The Cereal Solution
ENGR 2367 Rube Goldberg Project
Regiyan Putra
Ben Leers
Qiaodan Zuo
Suting Lu
Introduction
Pouring cereal is a far too complicated process for those who have yet to fully regain consciousness in the morning. The Cereal Solution strives to solve that problem, allowing the user to activate the machine from his seat while adding an exciting element to his morning. Some extensive assembly is required, however most can be completed the night before when energy and attention levels are much higher. By enhancing the most important meal of the day, The Cereal Solution is sure to drastically improve the life of the user from sunup to sundown.
Equipment
- plastic cup x 6
- helium-filled balloon
- pencil x 2
- 2 ft 1×2 wood planks x 2
- small paper cup x 3
- newspaper
- 2 ft cardboard tube
- racquetball x2
- spoon x 2
- cereal bowl
- heavy candle
- egg carton
- 4 ft balloon ribbon
- plastic container or box
- paper or plastic ring, approx 3/4 diameter of racquetball
- tape
- 3 ft wooden rod
- milk
- cereal
- Assemble on table. Required space: approx. 3ft x 5ft
Procedure
Note: See video below for examples of constructed equipment.
- Attach small paper cup to one end of wooden rod using tape. Ensure that racquetball fits well in cup.
- Using tape, connect wood planks with about 1 inch separation to make a track.
- Cut 2 mounds out of egg carton and attach to bottom of plastic cups.
- Place all plastic cups upside down. Place one end of wooden track on top of two raised plastic cups from previous step. Place other end on two original plastic cups. Secure with tape.
- Set cardboard tube vertically about 1 inch away from end of track.
- Attach spoon at the middle to edge of plastic container on using tape. Spoon should behave as a seesaw.
- On opposite edge of plastic container, create two pencil-sized holes. Insert pencils and attach ends to newspaper as to create a ramp.
- Fasten plastic container apparatus to newspaper.
- Set candle, on its side, on top of plastic container above spoon.
- Cut balloon ribbon into three equal segments.
- Tie one end of ribbon to balloon. Tie remaining ribbon segments to first ribbon at the free end. About half way up the first ribbon segment, attach paper or plastic ring via tape or a knot.
- Place racquetball on ring as to anchor balloon to table.
- Using tape, attach each remaining ribbon end to the bottom edge of a small paper cup.
- Attach each paper cup to a plastic cup by taping the bottom edge opposite the balloon ribbon to the bottom edge of the plastic cup. The tape should serve as a hinge allowing the small paper cup to tip over the edge of the plastic cup.
- Arrange plastic cups around cereal bowl so that paper cups tip into bowl.
- Pour milk into one of the paper cups and cereal into the other.
- Referring back to the plastic container apparatus, aim ramp towards racquetball and balloon. Position plastic container in such a way that the falling cardboard tube will hit free end of “seesaw” spoon.
- Place remaining racquetball in paper cup attached to wooden rod. While sitting in front of cereal bowl and using the wooden rod, place ball on tracks.
- Observe as your cereal is poured. Racquetball will hit cardboard tube which will fall onto spoon. Spoon will push candle down ramp which will knock second racquetball off of ring. Balloon will raise, lifting up ends of paper cups and pouring cereal into bowl. Enjoy!