Beverage foamer and articulating drive coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blending systems, such as frothers and foamers, face challenges in achieving consistent and duplicable blends, often resulting in inconsistent frothed products due to user error and the need for manual operation. Additionally, traditional drive couplings have poor tolerances, leading to misalignment and increased noise and vibration.

Innovation Solution

A blending system with a container attachable to a motor base, equipped with firmware logic and sensors to sense ingredients and prevent blending until all necessary ingredients are added. The system includes a frothing device with channels or apertures that force ingredients through for frothing, foaming, or aeration. A flexible drive coupling with a top coupling, locking nut, and bottom capture plate allows for articulation in three dimensions, reducing misalignment and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional drive couplings with poor tolerances are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but misalignment and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive coupling alignmentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible coupling mechanism that incorporates elastic elements and flexible connections between the motor shaft and blending container shaft. This flexible coupling compensates for misalignment through elastic deformation, reducing noise and vibration while maintaining acceptable manufacturing tolerances and costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the drive coupling design by introducing adjustable parameters such as shaft offset capability, flexible connection stiffness, and alignment tolerance ranges. These parameter changes allow the system to accommodate misalignment without requiring high-precision manufacturing, thus reducing costs while improving alignment performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If hand-held whisks are used for frothing, then equipment cost is reduced, but user effort and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated frothing system where the motor-driven blending container automatically performs the frothing action without requiring manual whisking. The system self-regulates the frothing process through programmed blending cycles, eliminating user effort while maintaining equipment simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical whisking action with an automated motor-driven blending system. The motor provides the mechanical energy previously supplied by the user's hand, substituting manual labor with an automated mechanical system that reduces user effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If blending is started before all ingredients are added, then blending time is reduced, but consistency and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblending speedVSAvoidblend consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates sensors that detect the presence of ingredients in the blending container before initiating the blending cycle. The system performs preliminary verification to ensure all required ingredients are present, then automatically starts the blending process. This preliminary action ensures consistency while maintaining productivity through automated detection and immediate subsequent blending

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250134315A1Beverage foamer and articulating drive coupling

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 VITA MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

AI summary

Described is a blending system. The blending system may include frothers, foamers, aerators, and the like. The blending system may include a container selectively attachable to a motor base and including a frothing device. The blending system may include firmware logic and sensors to sense ingredients. The blending system may sense ingredients as they are added to the container, and may prevent blending until all ingredients or the certain quantity of ingredients have been added to the container. The blending system may provide more consistent and duplicable blends and may minimize user judgment or error. The blending system may be used to froth dairy and non-dairy milks or creamers. The blending system may include drive coupling to facilitate a desired fit between a motor drive shaft and a container or other attachment.