Mixing Vessel Protrusion Layout to Prevent Dasher Material Buildup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frozen drink makers suffer from material buildup in undesirable locations within the mixing vessel, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of at least one protrusion within the mixing vessel that extends into the space defined by the mixing blades of the dasher, positioned on the central axis, to control the movement and positioning of material and prevent buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mixing vessel is used in a frozen drink maker, then the drink product can be cooled and processed, but material accumulates in undesirable locations within the mixing vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of material buildupVSAvoidmixing vessel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing vessel is segmented into multiple functional zones using internal features. The protrusions divide the mixing chamber into different flow regions, ensuring that material is directed away from the dasher and toward the outlet, preventing accumulation in specific areas while maintaining mixing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions are introduced as intermediary elements between the dasher and the material. These protrusions act as mediators that redirect material flow, preventing direct contact and accumulation between the rotating dasher and the material, thereby solving the buildup problem without stopping the mixing action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If material accumulates in the mixing vessel, then processing can continue, but components may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous processing capabilityVSAvoidcomponent durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions are positioned to preemptively redirect material flow before accumulation can occur. By proactively directing material away from the dasher and toward the outlet, the system prevents harmful accumulation that would otherwise damage components, allowing continuous processing without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Productivity

If the dasher rotates to mix the drink product, then the product is processed efficiently, but material builds up at the first end of the dasher

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the dasher to simply rotate and mix, the protrusions invert the natural flow pattern by creating a counteracting force that directs material toward the outlet. This inversion of the typical mixing pattern prevents material from settling at the first end of the dasher while maintaining efficient mixing through the rotational motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12514262B1Feature for preventing material buildup in a mixing vessel of a drink maker

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

AI summary

A feature for preventing material buildup in a mixing vessel of a frozen drink maker is described. The feature may include at least one protrusion extending into a vessel chamber of a mixing vessel. The at least one protrusion may be positioned on a central axis of a dasher that is positioned within the vessel chamber and the at least one protrusion may be sized and configured to fit into a space defined by one or more mixing blades of the dasher at a first end of the dasher.