Automatic immersion ice-coating machine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice-coating methods for shrimps result in adhesion to conveyor belts, uneven ice coatings, and floating issues during the freezing process, affecting the quality and consistency of the frozen product.

Innovation Solution

An automatic immersion ice-coating machine with a frame, ice-coating working pool, conveyor belts, a buffer tank, level sensor, nozzle, and control system that ensures uniform ice coating by adjusting conveyor belt speed and liquid levels, preventing floating, and maintaining optimal temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If shrimps are transported on conveyor belts for ice-coating, then the ice-coating process can be automated, but shrimps adhere to the conveyor belt causing uneven coating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of ice-coating processVSAvoiduniformity of ice coating

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transporting shrimps on the conveyor belt surface, the patent inverts the approach by having shrimps fall through the conveyor belt from above. The conveyor belt becomes a support structure rather than a transport surface, eliminating adhesion issues while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional transport (shrimps moving horizontally on belt surface) to three-dimensional processing (shrimps falling vertically through the belt). This dimensional change allows shrimps to be coated while in free fall, preventing contact adhesion with the belt.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If shrimps are frozen during ice-coating, then quality is maintained, but density reduces causing shrimps to float on liquid surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality maintenance of shrimpsVSAvoiddensity and position stability of shrimps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to prevent floating by supporting shrimps from below, the patent inverts the approach by allowing shrimps to fall through the conveyor belt and be coated in the ice-coating liquid below. This ensures continuous contact with the coating liquid regardless of floating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor belt acts as an intermediary structure that supports the ice-coating liquid and nozzles above, allowing the liquid to be delivered directly to falling shrimps without requiring the shrimps to remain on the belt surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If spray method is used for floating shrimps, then ice coating can be applied, but coating uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to coat floating shrimpsVSAvoiduniformity of ice coating

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ice-coating liquid delivery system from the conveyor belt surface and positions it in the falling path of shrimps. Nozzles are arranged to spray coating liquid directly onto shrimps during their descent, ensuring uniform coverage independent of floating position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor belt is designed to vibrate during operation, which helps distribute the ice-coating liquid uniformly and prevents excessive adhesion, contributing to more even coating on the falling shrimps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 machine provides a reliable, efficient, and uniform ice coating process, ensuring high-quality frozen shrimps with reduced oxidative deterioration and drying loss, improving production efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

a level sensor and a nozzle are fixed on a first inner wall of the ice-coating working pool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLevel detection:

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor is fixed on a second inner wall of the ice-coating working pool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 3

The first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are made of food-grade stainless steel mesh belts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConveyor transport: Friction

Implementation Method 4

after frozen, the density of the shelled shrimp is reduced, resulting that the shrimps may float on the liquid surface of the water tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11638437B2Automatic immersion ice-coating machine

Publication Date: 2023.05.02 SHANGHAI OCEAN UNIV

AI summary

Disclosed is an automatic immersion ice-coating machine, including a frame, an ice-coating working pool, a feed port, a conveying device, a control system and a driving system. A first side of the ice-coating working pool communicates with a buffer tank. A bottom of the ice-coating working pool is stepped or inclined, and a drain valve is provided at a bottom of the ice-coating working pool. The conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt. The first conveyor belt is located under the feed port, and a lower portion of the first conveyor belt is lower than the liquid level, and the second conveyor belt communicates with the discharge port. The first and second conveyor belts are made of stainless steel mesh belts, and surfaces of the stainless steel mesh belts are provided with separators in a spaced manner.