Micro puree machine with fixed motors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing micro puree machines for frozen foods and desserts require significant user effort and time due to complex internal drive mechanisms, making them impractical for preparing non-dessert food products.

Innovation Solution

A micro puree machine design featuring a mixing shaft capable of both linear and rotational movement, with a drive motor and position motor remaining stationary within the housing, utilizing a transmission system that includes a drive motor coupled to a first gear and a position motor coupled to the mixing shaft for axial movement, simplifying the internal mechanisms and reducing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a micro puree machine uses a complex internal drive mechanism with moving motors, then the blade can achieve both linear and rotational movement, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade movement capabilityVSAvoidinternal drive mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the motors move with the blade (complex solution), the patent inverts the approach by keeping the motors stationary and making the blade move relative to them. The drive motor rotates stationary gears that engage with gears on the mixing shaft, while the position motor moves the mixing shaft axially through a lead screw mechanism. This inversion dramatically simplifies the internal drive mechanism while maintaining full blade movement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the drive system into two independent stationary motor units: a drive motor for rotational movement and a position motor for axial movement. Each motor handles one degree of freedom independently, allowing the blade to achieve complex motion (rotation + axial movement) through coordinated action of two simple, stationary motor-gear assemblies rather than one complex moving motor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a micro puree machine uses a complex internal drive mechanism with moving motors, then the blade can achieve both linear and rotational movement, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade movement capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making motors stationary rather than moving with the blade. This simplification reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining full adaptability. The stationary drive motor connects to the mixing shaft through gear trains, and the stationary position motor controls axial position through a lead screw, making the system easier and cheaper to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a micro puree machine uses a complex internal drive mechanism with moving motors, then the blade can achieve both linear and rotational movement, but the machine robustness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade movement capabilityVSAvoidmachine robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves robustness by inverting the design so that motors remain stationary in the housing rather than moving with the blade. Stationary motors are more reliable and robust as they don't undergo mechanical stress from movement. The blade and mixing shaft become the moving components, which is mechanically more sound as they are designed to move anyway during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This configuration results in a more cost-effective, robust, and efficient micro puree machine that reduces user effort and time required for processing, enabling easier preparation of both dessert and non-dessert frozen food products.

Implementation Method 1

a drive motor operatively coupled to a first gear, a mixing shaft operatively coupled to a second gear, and a position motor operatively coupled to the mixing shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

a position motor operatively coupled to the mixing shaft to move the mixing shaft axially along a mixing shaft axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLinear actuation mechanism:

Data Source

PatentUS11882965B1Micro puree machine with fixed motors

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

AI summary

A micro puree machine has a mixing shaft attachable to a blade that is subject to both linear and rotational movement. A drive motor is contained within a lower portion of the machine housing and operatively couples to a first gear that engages a second gear on the mixing shaft for rotation of the mixing blade. A position motor within the upper housing operates to move the mixing blade linearly to engage the ingredients in the bowl. During both axial and rotational movement of the mixing shaft, the drive motor and the position motor remain stationary within their respective positions in the housing.