Blender with removable spindle and monitored reservoir
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cost-effective and sanitary method to prepare fresh, blended beverages like smoothies and milkshakes in settings where commercial blenders are not feasible due to high costs or lack of access to municipal water supplies, while ensuring quick preparation and minimal waste generation.
Innovation Solution
A compact, economical blender with a removable motor-driven spindle assembly, a liquid reservoir and pump combination, and a pivotable spindle cover to facilitate easy cleaning and minimize spills, allowing for heated liquid addition during blending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If commercial size blenders are used for blending frozen beverages, then blending power and durability are improved, but cost and requirement for municipal water supply increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blender is divided into separate functional modules: a removable spindle assembly with blending tool, a base unit with motor, and a cup holder. This segmentation allows the device to be compact and adaptable to different settings without requiring municipal water supply, while still providing effective blending power for frozen beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The blender base unit is designed to be versatile and adaptable to various settings (homes, restaurants, locations without municipal water). It can blend frozen beverages using pre-chilled liquid from a reservoir, eliminating the need for water supply connections while maintaining blending effectiveness.
2Reliability
If fresh fruits and vegetables are blended daily, then nutritional quality is improved, but time for shopping, preparation and clean up increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blender includes a reservoir that can be pre-filled with liquid and placed in the refrigerator or freezer before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for immediate water supply or ingredient preparation during the blending process, reducing time investment while maintaining nutritional quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable spindle assembly can be easily detached and rinsed under running water or in a sink, making clean up quick and simple. The design enables users to maintain sanitation without requiring extensive clean up time or specialized cleaning systems.
3Loss of time
If frozen pre-blended smoothies are used, then preparation time is reduced, but blending effectiveness and freshness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The blender features a motorized elevator that dynamically adjusts the cup position during blending, moving it up and down to ensure the blending tool effectively processes frozen ingredients. This dynamic movement compensates for the challenges of blending frozen materials, maintaining effectiveness while keeping preparation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows addition of pre-chilled liquid from the reservoir during blending to adjust consistency and improve blending effectiveness of frozen ingredients. This parameter adjustment (adding liquid) enables effective blending of frozen beverages without requiring pre-thawing or extensive preparation time.
4Ease of operation
If municipal water supply is available for blending and cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but dependency on infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blender removes the dependency on municipal water supply by using a self-contained reservoir system that can be filled with water or other liquids from alternative sources. The removable spindle assembly can be cleaned with water from any source, making the device adaptable to locations without infrastructure while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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
Enables quick and sanitary preparation of frozen beverages in various settings without the need for expensive commercial equipment, with easy cleaning and reduced waste, ensuring consistent blending results.
Implementation Method 1
a pump and heater are connected to the reservoir to deposit pre-determined amounts of heated liquid from the reservoir into the frozen milkshake or smoothie during blending
Implementation Method 2
a pump and heater are connected to the reservoir to deposit pre-determined amounts of heated liquid from the reservoir into the frozen milkshake or smoothie during blending
Data Source
AI summary
A blender includes a spindle support, a spindle motor secured to the spindle support, an inner spindle drive shaft permanently coupled to the spindle motor, and a spindle assembly removably coupled to the spindle support. The spindle assembly includes a quick release coupler, a tube, and a blending tool fixed to an end of the tube. The blending tool includes a plurality of blades. The inner spindle drive shaft extends into the tube and is drivably coupled to the tube to transmit rotational energy from the spindle motor to blending tool via the tube when the spindle assembly is coupled to the spindle support.