Material Storage and Dispensing Device for the Kitchen Charles E Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering ME 423 Senior Design Progress Presentation Thursday, November 6th, 2003 Group 9 Ethan Jayson Cora LaFrance Judy Ng Advisor: Professor Zhenqi Zhu Sponsors: Josh Porter & Mark Miller

Presentation Overview Design Objective Design Objective Product Planning Product Planning Quality Function Deployment Quality Function Deployment Technical Model Technical Model Industrial Design Assessment Industrial Design Assessment Concept Screening, Scoring & Selection Concept Screening, Scoring & Selection Material Selection Material Selection Current Project Status Current Project Status Next Steps Next Steps

Design Objectives To Develop a Conceptual Design for a Material Storage Device with the Ability to Accurately Measure and Dispense Dry Particulate Food Items for Kitchen Use. To Develop a Conceptual Design for a Material Storage Device with the Ability to Accurately Measure and Dispense Dry Particulate Food Items for Kitchen Use.

Product Planning Performed Prior to Determination of Product Specifications: Performed Prior to Determination of Product Specifications: Collect Raw Data from Customers Collect Raw Data from Customers Distribution of Surveys Distribution of Surveys Interviews with Potential Customers Interviews with Potential Customers Interpretation of Raw Data to Technical Terms Interpretation of Raw Data to Technical Terms Organize Customer Needs into Hierarchy Organize Customer Needs into Hierarchy

Quality Function Deployment Translation of Customer Needs Translation of Customer Needs List of Metrics List of Metrics Set Target Values Set Target Values State-of-the-Art Review State-of-the-Art Review Competitive Benchmarking Competitive Benchmarking Customer Perception of Competitor Products Customer Perception of Competitor Products

House of Quality Translation of Customer Needs into Technical Terms Translation of Customer Needs into Technical Terms Importance Rating of Customer Needs Importance Rating of Customer Needs Establish Correlation Between Customer Needs and Metrics Establish Correlation Between Customer Needs and Metrics Determine the Weights of Metrics Determine the Weights of Metrics Needs – Metrics Relationship Strong Correlation 9 pts Some Correlation 3 pts Possible Correlation 1 pts Weight = Importance Rating x Correlation Importance Rating 1 – 5 (Least to Most Important)

Relative Weights of Metric Sum of the Weights from Individual Customer Needs Sum of the Weights from Individual Customer Needs The Demanded Weight % The Demanded Weight % Metric % Demanded Weight Tolerance Level for Amount of Dispensed Material 9% Volume of Storage Container 8 % Height of Device 7 % Depth & Width of Device 6 % Number & Size of Dispensing Increments 6 % Number of Storage Compartments 2 % Number of Color Options 1 % Conclusion: The Accuracy and Dimensions of the Device Demand the Most Attention in our Design

Target Values MetricTarget Values Tolerance Level for Amount of Dispensed Material +/- 5 % Height of Device18 in Depth of Device10 in Width of Device8 in Weight of Filled Device8 lbs. Dimension of Base6 in x 10 in Distance Below Dispensing Nozzle8 in Dimension of Dispensing Nozzle2.5 in (dial.) Number of Storage Compartments1 Number of Detachable Parts0 Location of Center of Gravity12 in off base Volume of Storage Container18 cups Dimension of Opening of Container6 in x 10 in Number of Steps Needed for Dispensing< 3 Time Required to Dispense 1 Cup3 sec

Customer Perception of Competitor Products Perception Rated Based on Ability to Meet Customer Needs: Scale from 1 5 (Least to Best) Perception Rated Based on Ability to Meet Customer Needs: Scale from 1 5 (Least to Best) Rated 2 Competitive Products Rated 2 Competitive Products Spice Wheel Design Score: 463 / 645 or 72% Rice & Bean Dispenser Score: 475 / 645 or 74%

Technical Model

Industrial Design Assessment Needs Level of Importance ExplanationApplication Ergonomics Ease of UseHigh The ease of use is very important in a consumer product such as ours. If the product is hard to use then it will not be helpful to the consumer. The mechanism for dispensing will be designed to keep the user interaction to a minimal level. Ease of Maintenance Medium The ease of maintenance is important in that the product should not have to be maintained. It should be strong enough and designed so that it will not break easily. The product will be designed robustly so as to be able to withstand everyday user interaction and occasional abuse without constant maintenance. Quantity of User Interaction High The user will have to interact with the product every time they need to dispense material. The product will not run without this user interaction The product will be designed in such a way that the user does not have exert very much effort or have to think very hard in order to use the product. Novelty of User Interaction Medium High The user should see the device as a novel way to approach the dispensing and storing of kitchen materials. The product will be designed using new approaches to the problem of dispensing and storing kitchen materials SafetyHigh Since this is a product that the user will interact with often, safety is a major concern. The product will not have any sharp edges that a user could get cut on, and the product will not have any mechanisms that a finger or hand could get hurt with.

