Cone-Shaped Spoke Mixing Device for High-Overrun Ice Cream Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing devices for ice cream production often leave compounds on the container walls, leading to non-homogeneous and less creamy products due to inadequate contact with cooled surfaces and insufficient aeration, resulting in low overrun and increased raw material usage.
Innovation Solution
A mixing device with a central hub and skewed, cone-shaped spokes that incorporate air bubbles and facilitate efficient removal from container walls, featuring lateral fins and angled connection segments for effective heat exchange and compound extraction, allowing for high overrun and creamy consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional mixing devices are used, then mixing operation is simple, but compound remains on container walls leading to non-homogeneous mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device is segmented into multiple functional elements: central hub, multiple spokes (3-6), lateral fins on spokes, and suction cups. This segmentation allows different parts to perform specific functions - spokes for structural support and air incorporation, lateral fins for scraping container walls, and suction cups for removing compound from walls, collectively achieving homogeneous mixing without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing device integrates multiple functions into a single apparatus: mixing the compound, incorporating air bubbles, scraping container walls, and removing compound deposits. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving comprehensive mixing homogeneity while maintaining reasonable device complexity through functional integration
2Reliability
If compound is not removed from container walls, then device structure is simple, but compound freezes on cooled surface reducing creaminess
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses segmented lateral fins attached to spokes that can contact and scrape the container walls, combined with suction cups for removal. This segmentation allows effective wall contact and compound removal while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design elements
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cups automatically adhere to the cooled container walls and remove compound deposits during the mixing operation. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous removal of compound from walls without additional complex control systems, maintaining reliability while limiting complexity increase
3Quantity of substance
If insufficient air is incorporated, then mixing operation is simple, but volume increase (overrun) is low reducing profit
Solution Approach 1:
The spokes are designed with curved, helicoidal, or spiral configurations rather than straight lines. This curvature creates effective air incorporation as the compound flows along the curved surfaces during rotation, achieving high overrun while maintaining relatively simple device structure through elegant geometric forms
Solution Approach 2:
The device leverages the fluid dynamics of the compound itself and air entrapment during rotation to achieve volume increase. The curved spoke designs create pneumatic effects that incorporate air bubbles into the compound, achieving high overrun without complex pneumatic or hydraulic systems
4Manufacturing precision
If compound has poor contact with cooled walls, then mixing operation is simple, but heat exchange is insufficient leading to large ice crystals
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral fins on the spokes provide localized contact with the container walls, ensuring that compound is continuously brought into contact with the cooled surfaces at specific locations. This local quality approach ensures effective heat exchange and small ice crystal formation without requiring complete wall contact, maintaining mixing simplicity while improving ice crystal control
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 device ensures homogeneous mixing, prevents large ice crystal formation, and achieves a high overrun, resulting in a smooth and soft final product while optimizing raw material usage and profit.
Implementation Method 1
introducing into the substance as much air as possible so as to increase its volume and obtain a compound with a homogeneous and creamy consistency
Implementation Method 2
configured to mix the compound while it is cooled with a suitable cooling circuit
Implementation Method 3
the part in contact with the cooled surface of the latter tends to freeze, giving as a result a non-homogeneous and not very creamy compound
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing device suitable to mix substances or liquid or semi-liquid compounds to increase the volume thereof, including a hub which develops along a central axis and three mixing spokes connected to the hub, wherein each of the spokes comprises an external lateral fin and two upper and lower connection segments, which connect respective upper and lower ends of the lateral fin to the hub.