Vibrating Cutlery Tank Layout Without Box-Like Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibrating tank machines for drying and polishing cutlery are bulky and heavy, leading to increased costs and space requirements, while also posing safety and reliability concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact design featuring a footing with resting feet, an upwardly open treatment tank with a rotating lid, elastic suspensions, and a motorized vibrating unit, along with a protective band and thermal protection, reduces bulk and weight, and simplifies manufacturing by eliminating a box-like support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a box-like support and containment structure is used to support the treatment tank and accommodate operational parts, then the machine structure is stable and reliable, but the machine becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the box-like support and containment structure entirely, extracting only the essential functional components (footing with resting feet, treatment tank, elastic suspensions, and protective band). This eliminates unnecessary structural elements that contributed to bulk and weight while maintaining the core support function through the simplified footing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective band made of elastically deformable material between the footing and treatment tank. This flexible element provides protection and structural integrity without the bulk of rigid box-like structures, reducing overall machine weight and volume while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a box-like support and containment structure is used, then the machine structure is stable and reliable, but the machine occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the box-like support structure that occupied significant horizontal space, retaining only the essential footing with resting feet. This extraction reduces the machine's footprint while maintaining structural stability through the optimized minimal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the support function and containment function into a single integrated footing structure with resting feet, eliminating the need for separate box-like support and containment structures. This consolidation reduces the overall space occupied by the machine.
3Weight of stationary object
If a simplified structure without box-like support is used, then the machine is less bulky and lighter, but manufacturing complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the machine into distinct, simple functional segments (footing with resting feet, treatment tank, elastic suspensions, protective band, vibrating unit). Each segment can be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing while achieving the weight reduction goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective band made of elastically deformable material is a simple component that can be easily manufactured and installed, providing both weight reduction and protective functions without complicating the manufacturing process.
4Device complexity
If the treatment tank is directly supported by the footing with elastic suspensions, then the machine structure is simplified and lighter, but safety concerns may arise from exposed moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective band made of elastically deformable material between the footing and treatment tank. This flexible protective element covers the gap and protects users from exposed moving parts and potential pinching hazards, addressing safety concerns while maintaining the simplified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective band provides beforehand protection against safety hazards created by the simplified structure with exposed moving parts. The elastically deformable material cushions and protects users from potential injuries without requiring complex safety 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 results in a lighter, more space-efficient machine with lower production costs and enhanced safety and reliability, maintaining equal loading capacity and efficiency in drying and polishing cutlery.
Implementation Method 1
A motorized vibrating unit, usually constituted by an electric motor with eccentric masses, is connected to the treatment tank and can be operated to vibrate the treatment tank so that as a consequence of this vibration the drying and polishing material interacts with the cutlery, drying and polishing it.
Implementation Method 2
elastic suspensions, interposed between said footing and said treatment tank
Data Source
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AI summary
A vibrating tank machine for drying and polishing cutlery, comprising: - a footing (2) provided with resting feet (3) intended to rest, when the machine is in conditions for use, on a substantially horizontal supporting surface; - a treatment tank (4), intended to contain a drying and polishing material, connected to an inlet (5) for loading the cutlery to be dried and polished and to an outlet (6) for unloading the dried and polished cutlery; the treatment tank (4) being open upwardly and the outlet (6) being defined in an upper region of its lateral walls; - a rising channel (7), which is connected to the internal walls of the treatment tank (4) and is extended, with the machine in conditions for use, around a substantially vertical axis (8), from the bottom of the treatment tank (4) to the unloading outlet (6); - a lid (9), which is hinged to the treatment tank (4) and can rotate about the corresponding pivoting axis (10) with respect to the treatment tank (4) in order to open or close the treatment tank (4) in an upper region; the loading inlet (5) being defined in the lid (9); - elastic suspensions (11), interposed between the footing (2) and the treatment tank (4); - at least one motorized vibrating unit (12) connected to the treatment tank (4).