Micro Puree Lid Clip Release for Removable Blade Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen devices for making frozen foods and drinks are either impractical for home use due to their size, complexity, and cost, or require excessive time and effort, while micro-puree machines are commercial-grade and not suitable for everyday consumption.
Innovation Solution
A compact kitchen device with a gearbox assembly, drive motor, and position motor that enables vertical movement of a rotating blade assembly for efficient processing of food ingredients, featuring a disposable bowl and improved blade design with alternating grooves for enhanced cutting efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If commercial-grade micro-puree machines are used, then processing efficiency and capability are improved, but device size, weight, and complexity increase making them impractical for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: a base unit containing the motor and gearbox assembly, and a separate bowl assembly that can be easily attached and detached. This segmentation allows the complex processing mechanism to be isolated in a compact base while keeping the bowl simple and user-friendly, resolving the contradiction between processing efficiency and overall device complexity for home use
Solution Approach 2:
The complex motor and gearbox assembly is extracted into a separate base unit, leaving the bowl assembly simple and lightweight. This extraction allows the home device to achieve commercial-grade processing capability in the base while keeping the user-interaction portion (bowl) simple and practical for everyday home use
2Productivity
If commercial-grade micro-puree machines are used, then processing capability is improved, but device size and weight increase making them cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into a heavy base unit (containing motor and gearbox) and a lighter bowl assembly, the overall weight distribution becomes more manageable for home use. The bowl can be easily handled and removed by users while the base remains stationary, resolving the contradiction between processing capability and device weight
Solution Approach 2:
The heavy motor and gearbox components are extracted into the base, allowing the bowl assembly to be lightweight and easy to handle. This extraction resolves the contradiction by concentrating weight in the stationary base while keeping the movable bowl portion lightweight for home use
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ice cream making machines are used, then frozen desserts can be made, but time and effort required by user increase
Solution Approach 1:
Ingredients are pre-frozen in the bowl before the processing operation. This preliminary freezing action eliminates the need for the machine to freeze ingredients during operation, significantly reducing the time and effort required compared to traditional ice cream makers that must simultaneously churn and freeze
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly dynamically moves between retracted and plunged positions during operation. This dynamic movement allows the blade to efficiently process pre-frozen ingredients through a plunge-cutting action rather than continuous churning, reducing processing time and user intervention while maintaining frozen dessert capability
4Productivity
If commercial-grade micro-puree machines are used, then processing efficiency is improved, but cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Segmenting the device into a permanent base unit and a removable bowl assembly allows the complex motor and gearbox to be manufactured once and reused, while the simple bowl can be easily replaced or cleaned. This segmentation reduces overall manufacturing cost and simplifies maintenance compared to fully integrated commercial machines
Solution Approach 2:
The bowl assembly is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced or cleaned, unlike expensive commercial machine parts. This approach reduces maintenance costs and complexity while maintaining processing efficiency through the durable base unit
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides efficient and practical processing of frozen ingredients for home use, reducing time and effort, and is designed for versatility in preparing various frozen desserts and non-dessert foods, offering a cost-effective and user-friendly solution.
Implementation Method 1
a drive motor assembly, as well as a position motor. The position motor enables vertical movement of the gearbox assembly and drive motor assembly. The drive motor assembly provides power to a power shaft and coupling connected to a rotating blade assembly
Implementation Method 2
The position motor enables vertical movement of the gearbox assembly and drive motor assembly
Implementation Method 3
a rotating blade assembly that engages with ingredients for processing
Data Source
AI summary
A lid assembly for use with a micro puree machine including a lid, a clip mechanism, and a release mechanism. The defines an axis. The clip mechanism is movable between an inward position and an outward position relative to the axis of the lid. The release mechanism is positionable relative to the clip mechanism between a home position and a release position and is operable to move the clip mechanism between the inward position and the outward position. At times the release mechanism is positioned toward the home position, the clip mechanism is moved toward the inward position. At times the release mechanism is positioned toward the release position, the clip mechanism is moved toward the outward position. The clip lever is operable to cause the clip mechanism to engage with or disengage from the blade assembly during installation and removal of bowl assembly from a micro puree machine.