Stacked Tapered Cutting Tool Storage With Locking Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food preparation appliances require manual manipulation to store and retrieve stacked cutting tools, leading to inefficiencies in storage and handling.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance with a drive base, work accessory, and locking cover that allows cutting tools with a frustoconical shape to be stacked and secured within the appliance, using snap-fastening, screwing, or bayonet locking mechanisms, enabling compact and secure storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If cutting tools are stacked in the magazine of the working accessory, then storage compactness is improved, but the user must lift the body of the box to store or retrieve tools, reducing ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidease of tool storage and retrieval
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two main segments: a stationary drive base containing the motor and control electronics, and a removable working accessory containing the magazine for tool storage. This segmentation allows the magazine with stacked tools to be easily detached and reattached without moving the entire device body, resolving the contradiction between compact storage and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The magazine containing the stacked cutting tools is extracted as a separate removable component from the working accessory. This allows users to easily remove the entire magazine with multiple tools stacked inside for storage or replacement, eliminating the need to manually handle each individual tool or lift the entire device body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a locking cover is used to secure stacked cutting tools, then tool stability during storage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool stability during storageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking cover is merged with the magazine assembly, forming an integrated unit that combines tool storage, stacking, and locking functions. The cover is shaped to match the contours of the stacked tools and includes locking means that engage with the magazine, providing stable tool retention without requiring separate locking mechanisms or increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking cover is designed to nest over the stacked cutting tools in the magazine, with the cover's internal shape complementary to the external shape of the stacked tools. This nested configuration provides stable containment and locking while maintaining a compact, simple structure that does not add significant complexity to the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2159014B1Method for storing cone-shaped or tapered cutting tools in a household cooking appliance and household appliance for implementing this storage method
Publication Date: 2011.03.16 SEB SA
  • EP2159014B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2159014B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2159014B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The appliance (1) has a motor base (2) formed of a case (3) enclosing an electrical driving motor, and a working accessory (5) including a storage place (7) for mounting tapered cutting tools (8', 8'', 8''') e.g. tapered graters. A driving and coupling unit couples and rotatably drives the cutting tools mounted in the storage place of the accessory. A locking cover (16) locks the cutting tools that are stacked against one another in the storage place. The locking cover is provided with a blocking unit e.g. bayonet blocking unit, blocking the locking cover on the working accessory. An independent claim is also included for a method for storing and arranging cutting tools of an electric household appliance.