Condiment Mill with Movable Ball Crusher for Variable-Size Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current condiment mills are inadequate for transforming dry, hard condiments of varying sizes into a fine and homogeneous powder, failing to preserve aroma and requiring multiple mills for different products, with existing solutions producing coarse grinds and lacking adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A mill design featuring a hollow cylindrical reservoir with a freely moving metal ball for fragmentation, combined with a grinding mechanism and damping means, allowing for adjustable fineness and preventing blockages, suitable for a range of dry, hard condiments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard grinding mechanism is used, then it can grind products of a given size, but it cannot grind products of very different sizes such as cinnamon sticks or dried chilli
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable ball element that can freely move within the grinding chamber, dynamically adapting its position and motion to accommodate condiments of varying sizes and shapes. This dynamic component allows a single mill to handle diverse condiment types without requiring multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding mechanism is designed with universal applicability to process various condiment types (cinnamon sticks, dried chilli, nuts, etc.) through a single device. The combination of the movable ball and adjustable grinding surfaces creates a multi-functional system that replaces the need for multiple size-specific mills.
2Manufacturing precision
If grating means are used, then they can reduce condiments to powder, but the grind obtained remains too coarse with particles larger than 500 μm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable parameters in the grinding mechanism, allowing users to modify the fineness of the grind. By changing the distance between grinding surfaces or the speed of the movable ball, the system can produce particle sizes meeting the 80% under 500 μm criterion while maintaining ease of operation through simple adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable ball element creates dynamic grinding action that enhances particle size uniformity. The ball's free movement ensures consistent impact and friction across different condiment particles, achieving fine homogeneous powder with at least 80% of particles under 500 μm diameter.
3Ease of operation
If condiments are pre-ground, then they are ready for use, but volatile aromas are lost during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The mill enables users to grind condiments on-demand at the point of use, eliminating the need for pre-grinding and storage. This self-service approach preserves volatile aromas by grinding only when needed, while still providing convenience through immediate readiness for culinary application.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows preliminary preparation of condiments in their whole form for storage, then performs the grinding action immediately before use. This approach maintains aromas during storage while ensuring readiness for use through on-demand processing.
4Device complexity
If a single mill is used for all condiments, then device complexity is reduced, but the structure must accommodate very different sizes of condiment products
Solution Approach 1:
The incorporation of a movable ball element provides the structural adaptability needed to handle condiments of very different sizes within a single mill. The ball's freedom of movement allows it to effectively process anything from small spices to larger items like cinnamon sticks and dried chilli, eliminating the need for multiple specialized mills.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding mechanism is designed with universal capacity to process the full range of condiment sizes through one device. The adjustable and dynamic components enable a single mill to replace multiple size-specific mills, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.
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 mill efficiently reduces dry, hard condiments to a fine powder with at least 80% particles under 500 μm, preserving aroma and nutritional qualities, while ensuring robustness and versatility for multiple condiment types.
Implementation Method 1
a solid body disposed freely in the reservoir... the solid body is defined by a ball... for crushing the condiment product
Implementation Method 2
means for crushing the condiment product... a solid body disposed freely in the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
damping means arranged between the reservoir and the grinding mechanism, and making it possible to improve its robustness
Implementation Method 4
damping means arranged between the reservoir and the grinding mechanism
Implementation Method 5
grinding mechanism... to reduce to powder products... a fine and homogeneous grind
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mill (1) for condiment products, such as cinnamon sticks, housing a storage reservoir (3) for the condiment product, which communicates, via a passage (5), with a grinding mechanism (4), said reservoir (3) being equipped with means for fragmenting the condiment product. It is characterized in that the fragmentation means are defined as means for crushing the condiment product.