Blender Ball Screw Drive for Mixing Bowl Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blenders for mixing frozen products like ice cream lack efficient control mechanisms for the mixing bowl movement and often result in inefficient blending and safety issues due to manual lever and belt/pulley/gear arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A blender with a ball screw drive mechanism connected to a reversible variable speed DC motor, allowing precise control of the mixing bowl's linear movement and automatic auger activation, featuring a safety splash guard and PLC for controlled operation, ensuring safe and efficient blending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lever and belt/pulley/gear arrangements are used for raising and lowering the mixing bowl, then the device structure is simpler, but the ease of operation and control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual lever and belt/pulley/gear arrangements with an electric motor-driven ball screw mechanism. The motor automatically raises and lowers the mixing bowl through the ball screw, eliminating the need for manual mechanical operations while improving control precision and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing bowl is automatically raised and lowered by the motor-driven ball screw mechanism without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by automating the bowl positioning process, improving ease of operation while maintaining controlled complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual control mechanisms are used for mixing bowl movement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a motor-driven ball screw mechanism to replace manual control mechanisms. The ball screw converts rotational motor motion into precise linear motion of the mixing bowl, achieving high control accuracy and manufacturing precision through automated electrical control rather than manual mechanical adjustment.
3Productivity
If the mixing bowl is manually positioned relative to the auger, then the device structure is simpler, but the productivity and blending efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an electric motor-driven ball screw mechanism to automatically position and move the mixing bowl relative to the auger. This automation improves blending efficiency and productivity by ensuring precise, consistent positioning without manual intervention, while the ball screw mechanism maintains relatively simple mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven ball screw mechanism enables continuous and smooth movement of the mixing bowl during the blending process. The bowl can be continuously raised, lowered, and repositioned relative to the auger without interruption, maintaining continuous useful action and improving overall blending efficiency and productivity.
4Reliability
If safety features are added to prevent splashing and improve safety, then the safety level increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a splash guard as an intermediary component between the mixing bowl and the external environment. The splash guard prevents liquid from splashing out during blending operations, improving safety and reliability while adding only a simple protective barrier rather than complex safety systems.
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 provides easy, safe, and variable control over the blending process, ensuring a homogenous mix with improved safety features and efficient operation, enhancing the blending of frozen products with additives.
Implementation Method 1
a ball screw drive mechanism housed within the interior of column and connectable to the mixing bowl holder for moving the mixing bowl in linear movement toward and away from the auger, the ball screw drive mechanism includes: a) a vertically orientated ball screw situated within the interior space of the column extending upwardly from the base to the top housing; b) a ball screw nut threadingly connected to the ball screw; and c) a screw block attached to the ball screw nut such that the screw block is adapted to move up and down upon rotation of the ball screw
Implementation Method 2
the reversible motor is a variable speed DC motor so that the speed of rotation of the screw ball can be varied and controlled
Implementation Method 3
an auger attached to a distal end of the drive shaft, the auger has a tapered screw that tapers to a tip
Data Source
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AI summary
A blender including (i) a base with an interior space; (ii) a hollow central column extending upwardly from the base; (iii) a top housing mounted to the top of the column, a motor, drive transmission means and a drive shaft; (iv) an auger attached to a distal end of the drive shaft (v) a mixing bowl in coaxial alignment with the auger, (vi) a mixing bowl holder for releasably holding the mixing bowl in coaxial alignment; (vii) a ball screw drive mechanism housed within the column and for moving the mixing bowl in linear movement toward and away from the auger; and (viii) a splash guard positioned above the auger.