Kitchen appliance drive unit, kitchen appliance and attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliance attachments for air flow are typically monodirectional, requiring separate attachments for aeration and vacuum generation, and are unable to deliver a rotary food processing action such as cutting or mixing when used in food storage containers.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen appliance drive unit with a housing, drive mechanism, rotary member, and a fluid pump that can displace fluid in both directions, allowing for a combination of rotary and fluid flow actions, and is configurable for aeration or vacuum suction, with optional directional control and user interface for versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single attachment is used for both aeration and vacuum generation, then device complexity is reduced, but existing attachments are monodirectional and cannot perform both functions
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment is designed with a bidirectional fluid pump that can operate in two modes: aeration mode (delivering fluid from first opening to second opening) and vacuum mode (delivering fluid from second opening to first opening). This allows a single attachment to perform both aeration and vacuum generation functions, eliminating the need for separate attachments for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment incorporates a directional control valve that can dynamically switch the fluid flow direction between two paths. The valve enables the fluid pump to reversibly switch between delivering fluid from the first opening to the second opening (aeration) and from the second opening to the first opening (vacuum), allowing the attachment to adapt its function based on operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate attachments are used for aeration and vacuum generation, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of separate aeration and vacuum attachments into a single unified attachment. The bidirectional fluid pump combines both aeration and vacuum capabilities in one device, and the directional control valve integrates multiple flow paths within a single attachment structure, reducing the total number of attachments needed while maintaining full functional versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If attachments are designed for food storage container use, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but the ability to deliver rotary food processing action is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment is designed to interface with both rotary members and fluid pump mechanisms, enabling it to perform multiple functions: rotary food processing (cutting, mixing, chopping) when engaged with the rotary member, and fluid delivery (aeration or vacuum) when engaged with the fluid pump. This universal design allows the same attachment to serve both food processing and fluid handling applications.
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 a versatile kitchen appliance that can perform both rotary food processing and fluid flow actions, such as aeration or vacuum suction, with a single attachment, increasing its functionality and efficiency in various food processing tasks.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pump driven by the drive mechanism and being fluidly connected to the first and second openings, the fluid pump being arranged, in a first mode of operation, to displace a fluid from the first opening to the second opening, the fluid pump also being arranged, in a second mode of operation, to displace a fluid from the second opening to the first opening
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A kitchen appliance drive unit (10) is disclosed that comprises a housing (11) including a drive mechanism in the housing; a rotary member (31) driven by the drive mechanism, a first opening (13); a second opening (15) and an fluid pump (40) driven by the drive mechanism and being fluidly connected to the first and second openings, the fluid pump being arranged, in a first mode of operation, to displace a fluid from the first opening 5 (13) to the second opening (15), the fluid pump (40) also being arranged, in a second mode of operation, to displace fluid from the second opening (15) to the first opening (13).