Apparatus and method for homogenizing a food product
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apparatus that can efficiently mix non-homogenized food products without opening the container and maintain homogenization in a cool environment to prevent separation, as many food products tend to separate over time, especially when left at room temperature.
Innovation Solution
A mixing apparatus with a housing and rotatable rollers powered by a motor and battery, which rotates the container to mix the food product, allowing for operation within an enclosed space like a refrigerator without an external power source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mixing apparatus is placed in a cool location like a refrigerator to prevent separation, then the food product remains homogenized longer, but the apparatus requires an external power source which complicates its portability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power source (battery) and motor directly into the mixing apparatus housing, merging the power supply system with the mixing mechanism. This integration eliminates the need for external power connections, enabling the apparatus to be placed in cool locations like refrigerators while maintaining portability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses an internal battery-powered motor to rotate the container automatically, making the mixing process self-service without requiring external power sources or manual intervention. The self-contained power system allows the apparatus to operate independently in any location, including refrigerators.
2Productivity
If the container is rotated to mix the food product, then the mixing effectiveness is improved, but the apparatus size increases due to the addition of motor and power source components
Solution Approach 1:
The motor and battery are nested within the housing of the mixing apparatus, with the motor positioned to directly drive the container rotation mechanism. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall apparatus volume by efficiently packing the power and drive components within the existing structural envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus utilizes vertical space by positioning the motor and battery in a compact arrangement that leverages the height dimension of the housing. The container rotation axis is oriented to maximize mixing effectiveness while minimizing the horizontal footprint of the apparatus.
3Device complexity
If the motor and power source are enclosed within the housing, then the apparatus becomes more compact and portable, but the heat generation from the motor may affect the food product temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat generation issue from the food storage space by positioning the motor and battery in a separate compartment or location within the housing that is thermally isolated from the container. This separation prevents motor heat from transferring to the food product while maintaining apparatus compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure acts as an intermediary thermal barrier between the motor and the food container. The housing materials and internal layout are designed to minimize thermal coupling, allowing the motor to operate within the compact housing without significantly heating the food product.
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 apparatus effectively mixes non-homogenized food products within their containers, minimizing size and requiring no external power, ensuring the mixed state is maintained even in cool environments by rotating the container to prevent re-separation.
Implementation Method 1
a motor positioned in the cavity and enclosed within the housing, the motor operatively coupled to a first roller of the pair of rollers and configured to drive the first roller to rotate
Implementation Method 2
The motor is operatively coupleable to a power source to drive the first roller of the pair of rollers
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing apparatus includes a housing that includes a first end wall, a second end wall, and a top wall that at least partially define a cavity of the housing. The apparatus also includes a pair of rollers extending from the first end wall to the second end wall and coupled to the housing such that each roller is rotatable relative to the housing. The apparatus also includes a motor positioned in the cavity and enclosed within the housing, the motor operatively coupled to a first roller of the pair of rollers and configured to drive the first roller to rotate for rotating the container. The motor is operatively coupleable to a power source to drive the first roller of the pair of rollers.