A food storage system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VRT food storage systems are costly and require heavy-duty motors and regular lubrication, making them unsuitable for small food manufacturing companies, and they pose risks of metal shaving contamination.
Innovation Solution
A small-scale, variable retention time (VRT) food storage system using a food product-carrying unit with a pair of opposing side portions and end portions forming an open rectangular frame, equipped with wheels and plastics wear parts, eliminating the need for lubrication and reducing energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If longitudinally slotted end members on product-carrying trays are suspended on guide rails, then trays can be pushed or pulled through the storage rack, but heavy-duty motors are required and regular lubrication is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional guide rail suspension system with a wheel-based rolling mechanism. The product-carrying unit is supported on a plurality of wheels that roll along the guide rails, eliminating the need for heavy-duty motors and lubrication systems. This substitution of sliding friction with rolling friction significantly reduces the mechanical complexity and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic lubrication system from the tray transport mechanism. By using wheels with plastic or rubber tires instead of metal-on-rail contact, the system eliminates the need for lubrication entirely, simplifying the device and reducing maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If guide rails are used for tray suspension, then trays can be conveyed through storage rack, but metal shaving contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes metal-on-metal contact with a wheel-based system where plastic or rubber tires contact the guide rails. This eliminates metal shavings and contamination risks while maintaining smooth tray conveyance through the storage rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel acts as an intermediary between the product-carrying unit and the guide rail. By introducing this intermediate element with non-metallic tires, the system prevents direct metal contact and eliminates the harmful effect of metal shaving contamination.
3Ease of operation
If heavy-duty motors are used to push trays, then trays can be moved through storage rack, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the heavy-duty motor-driven push system with a passive wheel-rolling system. The wheels naturally roll along the guide rails with minimal friction, eliminating the need for high energy consumption motors while maintaining full tray movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel-based system is self-propelling through rolling motion, requiring no external motor power. The design allows trays to be easily pushed or pulled by hand or light actuators, making the system self-sufficient and energy-efficient.
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 reduces energy consumption, eliminates the need for lubrication, and prevents metal shaving contamination, making the system more cost-effective and suitable for small food manufacturing companies.
Implementation Method 1
each wheel having an axle with a plastics wear part
Implementation Method 2
each wheel having an axle with a plastics wear part
Implementation Method 3
a wear pad mounted on the and each end portion to the outside of the frame section
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A food product-carrying unit (10) for transferring food product from an in-feed section to an out-feed section of a small-scale, variable retention time (VRT) food storage system comprises a pair of opposing side portions (11, 12) joined by a pair of opposing end portions (13, 14) to form an open rectangular frame section (15). The side portions (11, 12) have formations (16, 17; 18, 19), respectively, thereon, which formations (16, 17; 18, 19) are adapted to reversibly link the food product-carrying unit (10) to corresponding formations on neighbouring food product-carrying units in the food storage system. A wheel (20, 21) is mounted at ends (22, 23), respectively, of end portion (13). Corresponding wheels (24)(only one wheel shown) are mounted at ends (25, 26), respectively, of end portion (14). The and each wheel (20, 21, 24) has an axle with a plastics wear part, and the wheels (20, 21, 24) are aligned such that, in use, the food product-carrying unit (10) is movable forwards and backwards on the wheels (20, 21, 24) in a straight line through the food storage system. The food product-carrying unit (10) also has a wearpad (27, 28; and 29) mounted on the and each end portion (13, 14), respectively, to the outside (31) of the frame section (15).