Flake Ice Trough Mounting for Tool-Free Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flake ice production devices face challenges in thorough cleaning and disinfection due to the inability to detach the trough without tools, limiting access to internal components and complicating the removal of limescale deposits and contamination.
Innovation Solution
The device features rotatably mounted evaporator rollers and a detachable trough system with bearing bushes and coupling elements, allowing for easy installation and removal of the tub without disassembling the entire device, enabling thorough cleaning and disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the trough is firmly connected to the evaporator roller, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates because the trough cannot be detached without dismantling the entire device
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable components: the trough assembly (including trough and evaporator roller) can be detached from the bearing bushes as a unit. This segmentation allows the trough to be removed for cleaning while keeping the main device structure intact, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
Bearing bushes serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between the evaporator roller shaft and the trough while enabling easy detachment. The bearing bushes allow the trough assembly to be removed without dismantling the entire device, providing both structural support during operation and ease of removal for cleaning.
2Reliability
If the evaporator roller is firmly connected to the trough, then the operational reliability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because internal components cannot be accessed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The trough is divided into accessible sections with open sides that allow direct access to internal components like the scraper mechanism and evaporator roller. This segmentation enables thorough cleaning and maintenance of internal components while maintaining the operational connection between the evaporator roller and trough during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper and other internal components can be removed from the trough for external cleaning and maintenance. The open-sided trough design allows these components to be extracted and cleaned outside the trough, improving ease of repair while maintaining operational reliability when components are installed.
3Device complexity
If the trough is made as a single integrated piece, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates because the entire device must be dismantled to clean the trough
Solution Approach 1:
The trough is designed as an integrated piece with built-in detachable features (open sides, connection points for bearing bushes) that allow segmentation during removal without requiring complex disassembly. This maintains low device complexity while enabling easy cleaning by removing only the trough assembly, not the entire device.
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
Facilitates complete and efficient cleaning of the trough and evaporator roller, improving hygiene standards and reducing the effort required for maintenance, while maintaining the device's operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator roller arranged rotatably opposite the trough and a scraper for removing ice formed on the surface of the evaporator roller from the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for producing flake ice from a fluid is proposed, which is equipped with a rotatably disposed evaporator roller (1, 34), a shaft (2, 35) on the evaporator roller (1, 34) that transmits torque from a drive to the evaporator roller (1, 34), at least two bearing bushings (2a, 36, 48) which are rigidly disposed on the apparatus and in which the shaft (2, 35) is rotatably accommodated and mounted, a scraper (4, 38) for removing ice that has been formed from the fluid at the surface of the evaporator roller (1, 34), a pan (3, 37, 51) that is open toward the top and accommodates fluid to be frozen, wherein the pan (3, 37, 51) can be placed or pushed in one piece on the bearing bushings (2a, 36, 48) or on additional coupling elements (7) disposed on the shaft (2, 35) or on the bearing bushings (2a, 36, 48) or directly on the shaft (2, 35) and is detachable therefrom.