Adjustable Microwave Carrier Design for Multi-Article Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave heating systems face challenges in efficiently processing a wide variety of articles with different sizes and shapes due to the need for multiple carriers and high operating expenses, which limits their commercial-scale application and production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A carrier system with a frame made of low loss tangent material and electrically conductive slats, featuring adjustable support structures and dividers, allows for flexible configuration to accommodate various article sizes and shapes, ensuring uniform heating and reducing capital expenses by minimizing the need for multiple carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers are used to process different sizes and shapes of articles, then the system can accommodate diverse articles, but capital expenses and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier employs adjustable support members that can be repositioned along the side walls and end walls, allowing the cargo volume to be dynamically reconfigured to match different article sizes and shapes. This dynamic adjustability eliminates the need for multiple fixed-configuration carriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is divided into modular components including side walls, end walls, support members, and baffle members that can be independently adjusted and reconfigured. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to various article configurations without requiring entirely different carrier designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers are used to handle different article types, then diverse articles can be processed, but operating expenses and change-out requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable support members and baffle members enable rapid reconfiguration of the carrier interior to accommodate different article types, eliminating time-consuming carrier change-outs and maintaining continuous production flow.
Solution Approach 2:
A single carrier design with adjustable components serves multiple functions by accommodating various article sizes and shapes, replacing the need for multiple specialized carriers and eliminating change-out operations between different article types.
3Device complexity
If a single carrier design is used for all article types, then device complexity is reduced, but heating uniformity and manufacturing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable support members can be repositioned to optimize the cargo volume configuration for each article type, ensuring uniform microwave energy distribution and heating uniformity while maintaining a single carrier design.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle members can be selectively positioned to create localized field uniformity zones within the cargo volume, addressing specific heating uniformity requirements for different article configurations without redesigning the entire carrier.
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 system achieves consistent and efficient microwave-assisted pasteurization and sterilization of diverse articles, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs by allowing a single carrier to process multiple types of articles with different dimensions and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a frame formed of a low loss tangent material
Implementation Method 2
Microwave radiation is a known mechanism for delivering energy to an object. The ability of microwave energy to penetrate and heat an object
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of substantially parallel slats formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein at least a portion of the slats are coupled to and extend between the first and second end members
Data Source
AI summary
Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.