Adjustable Sensor Probe for Bulk Conveyor Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems processing bulk food products face challenges in ensuring uniform processing, particularly in achieving minimum temperature levels across the depth of the product bed, leading to inefficiencies and quality issues due to overprocessing.
Innovation Solution
Integration of sensors with adjustable probes into the conveyor belt to detect conditions within the product layer, allowing for precise measurement and adjustment of sensor height to monitor critical depths, enabling accurate control of processing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If sensors are embedded in the conveyor belt to measure product conditions, then processing uniformity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when the product layer increases in depth
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor probe height is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adaptation to different product layer depths. The probe can be positioned at optimal heights to measure conditions at critical depths within the product mass, maintaining measurement precision regardless of layer thickness variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement parameters are changed by adjusting the sensor probe's physical position (height above conveying surface) to match the product layer depth. This allows the sensor to measure at the appropriate depth position within the product mass, ensuring accurate readings even when layer depth varies.
2Loss of energy
If the product mass depth is increased to improve processing uniformity, then energy waste from overprocessing is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable probe height allows the measurement system to adapt to increased product mass depth. By extending the probe deeper into the product layer, accurate temperature measurements can be obtained at the cold spot location even when the product bed is thicker, enabling energy-efficient processing without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
3Device complexity
If a fixed sensor height is used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different product layer depths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor probe incorporates an adjustable height mechanism that allows it to be positioned at different depths above the conveying surface. This provides adaptability to various product layer depths while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, avoiding the need for complex multi-sensor arrays or extensive mechanical systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor belt having a sensor probe extending upward from an outer conveying surface into a mat of bulk products conveyed on the belt. The probe senses a condition of the product mat at a predetermined depth. The probe height above the conveying surface may be fixed or may be adjustable to be positioned at a critical depth within the product mat.