Spiralized attachment for food processor system

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food processors lack versatility and efficiency in slicing and strand formation, particularly in creating continuous slices and elongated strands from food items, which limits their functionality in preparing various culinary products.

Innovation Solution

A spiralizer attachment for kitchen appliances, featuring a rotatable blade plate with adjustable blades and interchangeable cutting surfaces, coupled to a motorized or manually driven rotatable component, which forms continuous slices and further divides them into elongated strands, enhancing the appliance's slicing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a food processor uses standard blades for slicing, then basic slicing function is provided, but it cannot create continuous slices or elongated strands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslicing capabilityVSAvoidblade configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade assembly is segmented into multiple independent blades arranged in a circular pattern, with each blade capable of performing specific cutting functions. The blade stack includes multiple replaceable blades that can be configured in different patterns to achieve various slicing outcomes including continuous slices and strands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade plate assembly serves multiple functions: it can create continuous slices, cut into segments, and form elongated strands depending on the blade configuration. The same basic blade plate structure accommodates different blade arrangements to achieve diverse slicing outcomes, making the device universally applicable for various food preparation needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If manual slicing is performed, then control over slice thickness is achieved, but time consumption and labor effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslicing speedVSAvoidmanual effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The food item itself serves as the guiding element during slicing. As the blade assembly rotates, the food item's own shape and size determine the slicing pattern and continuity, eliminating the need for manual guidance while maintaining consistent results. The system uses the workpiece to guide the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The slicing operation continues uninterrupted as the blade assembly rotates around the food item, creating continuous slices without stopping or repositioning. The rotational motion maintains constant contact between blades and food, ensuring continuous cutting action throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If fixed blade configuration is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adjustability for different strand thicknesses is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrand thickness controlVSAvoidblade adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade assembly incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration of blade positions and orientations. Blades can be moved radially or rotated to change the cutting geometry, enabling adjustment of strand thickness and length while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system controls slicing parameters by changing the physical configuration of blades rather than adding complex control mechanisms. Adjusting blade position, orientation, or replacement with different blades modifies cutting parameters like strand thickness and length, achieving versatility through simple parameter changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3410909B1Spiralized attachment for food processor system
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
  • EP3410909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3410909B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3410909B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A spiralizer attachment (70) for a kitchen appliance includes a body and a rotatable plate (60) associated with the body. The blade plate includes a slot (86) and at least one blade (88). Rotation of the blade plate relative to a food item forms at least one continuous slice of the food item.