Soft-serve freezer ingredient blending module
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no soft-serve freezer machine that allows customers to personally select and blend solid and liquid flavoring ingredients into a semi-frozen base product for customized frozen confections.
Innovation Solution
A system is integrated into conventional freezer dispensers that enables customers to select and blend various solid and liquid ingredients into a semi-frozen base product, using a blender assembly and ingredient storage module, allowing for customizable soft-serve confections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional freezer dispenser is used, then the basic frozen confection can be dispensed, but customers cannot select or blend ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: ingredient storage containers, transfer mechanisms, blending chamber, and dispensing system. Each module handles a specific task, allowing customers to select from multiple ingredient containers that are transferred individually to the blending chamber where they mix with the frozen base before dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The freezer dispenser is enhanced with multi-functional capabilities by integrating ingredient storage, automated transfer, blending, and dispensing functions into a single system. The same dispensing mechanism handles both the frozen base and blended ingredients, while the control system manages multiple ingredient selection and combination options.
2Ease of operation
If ingredient selection and blending features are added, then customer customization is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customers to independently select their desired ingredients through an interface that displays available options. The customer makes selections and the automated system handles the transfer and blending processes without requiring manual intervention, providing self-service functionality despite the complex underlying mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated control system acts as an intermediary between the customer's selection and the physical blending process. The control system receives customer input, activates the appropriate transfer mechanisms, coordinates the blending timing and ratios, and manages the dispensing sequence, thereby simplifying the customer interface while handling the complexity internally.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple solid and liquid ingredients are integrated, then flavor variety increases, but the blending process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges solid and liquid ingredients in a single blending chamber, combining multiple ingredient types that are transferred from separate storage containers. The blending mechanism integrates both solid particulate matter and liquid components, mixing them together with the frozen base to create unified flavor combinations that would be difficult to achieve with separate processes.
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 customers to create personalized soft-serve confections by blending selected ingredients into the frozen base product, enhancing customer satisfaction and flexibility in flavor options.
Implementation Method 1
an auger forced solid condiment ingredients into the semi-frozen base product flowing in the opposite direction
Implementation Method 2
a soft-serve freezer machine available and which incorporates in its construction, features enabling a customer of a business establishment to dispense to himself or herself, a soft-serve frozen confection
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-serve confection freezer incorporates a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in solid particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend particulates from one or more containers into the confection and discharge into a customer's cup for immediate consumption. A further version incorporates a magazine for injection and blending of one or more flavored liquids into the frozen confection. Control panel selection of ingredients and flavors and dispensing by the operator according to the customer's order, or selection and dispensing by the customer himself/herself, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning.