Rotary Screw Blancher Transition Zone for Cleanable Product Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary screw blanchers face challenges in cleaning the transition zone between the auger and discharge portions, which is crucial for maintaining hygiene in food processing, as a close transition is desirable for product containment but makes cleaning difficult, especially in systems with high sanitation requirements like Ready to Eat meal processing.
Innovation Solution
A rotary screw blancher design with a movable transition zone that spans at least 180 degrees, allowing easy access for cleaning by moving from an operating position to a cleaning position, and featuring a clamping mechanism to secure it in place, ensuring all surfaces are visible and accessible for inspection and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a close transition is used between the auger and discharge portions, then product containment is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transition zone is made movable rather than fixed. It can be positioned in a first position during operation to maintain a close transition for product containment, and moved to a second position during cleaning to provide accessibility. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining product containment and enabling cleaning access.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition zone is designed as a separate, movable component that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the transition zone to be moved between operational and cleaning positions, enabling the system to switch between product containment mode and cleaning mode without compromising either function.
2Ease of operation
If the transition zone is made accessible for cleaning, then cleaning ease is improved, but product containment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transition zone's position is dynamically adjusted based on operational requirements. During cleaning operations, it is moved to a second position that provides accessibility while maintaining effectiveness. During product processing, it returns to a first position that ensures close transition and prevents product loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition zone is pre-positioned in the first position during operation to ensure product containment. Before cleaning begins, it is moved to the second position to enable accessibility. This preliminary positioning ensures that product containment is maintained throughout the operational phase.
3Device complexity
If a fixed transition structure is used, then structural simplicity is improved, but cleaning flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transition zone is designed with movable capability, allowing it to switch between different positions. This adds some complexity to the structure but provides significant cleaning flexibility. The movement mechanism enables the transition zone to be accessed from different angles and positions, greatly enhancing cleaning versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition zone serves multiple functions: it maintains product containment during operation and provides cleaning accessibility during maintenance. By making it movable, a single structure accomplishes both functions effectively, reducing the need for separate fixed structures for each function.
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
This design enhances cleaning accessibility without hidden surfaces, reducing labor and machine downtime, while maintaining a close transition to prevent product loss, thus addressing the need for effective sanitation in food processing.
Implementation Method 1
A rotary screw blancher with a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product. The tank has a rotatable auger mounted in a compartment that advances food product from the inlet end toward the outlet end.
Implementation Method 2
One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion to allow for fluid flow between flights.
Data Source
AI summary
A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having a rotatable auger mounted in a compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and a solid, imperforate wall portion of an inner wall. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. A transition zone includes a moveable surface to contain food product while in use.