Removable Flake Ice Pan for Cleanable Evaporator Roller Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flake ice production apparatuses face challenges in thorough cleaning and disinfection due to permanently attached components, limiting visual monitoring and access for scaling and contamination removal, especially in the pan and evaporator roller areas.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a rotatably supported evaporator shaft independent of the pan, allowing the pan to be completely installed and removed without tools, enabling thorough cleaning and disinfection, with fluid-tight attachment variants and retention elements ensuring secure positioning during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pan is permanently attached to the evaporator roller, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of cleaning and disinfection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pan is divided into two separate parts: a stationary pan body that remains attached to the apparatus, and a detachable pan section that can be removed for cleaning. This segmentation allows the stable pan body to remain fixed while the removable section enables easy access for cleaning and disinfection without compromising overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system transitions from a permanent static connection to a dynamic removable connection. The pan section can be easily attached and detached from the evaporator roller, allowing the system to adapt between operational stability and cleaning accessibility as needed.
2Device complexity
If the pan is permanently attached to the evaporator roller, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pan into a permanent body and a removable section, the design maintains simplicity in the attached components while enabling easy maintenance of the removable section. The detachable pan section can be independently removed and cleaned without dismantling the entire apparatus or affecting other components.
3Ease of operation
If the pan is made detachable for cleaning, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the reliability of fluid-tight sealing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing element acts as an intermediary between the pan body and the detachable pan section. This sealing component ensures fluid-tight connection when the pan section is attached, preventing leaks while allowing the pan section to be easily detached for cleaning purposes.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the evaporator roller is permanently mounted on the pan, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of cleaning the pan deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into three independent components: the stationary pan body, the evaporator roller with its bearing bushings, and the detachable pan section. The evaporator roller remains permanently mounted on the pan body for stability, while the separate pan section can be removed for cleaning without disturbing the evaporator roller or compromising its mounting.
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
Facilitates easy installation and removal of the pan, allowing for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection without tools, improving hygiene and maintenance accessibility, while maintaining operational efficiency and fluid-tight sealing.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator roller (1) that is rotatably supported on the apparatus independently of the pan (3)
Implementation Method 2
a scraper (4) that is directed towards the evaporator roller (1) and that strips the layer of ice, which has been produced from the liquid, from the surface of the evaporator roller (1)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for producing flake ice from a liquid is proposed, which apparatus is equipped with a rotatably disposed evaporator roller, a shaft on the evaporator roller that transmits torque from a drive to the evaporator roller, at least two bearing bushings which are permanently disposed on the apparatus and in which the shaft is rotatably received and mounted, a scraper for stripping ice that has been formed from the liquid at the surface of the evaporator roller, a pan that is open at the top and receives the liquid to be frozen, wherein the pan is able to be inserted or slid in one piece onto the bearing bushings or onto additional coupling elements disposed on the shaft or onto the bearing bushings or directly onto the shaft, and is detachable therefrom.