External Mixing Recipient for Contamination-Free Compound Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for processing mixture-based compound products, such as food, cosmetics, and construction materials, face challenges with contamination, corrosion, blockages, and difficulty in cleaning due to the mixing process taking place inside the machine's circuits.

Innovation Solution

The machine is designed to mix ingredients outside of its internal circuits, within a separate mixing recipient, where at least one ingredient acts as a mechanical mixing means through dispensing at pressure, allowing for efficient mixing without contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mixing is performed inside the machine circuits, then the mixing process can be controlled within the machine, but contamination and corrosion risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidmixing system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the mixing process from the machine's internal circuits and relocates it to an external container. The mixing mechanism is taken out of the machine body, allowing the mixing operation to occur outside the closed circuit system, thereby preventing contamination and corrosion within the machine's internal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an external container as an intermediary element between the ingredient storage and the final product dispensing. This container serves as a separate mixing zone that isolates the mixing process from the machine's internal circuits, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact between mixed ingredients and machine components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If mixing is performed inside the machine circuits, then the process can be automated, but cleaning frequency and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning easeVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the mixing function to an external container, the patent enables the machine's internal circuits to remain clean and simple, requiring minimal cleaning. The external container can be easily removed, emptied, and cleaned separately without affecting the machine's operational components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If mixing is performed inside the machine circuits, then ingredient delivery can be controlled, but cross-contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoidcircuit system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ingredient handling system into separate functional zones: ingredient storage, external mixing in a separate container, and product dispensing. This spatial segmentation prevents cross-contamination by ensuring that different ingredients are delivered to separate locations and mixed externally, eliminating the risk of contamination within the machine's internal circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 approach prevents cross-contamination and corrosion, simplifies cleaning, and allows for the production of homogeneous mixtures with improved safety and efficiency, suitable for various products including food and construction materials.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the ingredients, liquid, gas or solid, being the one that acts as mechanical mixing means through the dispensing thereof at pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure dispensing: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3363531B1Machine for processing mixture-based compound products and processing method
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 IT FOOD
  • EP3363531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3363531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3363531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a machine for processing mixture-based compound products, and to a mixing method, the machine comprising distributor means (2) for distributing a liquid mixing ingredient, which means are linked to pressure dispenser means (5) that pour the ingredient at pressure, optionally mixing air, into a mixing recipient (6) that is situated outside of the circuits of the machine (1) and contains the rest of the ingredients to be mixed. The method comprises a step of mixing the ingredients, using at least one of the ingredients as a mechanical mixing means, said ingredient being projected at pressure into the rest of the ingredients in the mixing recipient (6) and, optionally, another step of mixing, in which air or another gas is projected at pressure into the mixture in the mixing recipient (6).