Food Processor Lid Interlock for Twist-Free Bowl Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food processors are difficult to assemble and operate due to the need for precise alignment and twisting of parts, making them cumbersome and problematic for disassembly and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen appliance design featuring a housing with a switch mechanism and a bowl that can be easily mounted without twisting, using a safety interlock actuation member that engages when the bowl lid is pressed down, allowing motor actuation without requiring complex alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional food processors use twist assemblies and screw mechanisms for attaching components, then the structural integrity and secure connection are improved, but the ease of assembly and operation deteriorates due to difficult alignment and cumbersome twisting motions
Solution Approach 1:
The bowl lid is segmented with multiple flanges that can be independently positioned, allowing the user to simply place the lid onto the bowl without twisting. The flanges engage with corresponding features on the bowl to provide secure connection while eliminating the need for rotational assembly motions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to actively twist and tighten components together, the design allows components to be passively assembled by simply placing them in position. The secure connection is achieved through the interaction of flanges and corresponding features that automatically engage when the lid is placed on the bowl, reversing the conventional active twisting motion.
2Reliability
If conventional food processors use tight-fitting components for secure assembly, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the ease of disassembly for cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism transitions from a static tight-fitting design to a dynamic one where flanges can be easily engaged and disengaged. The flanges provide secure connection during operation but allow for simple one-handed disassembly by lifting the lid off the bowl, facilitating easy access for cleaning without compromising connection reliability during use.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional food processors require precise alignment of parts during assembly, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases making the structure more difficult to utilize
Solution Approach 1:
The flanges are designed with asymmetric shapes that guide proper orientation during placement, eliminating the need for precise alignment. The asymmetric features naturally orient the lid correctly as it is placed on the bowl, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining proper component alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange geometry is pre-configured to automatically align and engage with corresponding features on the bowl when the lid is placed on top. This preliminary design of the engagement features ensures proper alignment occurs automatically during assembly, eliminating the need for user intervention to achieve precise positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen appliance includes a housing enclosing a motor and a switch mechanism. A bowl is removably mountable onto the housing. At least one actuation member is movable between a first position and a second position. A bowl lid is removably mountable onto the upper rim of the bowl. When the bowl lid is properly positioned onto the upper rim of the bowl, the motor is actuated or permitted to be actuated by pressing downwardly on the lid such that at least a portion of one of a plurality of flanges of the bowl contacts at least a portion of the actuation member to force the actuation member to the second position.