Bar Conveyor Teflon Sheets for Delicate Food Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional continuous bar conveyors in the food industry are inadequate for transporting delicate products as they risk marking or damaging them, and require frequent cleaning due to soiling, with existing solutions being complicated and costly.
Innovation Solution
A modified continuous bar conveyor with Teflon sheets applied to selected bars, providing a smooth, non-stick surface for product support, eliminating the need for metal spirals that can damage products and reducing cleaning needs, while maintaining compatibility with traditional conveyor systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If metal spirals are used to create a surface for placing food products, then products can be transported on the conveyor, but delicate products risk being marked or damaged by the filiform spirals
Solution Approach 1:
A sheet made of flexible, non-stick material (such as Teflon) is introduced as an intermediary layer between the metal spirals and the delicate food products. This sheet covers the spirals and provides a smooth surface that prevents marking and damage to products while allowing the conveyor structure to maintain its functional form.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a thin, flexible sheet material that can conform to the spiral structure underneath while providing a smooth, non-stick surface. This flexible film adapts to the curved geometry of the spirals and can be easily cleaned or replaced, solving both the product protection and maintenance issues.
2Reliability
If coils of spirals are spaced closely to prevent small products from falling, then product containment is improved, but the weight and production cost of the conveyor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sheet material creates a continuous surface over the spirals that prevents products from falling through, eliminating the need for tightly spaced rigid coils. The sheet can be made from lightweight materials that provide sufficient containment without adding significant weight to the conveyor structure.
3Strength
If metal spirals are used as the conveyor surface, then structural strength is maintained, but the spirals and bars require frequent cleaning due to soiling from product penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The non-stick sheet acts as a protective intermediary layer that prevents dough and food products from直接接触 the metal spirals and bars. This layer can be easily removed, washed, or replaced, significantly reducing cleaning time and labor while the strong metal structure remains underneath providing structural support.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a sheet is added to cover the spirals to protect products, then product damage is prevented, but the complexity of securing the sheet to bars increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet can be designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that is simply placed over the spirals and secured with basic fasteners. When it becomes soiled or damaged, it can be quickly removed and replaced without complex adjustment mechanisms, reducing both installation complexity and cleaning time.
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 safe transportation of delicate products without marking or soiling, simplifies product removal, and reduces maintenance and production costs by using Teflon sheets on a modified conveyor design.
Implementation Method 1
A modified continuous bar conveyor with Teflon sheets applied to selected bars, providing a smooth, non-stick surface for product support
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A continuous bar conveyor for the food industry, of the type comprising: - a plurality of bars (2), constrained at the ends with chains (4) having links (6) configured so as to be engageable by motorized toothed wheels, serving the object of moving the conveyor along fixed guides, - a plurality of spirals (1 0) wrapping said bars (2) in pairs, said links (6) of said chains (4) and said spirals (10) being configured so as to limit the maximum distance between adjacent bars (2), but so as to allow their reciprocal movement together, characterized in that, between adjacent successions of at least two bars (2), wrapped by a spiral (1 0), it comprises at least one bar (2'), which is not wrapped by spirals (10), and to which a sheet (22) of plastic food material is constrained, having elevated resistance to the operating temperature of said conveyor and a smooth, non-stick surface, said sheet (22) resting on the upper surface defined by said spirals (1 0) and with a dimension in the advancing direction of the conveyor smaller than the distance between successive bars (2') not wrapped by spirals (10).