Kneading Tool Pivoting With Integrated Pinch Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Kneading machines pose safety hazards due to the risk of limb entrapment and injury during the pivoting of the kneading tool, particularly with open-concept designs, where the tool swings into the vat, and existing safety measures are either costly or insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A kneading machine with a safety device featuring a first safety ring that protrudes beyond the lid and is movably attached, detecting relative movement to reverse the motor direction, combined with additional anti-trapping devices for journal bearings, ensuring obstacle detection and prevention of pinching, utilizing a cost-effective design with stainless steel components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety ring is provided to prevent limb entrapment between the kneading tub and lid, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into a single integrated safety ring structure. The safety ring simultaneously prevents limb entrapment between the kneading tub and lid, and protects against pinching at the journal bearings, eliminating the need for separate safety devices for each hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety ring is designed as a multi-functional component that serves multiple protective purposes: it acts as a physical barrier against limb entrapment, provides detection surface for obstacle detection, and extends to protect journal bearings from pinching, thereby replacing multiple specialized safety components.
2Reliability
If additional safety rings are added for journal bearing protection, then safety is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety ring structure is designed as a single integrated component that simultaneously protects multiple hazard points including the journal bearings, eliminating the need to manufacture and assemble multiple separate safety rings, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining comprehensive protection.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the safety ring protrudes beyond the cover to detect obstacles, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The obstacle detection function is merged into the existing safety ring structure by extending it to protrude beyond the cover. This integration allows the safety ring to simultaneously serve as both a physical protective barrier and an obstacle detection element, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms.
4Ease of manufacture
If a cost-effective safety solution is implemented for open-concept kneading machines, then ease of manufacture is improved, but safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cost-effective safety solution by using a single integrated safety ring structure that combines multiple protective functions, reducing the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled while providing comprehensive safety coverage for all identified hazard points in open-concept kneading machines.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a kneading machine (1) for food doughs comprising a kneading machine frame (2) with a lower part (4) and a head part (3) movable relative to the lower part (4) between a lower operating position and an upper cleaning position, wherein a kneading bowl (8) is arranged on the lower part (4) and a driven kneading tool (5) and a lid (7) closing an opening of the kneading bowl (8) in the operating position are arranged on the head part (3), wherein the lid (7) is circumferentially surrounded by a first safety ring (18) of a safety device (15), which projects beyond the underside of the lid (7) and is movably attached to the lid (7), wherein the safety device (15) has a detection device that detects a relative movement between the lid (7) and the first safety ring (18), and wherein the kneading machine frame (2) has at least two pivot bearings (14).each bearing element (12) is formed from a pin and a corresponding receptacle (13), with one bearing element (12) being formed on the lower part (4) and the other bearing element (13) on the head part (3), such that they interlock in the lower operating position and secure the position of the head part (3) relative to the lower part (4). The first safety ring (18) is formed in one piece with a pinch guard for the at least two pin bearings (14).