Rotatable Mixing Chamber for Animal Feed Preparation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing animal feed preparation devices only produce solid food, which may not be suitable for certain animals, and lack ergonomic design and easy maintenance features.

Innovation Solution

A mixing chamber for an animal feed preparation apparatus that forms a paste or mash, featuring a removable and rotatable mixing enclosure with a gripping portion for easy handling, a design without a mobile security device, and a mechanism for efficient mixing and dispensing, including a mixing blade with eccentric arms and a geared motor for rotation, allowing for easy cleaning and user-friendly operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a mixing chamber is made removable for easy cleaning, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing chamber is designed as a separate removable component from the housing, allowing it to be easily detached for cleaning without disassembling the entire device. This segmentation enables independent cleaning of the mixing chamber while keeping the main device intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a mixing chamber is made rotatable for dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing chamber is designed with rotatable capability, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned between mixing position and dispensing position. This dynamic feature enables the user to rotate the chamber to different orientations for different operational phases without requiring separate fixed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a gripping portion is added for easy handling, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing chamber includes an integrated gripping portion that is part of its own structure, allowing the chamber to be easily grasped and manipulated directly without requiring external tools or additional mechanisms. The gripping portion is self-contained within the chamber design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If mobile security devices are removed for simpler design, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Mobile security devices have been removed from the design, extracting this function entirely. The patent accepts the trade-off of reduced security functionality in exchange for significantly simplified device architecture and fewer moving parts that could fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables the preparation of a homogeneous animal feed in paste form, ensuring ease of use, maintenance, and safety, with efficient mixing and dispensing, suitable for various animal sizes and dietary needs.

Implementation Method 1

means for movable mixers arranged in the mixing enclosure for mixing the portion of dehydrated food and the portion of liquid to form a food ration in the form of a paste

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical agitation: Stirring

Implementation Method 2

the mixing enclosure, once mounted on the preparation device: is rotatable with respect to the preparation device to go from a mixing position of the food ration to a position for dispensing the food ration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

when the mixing enclosure is in the mixing position, the orifice is arranged in the upper part of the mixing enclosure, when the mixing enclosure is in the dispensing position, the orifice is arranged in the lower part of the mixing chamber. Thus, it is possible to pour by gravity the ingredients to be mixed, and to expel by gravity the mash obtained after mixing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3462920B1Device for the preparation of animal feed
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 SEB SA
  • EP3462920B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3462920B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3462920B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

The invention relates to an appliance (500) for preparing animal feed, comprising: - a housing, - a mixing chamber (200) designed to receive a portion of dehydrated feed and a liquid portion, - mobile mixing means arranged in the mixing chamber (200), - a consumption chamber (400), wherein the mixing chamber (200) is removable from the preparation appliance (500), characterized in that the mixing chamber (200), once mounted on the preparation appliance (500): - is rotatable in order to pass from a position mixing the feed ration to a position dispensing the feed ration, and - has a gripping portion which protrudes from the housing.