Automated Cleaning System for Ice Cream Machine Freezing Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ice cream and yogurt machine cleaning methods are labor-intensive, inefficient, and prone to component damage, as they require manual disassembly and cannot thoroughly clean critical components like freezing cylinders and valves, leading to contamination risks and reduced machine lifespan.
Innovation Solution
An automated system and method for cleaning and washing ice cream or yogurt machines that allows for thorough cleaning of pipelines and freezing cylinders without disassembly, using a control panel to manage the process, a liquid container that can switch between raw material and detergent tanks, and a pump to circulate cleaning liquids through the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual disassembly cleaning method is used, then cleaning access to pipelines is improved, but labor time and component damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by using the machine's own pump and pipeline infrastructure to circulate cleaning solutions through all components including freezing cylinders and valves, eliminating the need for manual disassembly while maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by circulating cleaning liquids through the machine's existing fluid delivery system, allowing penetration into previously inaccessible areas like freezing cylinders and internal valve passages without mechanical disassembly
2Reliability
If manual disassembly cleaning method is used, then cleaning access to pipelines is improved, but component lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine performs self-cleaning through automated circulation of cleaning solutions, eliminating repeated manual disassembly and reassembly operations that cause mechanical wear and damage to components over time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical disassembly operations with a fluid-based cleaning system that uses pumped cleaning solutions to access and clean components without physical contact or forceful separation of parts
3Productivity
If freezing cylinders and valves are not cleaned thoroughly, then cleaning speed is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic circulation to force cleaning solutions through freezing cylinders and valve passages, ensuring thorough penetration and removal of contaminants from previously inaccessible areas without slowing down the cleaning process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the cleaning process by circulating cleaning solutions at controlled flow rates and temperatures through the entire system, optimizing both cleaning effectiveness and processing speed for difficult-to-reach components
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
Enhances cleaning efficiency, reduces labor, prolongs machine lifespan, and ensures thorough sanitation of all components, including freezing cylinders and pipelines, without the need for manual disassembly, thereby preventing contamination and improving hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a pump to circulate cleaning liquids through the system
Implementation Method 2
a heating unit to heat the cleaning liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A system for automatically cleaning and washing an ice cream machines includes a liquid container for storing raw materials; a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through a cleaning pathway; a water tank for storing rinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a detergent tank for storing detergents to clean and wash the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the raw material, the rinse water or the detergent; and a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning.