Ice Cream Freezer-Display Tub for Hygienic Serving and Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice cream making and displaying machines lack simplicity, food safety, and ease of cleaning, requiring separate machines for production and storage, and often fail to maintain hygienic conditions during serving.
Innovation Solution
A batch freezer-display unit with a refrigeration system, container, stirrer, and dispensing scoop that allows ice cream to be made, stored, and served in the same container, featuring a removable lid, annular flange, and elastic coupling mechanism for easy cleaning, and a control unit for temperature regulation, ensuring safe and practical dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate machines are used for ice cream production and storage, then production functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the batch freezer and display cabinet into a single integrated machine. The batch freezer tub is positioned within the display cabinet, allowing the same machine to both produce ice cream and store/display it for serving. This eliminates the need for separate production and storage machines, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full production functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated machine performs multiple functions: it can freeze the ice cream mixture in the batch freezer tub, store the frozen ice cream in the same tub within the display cabinet, and allow serving through the front opening. The refrigeration system serves both production and storage functions, making the device universal and eliminating the need for separate specialized machines.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional display cabinet is used for storing ice cream, then storage functionality is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display cabinet is designed with a removable front panel or opening that allows easy access to the batch freezer tub. The tub itself can be removed from the display cabinet for separate cleaning. This segmentation of the structure enables thorough cleaning of all surfaces that contact ice cream, including the tub interior and the display area, maintaining hygiene while providing continuous storage functionality.
3Reliability
If a scoop is uniquely associated with one container, then food safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scoop is extracted from the container and placed in a dedicated holding position within the display cabinet, separate from the ice cream tub. This allows the scoop to be kept in a sanitary position away from the ice cream until needed, and can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. The unique association between scoop and container is maintained through the holding position, ensuring food safety without requiring complex mechanical coupling mechanisms.
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 solution provides a safe, practical, and easy-to-clean machine for making, displaying, and dispensing ice cream, maintaining hygienic conditions by keeping the dispensing scoop at a controlled temperature and preventing contamination, while allowing multiple flavors to be processed simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration system (4) operatively associated with the container (2) for cooling the basic mixture in such a way as to convert it into finished product
Implementation Method 2
The coupling means (30) comprise a first element (30A) connected to the plane element (9) and a second element (30B) connected to the flange (10), the first and second elements (30A, 30B) being configured to be coupled to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling means (30) comprise an elastic compliant element (29) inserted in a recess (21) in the flange (10).
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid products comprises, in combination: a plane element with an opening made in it; at least one container adapted to contain a basic mixture provided with an opening and inserted in the opening of the plane element; a stirrer and a refrigeration system, operatively associated with the container respectively for mixing the basic mixture and for cooling the basic mixture in such a way as to convert it into finished product; a flange which can be coupled to the plane element; means for coupling the flange to the plane element; a lid movably connected to the flange to close the opening of the container in use.