Automated Waffle Cone Shaper with Slide Rail and Motorized Spindle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small ice cream shops face challenges in manually shaping waffle cones, which is time-consuming and potentially injurious, and existing automated systems are too large and expensive for their needs.
Innovation Solution
An automated waffle cone shaper with a mounting plate, slide rail, motor, and cone shaping spindle that allows for automated shaping and cooling of waffle cones, featuring a photoelectric sensor for user activation and a cooling fan for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual rotation of the spindle is used for shaping waffle cones, then the device structure is simple, but the operation time increases and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical rotation system with an automated motor-driven spindle rotation system. The motor automatically rotates the spindle at controlled speeds, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining a relatively compact structure suitable for small retail shops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the motor automatically performs the shaping function once activated. The user simply loads the waffle cone and initiates the automated shaping process, and the system completes the task without continuous human intervention.
2Productivity
If industrial automated cone shaping systems are used, then productivity is high, but the device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cone shaping system into separate functional modules: a mounting plate, a slide rail with slide carriage for tray movement, a motor-gearbox assembly for spindle rotation, and a cooling fan assembly. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for compactness while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical stacking of components (motor above tray, cooling fan above motor) to optimize space utilization. The slide rail mechanism allows linear movement in one dimension while the motor and cooling fan are positioned in the vertical dimension, creating an efficient compact layout that achieves industrial productivity without requiring large floor space.
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 efficient, safe, and cost-effective shaping of waffle cones, allowing for simultaneous baking and shaping processes without the need for manual rotation, reducing the risk of injury and accommodating smaller retail operations.
Implementation Method 1
a motor and gearbox operatively attached to an end of the mounting plate distal from the slide rail; and a cone shaping spindle operatively attached to the motor, such that when the motor is activated, the cone shaping spindle rotates
Implementation Method 2
a cooling fan for efficient operation
Data Source
AI summary
An automated waffle cone shaper for shaping waffle cones may include a mounting plate; a slide rail mounted to a top surface of the mounting plate, the slide rail including a slide carriage slidably mounted thereon; a tray attached to the slide carriage, such that when the slide carriage slides along a length of the slide rail, the tray moves along a length of the mounting plate, wherein the tray comprises a waffle feed portion and a cone shaper mold extending from the waffle feed portion; a motor and gearbox operatively attached to an end of the mounting plate distal from the slide rail; and a cone shaping spindle operatively attached to the motor, such that when the motor is activated, the cone shaping spindle rotates.