Removable Ice Beverage Tank Locking Against Mixer Axial Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for producing and dispensing ice creams, granita, or iced beverages face issues with reliably retaining and removing the product tank due to axial thrust from the mixer element, leading to potential leakage or separation, especially with dense products like ice cream, where high forces are required for maintenance and cleaning, and previous solutions like modified seals or locking systems are difficult to operate and not strong enough.
Innovation Solution
A machine design featuring a removable tank with a snap-engaging mechanism between the tank's bottom surface and the machine's base, allowing parallel extraction and manual release via an operating lever, ensuring secure retention during use and easy disengagement, utilizing a cylindrical mixer element and a horizontal axis cooling element for product stirring and dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic seal is used to retain the tank, then the tank can be retained during operation, but the axial thrust from the mixer element may exceed the seal's retaining force, causing leakage or sudden separation
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining force is segmented into two independent components: friction force from the hydraulic seal and normal force from the snap-engaging means. This divides the single force-resistance mechanism into multiple parallel mechanisms, where the snap-engaging means (elastic element with protrusion and recess) provides additional retaining force through elastic deformation, preventing the axial thrust from overwhelming the seal's friction force alone.
2Reliability
If the seal is modified with triangular steps to increase retaining force, then the tank retention force is improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the seal structure with complex triangular steps, the solution segments the retention function into two separate components: the original hydraulic seal and an additional snap-engaging means. This keeps the seal structure simple while adding a separate, simpler elastic retention mechanism that works in parallel, avoiding the complexity of modifying the seal geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-engaging means acts as an intermediary retention mechanism between the tank and the machine base. The elastic element with protrusion and recess provides an intermediate retaining force that supplements the hydraulic seal, creating a layered retention system that is easier to implement than complex seal modifications.
3Reliability
If screw-type locking systems or interfering parts are used to increase retention strength, then the retaining force is improved, but the ease of operation for inserting and removing the tank deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-engaging means uses dynamic elastic deformation rather than static mechanical locking. The elastic element can flex to allow easy insertion of the tank, then snaps into the engaged position to provide strong retention. For removal, the elastic element flexes back to release the tank. This dynamic behavior provides both strong retention and ease of operation, unlike rigid screw-type systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the elastic element between flexed and relaxed positions. During insertion, the elastic element is flexed to a different shape parameter state to allow passage, then returns to its original shape to engage. This parameter change enables easy operation while maintaining strong retention, avoiding the need for complex locking mechanisms.
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 provides a reliable, low-cost, and easy-to-operate system for retaining and removing the tank, preventing accidental disengagement, facilitating quick maintenance and cleaning, while ensuring secure engagement and easy removal, thus addressing the challenges of tank retention and leakage in existing machines.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element which retains the tank (12) in the seat (29)
Implementation Method 2
The correct position of the tank is usually ensured by the friction between the hydraulic seal, present on the end wall, and the mouth of the rear opening in the tank
Implementation Method 3
a cooling element (19) with a substantially horizontal axis (20) so as to cool the product
Implementation Method 4
a motor-driven mixer element (21) which rotates coaxially with the cylinder (19) so as to keep the product stirred
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A machine (10) for producing and dispensing products such as ice cream, iced beverages or granita comprises a removable product-containing tank (12) which is provided at its front end with a tap (14) for dispensing the product and which, via its rear opening (18), sealingly houses a cooling element (19) with a substantially horizontal axis (20) and a motor-driven mixer element (21). The tank is removable from the machine by means of extraction from its operating position in a disassembly direction (26) which is substantially parallel to the axis of the cooling element, and snap-engaging means (30) for locking the movement of the tank are provided between the tank and its seat on the base of the machine, said means being able to be manually released by means of operation of at least one operating lever (31).