Spindle Mixer Shaft Actuation for Sanitary One-Handed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spindle mixers are inconvenient to operate and difficult to clean due to exposed switches and components that can become contaminated with food or drink products, complicating the mixing process and requiring additional cleaning efforts.
Innovation Solution
A spindle mixer design where the mixer motor is activated by manual displacement of the spindle shaft, with all switches and components housed internally, allowing one-handed operation and preventing direct contact with food or drink, and featuring a separate manual on-off switch for bypassing the spindle-actuated motor switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If exposed switches and components are used for motor activation, then the device can be operated manually, but the switches become contaminated with food or drink products, complicating cleaning and reducing sanitation
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism is nested within the motor housing, which is itself enclosed in the mixer housing. The spindle shaft passes through the housing to allow external manipulation while the switch remains internally protected. This nested arrangement allows the switch to be actuated from the outside while remaining contaminated-free inside the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle shaft acts as an intermediary element that transmits mechanical displacement from the external environment to the internal switch mechanism. By manipulating the spindle shaft externally, the user can actuate the switch without direct contact with the switch itself, preventing contamination while maintaining manual operation capability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple components (switches, cup guides, brackets) are exposed for operation, then the mixer can be controlled, but the cleaning process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism is extracted from the external environment and placed entirely within the enclosed housing. This extraction removes the switch from the cleaning zone, allowing the housing to be cleaned as a single smooth surface without disassembling or special attention to exposed switch components.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch housing is merged with the motor housing and the main mixer housing, creating a unified enclosed structure. This merging eliminates separate exposed components that would require separate cleaning, allowing the entire control mechanism to be cleaned by simply washing the external housing surface.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the motor is enclosed in housing to prevent contamination, then sanitation is improved, but manual activation of the motor becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented with a dedicated aperture or opening that allows the spindle shaft to extend outward for manipulation while the rest of the motor and switch remain enclosed. This segmentation maintains the protective enclosure while providing a controlled access point for manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle shaft serves as an intermediary that bridges the enclosed motor housing and the external operating environment. It transmits user input (manual displacement) to the internal switch mechanism without requiring the housing to be open or the switch to be exposed, thus maintaining both sanitation and ease of operation.
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 design enables easy operation and cleaning by eliminating direct contact with switches and reducing contamination risks, making the spindle mixer more user-friendly and sanitary compared to conventional models.
Implementation Method 1
The mixer motor is activated by manual displacement of the spindle shaft
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed apparatus, system and method relate to a shaft-actuated spindle mixer where the spindle mixer includes a motor and at least one motor switch enclosed in a mixer housing. A spindle shaft extends from the housing and is mechanically connected to the motor. The motor is mounted to a moveable mixer component such that the spindle shaft can be displaced to thereby causing the associated movement of the enclosed motor and moveable mixer component to which the motor is mounted. Movement of the movable mixer component actuates a switch. Actuating the switch causes the selective activation of the mixer motor. Activating the mixer motor rotates the spindle shaft. The disclosed apparatus and method provide for the optional one-handed operation of a spindle mixer, eliminate the need for a user or a cup to directly contact a switch to engage the spindle mixer, and further provides for the sanitary operation of a spindle mixer.