Modular Stirring Mechanism With Magnetic Quick-Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitators in the food industry, particularly those with mechanical seals, pose contamination risks during sterile processes and require significant storage space due to their design, leading to increased costs and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A modular agitator design where the drive is integrated into the container lid, utilizing a magnetic coupling with a quick-release mechanism, allowing for easy detachment and reuse, eliminating the need for additional seals and enabling space-efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical seal is used in the agitator, then the agitator can effectively seal the container, but the wear and tear of the seal can lead to product contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical seal with a magnetic coupling system. The drive magnet in the lid interacts with the follower magnet in the agitator through magnetic fields, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and seals. This substitution of mechanical connection with magnetic field interaction resolves the contamination risk while maintaining sealing integrity.
2Productivity
If the drive system is permanently attached to the container, then the agitator functions continuously, but the containers require considerable storage space and acquisition costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the agitator system into separable components: the drive unit in the lid and the agitator unit in the container. The magnetic coupling allows these to be easily detached. This segmentation enables the drive to be removed for space-efficient container stacking while allowing the agitator to function when attached, reducing both storage space requirements and overall system costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit designed for the lid can serve multiple containers through the quick-release magnetic coupling mechanism. A single drive unit can be transferred between different containers, making the drive system universal and reducing the total number of drives needed, thereby reducing acquisition costs and improving space utilization during storage.
3Volume of stationary object
If the drive is integrated into the container lid with quick-release magnetic coupling, then the container can be stacked for space-saving storage, but the drive must be easily detachable and reattachable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic coupling instead of mechanical fasteners or threads for attaching the drive to the container lid. The magnetic attraction provides secure attachment during operation while allowing easy separation when needed. This magnetic connection mechanism simplifies the attachment/detachment operation while enabling space-efficient stacking during storage.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a magnetic coupling is used instead of mechanical seal, then product contamination is eliminated, but the magnetic coupling must maintain sufficient magnetic strength for torque transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic fields as an intermediary between the drive magnet in the lid and the follower magnet in the agitator. This magnetic field mediator transmits rotational torque without requiring direct mechanical contact or physical seals, thereby eliminating product contamination while maintaining sufficient force transmission for effective agitation.
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 design reduces storage costs, extends container service life, simplifies cleaning, and minimizes downtime by allowing a single drive to be shared across multiple containers, while ensuring sterility and efficient use of space.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic coupling being arranged between the drive and the agitator unit, and having a cylindrical cavity, drive magnets and agitator unit magnets, the drive magnets being connected to the drive and the agitator unit magnets being connected to it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a modular stirring mechanism (2) which has a drive (3), a stirring mechanism unit (4), and a magnet coupling (1). The magnet coupling (1) is arranged between the drive (3) and the stirring mechanism unit (4) and has a cylindrical cavity (5), drive magnets (6), and stirring mechanism unit magnets (7). The drive magnets (6) are connected to the drive (3), and the stirring mechanism unit magnets (7) are connected to the stirring mechanism unit (4) and are arranged radially about the cavity (5). In the open state of the magnet coupling (1), the cavity (5) is open at the cavity end opposite the stirring mechanism unit (4), and the drive magnets (6) can be introduced into the cavity (5) of the magnet coupling (1) in order to close the magnet coupling (1) so as to couple the drive (3) and the stirring mechanism unit (4) and can be arranged on a plane together with the stirring mechanism magnets (7). The magnet coupling (1) has a quick closure (8) which closes the cavity (5) and establishes a connection between the drive (3) and the stirring mechanism unit (4) when the magnet coupling (1) is closed.