Adjustable platen assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing technologies face challenges in producing puffed snacks economically while ensuring batch uniformity and consistency, with limited accessibility for cleaning and maintenance in conventional compression head assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A compression head assembly with a C-frame design featuring movable platen assemblies, actuators, and locking mechanisms that allow for adjustable accessibility and parallel alignment of punch assemblies, along with tension rods for deflection mitigation, enabling efficient compression, cooking, and expansion of food products, while facilitating easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the compression head assembly uses a fixed rigid structure, then structural stability is improved, but accessibility for cleaning and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compression head assembly incorporates a movable platen that can be positioned in multiple locations (retracted, intermediate, and advanced positions) along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic positioning capability allows the platen to provide structural stability during compression operations while enabling easy accessibility for cleaning and maintenance when retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the platen assembly is made movable to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platen assembly is designed with movable capabilities through a actuation system that allows positioning at multiple discrete locations. This dynamic design improves accessibility for cleaning and maintenance while the controlled nature of the movement (with specific retracted, intermediate, and advanced positions) prevents excessive complexity by providing defined operational states rather than continuous adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable platen assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural stability during compression, enables accessibility for cleaning when retracted, and allows intermediate positioning for partial access. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single design feature.
3Manufacturing precision
If the punch assemblies are constrained to remain parallel, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The tension rods are designed as adjustable and replaceable components that can be modified to maintain punch alignment. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures manufacturing precision through proper punch alignment while avoiding excessive complexity by using simple, modular tension rod components rather than complex rigid alignment mechanisms.
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 provides economic production of puffed snacks with improved batch uniformity and consistency, enhanced accessibility for cleaning, and reduced operational complexity, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the food processing system.
Implementation Method 1
compress and heat raw ingredients
Implementation Method 2
moving frame actuator unit coupled with the compression head frame and the moving frame and configured to move selectively the moving frame relative to the compression head frame
Implementation Method 3
locking assembly configured to block selectively movement of the compression head frame relative to the moving frame
Implementation Method 4
first tension rod extending between a vertical support and a base portion on a first side of the compression head frame to apply a force to the compression head assembly that counters deflection caused by the compressive force
Data Source
AI summary
A compression head assembly for making a compressed product comprises a first platen assembly, a first actuator, and a first collar assembly. The first platen assembly includes a first frame and a first punch assembly having a first punch to compress and heat raw ingredients. The first actuator is coupled with the first frame and the first punch assembly to move selectively the first punch assembly relative to the first frame. The first collar assembly is coupled with the first actuator to stop the first actuator from moving the first punch assembly past a first predetermined location relative to the first platen assembly.