Interlocking Hand Mixer Tools for Homogeneous Dough Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hand-held kitchen appliances face challenges in efficiently processing mixtures, particularly tough dough, due to the tendency of the mixture to climb and soil the coupling point, requiring excessive effort for cleaning and often resulting in uneven processing and prolonged stirring times.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held kitchen appliance with interlocking tools, featuring a planetary gear system that allows the inner and outer tools to rotate in opposite directions, ensuring a continuous processing action and homogeneous consistency, with the outer tool conveying material to the inner tool for efficient processing and reduced torque requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single rotating kneading tool is used, then the device structure is simple, but the mixture climbs up the tool and bowls walls causing uneven processing and prolonged stirring time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidhomogeneity of mixing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single kneading tool is segmented into two interlocking tools (outer tool and inner tool) that rotate in opposite directions. This segmentation allows the mixture to be processed more effectively without climbing, achieving both faster processing and homogeneous mixing results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of a single tool rotating in one direction, the invention uses two tools rotating in opposite directions. The outer tool rotates in one direction while the inner tool rotates in the opposite direction, preventing the mixture from climbing and ensuring even processing throughout the bowl.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If two coupling points with parallel axes are used to cover maximum area, then mixing homogeneity improves, but the device size increases and handling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of mixingVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inner tool is nested within the outer tool, with the inner tool's axis located inside the outer tool. This nested configuration achieves effective area coverage for homogeneous mixing while maintaining a compact device size that is easy to handle in small processing bowls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the handle is fixed in one position, then the structure is simple, but the appliance cannot be adapted to different uses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage adaptabilityVSAvoidhandle adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned at different angles (e.g., 0° for hand blender mode, 90° for hand mixer mode). This dynamic adjustment capability provides versatility for different uses while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The interlocking tool system enables rapid and high-quality processing of materials, preventing unprocessed areas and reducing the effort needed for handling, while maintaining a compact design for easy handling and cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

A planetary gear with a first drive wheel for the inner tool and a second drive wheel for the outer tool is arranged between the drive and the tools. The torque of the drive motor of the hand kitchen appliance can thus be transferred to the tool system.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear: Epicyclic Gearing

Data Source

PatentEP2394543B1Hand-held kitchen appliance with corresponding tool for food processing
Publication Date: 2013.08.21 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2394543B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2394543B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2394543B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held kitchen appliance (1), in particular a hand blender, in which an output (19) of the hand-held kitchen appliance (1) can be connected to a coupling point (17) for at least one, preferably for two, interlocking tools (20, 20a, 20b). , wherein the intermeshing tools (20, 20a, 20b) are preferably formed by an outer tool (20a) and an inner tool (20b) arranged within the outer tool (20a). With the invention it is advantageously possible for the material to be mixed to remain in the mixing bowl during processing and to be processed there quickly into a mass which is as homogeneous as possible.