Ice Cream Roll Maker Freezer Wheel and Scraping Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice cream making appliances are tedious to operate, limited in producing various forms and shapes of ice cream, and require manual removal of components for access.

Innovation Solution

An ice cream roll maker with a rotating freezer wheel and scraping device that continuously forms ice cream rolls of different thicknesses and diameters, allowing for user-friendly operation and varied forms of frozen desserts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a motorized whisk or paddle is used to mix ingredients in a receptacle, then the mixing action brings liquid ingredients into contact with cooled walls to freeze them, but the appliance requires manual removal of the mixing paddle and drive shaft from the receptacle and removal of the receptacle from the cooling chamber to access the ice cream

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to ice creamVSAvoidcomplexity of component removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The appliance is divided into separable modules: the cooling chamber can be removed from the housing, and the mixing paddle with drive shaft can be independently removed from the receptacle. This segmentation allows each component to be accessed and cleaned separately, simplifying the overall operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing paddle and drive shaft are extracted as removable components from the receptacle assembly. The drive shaft can be detached from the motor assembly, and the mixing paddle can be removed from the drive shaft, allowing easy access to all internal components for cleaning and maintenance without disassembling the entire appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing ice cream making appliances use a fixed receptacle design, then they can produce ice cream, but they are limited in the form of ice cream produced and are not capable of producing ice cream in various shapes and configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of ice cream formsVSAvoidcomplexity of interchangeable components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The appliance is designed with universal compatibility: the same basic structure can accommodate different receptacles (for ice cream, sorbet, gelato), different mixing paddles (whisk, paddle, spoon), and different drive shaft configurations. This multi-functionality allows one appliance to produce various frozen desserts in different forms without requiring completely different devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing paddle can be rotated to different angular positions relative to the drive shaft, and the receptacle can be positioned at different orientations. This dynamic adjustability allows the same components to create different mixing patterns and ultimately different frozen dessert forms and textures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If existing ice cream making appliances use a stationary mixing mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the appliance is rather tedious to operate and requires manual removal of components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of component accessVSAvoidtime for component removal and cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing paddle and drive shaft are designed to be pre-assembled as a unit that can be quickly inserted into and removed from the receptacle. The drive shaft is designed with a quick-release mechanism that allows it to be detached from the motor assembly without tools, preparing the components for rapid removal and cleaning after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing mechanism incorporates movable components: the mixing paddle can be raised and lowered along the drive shaft, and the drive shaft itself can be extended or retracted. This dynamic design allows the mixing components to be easily positioned for operation and then quickly removed for cleaning, reducing the time and effort required for maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 ice cream roll maker simplifies the process of producing ice cream and other frozen desserts by enabling continuous production of rolls with customizable thickness and diameter, enhancing user experience and product variety.

Implementation Method 1

An outer peripheral surface of the freezer wheel is configured to receive the liquid ingredient from the reservoir and transform the liquid ingredient into a frozen coating layer on the outer peripheral surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11622567B2Ice cream roll maker

Publication Date: 2023.04.11 CONAIR CORP

AI summary

An ice cream roll maker includes a housing, a freezer wheel mounted within the housing and configured for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a reservoir within the housing for holding a liquid ingredient. An outer peripheral surface of the freezer wheel is configured to receive the liquid ingredient from the reservoir and transform the liquid ingredient into a frozen coating layer on the outer peripheral surface.