Shaftless Noodle Processor With Universal Safety-Locking Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors with top-mounted processing units are limited by a common motor base, leading to restricted functionality and safety concerns due to exposed blades, and traditional noodle makers produce unsatisfactory and non-uniform vegetable strips.
Innovation Solution
A versatile food processor with a motor base featuring differentially rotating motor couplings and safety actuators that securely mount and activate safety mechanisms for various top-mounted units, preventing operation without a closed protective enclosure, and a design without a central shaft in the processing vessel to improve noodle and strip quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common motor base is used for multiple food processing units, then device complexity is reduced and versatility is improved, but functionality of individual units is restricted and safety control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The motor base is designed with universal motor couplings that can interface with different types of food processing units (blenders, mixers, slicers, noodle makers) through a standardized mounting interface, allowing one base to perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into a common motor base and interchangeable top-mounted processing units, with the safety mechanism segmented into independent actuators that can be selectively engaged by different units
2Ease of operation
If blades are exposed for easy loading, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is worsened due to risk of accidental contact
Solution Approach 1:
The safety actuator is positioned to be automatically engaged when the processing unit is mounted on the motor base, preliminarily ensuring safety before operation begins. The system requires safety confirmation before enabling motor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A safety actuator mechanism serves as an intermediary between the processing unit and motor operation, requiring positive engagement to enable the motor to run, thus mediating between ease of loading and safety protection
3Stability of the object's composition
If a central shaft is used in the processing vessel, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to friction and interference with noodle/strip quality
Solution Approach 1:
The central shaft is completely removed from the processing vessel design. Instead, the vessel is supported by the motor base coupling mechanism, eliminating the shaft that caused friction and interference with noodle and strip production quality
Data Source
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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.