Vertical Batch Freezer Lid and Collar for Safe Tub Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current batch freezers with horizontal-axis processing tubs are economically unfeasible and unsafe when configured with a vertical processing tub due to the high weight of the closing door, requiring significant user effort and additional safety systems to prevent injury, which increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
A batch freezer with a vertical-axis processing tub featuring a cup-shaped, manually operated movable lid made of plastic, rotating about a horizontal axis, and a containing collar with retractable pins to securely close the tub inlet, allowing for a cost-effective and safe design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal discoidal closing door with guillotine shutter is used to fluid-tightly close the processing tub inlet, then the mixture is successfully retained during creaming process, but the door weight becomes excessively high making the machine economically unfeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The closing door is divided into two functional parts: a lightweight cup-shaped body for covering the inlet and a separate containing collar with retractable pins for securing the mixture. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the cup-shaped body can be made of lighter material while the containing collar provides the necessary sealing function through its pin mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup-shaped body can be manufactured from lighter, less expensive materials compared to traditional metal discoidal doors. The design accepts that the cup-shaped body may require replacement or maintenance, allowing use of more economical materials that reduce overall door weight and manufacturing cost while maintaining functional reliability through the containing collar mechanism.
2Volume of moving object
If the processing tub is positioned vertically on top of the housing, then space utilization is improved, but the closing door weight and user effort to open/close the door increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The containing collar with retractable pins acts as a counterweight mechanism that balances the cup-shaped body during rotation. As the door assembly rotates about the horizontal axis, the retractable pins engage with the processing tub inlet to provide mechanical support, effectively counteracting the weight of the cup-shaped body and reducing the effort required by the user to open or close the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The containing collar serves as an intermediary mechanism between the cup-shaped body and the processing tub inlet. It mediates the interaction by providing a mechanical interface that distributes the weight and force during opening/closing operations, making the system easier to operate while maintaining vertical positioning for space efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If safety systems are added to prevent the door from violently falling on user's fingers, then user safety is improved, but production costs increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The containing collar with retractable pins provides beforehand cushioning by engaging with the processing tub inlet before the cup-shaped body completes its rotation. This mechanical engagement prevents the door assembly from violently falling by distributing the weight and controlling the motion throughout the opening/closing process, inherently providing safety without requiring additional safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly is designed to be self-regulating through the containing collar mechanism. The retractable pins automatically engage and disengage based on the rotation position, providing inherent safety control that prevents dangerous falling without requiring external safety systems. The system serves its own safety function through its mechanical design, reducing production costs.
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 solution reduces production costs and user effort by using a lightweight, gravity-retained lid and collar system, enhancing safety and simplifying the machine's structure while maintaining effective sealing and mixing functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an inner cooling circuit (4) which is able to cool the processing tub (3) and its content to a temperature lower than 0° C.
Implementation Method 2
a mixing member (5) which is rotably mounted within the processing tub (3) so as to be able to uniformly mix the various ingredients during the ice-cream creaming process
Implementation Method 3
The mixing member is further designed so as to be able to scrape the inner cylindrical surface of the processing tub, and possibly also the bottom of the same tub, so as to prevent, during the creaming process, the high viscosity mixture formed within the processing tub from stably adhering to the side wall and to the bottom of the tub
Implementation Method 4
a containing collar (10) provided with a number of retractable pins (12)
Implementation Method 5
a manually displaceable, movable lid (7) which is able to completely close the inlet of the processing tub (3)... rotating about a horizontal axis
Implementation Method 6
A batch freezer with a vertical-axis processing tub featuring a cup-shaped, manually operated movable lid made of plastic... using a lightweight, gravity-retained lid
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for producing ice-cream and the like provided with an outer boxlike housing and, within the boxlike housing, with a substantially cylindrical-shaped processing tub that extends into the boxlike housing, from the upper wall of the latter, while remaining coaxial to a substantially vertical reference axis; with cooling means adapted to cool the processing tub so as to bring and hold the content thereof at a temperature lower than 0° C.; and with a mixing member rotatably mounted within the processing tub about a rotation axis substantially coinciding with the reference axis of the tub; the mixing member being structured so as to mix the various ingredients that are poured into the processing tub, and so as to scrape at least the inner side surface of the processing tub to prevent the high viscosity mixture formed within the processing tub from stably adhering to the side wall of the tub; the machine for producing ice-cream and the like also comprising a containing collar which is dimensioned so as to be fitted in a stable, but easily releasable manner, in the processing tub, above the mixing member, and is structured so as to retain within the processing tub the high viscosity mixture that the mixing member tends to push upwards, along the side wall of the tub.