Refrigerated Product Solidity Control via Torque and Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for preparing refrigerated products like slushes and ice-creams face challenges in maintaining consistent product characteristics, particularly solidity and temperature, especially when the product level decreases or sugar content varies, leading to incorrect preparation and icy products.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that control the solidity and temperature of the product by measuring resisting torque and using a temperature sensor to maintain a reference temperature, with cycles of switching on and off the cooling device to stabilize the product, and automatic repetition of preparation steps when temperature limits are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the refrigeration system works continuously to cool the product, then the product temperature decreases, but the product becomes too icy when the level lowers
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The control unit activates the refrigeration system based on temperature feedback from the sensor, creating on-off cycles that prevent over-cooling. This periodic operation maintains temperature within a target range, avoiding the product becoming too icy while still achieving proper cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature sensor is positioned in the front zone of the tank to detect the actual product temperature. This feedback signal is sent to the control unit, which adjusts the refrigeration system operation accordingly. The closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the system responds to actual conditions rather than operating blindly, preventing both under-cooling and over-cooling scenarios.
2Temperature
If the refrigeration system works longer to cool the product, then the temperature decreases, but the product characteristics vary when level lowers
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback to the control unit, enabling real-time adjustments to refrigeration operation. This ensures consistent product characteristics by responding to actual temperature conditions rather than relying on fixed timing, making the system reliable across varying product levels and types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational data (temperature readings from the sensor) to automatically regulate itself. The control unit adjusts refrigeration cycles based on the sensor feedback without external intervention, allowing the system to self-correct and maintain consistent product characteristics autonomously.
3Device complexity
If a fixed refrigeration cycle is used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to product variations in sugar content and characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor and control unit create a feedback mechanism that allows the simple apparatus structure to adapt to different product types. Rather than requiring complex pre-programming for each product, the system senses actual temperature conditions and adjusts refrigeration cycles accordingly, providing versatility through intelligent control rather than structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts to different products by dynamically changing operational parameters (refrigeration cycle duration and intensity) based on temperature feedback. This allows a single simple apparatus structure to handle varying sugar contents and product characteristics by adjusting how it operates rather than requiring different hardware configurations.
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
Ensures consistent product characteristics and prevents the product from becoming too icy, allowing for flexible handling of different product types and sugar content variations while maintaining temperature stability.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device arranged inside said tank to cool said product
Implementation Method 2
measuring the temperature of said product inside said tank
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The method for preparing refrigerated products provides to control the solidity of a product being prepared inside a containment tank (2) of said product, until reaching a predetermined solidity, and to measure the temperature of the same product inside said tank (2) once reached said predetermined solidity. Once reached the predetermined solidity, said temperature of the product is set as reference temperature and said reference temperature is kept constant during the subsequent functioning.