Reliability
If safety interlocks are added to prevent unintentional activation, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger activation system is segmented into multiple independent segments positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the safety interlock to be distributed across multiple trigger segments rather than requiring a complex multi-step sequence, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring that accidental activation from any single position is prevented
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger segments serve dual functions: they enable activation from multiple hand positions (improving ease of operation) and simultaneously function as safety interlocks (improving reliability). Each trigger segment is designed so that intentional pressing activates the mixer while accidental contact does not, combining safety and convenience in a single component
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion mixer includes: a housing; a drive motor residing within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; blades attached to and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle including a first segment and a second segment attached to the first segment and to the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor. The trigger includes a first segment that is generally parallel with the first segment of the handle and a second segment that is generally parallel with the second segment of the handle. Engagement by a user of either the first segment of the trigger or the second segment of the trigger causes the drive motor to rotate the shaft and blades.