Block Ice Shaver Tension Arm and Flexible Blade for Consistent Texture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing block ice shavers face issues such as cumbersome ice block change procedures, frozen and impacted blades, inconsistent shaved ice textures, and inability to adapt to changing ice consistency as the block warms, leading to decreased quality and efficiency in producing light, fluffy shaved ice.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ice shaving machine equipped with a tension arm to stabilize the ice block, a flexible blade assembly that can rotate and tensioned to reduce ice build-up, and a shaping device for efficient ice dispensing into various container sizes, enhancing the machine's ability to produce consistent, high-quality shaved ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a rigid blade assembly is used to shave ice, then cutting force is sufficient, but the blade becomes frozen and impacted with ice build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is made flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the ice block surface and flex during operation to prevent ice build-up and freezing, while maintaining sufficient cutting force through controlled flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly's flexibility parameter is optimized to balance cutting force capability with resistance to ice impaction, allowing the blade to flex under load rather than becoming frozen or impacted
2Device complexity
If a fixed blade position is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but inconsistent shaved ice texture is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is designed to flex and rotate dynamically during operation, automatically adapting to variations in ice block surface and maintaining consistent contact pressure, thereby producing uniform shaved ice texture without complex positioning mechanisms
3Device complexity
If the ice block is held stationary, then machine structure is simple, but the machine cannot adapt to changing ice consistency as the block warms
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible blade assembly automatically adapts to changing ice consistency by flexing and rotating in response to variations in ice hardness and surface texture as the block warms, maintaining effective cutting without requiring active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly self-adjusts to changing ice conditions through its inherent flexibility, automatically compensating for ice block warming and consistency changes without external intervention or complex control systems
4Device complexity
If manual ice block handling is used, then no additional mechanisms are needed, but ice block change procedures are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible blade assembly can accommodate variations in ice block size and shape, allowing easier loading and handling of different ice blocks without requiring precise positioning mechanisms or complex handling procedures
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure extends to devices, systems and methods for producing a shaved ice product using shaved ice confection machines and processes. The disclosure also extends to a tension arm and a shaping device used in conjunction with shaved ice confection machines and processes to produce more consistent shaved ice output with a potential increase in machine life.