Stepped Blender Container for Small-Quantity Mixing Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blender containers are unstable, inefficient in mixing small quantities of food, and difficult to clean due to their design features such as off-center tools, vertical ribs, and lateral outgrowths, leading to uneven mixing and increased load on the rotating tool.

Innovation Solution

A blender container with a bottom featuring a lower part and a raised part forming a step with an inclined surface, an off-center rotary tool, and a smooth, rib-free casing that creates a vortex for efficient mixing and reduces the load on the motor, while being easy to clean.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the container has a lateral outgrowth cantilevered relative to the bottom, then the container structure is simplified, but the container becomes unstable when placed on a table

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer structureVSAvoidcontainer stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by designing the bottom of the container with a stepped structure that pre-establishes a stable base configuration. The first bottom portion extends farther than the second bottom portion, creating an inherent stability advantage before the container is even placed on the surface, thus preventing instability issues from arising in the first place

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the container has vertical internal ribs to disturb circular flow, then food mixing is improved, but the container becomes difficult to clean due to nooks where food agglomerates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood mixing efficiencyVSAvoidcleanability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by completely removing the vertical internal ribs from the container design. Instead of using ribs to disturb circular flow, the invention relies on the off-center rotary tool and the stepped bottom structure to create effective mixing patterns, thereby eliminating the cleaning difficulty associated with rib nooks while maintaining mixing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Power

If the container wall is far from the tool in the zone around the tool, then the tool has reduced load, but small quantities of food are expelled quickly outside the working area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool loadVSAvoidmixing efficiency for small quantities
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different bottom heights in different zones of the container. The first bottom portion extends farther than the second bottom portion, creating a localized containment area around the rotary tool. This stepped configuration provides better containment for small quantities of food in the working zone while maintaining adequate clearance to reduce tool load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If numerous ribs are provided in the container, then food flow is disturbed for better mixing, but the base of the ribs forms nooks that are difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood mixingVSAvoidcleaning difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by completely removing the vertical internal ribs from the container design. Instead of using ribs to disturb circular flow, the invention relies on the off-center rotary tool and the stepped bottom structure to create effective mixing patterns, thereby eliminating the cleaning difficulty associated with rib nooks while maintaining mixing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 container achieves progressive mixing with low power consumption, efficiently handles small quantities, and is stable and easy to clean, preventing food from being expelled outside the mixing area and reducing the load on the tool.

Implementation Method 1

creates a vortex for efficient mixing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

the raised part having a surface inclined in the direction of the lower part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2071989B1Work container for a household cooking appliance and appliance equipped with such a container
Publication Date: 2013.07.24 SEB SA
  • EP2071989B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2071989B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The container has a cover (54) defining a food processing volume above a base (50) of the container and with a rotation tool (6) driven in rotation by a motor (10), where the tool has a lower blade (61) extending near the base. The base has a bottom part (51) receiving the tool and an elevated part (52) forming a step. The elevated part presents a surface inclined in a direction of the bottom part and extending at a level higher than that of the blade. The tool is off-centered in the base, where the parts of the base are connected by a curved surface (53) having an inflection point (A).