Spice Grinder Shutter Mechanism for Adjustable Grinding Fineness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spice grinders lack an efficient mechanism to adjust the fineness of ground spices, as the adjustment of the grinding gap is not precise and user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A spice grinder design featuring a serrated grinding sleeve with internally configured flats and an annular shutter that allows arcuate movement, enabling the variation of passageway area for ground spices, combined with a rotatable component having cone-shaped teeth for precise grinding control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If axial displacement of conical components is used to adjust grinding gap, then grinding fineness can be adjusted, but the adjustment mechanism becomes complex and less user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static axial displacement mechanism into a dynamic rotational adjustment system. The shutter rotates about the grinder axis to adjust the passageway area, replacing the complex axial movement of conical components with a simpler rotational motion that is more user-friendly while achieving the same grinding fineness control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the adjustment dimension from axial (linear) movement to radial (rotational) movement. Instead of moving components along the grinder axis to change the grinding gap, the shutter rotates to vary the passageway area in the radial direction, providing a more intuitive and easier adjustment mechanism.
2Manufacturing precision
If conical components with axial displacement are used, then grinding gap width can be adjusted, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from the grinding components themselves and places it in a separate shutter mechanism. Instead of requiring the grinding components to move axially to adjust the gap, the shutter independently rotates to control the passageway area, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining precise grinding control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the static conical component arrangement with a dynamic rotating shutter that can quickly and easily adjust the passageway area. This dynamic adjustment mechanism reduces structural complexity compared to the rigid axial displacement system while providing the same grinding fineness control.
3Reliability
If holes are closed by displacing disc and end plate, then ground spice can be contained, but the mechanism for controlling spice release becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the containment and release control functions into a single shutter mechanism. The same rotating shutter that controls the passageway area for grinding fineness adjustment also controls spice release by opening or closing the passageways, eliminating the need for a separate disc and end plate displacement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter serves multiple functions: it controls both the grinding fineness by adjusting the passageway area and the spice release by opening or closing the passageways. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall mechanism compared to having separate systems for containment and release control.
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
This design allows for adjustable spice fineness with user-friendly operation, ensuring consistent grinding quality and ease of use by varying the passageway size through which ground spices fall, enhancing the precision of spice grinding.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second components including grinding teeth in the gap between which spice corns are ground when the second component is rotated on the first component
Implementation Method 2
the two sets of teeth define a grinding gap... the width of the grinding gap can be adjusted
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The spice grinder (10) disclosed comprises a non-rotatable component (12) which fits on the top of a bottle or other container and a rotatable component (14) which fits onto the component (12). The component (12) has a bore with teeth (24) projecting inwardly from the surface of the bore. The component (14) has teeth (51, 58) and grinding takes place in the grinding gap between these teeth and the teeth (24) when the component (14) is rotated on the component (12). Apertures (60) enable ground spice to fall from the inverted grinder. The grinder also includes a movable shutter (16) which is displacable with respect to the apertures (60) to enable the area of each passageway to be varied.