Frozen Food Drink Assembly With In-Cup Grinding and Deep-Freeze Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic dispensers for preparing drinks based on frozen foods face challenges such as difficulty in storing fresh ingredients without preservatives, loss of flavor and nutritional value, and significant water consumption for cleaning, leading to unattractive and unhealthy beverages.
Innovation Solution
The method involves storing frozen foods in granular form under deep-freeze conditions, crushing them into coarser pieces for improved attractiveness and flavor, and using an assembly with a grinding unit and liquid supply system to prepare a homogeneous drink directly in a cup, minimizing waste and cleaning requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fresh fruit and vegetables are stored in cooled compartments, then they can be used to prepare drinks, but they quickly lose their attractive appearance and require preservatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning the storage temperature from simple cooling to deep-freeze conditions. This fundamental temperature parameter change allows frozen foods to be stored for extended periods while maintaining their visual appeal and nutritional properties, resolving the contradiction between storage duration and appearance quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-freezing and pre-crushing the foods before storage. This advance preparation ensures that the foods maintain their attractive appearance and nutritional value during storage, and are ready for quick dispensing, thus resolving the contradiction between storage duration and appearance
2Extent of automation
If liquid preparations are stored in beverage dispensers, then drinks can be prepared automatically, but a large amount of flavourings must be added resulting in excess sugars and nutrients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable cups for drink preparation and serving. This eliminates the need for storing and cleaning large quantities of liquid preparations, allowing automatic preparation while avoiding the accumulation of excess sugars and nutrients. The disposable nature ensures hygiene without requiring complex cleaning systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the liquid preparation step from the system by using frozen foods that are dispensed and crushed directly in the cup. This removes the need for storing large amounts of liquid flavourings, thus reducing excess sugars and nutrients while maintaining automatic preparation capability
3Duration of action of stationary object
If liquid preparations are pasteurised for longer storage, then they can be stored over time, but there is a loss of flavour
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using deep-freeze storage instead of pasteurisation. This temperature parameter change allows for long-term storage while preserving flavour, as freezing prevents the chemical degradation that occurs during pasteurisation and storage of liquid preparations
4Productivity
If a significant quantity of prepared beverage remains in the blender carafe and supply line, then the system is efficient, but these components must be thoroughly cleaned between uses involving significant water consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drink preparation process from the traditional blender carafe and supply line system. By dispensing frozen foods directly into disposable cups and crushing them in-situ, the system eliminates the need for large storage reservoirs and complex supply lines, thereby maintaining efficiency while dramatically reducing cleaning water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable cups as the primary containment and preparation vessel. This eliminates the need for cleaning large, complex components between uses, reducing water consumption significantly while maintaining efficient drink preparation through direct crushing and serving
5Productivity
If the surface area to be cleaned is considerable, then the system can prepare drinks efficiently, but this increases the likelihood of spreading bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drink preparation from large, complex surfaces to a simple, disposable cup environment. This minimizes the surface area that could harbor bacteria, reducing contamination risk while maintaining efficient preparation through direct crushing and serving in the cup
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable cups that are discarded after single use. This eliminates the need to clean large surfaces between uses, thereby reducing bacterial contamination risk while maintaining efficient drink preparation. The disposable nature ensures that no bacteria can persist on cleaning surfaces
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 allows for efficient, healthful, and flavorful drink preparation with reduced water consumption and bacterial growth, maintaining flavor and nutritional value, while using standard, commercially available cups and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
storing the frozen foods in various containers in the form of first granular materials and under deep-freeze conditions
Implementation Method 2
the content of the cup is ground into an advantageously homogeneous and/or drinkable mass
Data Source
AI summary
A method and assembly for preparing a drink based on frozen food comprises storing frozen food in various containers in the form of first granular materials and under deep- freeze conditions, crushing a portion of at least one of the first granular materials into a second granular material, and placing the second granular material into a cup. A first liquid is added to the cup at a temperature of at least 50° C. The cup, filled with the foods and possibly the first liquid, is closed, and the content of the cup is ground into a homogeneous mass. Lastly, the cup is opened and served.