Hand-Cranked Paint Pot Shaking Device for Dissolvable Color Strip Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paint mixing devices lack an efficient and portable method for manually mixing base paint with dissolvable color strips to produce desired colors, often requiring extensive user rotation and not providing optimal mixing results.

Innovation Solution

A manually-powered paint pot shaking device with a hand-cranked linkage that agitates a paint pot to dissolve colored, dissolvable paint strips, allowing for rapid upward and downward motion to mix base paint with colorants, glitters, or other additives, using a combination of gears and pistons to provide thorough mixing with minimal user effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual paint mixing is performed without a shaking device, then device complexity is reduced, but mixing efficiency and homogeneity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hand-cranked linkage mechanism that converts rotational motion into rapid reciprocating linear motion of the paint pot, creating mechanical vibration and agitation that efficiently mixes paint components. This vibration-based mixing approach achieves homogeneous color distribution without requiring complex automated systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The hand-cranked linkage produces periodic reciprocating motion of the paint pot through a system of gears, crankshafts, and connecting rods. This periodic up-and-down agitation continuously cycles the paint components through mixing zones, ensuring thorough homogenization with each rotation cycle while maintaining simple manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Manufacturing precision

If extensive user rotation is required for mixing, then mixing thoroughness improves, but user effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing thoroughnessVSAvoiduser effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static mixing process into a dynamic one by implementing a hand-cranked linkage that converts simple rotational input into amplified reciprocating motion. The mechanical system dynamically multiplies the mixing action through lever arms and connecting rods, achieving thorough mixing with minimal user rotation effort compared to direct manual stirring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hand-cranked linkage acts as an intermediary mechanical system between the user's rotational input and the paint pot's mixing action. This intermediary mechanism translates and amplifies the user's effort into effective reciprocating agitation, reducing the direct effort and time required while maintaining mixing thoroughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If rapid agitation motion is implemented, then mixing speed improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing speedVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mixing function into distinct mechanical components: a hand-cranked input mechanism, a gear reduction system, a crankshaft-conconnecting rod assembly, and a paint pot harness. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function that contributes to rapid agitation while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes curved mechanical elements including circular gears, a rotating crankshaft, and an oscillating paint pot harness that moves in an arc. These curved geometries transform the user's rotational input into rapid reciprocating linear motion, achieving high mixing speed through smooth continuous motion paths rather than complex multi-axis mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 enables efficient and portable mixing of paint colors by securing a paint pot and agitating it to dissolve color strips, resulting in optimal mixing with minimal user rotation, producing consistent and customizable paint shades.

Implementation Method 1

a hand-cranked linkage that enables the paint-making device to agitate a paint pot harnessed to a portion of the device. For example, based on rotation of the hand-cranked linkage, the harness secures a paint pot as it 'bobs' up and down rapidly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical linkage motion conversion: Crankshaft

Implementation Method 2

utilizing one or more features of a paint pot shaking component... a combination of gears and pistons to provide thorough mixing with minimal user effort

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage through gears: Gear

Implementation Method 3

allowing the base paint solution to dissolve the paint strips and produce a desired color

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3107740B1Paint maker and mixing device
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 CRAYOLA LLC
  • EP3107740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3107740B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3107740B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A mixing and paint-making device and method for making paint are described. Embodiments of the paint-making device include a first and second palette hingedly coupled to a base. The base includes a paint pot shaking component configured to agitate and/or translate a paint pot. The paint pot shaking component includes a series of gears and pistons that interact to produce a shaking motion for a paint pot coupled to the paint pot shaking component. In one embodiment, the paint pot shaking component includes a crank gear adjacent a combination gear that contacts a slide crankshaft. The slide crankshaft is coupled to a slide crank arm that is secured by slide bracket coupled to the base. A paint pot harness holds a paint pot during agitation and moves in an upward and downward motion corresponding to the motion of the slide crank arm.