Drink Dispenser Evaporator Temperature Probe Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for dispensing cold or iced drinks struggle to maintain uniform product consistency and prevent the formation of a thin iced layer around the evaporator, leading to inconsistent product quality and motor overload issues, as they rely solely on torque detection and temperature control, which is insufficient to address the problem of ice formation and product level monitoring.
Innovation Solution
The machine incorporates temperature probes located inside the evaporator to monitor the temperature independently of the product level, triggering alerts or controlling the refrigeration circuit to prevent ice layer formation and ensuring consistent product quality, while also using solenoid valves and a control unit to manage refrigerant flow based on detected consistency and level, ensuring constant product quality and alerting operators when the product level falls below a predetermined limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If torque detection and temperature control are used to maintain product consistency, then product quality can be monitored, but ice layer formation around the evaporator cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using temperature probes to detect temperature changes at the evaporator surface before ice layer formation occurs. The system proactively adjusts refrigeration circuit operation based on these early temperature signals, preventing ice accumulation before it affects product quality or mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temperature probes as intermediary sensing elements that directly contact the evaporator surface to detect thermal conditions. These probes serve as mediators between the refrigeration system and the product, providing real-time temperature data that enables precise control to prevent ice layer formation while maintaining product consistency.
2Productivity
If the evaporator is not completely immersed in the product, then mixing is efficient, but ice layer formation occurs on the exposed evaporator surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated control of the refrigeration circuit based on local temperature conditions at the evaporator surface. Temperature probes monitor specific zones of the evaporator, and the system adjusts refrigeration parameters locally through solenoid valves to prevent ice formation on exposed surfaces while maintaining efficient mixing in the product-immersed zones.
3Shape
If a thin iced layer forms around the evaporator, then the stirring screw cannot remove it due to minimum clearance, but it negatively affects mixing efficiency and product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using temperature probes to detect conditions that precede ice layer formation and adjusting the refrigeration circuit operation accordingly. The system counteracts the tendency toward ice accumulation before it occurs, preventing the formation of harmful ice layers that would otherwise be impossible to remove due to the minimum clearance design of the stirring screw.
4Quantity of substance
If product level in the tank falls below the evaporator, then ice layer forms on the upper part of the evaporator, but existing systems cannot detect this condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using temperature probes that continuously monitor the evaporator surface temperature and provide real-time information to the control system. When product level falls below the evaporator, the temperature probes detect the resulting temperature changes and trigger alerts or automatic corrections, closing the feedback loop to maintain proper product levels and prevent ice formation.
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
This solution maintains consistent product quality by preventing ice layer formation and ensuring the machine operates efficiently, with the temperature probes providing stable temperature readings and alerting operators to low product levels, thus enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the dispensing process.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator is in the form of a hollow cylinder with a tubular side wall inside which is embedded a coil with a refrigerant flowing in it
Implementation Method 2
a coil with a refrigerant flowing in it
Implementation Method 3
The machine incorporates temperature probes located inside the evaporator to monitor the temperature independently of the product level
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A machine for dispensing cold or iced drinks, such as cool drinks, granitas, slush drinks and the like, comprises at least one tank (4) for containing and processing the product to be dispensed; the tank (4) has a front wall (6) which is equipped at the bottom of it with a nozzle (7) for dispensing the drink and contains inside it an evaporator (10) of a refrigerating circuit (3); the evaporator (10) is located at the bottom of the tank (4) with a bottom front portion of it (13) positioned near the nozzle (7) for dispensing the drink; the machine (1) is provided with a measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the evaporator (10); the measuring unit is equipped with a temperature probe (32) associated with the top front portion (33) of the evaporator (10).