Locking assembly for a micro puree machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro puree machines for making frozen foods and drinks face issues with container instability during processing due to vibration, leading to potential loosening from the machine coupling, which increases user effort and processing time, and are impractical for non-dessert food preparation.
Innovation Solution
A locking assembly with a protrusion on the container that slidably engages a slot on the machine's coupling, featuring a spring-biased clip that moves from a locked to an unlocked position when actuated, allowing secure rotation and easy disengagement of the container, preventing counterclockwise rotation and facilitating efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is securely locked to the coupling to prevent vibration-induced loosening, then the stability and reliability improve, but the device complexity increases due to additional locking components
Solution Approach 1:
The locking assembly utilizes spring-biased clips that automatically engage with protrusions on the container during rotation, providing self-locking functionality without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. The spring force automatically maintains engagement during vibration and processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic system where clips can move between engaged and disengaged states. The spring-biased clips allow for controlled movement during container insertion and removal while maintaining stable engagement during operation, adapting to different operational phases.
2Ease of operation
If the clip is spring-biased toward the unlocked position, then the ease of operation improves for quick container removal, but the reliability decreases as the container may inadvertently loosen during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The spring bias is configured to favor the unlocked position, creating a predetermined tendency for the clips to disengage. This preliminary anti-action ensures that minimal force is required for container removal while the engagement geometry and spring tension are calibrated to maintain secure locking during normal processing vibrations and forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring force parameters and clip geometry are optimized to provide different effective locking strengths during different operational phases. During processing, the spring tension and engagement geometry create strong retention, while during removal operations, the same parameters enable easy disengagement with minimal user force.
3Ease of operation
If the protrusion slidably engages the slot during rotation, then the ease of operation improves for container installation, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking interface is segmented into discrete protrusions and slots that engage in specific orientations. This segmentation allows for simplified user operation through rotational motion while the segmented geometry inherently guides alignment, reducing the actual precision requirements compared to a continuous interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot geometry incorporates curved or angled surfaces that guide the protrusion during rotational engagement. This curvature provides mechanical guidance that tolerates minor misalignments and ensures proper engagement through the rotational motion, reducing the need for extremely precise manufacturing tolerances.
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 locking assembly securely attaches the container to the micro puree machine, reducing vibration-induced instability and user effort, enabling efficient processing of both dessert and non-dessert foods by allowing easier rotation and disengagement, thus enhancing the machine's practicality and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The clip is spring biased toward the second position
Data Source
AI summary
Micro puree machines have a locking assembly for locking a container to a coupling on the machine, preventing the container from rotating out of the coupling during processing. The locking assembly includes at least one protrusion on the container configured to slidably engage a slot on an interior surface of the coupling when the container is rotated in a clockwise direction. The coupling has a clip that is moveable from a first position, in which the clip prevents rotation of the container in the counterclockwise direction, to a second position, in which the clip allows rotation of the container in the counterclockwise direction. The clip is spring biased toward the second position. Pressing a button on the coupling moves the clip from the first to the second position.