Removable Helical Scraping Stirrer for Ice Buildup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, such as ice cream, face challenges in easily replacing and cleaning stirrers due to wear and inefficiency in preventing ice buildup on cooling cylinders, which can compromise rotation and heat exchange.

Innovation Solution

A stirrer design with removable scraping elements and a modular structure for easy maintenance and cleaning, featuring a helical scraping mechanism and elastically deformable locking elements, allowing efficient ice removal and improved heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the stirrer components are made as a single integrated unit, then the structure is simpler and more robust, but disassembly for cleaning and maintenance becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of disassembly for cleaningVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stirrer is divided into multiple separable components: a body portion, scraping elements, and locking elements. The scraping elements can be independently removed from the body portion by actuating the locking elements, allowing each component to be cleaned separately. This segmentation enables easy disassembly for cleaning while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the scraping elements are firmly fixed to the stirrer body, then the scraping efficiency is maintained under high mechanical stress, but replacement and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of scraping element replacementVSAvoidscraping element retention under stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking elements are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to dynamically adjust between a locked state (retaining scraping elements firmly under operational stress) and an unlocked state (allowing easy removal for replacement). This dynamic mechanism maintains reliable scraping element retention during operation while enabling simple maintenance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If ice buildup is not effectively removed from the cooling cylinder, then the stirrer rotation continues smoothly, but heat exchange efficiency decreases and product quality suffers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidice buildup on cooling cylinder

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping elements are specifically designed to convert the harmful ice buildup on the cooling cylinder into a beneficial scraping action. By maintaining continuous contact with the cooling cylinder surface, the scraping elements mechanically remove ice layers, transforming the problematic ice accumulation into an effective heat transfer enhancement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Loss of time

If the stirrer components are designed for easy disassembly, then cleaning and maintenance are faster, but the assembly may become less robust and more prone to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for cleaning and maintenanceVSAvoidassembly robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking elements are pre-designed with elastic deformation capabilities that allow them to automatically secure the scraping elements firmly when assembled. This preliminary design ensures that while disassembly is easy (requiring only locking element actuation), the assembled structure maintains robustness through the elastic locking mechanism that prevents accidental loosening during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The stirrer facilitates faster and more efficient cleaning and maintenance, reduces ice buildup, and enhances heat exchange efficiency, ensuring optimal processing and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

elastically deformable locking elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

helical scraping mechanism... scraping elements... efficient ice removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical scraping: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS11751582B2Stirrer of a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semiliquid food products and machine comprising the stirrer

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 ALI SPA CARPIGIANI GRP

AI summary

A stirrer of a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, rotating about an axis, comprises:a first end element and a second end element;longitudinal elements extending along the axis between the first end element and second end element;scraping elements which are removably couplable to the longitudinal elements, the scraping elements having a portion that is partly helical in shape.