Removable Compounding Module for Contamination-Free Beverage Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage mixing systems for nutraceutical beverages face challenges in preventing cross-contamination of pharmaceutical materials, requiring thorough cleaning between uses and lacking efficient mechanisms for isolating moving mechanical parts from contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A beverage mixing system with a removable compounding module that physically isolates dry or liquid compounds from moving mechanical parts, using a drive shaft that can impart translation and rotational motions to the module, ensuring contamination prevention and simplifying cleaning processes by allowing the module to be discarded after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blender or known beverage mixing system is used to mix nutraceutical beverages, then mixing function is achieved, but cross-contamination of pharmaceutical materials occurs and thorough cleaning between uses is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the beverage mixing system into a permanent stationary housing and a removable compounding module. The compounding module contains the beverage material and can be easily removed and replaced, preventing cross-contamination while simplifying operation as no cleaning of the stationary parts is needed between uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The compounding module containing the beverage material is extracted as a separate removable component from the stationary housing. This allows the material-containing module to be discarded after use, eliminating the need to clean the stationary mechanical parts and preventing cross-contamination.
2Productivity
If moving mechanical parts contact nutraceutical materials during mixing, then mixing function is achieved, but contamination of mechanical parts occurs requiring cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the mixing mechanism into a stationary drive shaft that does not contact the material, and a removable compounding module that contains all beverage materials. This allows consecutive usage without cleaning the stationary parts while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The compounding module is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need to clean mechanical parts between uses, enabling consecutive usage while preventing contamination of the stationary system.
3Ease of operation
If a removable compounding module is used to isolate materials from mechanical parts, then cross-contamination is prevented and cleaning is simplified, but the module requires secure coupling and positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into simple complementary features: a square drive interface on the compounding module fits into a corresponding square recess in the stationary housing, and a rim on the module fits into a groove. These simple geometric features provide secure coupling without complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism uses localized geometric features (square drive, rim and groove) at specific interfaces rather than complex overall mechanisms. This provides secure positioning and power transmission while keeping the overall device simple and easy to operate.
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 system effectively prevents cross-contamination and reduces maintenance by isolating mechanical parts from the nutraceutical materials, allowing for consecutive use without cleaning and enabling easy disposal of the compounding module.
Implementation Method 1
the drive shaft can be configured to impart a translation motion (e.g., up and down) to at least a portion of the compounding module
Implementation Method 2
the drive shaft can also be configured to impart a rotational motion (clockwise and/or anti-clockwise) to at least a portion of the compounding module
Implementation Method 3
moving mechanical structures of the beverage mixing system that physically interface with any part of the compounding module are physically isolated from becoming contaminated by any material contained within in the removable compounding module
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A module includes a housing, a sealing feature, a locking feature, and an agitator. The housing has an opening separating inner and outer surfaces and a boss that extends through the housing such that part of the outer surface forms an inner bore of the boss having a terminus pointing toward the opening. The agitator has a base, a shaft, and a mixing element coupled to the base such that the base, in cooperation with the sealing feature, circumferentially seals the opening of the housing to form a cavity defined by the inner surface. The shaft passes through the inner bore. The locking feature when engaged permits independent or simultaneous translational and rotational movement of the shaft while an area between the terminus of the boss and the shaft remains mechanically sealed during the movement against liquid or powder encroachment into a clean area of the inner bore.