Flexible Blade Assembly for Consistent Block Ice Shaving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaved ice machines face limitations such as cumbersome ice block change procedures, frozen and impacted blades, inconsistent texture production, and inefficiency in handling changing ice consistency as the block warms, leading to decreased quality and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

An ice shaving machine design featuring a flexible blade assembly with a tensioned blade holder, a drive shaft system for consistent ice block feeding, and a flavor dispensing mechanism, which allows for efficient production of light, fluffy, finely textured shaved ice and accommodates changes in ice texture as it warms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a large block of ice is used in existing shaved ice machines, then the machine can produce shaved ice, but the ice block change procedure becomes cumbersome and the operation rate slows down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice block sizeVSAvoidoperation rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ice block is divided into multiple smaller ice cubes that are stacked vertically in the feed mechanism. This segmentation allows the machine to process smaller units sequentially, enabling faster replacement and continuous operation without the cumbersome handling of large ice blocks, thereby maintaining productivity while using substantial ice quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If existing machines use fixed blades, then the structure is simple, but the blades become frozen and impacted and cannot adapt to changing ice consistency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade structureVSAvoidadaptation to ice consistency changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The blade assembly incorporates a flexible blade mounted on a movable holder that can shift position. As ice consistency changes from cold/hard to warm/softer, the flexible blade adapts its curvature and the holder adjusts its position automatically, maintaining optimal cutting contact without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or becoming impacted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blade's physical parameters (curvature, position) change in response to ice temperature and consistency variations. The flexible material allows the blade to deform and the holder to reposition, enabling the cutting parameters to adapt dynamically to the changing state of the ice block during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If existing machines use inconsistent ice block feeding, then the mechanism is simple, but the shaved ice texture becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding mechanismVSAvoidshaved ice texture consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed mechanism incorporates a spring-loaded pusher that applies consistent force to advance ice cubes through the cutting zone. The spring provides automatic force regulation, maintaining uniform feeding pressure and spacing, which ensures consistent shaved ice texture without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8939389B2Block ice shaver

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 SNOWIE LLC

AI summary

The disclosure pertains generally to shave ice confection machines and processes, and more particularly to a block ice shaving apparatus, system and method whereby an improved blade and blade assembly produce more consistent output with increase machine life.