Shaft-Free Noodle Processor With Multi-Unit Safety Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors are limited by design constraints, requiring separate appliances for different functions, and pose safety hazards due to exposed blades during operation, with traditional noodle makers producing unsatisfactory and non-uniform vegetable strips.
Innovation Solution
A versatile food processing system with a motor base and top-mounted units that engage via motor couplings for varying speeds and safety mechanisms, ensuring safe operation by locking the motor only when the processing unit is closed, and a shaft-free design for improved noodle and strip quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common motor base is used for different food processing units, then device complexity is reduced and versatility is improved, but the functionality of each processing unit is restricted by the motor base design
Solution Approach 1:
The motor base is designed with multiple motor couplings (first, second, and third motor couplings) that can interface with different types of top-mounted food processing units (noodle-making vessel, blending vessel, slicing unit). This universal interface design allows a single motor base to support multiple processing functions through different attachable units, resolving the contradiction between versatility and functionality restriction.
2Ease of operation
If the motor allows operation with exposed blades, then ease of operation is improved, but safety hazards increase due to potential contact with fast moving blades
Solution Approach 1:
The safety actuator mechanism requires preliminary action - the user must close the protective enclosure (lid) before the motor can be activated. The safety actuator is positioned such that closing the lid engages it, which then enables motor operation. This preliminary safety check prevents accidental operation with exposed blades while maintaining ease of operation through an intuitive closed-loop design.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional noodle makers use a shaft-based design, then structural simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to friction and clumping affecting strip uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central shaft component from the noodle-making vessel design. Instead of using a shaft to rotate the cutting blades, the system uses a shaft-free mechanism where blades are rotated through alternative means (such as direct motor coupling to the blade assembly). This extraction of the shaft eliminates the friction and clumping problems that affected strip uniformity, while the overall structure remains simple through direct drive mechanisms.
4Reliability
If multiple safety actuators are implemented in the motor base, then reliability is improved through enhanced safety mechanisms, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple safety actuators are merged into a single integrated safety mechanism system within the motor base. The first and second safety actuators are positioned at different locations but are functionally combined through the motor coupling system - engagement of either actuator by a properly closed lid enables motor operation. This merging approach enhances reliability through redundant safety checks while avoiding the complexity of completely separate safety systems.
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 system provides a safe and versatile solution for various food processing tasks, ensuring high-quality noodle and vegetable strip production by utilizing different motor couplings for speed and a shaft-free design to prevent friction and clumping.
Implementation Method 1
The motor couplings are driven by a planetary gear system at different driving speeds
Data Source
AI summary
A versatile food processing system that can work with plurality of top-mounted food processing units of different types and sizes is disclosed. The motor base of the food processing system has a locking mechanism and safety actuators at different radial locations so that food processing units of different sizes can utilities the safety mechanism. One particular processing unit is especially useful for making noodles and vegetable strips. The processing unit comprises a stationary outer vessel and a rotating inner vessel. Blades are located on an inner lid of the inner vessel. The inner vessel spins in unison with the inner lid without a central shaft to avoid harm caused by the shaft to the quality of the resulting noodles.