Frozen Drink Maker Vessel Coupling for Adaptive Sealing
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frozen drink makers face issues such as clogged condensation hoses, difficult vessel installation, inconsistent drink processing, unpredictable liquid addition, seal failures, and unpredictable drink dispensing, particularly in home-use machines with smaller capacities.
Innovation Solution
A drink maker device with a coupling mechanism using a lever for easy vessel installation, a flexible seal for secure engagement, a pour-in opening for controlled liquid addition, and a control system for automatic temperature and texture adjustment, along with a dispensing system to manage variable drink thickness and flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fixed seal design is used, then the seal structure is simple, but the vessel installation is difficult and seal failures occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The seal mechanism transitions from a fixed static design to a dynamic system where the seal member can move radially inward and outward relative to the vessel. The coupling mechanism allows the seal to adapt its position during vessel installation and operation, enabling easy installation while maintaining sealing effectiveness through controlled movement rather than rigid fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member's radial position parameter is made variable rather than fixed. By allowing the seal to change its radial distance from the vessel centerline based on operational conditions, the system achieves both easy installation (when seal is outward) and reliable sealing (when seal is inward), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and effectiveness.
2Reliability
If a rigid sealing structure is used, then the seal is reliable, but the vessel installation becomes difficult and requires excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to move dynamically during installation, allowing it to be pushed outward by the coupling mechanism to reduce friction and required installation force. During operation, the seal can move inward to ensure reliable sealing contact, thus achieving both low installation force and high sealing reliability through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism applies a controlled outward force on the seal member during installation to cushion against the high friction and resistance that would otherwise require excessive installation force. This preliminary action reduces the peak force required while maintaining seal reliability during operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mixing vessel is sealed tightly, then drink processing is consistent, but liquid addition becomes unpredictable and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is segmented into two functional zones: a sealed portion that maintains consistent drink processing by preventing leakage, and an unsealed pour-in opening that allows controlled liquid addition. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both tight sealing for consistency and an accessible opening for liquid addition operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the sealed mixing vessel and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface that maintains the sealed state for consistent processing while allowing temporary, controlled opening for liquid addition, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of sealing and liquid addition.
4Productivity
If the dasher rotates continuously, then mixing is efficient, but the drink dispensing becomes unpredictable due to variable thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The dasher rotation transitions from continuous to intermittent or variable speed operation. By dynamically adjusting the rotation pattern based on drink thickness and processing stage, the system maintains efficient mixing when needed while allowing predictable dispensing when the drink reaches the proper consistency, resolving the contradiction between mixing efficiency and dispensing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback from temperature and thickness sensors to adjust dasher rotation accordingly. When the drink reaches the desired thickness and temperature, the system modulates or stops the dasher rotation to enable predictable dispensing, while maintaining efficient mixing during the processing phase through continuous or variable rotation.
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 easy and hygienic vessel installation, controlled liquid addition, consistent drink processing, and predictable dispensing, ensuring user-friendly and adaptable drink production with desired textures and temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit at least partly positioned in the housing. The cooling circuit is configured to cool the drink product while the drink product is mixed in the mixing vessel
Implementation Method 2
a dasher configured to mix the drink product in the mixing vessel. The dasher is driven by the drive motor
Data Source
AI summary
A device for making drinks is provided that includes a housing, a mixing vessel, a drive motor, a dasher, a cooling circuit, and a coupling mechanism. The mixing vessel is configured to receive a drink product. The drive motor is positioned in the housing. The dasher is configured to mix the drink product in the mixing vessel and is driven by the drive motor. The mixing vessel has an opening through which the dasher is received in the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is engaged with the housing. The cooling circuit is at least partly positioned in the housing and is configured to cool the drink product while the drink product is mixed in the mixing vessel. The coupling mechanism is configured to releasably retain the mixing vessel against the housing in the engaged position. The mixing vessel is configured to engage the housing to seal the opening.