Kneading Machine Scraping Implement Dough Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Kneading machines, particularly those with vertical configurations, face issues where dough tends to wrap around and penetrate into mechanical parts due to rotation, leading to premature wear of components like bearings and uneven kneading.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a kneading machine design featuring a surface on the kneading implements with a frustoconical shape and a scraping blade made of anti-friction plastic, which increases distance from the axis of rotation and includes a scraping implement to intercept and redirect dough back into the kneading zone, preventing penetration and ensuring uniform kneading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the kneading implements rotate at high speed to improve productivity, then the kneading efficiency increases, but the dough winds around and penetrates into the mechanical parts causing premature wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekneading efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful factor (dough) is extracted from the mechanical system by introducing a scraping blade that removes dough from the kneading implement surface, preventing it from penetrating into bearings and mechanical parts while allowing continuous high-speed rotation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A scraping blade acts as an intermediary element between the kneading implement and the dough, intercepting the dough before it can reach the mechanical parts and redirecting it back into the kneading zone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the kneading implements rotate to mix the dough, then the kneading process is effective, but the dough climbs up and twists around the implements reducing kneading quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekneading qualityVSAvoiddough distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The improperly kneaded dough (climbing and twisting portion) is extracted from the kneading implement surface by the scraping blade and removed from the harmful zone, ensuring only properly kneaded dough remains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping blade causes the dough to be redirected back into the kneading zone by its own rotational motion, utilizing the system's own kinetic energy to restore proper dough distribution without additional mechanical intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3420821B1Kneading machine
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 SANCASSIANO
  • EP3420821B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3420821B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3420821B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Described herein is a kneading machine comprising a head assembly (16) provided with at least one kneading implement (18) rotating about an axis of rotation, wherein said assembly comprises an internal housing for housing the means for driving said kneading implement and defines a surface (S) that is transverse to said axis of rotation and separates the working space of said kneading implement from said internal housing. The machine is characterized in that: - said kneading implement (18) has, at its end portion closest to said surface, a surface (18a) that faces said surface (S) and extends about said axis of rotation with a development such that, for each radial direction, its distance from said surface (S) increases as the distance from said axis of rotation increases; - set between said surface (18A) and said surface (S) is at least one scraping implement (26), which is mounted fixed on said head assembly (16) and is prearranged for engaging said surface (18a) according to a sliding contact.