Modular Blender with Serviceable Water Heating and Infrared Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convenience store owners face challenges with high maintenance and repair costs, as well as safety and ease of use concerns, with existing blenders for preparing frozen milkshakes and smoothies.
Innovation Solution
A blender with an internal frame and modular design for quick assembly and maintenance, featuring a belt-driven cupholder elevator, integrated water heater and steamer, and safety infrared light beams to ensure correct cup size and foreign object detection, reducing plumbing connections and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heavy duty commercial size blenders are used in convenience stores, then durability and rugged use capability are improved, but maintenance and repair costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blender is divided into modular assemblies including a motor assembly, food preparation chamber assembly, and base assembly that can be independently serviced. This segmentation allows specific components to be replaced without dismantling the entire unit, reducing maintenance time and costs while preserving the heavy duty durability of the complete system.
2Strength
If heavy duty commercial size blenders are used in convenience stores, then durability and rugged use capability are improved, but ease of service deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blender is divided into modular assemblies including a motor assembly, food preparation chamber assembly, and base assembly that can be independently serviced. This segmentation allows specific components to be replaced without dismantling the entire unit, reducing maintenance time and costs while preserving the heavy duty durability of the complete system.
3Temperature
If water heater and steamer are integrated into the blender, then heated cleaning water availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water heater and steamer functions are integrated into the blender system, with the water heater positioned to efficiently transfer heated water to the food preparation chamber. This merging provides heated cleaning water and steaming capability while managing the added complexity through integrated design and centralized water management.
4Productivity
If modular design with internal frame is used, then assembly speed and manufacturing efficiency are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blender is divided into modular assemblies including a motor assembly, food preparation chamber assembly, and base assembly that can be independently serviced. This segmentation allows specific components to be replaced without dismantling the entire unit, reducing maintenance time and costs while preserving the heavy duty durability of the complete system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a light beam detection system to automatically verify cup placement and alignment, replacing manual mechanical alignment checks. This optical detection system ensures precise positioning of the cup on the elevator mechanism, maintaining manufacturing precision requirements while enabling faster assembly through automated verification.
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 solution reduces maintenance and repair efforts, enhances safety, and improves user experience by allowing for easy assembly and operation, while minimizing the risk of incorrect cup sizes and foreign object interference.
Implementation Method 1
safety infrared light beams to ensure correct cup size and foreign object detection
Implementation Method 2
the water within f'real heavy duty blender is heated in a water heater and stored in an accumulator
Implementation Method 3
many of f'real's heavy duty blenders are equipped with a steamer to periodically kill any bacteria that might be present in the food preparation chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.