Block Ice Shaver with Flexible Blade for Consistent Texture
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice shaving machines face limitations such as cumbersome ice block change procedures, frozen and impacted blades, inconsistent shaved ice textures, and reduced efficiency as the ice warms, making them unsuitable for both home and large-volume use.
Innovation Solution
An ice shaving machine with a flexible blade assembly and ice block feeder system that allows for consistent shaving of block ice, featuring a blade holder with tensioned blades and a drive shaft mechanism to maintain efficient ice shaving even as the ice warms, along with a flavor dispensing system for convenient flavoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a block of ice is shaved using a traditional blade mechanism, then ice shavings are produced, but the blade becomes frozen and impacted reducing shaving quality
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the ice block surface and maintain contact during rotation. This flexibility prevents the blade from becoming frozen and impacted, maintaining consistent shaving performance throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's flexibility parameter is specifically engineered to allow slight deflection under load, enabling it to conform to the ice surface geometry and maintain effective cutting contact. This parameter change from rigid to flexible resolves the blade impact and freezing problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ice block warms and changes texture, then the ice becomes softer and harder to shave, but traditional machines cannot adapt to this changing consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible blade dynamically adjusts its shape and contact pressure in response to changing ice consistency. As the ice warms and softens, the blade automatically adapts its flexibility to maintain optimal cutting engagement, preserving shaving efficiency throughout the ice block's thermal evolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade system self-adjusts to changing ice conditions without external control. The flexible blade automatically conforms to the ice surface and adapts to texture changes through its inherent mechanical properties, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If a large block of ice is used to operate at higher volume, then more ice can be shaved, but the machine operates more slowly and requires significant maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed as a segmented flexible structure rather than a single rigid piece. This segmentation allows different portions of the blade to independently adapt to the ice surface, improving cutting efficiency and enabling faster processing of large ice blocks without compromising blade durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's physical parameters, particularly its flexibility and thickness distribution, are optimized to enable efficient cutting of large ice blocks. This parameter optimization allows the blade to maintain high cutting speeds even when processing substantial ice volumes.
4Strength
If the blade is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the blade holder is simple, but the blade cannot adapt to ice surface variations and becomes impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is constructed as a flexible thin structure that maintains sufficient structural integrity through its material properties and geometry while allowing necessary deflection. This flexible blade design enables adaptation to ice surface variations without compromising strength, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure pertains generally to shave ice confection machines and processes, and more particularly to a block ice shaving apparatus, system and method whereby an improved blade and blade assembly produce more consistent output with increase machine life.