Drink Maker Having Motor Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frozen drink makers lack effective automated control mechanisms to ensure precise temperature management and phase change detection during the processing of drink products, leading to inconsistent quality and potential inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The drink maker incorporates a temperature sensor to periodically detect temperature changes, a controller to determine phase changes based on threshold rates, and a cooling circuit control system to maintain target temperatures, along with motor condition sensors to prevent stalling, ensuring consistent product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If automated control mechanisms are implemented for temperature management and phase change detection, then manufacturing precision and product consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated control by sensing temperature and motor conditions during drink processing, then using this feedback to adjust cooling circuit operation and motor power delivery. The controller continuously monitors phase change indicators and modifies cooling intensity accordingly, achieving precise temperature control through closed-loop feedback rather than simple on/off control.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it manages the cooling circuit, monitors temperature sensors, detects phase changes, controls motor power delivery, and prevents motor stalling. By consolidating these diverse control tasks into a single multi-functional controller, the patent avoids the need for separate control systems for each function, thereby improving precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If continuous cooling is applied to achieve target temperature, then temperature control reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or cyclic cooling control based on detected phase change indicators. Rather than continuous cooling, the system alternates between cooling phases and maintenance phases, adjusting cooling intensity periodically according to the drink's thermal state and phase change progress. This periodic action maintains reliable temperature control while allowing energy recovery during non-cooling intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling control transitions from static on/off operation to dynamic, continuously adjustable cooling intensity. The controller modulates cooling circuit operation based on real-time temperature feedback and phase change detection, varying the cooling rate to match the actual thermal needs of the drink product. This dynamic control maintains reliability by responding to changing conditions while reducing energy waste through optimized cooling intensity.
3Productivity
If motor power is continuously delivered to maintain mixing, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but risk of motor stalling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent monitors motor conditions during operation and uses this feedback to adjust power delivery dynamically. When sensors detect conditions indicating potential motor stalling (such as excessive load or abnormal current), the controller reduces or interrupts power delivery to prevent stalling. This feedback-based control maintains effective mixing during normal operation while preventing motor damage during adverse conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action to prevent motor stalling by monitoring conditions that precede stalling events. The controller detects early signs of motor strain or abnormal operation and proactively adjusts power delivery or mixing intensity before actual stalling occurs. This preliminary anti-action preserves mixing effectiveness by maintaining adequate power during normal operation while preventing the harmful stalling condition from developing.
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 system enables precise temperature control and phase change detection, improving the consistency and efficiency of drink production by preventing over-cooling and motor stalling, thereby enhancing user experience and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to periodically detect a temperature associated with the drink product and output periodic temperature signals indicative of the periodically detected temperature
Implementation Method 2
a cooling circuit configured to cool the drink product within the mixing vessel
Implementation Method 3
cooling, often transforming the drink product from a pure liquid (or a combination of a liquid and portions of ice) to a frozen or semi-frozen product
Data Source
AI summary
A drink maker is provided for motor detection. The drink maker includes a mixing vessel configured to receive a drink product. The drink maker also includes a dasher, driven by a drive motor, configured to mix the drink product within the mixing vessel. The drink maker also includes a cooling circuit, including a compressor, configured to cool the drink product. The drink maker further includes a motor condition sensor configured to detect a motor condition associated with the drive motor and output motor condition signals. The drink maker further includes a controller configured to determine, based on one or more first motor condition signals of the periodic motor condition signals, whether a value of the motor condition satisfies a first motor condition threshold. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the value of the motor condition satisfies the first motor condition threshold, turn off the compressor.