Spring-Returned Blade Assembly for Safer Hand-Held Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held food processors often lack sufficient torque and momentum in their blade assemblies, and existing designs require users to manually rearrange blades, exposing them to potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A blade assembly with a hub coupled to a drive shaft, featuring a first blade that rotates between positions and is biased by a coil spring to return to a safe configuration after use, ensuring blades are in phase for optimal momentum and automatic coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a rigid beater is used to process food, then the device can effectively break food skin, but the device lacks sufficient torque and momentum for effective processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the first blade rotatable relative to the hub, allowing it to transition between a first position (aligned with the second blade) and a second position (offset from the second blade). This dynamic configuration enables the blades to achieve optimal momentum during rotation, resolving the contradiction between sufficient torque and processing effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the blade is exposed after use, then the user can access the blade, but the user is exposed to potential hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by automatically returning the first blade to the first position (aligned with the second blade) when the hub ceases to rotate. This preliminary positioning action occurs before the user needs to access or cover the blades, ensuring they are in a safe configuration and reducing the need for manual handling, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety.
3Device complexity
If the blades are not automatically rearranged, then the structure is simpler, but the user must manually touch the blades to cover them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by incorporating a biasing member that automatically returns the first blade to the first position when the hub stops rotating. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual blade rearrangement by the user, reducing exposure to sharp edges while adding only minimal complexity to the device.
4Device complexity
If the first blade is fixed to the hub, then the structure is simpler, but the blade cannot rotate to maximize momentum before confronting food
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the first blade rotatable relative to the hub, allowing it to transition between a first position (aligned with the second blade) and a second position (offset from the second blade). This dynamic configuration enables the blades to achieve optimal momentum during rotation, resolving the contradiction between sufficient torque and processing effectiveness.
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 solution enhances blade momentum for effective food processing and automatically covers the blades, reducing user exposure and improving safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to bias the first blade toward the first position such that, when the hub ceases to rotate after use the first bladed returns to the first position
Implementation Method 2
the biasing member includes a coil spring having a first end and a second end, the coil spring being fixedly coupled to the hub toward the first end and being fixedly coupled to the first blade toward the second end
Data Source
AI summary
A blade assembly for use with a food processor includes a hub configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of the food processor, a first blade rotatably coupled to the hub and configured to rotate with respect to the hub at least up to a predetermined angle with respect to a second blade, which is fixedly coupled to the hub. The first blade is rotatable between a first position in which it is in phase with the second blade for receiving a blade guard protecting both blades, and a second position, in which the first blade is out of phase with the second blade for optimally processing a food item in the food processor, the blade assembly also including a biasing member for returning the first blade to the first position after use.