Adjustable Grinding Gap for Larger Nuts in Viscous Food Dispensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viscous food grinding and dispensing systems produce exposed residue drips and are not sanitary, and they struggle with processing larger nuts due to inadequate gap sizes between the transport device and housing wall, leading to product loss and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a larger gap between the transport device and housing wall to capture larger nuts, a flexible nozzle valve to prevent residue drips, and a variable frequency drive motor for efficient grinding, along with a pivoting shutter and adjustable texture modification system to enhance processing efficiency and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smaller gap is used between the transport device and housing wall, then the system is simpler to manufacture, but larger nuts cannot be captured leading to product loss
Solution Approach 1:
The housing sleeve is made adjustable in position relative to the transport device, allowing the gap size to be dynamically changed. This enables the system to accommodate different nut sizes by simply adjusting the sleeve position, rather than manufacturing different components for each size requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is divided into adjustable sections (housing sleeve and housing base) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the gap between the transport device and housing wall to be modified without redesigning the entire structure, facilitating adaptability to different nut sizes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the product outlet is exposed, then the dispensing system is simpler in structure, but residue drips and environmental contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
A spout is introduced as an intermediary component between the product outlet and the environment. The spout serves as a protective barrier that prevents environmental contamination while allowing the viscous food product to be dispensed, thus resolving the contradiction between sanitation and structural simplicity.
3Force
If conventional motor systems are used, then the motor design is simpler, but higher torque requires larger motor size increasing footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The motor operating parameters are changed by introducing variable frequency control. This allows the motor to operate at different speeds and torque levels optimally, enabling a smaller motor to deliver the required peak torque during grinding cycles without needing a larger continuous-rated motor, thus reducing the overall footprint.
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 effectively captures larger nuts, minimizes residue drips, and enhances the grinding efficiency and hygiene of the system, allowing for a more efficient and sanitary processing of viscous food products.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible nozzle valve to automatically pinch off product residue drips
Implementation Method 2
a variable frequency driven (VFD), 3 phase motor, that provides higher torque with a volumetrically smaller motor
Data Source
AI summary
A viscous food dispensing system includes a chute inlet configured to funnel particulate food product into a sleeve and a transport device having an over-center cutout. The transport device is configured to rotate within the sleeve to convey the particulate food product. A processing surface extends downward from the chute inlet towards a curved base of the sleeve along a portion of the transport device. The processing surface is spaced laterally apart from the transport device to define a processing zone between the processing surface and the transport device. The particulate food product is processed as the particulate food product is captured between a leading edge of the over-center cutout and the processing surface while the transport device is rotating.