Wire-Frame Mixing Insert for Homogeneous Foam in Stirrer Bowls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing inserts for kitchen appliances fail to achieve homogeneous foam formation, particularly with higher viscosity materials, and often result in inefficient whipping and frothing of cream, egg whites, and milk due to their design limitations.
Innovation Solution
The mixing insert features wire-shaped mixing elements extending vertically from a radial blade element, supported by angled bracket arms, which maintain a small vertical distance from the mixing bowl bottom and extend radially to cover the entire inner radius, allowing for effective whipping and frothing by minimizing splashing and incorporating heat for milk frothing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If mixing elements have a large projected area in the direction of rotation, then mixing coverage is improved, but whipping efficiency deteriorates particularly for high viscosity materials
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing insert is segmented into multiple wire-shaped mixing elements arranged in a lattice structure, where each thin wire provides sufficient mixing coverage without the excessive projected area of solid plates, thereby maintaining whipping efficiency while achieving homogeneous foam formation
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice structure creates a porous arrangement of mixing elements with significant free space between wires, reducing the effective projected area that contacts the medium while maintaining adequate mixing coverage through the distributed wire configuration
2Productivity
If mixing elements are positioned close to the bottom of the mixing bowl, then whipping of cream and egg whites is improved, but risk of burning increases when heat is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The blade element running radially close to the bowl bottom acts as an intermediary that agitates the medium near the heat source without directly contacting it, while the wire-shaped mixing elements positioned slightly above handle the primary whipping function, separating the heating agitation from the foam formation function
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the mixing insert have different functions: the blade element near the bottom provides localized agitation for heat distribution and prevents burning, while the wire-shaped mixing elements above provide the primary whipping action, creating local quality differentiation to resolve the contradiction
3Productivity
If mixing elements extend vertically upwards from the bottom, then foam formation is improved, but medium splashes radially outwards against the pot wall
Solution Approach 1:
The wire-shaped mixing elements function as thin linear structures that agitate the medium vertically for foam formation while their slender profile and lattice arrangement minimize the horizontal force transmission that causes radial splashing against the pot wall
4Productivity
If mixing elements have sufficient vertical length to extend beyond the medium surface, then whipping effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wire-shaped mixing elements are merged into a single lattice structure that can be manufactured as one piece using injection molding, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the vertical extension needed for effective whipping beyond the medium surface
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
This design enhances the production of homogeneous foams, effectively whipping cream and egg whites while preventing splashing and burning, and efficiently frothing milk by maintaining the medium within the mixing path and introducing air through specific mixing element configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The radially extending mixing elements of the mixing insert are wire-shaped, with adjacent mixing elements leaving free intermediate spaces. These mixing elements support the whipping of the cream or egg whites and are also used to produce milk froth.
Implementation Method 2
The mixing elements, which are particularly effective when foaming milk, split the milk or the medium to be foamed and add air to it.
Implementation Method 3
further burning of the medium being counteracted in the case of the production of milk froth with a corresponding supply of heat, preferably via the bottom of the mixing bowl.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a mixing insert (13) for a mixing bowl (5) of an electric motor-driven kitchen appliance (1), in particular for plug-in mounting preferably on a driven blade set (7) of the mixing bowl (5), with radially and/or axially extending mixing elements (16 ). In order to further develop a mixing insert of the type in question in such a favorable manner that it can be used to achieve an improved, homogeneous foam, it is proposed that a mixing element (16) be acted upon with a changeable effective surface. In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the mixing insert (13) has two push-on areas (32, 32') axially opposite one another. In an alternative embodiment, one or more mixing elements (16) are enclosed between horizontally running, vertically spaced, circular plate parts (33) whose axis of rotation is the axis of rotation (x) of the agitator (6).