Industrial Design Assessment Needs Level of Importance ExplanationApplication Aesthetics Product Differentiation High Because this is a product that will be sold in the consumer market, product differentiation is very important. If a consumer does not see how our product is different from someone else's then they might buy the other product instead of ours. The product will be designed and marketed as a product that approaches to the problem of dispensing and storing kitchen materials in a way that is different from other products currently in the marketplace. Pride of Ownership High The consumer should see the product as a new invention and buy it for its novelty as well as its function. The product will be designed and marketed as a new invention that not everyone else has. This should first draw consumers who are looking for new "gadgets" to try out. After the first round of buyers sees that the product works and is valuable the next round of buyers will come. Team Motivation Medium Low The team should be proud of the products turned out by the company. Since this product has been designed by the team from scratch, the team will feel pride for what they present as a final product.

Wheel Concepts Spiral Trap Door Ingredient Dial I ncrement

Wheel Dispensing Mechanism Features: Features: A Wheel with Buckles to Carry Material Amount Dispensed Depends on the Number of Turns Pros: Pros: Simple Design Fairly Accurate No Extra Parts Easy to Scale for Variety Cons: Cons: Clogging of Material Require Tight Tolerance to Reduce Spills Not User Friendly Not a New Design Ingredient Dial Increment

Trap Door Dispensing Mechanism Features: Features: Trap Doors at Exit Nozzle Adjust Trap Door Levels to Specify Amount to Dispense Use of Gravity to Dispense Pros: Pros: Provide Accurate Measurement Easy to Clean Easy to Scale for Variety Minimal Spills Cons: Cons: Requires A Lot of Steps to Dispense Difficult to Design Detachable Parts Required Material May Clog

Trap Door Design

Animated Trap Door Design

Design Challenges for Trap Door Concept Simplify Design Simplify Design Reduce Number of Components Reduce Number of Components One Mechanism for Multiple Functions (Increase User Friendliness) One Mechanism for Multiple Functions (Increase User Friendliness) Ensure Even Distribution of Material While Being Dispensed Ensure Even Distribution of Material While Being Dispensed Provide an Agitator to Reduce Clogging of Material Provide an Agitator to Reduce Clogging of Material Determine Proper Angle for Container Walls Determine Proper Angle for Container Walls Material Selection to Reduce Friction and Adhesion between Container Walls and Material Material Selection to Reduce Friction and Adhesion between Container Walls and Material

Spiral Dispensing Mechanism Features: Features: Horizontal Spiral as Dispenser and Agitator Spiral Threads Used to Measure Quantity of Material Pros: Pros: Simple Design Accurate Act as Agitator for Even Flow Easy to Scale for Variety No Extra Parts Cons: Cons: Need Method to Stop Flow Need to Guarantee Each Spiral is Completely Filled Not Easy to Clean

Spiral Design

Animated Spiral Design

Design Challenges for Spiral Concept Determine the Space Between Threads Determine the Space Between Threads Determine the Pitch of the Threads Determine the Pitch of the Threads Determine the Diameter of the Spiral Determine the Diameter of the Spiral Devise Way to Stop Flow When Needed Quantity Has Exited Devise Way to Stop Flow When Needed Quantity Has Exited Make Sure the Material Fills the Voids in the Spiral Completely Make Sure the Material Fills the Voids in the Spiral Completely Make Sure the Spiral Will Not Jam Make Sure the Spiral Will Not Jam

Concept Screening & Scoring Scoring CriteriaWeightABC Dispenses accurately Is a new concept Does not Spill out extra material Material does not get stuck inside container Is easy to use Is intuitive how to use it Has few user interactions Accommodates different materials Dispenses various quantities Weighted Score: Spiral ConceptC Wheel ConceptB Trap DoorA TitleDesign Very Suitable9 Suitable3 Marginally Suitable1 Not Suitable0 ExplanationScoring Strong Correlation9 Some Correlation3 Low Correlation1 ExplanationWeight

Concepts Selection Selected Based on Screening and Scoring Selected Based on Screening and Scoring Concept A: Trap Door Dispensing Mechanism Concept A: Trap Door Dispensing Mechanism Concept B: Spiral Dispensing Mechanism Concept B: Spiral Dispensing Mechanism Wheel Design Not Chosen: Wheel Design Not Chosen: Existing Design Existing Design Not Sufficient to Meet Specified Criteria Based on Screening and Scoring Not Sufficient to Meet Specified Criteria Based on Screening and Scoring

Material Considerations Polystyrene Polystyrene Inexpensive Inexpensive Hard / Durable Hard / Durable Common Common Easy to Mold Easy to Mold Applications: Applications: Housings of Hairdryers Housings of Hairdryers Computers Computers Kitchen Appliances. Kitchen Appliances.

Current Project Status Completed Selection of Two Final Concepts for Further Design Development Completed Selection of Two Final Concepts for Further Design Development Generated 3-D CAD Models for Final Concepts Generated 3-D CAD Models for Final Concepts Initiated Material Selection Research Initiated Material Selection Research Exploring Material Properties of Flour Exploring Material Properties of Flour Exploring Options for Product Architecture Exploring Options for Product Architecture

Next Steps FEA Analysis using COSMOS FEA Analysis using COSMOS Develop Design Suitable for Dispensing of Flour Develop Design Suitable for Dispensing of Flour Proper Shape of Container Proper Shape of Container Proper Material Selection Proper Material Selection Surface Finish to Ensure Good Flow of Material Surface Finish to Ensure Good Flow of Material Improve Current Concepts to Increase Product Quality and Efficiency Improve Current Concepts to Increase Product Quality and Efficiency Communicate Concepts to Sponsors Communicate Concepts to Sponsors

Thank You! Questions?