Helical Bayonet Mount for Micro Puree Machine Container Disengagement
Solution Overview
Problem
Micro puree machines face issues with the blade getting stuck to the power shaft due to ice buildup, requiring significant force to uncouple the container, making the process inefficient and impractical for preparing non-dessert food products.
Innovation Solution
A twist-off container and coupling assembly with angled ramped slots and protrusions that allow for both axial and rotational movement, forming a helical bayonet mount, enabling gentle disengagement of the container from the machine by rotating it counterclockwise, reducing the force needed to disengage the blade from the power shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the container is rotated to disengage from the coupling, then the blade can be uncoupled from the power shaft, but significant force is required due to ice buildup between the blade and power shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism incorporates axial movement in addition to rotational movement. The ramped slot and protrusion design allows the container to move axially (along the axis of rotation) while rotating, creating a helical disengagement path. This multi-dimensional movement reduces the force required compared to pure rotational disengagement, as the axial component helps break the ice adhesion between the blade and power shaft gradually.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped slot and protrusion act as an intermediary mechanism between the user's rotational input and the blade's disengagement from the power shaft. This intermediate coupling mechanism translates the user's rotation into combined axial and rotational movement of the blade, facilitating gradual ice breakage and reducing the peak force required for uncoupling.
2Reliability
If the container is designed for secure coupling to the machine, then the blade engages properly with the power shaft, but the container becomes difficult to remove when ice forms
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed to be dynamic, allowing different movement modes depending on the operational phase. During engagement, the mechanism provides secure locking through the ramped slot and protrusion. During disengagement, the same mechanism enables controlled axial and rotational movement to facilitate ice breakage. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain reliable engagement during operation while enabling easy removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The disengagement process is segmented into multiple movement stages through the helical bayonet mount design. Instead of a single rotational motion, the container progresses through incremental axial and rotational steps, allowing the ice bond to break gradually across multiple contact points between the blade and power shaft, reducing the force requirement at any single moment.
3Device complexity
If the coupling mechanism uses a simple rotational connection, then the device structure remains simple, but the blade cannot disengage gently from the power shaft when ice builds up
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism incorporates axial movement in addition to rotational movement. The ramped slot and protrusion design allows the container to move axially (along the axis of rotation) while rotating, creating a helical disengagement path. This multi-dimensional movement reduces the force required compared to pure rotational disengagement, as the axial component helps break the ice adhesion between the blade and power shaft gradually.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped slot and protrusion configuration creates a curved, helical engagement path rather than a straight rotational connection. This curved geometry distributes the disengagement force along a spiral trajectory, allowing the blade to gradually separate from the power shaft through a combination of axial and rotational motion, reducing shock loads and ice adhesion forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A twist off container and coupling assembly of a micro puree machine includes a container and a coupling on the micro puree machine. An interior surface of the coupling has at least one ramped slot that is angled relative to a lower annular surface of the coupling. The container has at least one protrusion correspondingly angled relative to an upper annular surface of the container. The protrusion is configured to engage the slot when the container is rotated in a clockwise direction and to disengage from the slot when the container is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. When the container is rotated, the container moves both axially and rotationally relative to the coupling.