Kitchen device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors require multiple discs for producing different sizes and types of sliced or striped food products, limiting versatility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen device with a working tool featuring a main disc and a processing disc that can be flipped or rotated to accommodate different processing surfaces and tools, allowing for various operational modes without additional attachments, such as slicing, julienne strips, or different thicknesses, through a snapping or press fit connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple discs are used to produce different sizes and types of sliced or striped food products, then the versatility of the food processor is improved, but the device complexity and the number of parts required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating multiple processing surfaces (slicing surface, julienne surface, grating surface) onto a single disc. The disc can be rotated to bring different surfaces into engagement with the food product, allowing one disc to perform multiple functions that previously required separate discs. This reduces the total number of discs needed while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the rotational dimension of the disc to provide different processing surfaces. By rotating the disc around its central axis, different radially arranged processing surfaces are brought into the working position. This dimensional approach (rotational positioning) allows multiple functions to be accessed without adding radial or axial complexity to the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple discs are purchased to produce different product sizes, then the ability to produce various products is improved, but the loss of time for changing discs and the inconvenience increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single multi-functional disc eliminates the need to physically replace entire discs when changing product types. The user simply rotates the disc to the appropriate surface, which takes significantly less time than detaching and reattaching separate discs. This resolves the time loss issue while maintaining product variety capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The disc is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed in a single orientation. This dynamic characteristic allows the user to quickly switch between different processing surfaces by rotation, providing a time-efficient method to change operational modes without the mechanical complexity of removable disc assemblies.
3Device complexity
If a single working tool with multiple processing surfaces is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for selecting different modes may be worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the selection mechanism intuitive by using rotational movement, which is a natural and easy human motion. The user rotates the disc to bring the desired processing surface into engagement, providing clear tactile and visual feedback. This rotational selection method is simpler than managing multiple separate discs and maintains ease of operation while reducing device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A kitchen device with at least one working tool (1), in which said working tool (1) is provided with a main disc (2) and a corresponding processing disc (3). Said processing disc (3) comprising a top processing surface (31) with a first set of processing tools (32) and a bottom processing surface (33), wherein selection an operational mode of the kitchen device is provided by flipping and/or rotating said processing disc (3) with respect to main disc (2). Thus, the kitchen device can be configurated for preparing variuos types of food product using said working tool in different operational modes.