Quick-Release Mixing Hook Sealing for Viscous Ingredients

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliance mixing arrangements are inefficient for handling high viscosity ingredients, complex in construction, and time-consuming for assembly, disassembly, and cleaning, with issues related to leakage and tool-dependent attachment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance mixing arrangement featuring an open-top mixing container with a through hole for a drive arrangement and a hook that rotates horizontally, utilizing a quick-release-hook-attachment mechanism and sealing to prevent leakage, allowing easy attachment and detachment of the hook without tools, and facilitating easy cleaning and ingredient addition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a through hole is provided in the mixing container for the drive arrangement, then the hook can be rotated within the mixing container, but ingredients may escape through the through hole causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehook rotationVSAvoidingredient leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive arrangement and the mixing container wall. This sealing element prevents ingredient leakage through the through hole while allowing the drive arrangement to rotate the hook, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling hook rotation and preventing ingredient escape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a complex attachment mechanism is used to secure the hook to the drive arrangement, then the connection is strong and reliable, but assembly and disassembly become time-consuming and tool-dependent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehook attachment strengthVSAvoidassembly and disassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is segmented into modular components including a quick-release coupling system with separate locking and releasing elements. This segmentation allows the hook to be securely attached during operation while enabling rapid tool-free detachment when needed, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and assembly speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism incorporates dynamic elements such as spring-loaded locking pins or bayonet-style couplings that automatically engage during attachment and can be quickly released with a simple motion. This dynamic design provides strong secure connection during mixing while allowing rapid disassembly without tools, addressing both reliability and time efficiency requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the hook is permanently attached to the drive arrangement, then the connection is strong, but cleaning and hook replacement become difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidcleaning and maintenance ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent attachment is replaced with a segmented detachable connection system that maintains strong connection during operation but allows easy separation for cleaning and maintenance. The quick-release mechanism enables the hook to be firmly secured during mixing while being easily detached for thorough cleaning or replacement, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and maintenance ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3164039B1Household appliance mixing arrangement
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP3164039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3164039B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3164039B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A household appliance mixing arrangement (1) is provided. The household appliance mixing arrangement (1) comprises an open top mixing container (2), a hook (3) and a drive arrangement (4). The mixing container (2) comprises a side wall portion (2a) with a through hole (2b) for the drive arrangement (4) and the hook (3) is arranged to be rotatable around an axis of rotation (A) within the mixing container (2) via the drive arrangement (4). The household appliance mixing arrangement (1)comprises a sealing (5) arranged between the drive arrangement (4) and the side wall portion (2a) of the mixing container (2), and in that the drive arrangement (4) comprises a quick-release- hook-attachment arrangement (4a) to which the hook (3) is attachable.