Kitchen Control Knob Emergency Stop by Motion Speed Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically operable kitchen appliances require additional, complex, and aesthetically undesirable emergency stop switches to quickly shut off dangerous conditions, such as a rotating cutting blade, which increases costs and compromises ergonomics.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a rotary and/or push button with dual functionality, where the speed and force of axial or rotational movement activate the emergency stop function, eliminating the need for a separate switch by interpreting different input parameters to distinguish between normal operation and emergency shutdown.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate emergency stop switch is installed, then the appliance can be quickly shut off in dangerous situations, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency shutdown capabilityVSAvoidcontrol element installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary element is designed to perform multiple functions: normal operation control (rotational movement) and emergency shutdown (axial displacement). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate emergency stop switch, reducing device complexity while maintaining safety capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The emergency stop function is merged with the existing rotary control element. By combining the normal control function and emergency shutdown function into a single component, the patent reduces the number of separate control elements needed, thereby simplifying the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate emergency stop switch is installed, then the shutdown function is reliable, but the aesthetic appearance and ergonomics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency shutdown capabilityVSAvoidaesthetic and ergonomic quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary element serves dual purposes as both a control mechanism for normal operation and an emergency stop switch, eliminating the need for additional control elements that would compromise aesthetic appearance and ergonomic quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the rotary element is used for both normal control and emergency shutdown, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection precision must be enhanced to distinguish between normal operation and emergency shutdown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol element quantityVSAvoidmovement detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent distinguishes between normal operation and emergency shutdown by detecting different movement parameters: rotational movement for normal control versus axial displacement for emergency shutdown. This parameter-based differentiation allows the system to accurately identify user intent without requiring additional sensors or complex detection mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3247248B1Electrically operatable kitchen device
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3247248B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3247248B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3247248B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrically operatable kitchen device for preparing food by means of one or more effective devices. An effective device can be activated and/or adjusted by a rotary knob and/or push button, and the kitchen device can be deactivated in terms of one or simultaneously more or all of the activated effective devices. The aim of the invention is to provide an electrically operatable kitchen device with an advantageously deactivatable effective device. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the deactivation of the effective device can be triggered depending on the speed at which the rotary knob is moved in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotary knob, in the rotational direction, or in the opposite rotational direction.