Modular Grinding Chamber With Removable Millstone for Easy Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household grinding and screening devices are difficult to clean and maintain, particularly around the driven grinding stone, and lack a simple mechanism for alternative screening operations.

Innovation Solution

A multi-part universal grinding and screening device with a modular structure, featuring a two-part receiving housing with adjustable parts, a deformable elastic insert for easy cleaning, and a sieve attachment that can be easily swapped with the feed hopper, along with a bayonet locking arrangement and spring-loaded mounting for improved adjustability and hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the grinding chamber is made as a single integrated housing, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates due to difficulty in accessing and removing the driven grinding stone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate parts: a stationary housing and a movable housing containing the driven grinding stone. This segmentation allows the movable housing to be easily removed for cleaning while the stationary housing remains intact, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and ease of cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driven grinding stone assembly is extracted as a separate removable component within the movable housing. This allows the grinding stone to be easily accessed and removed for cleaning purposes, while the overall housing structure maintains its integrity when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the millstone adjustment mechanism is made complex to provide precise grinding fineness control, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding fineness controlVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The millstone adjustment mechanism changes the positional parameter of the millstone axially along the drive shaft. By simply moving the millstone to different positions rather than using complex mechanisms, the grinding fineness is controlled while keeping the device relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the housing parts are made fixed and rigid, then the stability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates due to inability to adjust for different screening operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing stabilityVSAvoidoperational adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing the movable housing to be positioned at different locations along the drive shaft. This enables the same device to perform different operations (grinding vs. screening) by changing the housing position, thus achieving adaptability while maintaining stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If additional force-transmitting means are added to the millstone adjustment device, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemillstone positioning precisionVSAvoidadjustment device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force-transmitting means are extracted as a separate, easily replaceable component. This allows the millstone adjustment device to achieve precise positioning without permanently increasing overall device complexity, as the force transmission element can be independently selected and replaced based on precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Facilitates easy cleaning and replacement of parts, enhances user safety for those with allergies, and allows for adjustable grinding fineness without additional force-transmitting means, while maintaining effective grinding performance.

Implementation Method 1

In addition, helical compression springs can be inserted into the openings of the lower housing part in order to ensure spring-loaded mounting of the housing parts that can be adjusted relative to one another and to improve the grinding properties of a device equipped in this way.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2353477B1Multipart universal grinding and/or filter device
Publication Date: 2012.10.24 KOMO
  • EP2353477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2353477B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2353477B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The multipart universal milling- and screening device has a housing-stator part (1) for accommodating an electromotive drive, a milling attachment (2) with a milling stone assembly and a feeding hopper connected with a milling kit. The milling stone assembly of the milling kit is place in a two-piece supporting housing. Both housing pieces are adjusted relative to each other to form a milling gap in the axial direction.