Lid-Mounted Thickness Adjustment for Food Processor Cutting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors lack an efficient mechanism for adjusting the cutting thickness of food items during processing, limiting user control over the thickness of cut products.
Innovation Solution
A food processor design featuring a cutting assembly with a rotating disk and cutting blade that is upwardly and downwardly movable, driven by a motor, and an adjustment assembly with an actuator and user-operated control device, allowing for manual adjustment of the cutting thickness by rotating the disk relative to the blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting thickness is fixed in existing food processors, then the device structure is simple, but the user control over thickness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the rotating disk can be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the cutting blade to change cutting thickness. The actuator assembly with control device positioned above the lid allows users to adjust the cutting position dynamically during operation, transforming a static cutting system into a dynamic one that adapts to different thickness requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user's control input and the rotating disk positioning. The control device positioned above the lid transmits mechanical force through the actuator to move the rotating disk, providing a convenient interface that mediates between user intent and the actual cutting adjustment without requiring disassembly or complex internal mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the rotating disk is made movable to adjust cutting thickness, then user control is enhanced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the cutting blade, the movable rotating disk, and the actuator assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the rotating disk can move freely for thickness adjustment while the actuator provides controlled actuation, simplifying the overall design by dividing the adjustment function into manageable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the mechanical force to move the rotating disk, maintains the rotating disk in the desired position during cutting, and can be operated through the control device above the lid. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate mechanisms, thereby managing complexity while enhancing ease of operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the adjustment mechanism is integrated into the lid, then space is saved, but the lid structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is merged with the lid structure, where the actuator assembly is positioned within or attached to the lid and the control device is integrated into the lid's upper surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate adjustment housings or external control mechanisms, saving space while the modular integration keeps the lid structure manageable through functional consolidation.
Data Source
AI summary
A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. The food processor includes an adjustment assembly that is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.