Automated Food Composition Preparation for Consistent Weighing and Filling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation systems rely heavily on human operators, leading to errors, non-repeatability, higher standard deviation in reproducibility, inactive times due to sick leave, and increased risk of foreign bodies, which are not addressed by current automated systems.
Innovation Solution
An automated system comprising a collecting, weighing, mixing, and filling unit controlled by a central unit, which transfers and mixes food ingredients according to a stored recipe, ensuring minimal human supervision, low error rates, and consistent product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators handle machines for food preparation, then operational flexibility is maintained, but error rate increases and reproducibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the automated food preparation system performs all tasks independently - collecting ingredients, weighing, mixing, and packaging without human intervention. The control unit manages the entire process automatically, eliminating operator errors while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated mechanical and electronic systems. The control unit coordinates automated transferring units, weighing devices, mixing mechanisms, and packaging equipment, substituting human operators with programmable systems that ensure consistent, error-free execution.
2Productivity
If human operators work flexible hours, then adaptability is improved, but inactive time due to sick leave increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system enables continuous operation without interruption by eliminating dependencies on human operators who may take sick leave or breaks. The system can run 24/7 with consistent performance, maintaining productive action without inactive periods while requiring minimal human supervision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If human operators handle food ingredients, then operational simplicity is maintained, but foreign body contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts human operators from the food handling process entirely. By removing humans from direct contact with food ingredients during collection, weighing, mixing, and packaging, the system eliminates the source of foreign body contamination while automating these functions through dedicated equipment.
4Productivity
If automated systems are implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions simultaneously - it coordinates transferring units, controls weighing operations, manages mixing parameters, and directs packaging processes. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate control systems, managing complexity while enabling high productivity across all operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for the preparation of a packaged food composition, wherein the system comprises a collecting unit, a weighing unit, a mixing unit, a filling unit, transferring units and a control unit.