Adjustable Sausage Casing Brake Friction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retention devices for tubular casing materials in packaging machines, such as sausage clipping machines, lack the ability to adjust friction force dynamically in response to changes in material or production conditions, requiring interruptions for brake ring changes and offering limited fine-tuning capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A retention device with a first brake ring and a stationarily mounted second brake ring, where the second brake ring is reversibly displacible to set a predetermined friction force, allowing for precise adjustment of the friction force applied to the casing material, and featuring a conical braking surface configuration for gentle force transmission and a flexible sealing mechanism for optimal braking and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single brake ring is used with constant friction force, then the device structure is simple, but the friction force cannot be adjusted during production process
Solution Approach 1:
The retention device is divided into two separate brake rings: a first brake ring that is movable and a second brake ring that is stationary. This segmentation allows the first brake ring to be adjusted independently to change friction force, while the second brake ring provides a stable reference surface, thereby achieving adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first brake ring is designed to be movable relative to the second brake ring, allowing dynamic adjustment of the friction force during the production process. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt to different material and production conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If brake ring is changed or compressed to adjust friction force, then friction force can be modified, but production process must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The first brake ring can be moved axially during the production process to adjust friction force without requiring replacement or interruption. This dynamic adjustment capability allows continuous production while adapting to different material conditions, thereby maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism allows the operator to modify friction force on-demand during production, enabling the system to self-adjust to different materials (sausage meat, putty, sealing compound) without stopping the production line, thus maintaining continuous operation and high productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If brake ring is compressed to adjust friction force, then braking effect can be changed, but fine adjustment is time-consuming or not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The first brake ring can be moved axially in small increments to achieve fine adjustment of friction force. This dynamic positioning capability allows precise control of the braking effect without time-consuming compression adjustments, enabling quick and accurate fine-tuning during production.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial position of the first brake ring can be varied to change the compression degree and contact pressure on the casing material. This parameter adjustment allows fine-tuning of friction force by simply changing the position parameter, which is faster and more precise than compression-based adjustment.
4Reliability
If filling pressure or brake ring squeeze value changes, then braking behavior changes, but brake ring must be replaced to maintain optimal braking
Solution Approach 1:
The use of two brake rings allows the system to compensate for changes in filling pressure or squeeze value by adjusting the relative position of the first brake ring. This segmentation enables maintaining consistent braking effect under varying conditions without replacing components, while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable first brake ring can be dynamically repositioned to compensate for changes in filling pressure or material properties. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal braking behavior across different operating conditions without requiring multiple fixed brake rings or complex replacement 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
Enables precise and adaptable friction force adjustment independent of material and filling pressure, improving the production process by allowing continuous operation with optimal braking effect and minimizing material damage.
Implementation Method 1
This pressure generates a friction force that ensures that the casing material or sausage skin is drawn in a controlled manner during the filling process
Implementation Method 2
a brake ring or casing brake is disposed around the filling tube near the filling tube exit. This casing brake, which typically includes an annular rubber lip, is biased elastically against the filling tube
Data Source
AI summary
A retention device for a tubular casing material for receiving a viscous or granular filling material in a packaging machine, in particular a clipping machine that has a filling tube for filling the tubular casing material with the filling material, where the retention device includes: a first brake ring, which can be mounted coaxially on the filling tube, the inner diameter of first brake ring being larger than the outer diameter of the filling tube and on the inner circumference of which a first brake is provided, along which the casing material can be guided in the filling direction of the filling material against a friction force acting upon the casing material. A second brake ring is also provided which can be stationarily disposed on the filling tube and which has a counter-brake on its outer circumference, where the casing material can be guided between the first brake of the first brake ring and the counter-brake of the second brake ring and where the first brake ring is reversibly displaceable in the filling direction for setting a predetermined friction force for the casing material at the first brake of the first brake ring and at the counter-brake of the second brake ring.