Single-Serving Pod Cooling System for Rapid Frozen Food Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for rapidly cooling food and drinks are inefficient, requiring significant time and often necessitating pre-cooling or pre-freezing of containers, which limits convenience and speed in preparing chilled or frozen products like ice cream and beverages.

Innovation Solution

The development of a refrigeration system with a low startup time and efficient heat transfer, utilizing a pod-machine interface that can cool ingredients from room temperature to freezing in under two minutes, using a refrigeration cycle with a working fluid loop and a bypass line, and incorporating a mixing paddle for efficient mixing and dispensing of frozen products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional cooling methods are used, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but cooling time is too long and pre-cooling of containers is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling timeVSAvoidcooling speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the cooling process into two independent parts: (1) pre-cooled containers stored in a freezer compartment, and (2) ingredients stored at room temperature in a pod. This eliminates the need to cool the entire container+ingredient system from room temperature, dramatically reducing cooling time while maintaining sufficient cooling capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container is pre-cooled and stored in a freezer compartment before use. This preliminary cooling action is performed in advance, so when ingredients are added and the mixing process begins, the container is already at the required low temperature, eliminating the need for lengthy cooling periods during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If rapid cooling is achieved, then cooling speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-service cooling where the container is pre-cooled in a freezer compartment and maintains its low temperature through thermal insulation. This passive thermal management eliminates the need for active cooling mechanisms during the mixing process, achieving rapid cooling without complex equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pod containing ingredients uses a thin-walled flexible container that provides excellent thermal contact with the pre-cooled mixing container. This thin-film design maximizes heat transfer efficiency from the cold container walls to the room-temperature ingredients, enabling rapid cooling without adding system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Temperature

If pre-cooling of containers is required, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer temperatureVSAvoidconvenience

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing container serves multiple functions: it is stored in the freezer compartment for pre-cooling, then used as the mixing vessel, and finally as the serving container. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pre-cooling equipment and simplifies the user workflow, improving convenience while maintaining sufficient cooling capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of time

If single-serving rapid cooling is implemented, then speed is improved, but heat transfer efficiency must be extremely high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling timeVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pod uses a thin-walled flexible container that maximizes the surface area to volume ratio and provides minimal thermal resistance. This thin-film design enables extremely efficient heat transfer from the pre-cooled mixing container walls to the room-temperature ingredients, achieving rapid single-serving cooling with minimal energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 rapid production of chilled or frozen foods and drinks, such as soft-serve ice cream, frozen cocktails, and frozen yogurt, from room-temperature pods in approximately 90 seconds, with the system being easy to use and providing efficient heat transfer without the need for pre-cooling or extensive cleanup.

Implementation Method 1

The pod-machine interface that is easy to use and provides extremely efficient heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

These systems and methods are based on a refrigeration cycle with low startup times

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefrigeration cycle: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

incorporating a mixing paddle for efficient mixing and dispensing of frozen products

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical mixing: Stirring

Data Source

PatentUS11564402B2Providing single servings of cooled foods and drinks

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 COLDSNAP CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.