Chocolate Crystallization Sampling With Separate Melting Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for determining crystallization solidification curves of fat-containing masses, such as chocolate, face inefficiencies due to mechanical crushing and melting processes that require separate drives, result in long cycle times and maintenance challenges, and reintroduce solid particles into the flow, affecting the quality and shelf life of the chocolate.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a separate melting chamber and a movable piston that allows for simultaneous solidification and melting of samples, reducing cycle time and eliminating the need for mechanical crushing, with a rotary piston embodiment enabling even faster sampling and precise control, and a guiding cage to ensure smooth sample transfer without interfering with the flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical crushing apparatus is used to remove solidified samples from the measurement chamber, then the sample can be cleared for the next measurement, but the cycle time becomes very long (several minutes) and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the solidified sample from the measurement chamber using a piston that pushes the sample out through a discharge opening. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical crushing apparatus while achieving rapid sample removal in seconds rather than minutes, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and cycle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical crushing system with a simpler piston-based ejection mechanism. The piston simply pushes the solidified sample out through the discharge opening, substituting complex mechanical destruction with a straightforward mechanical displacement, thereby reducing both device complexity and operation time.
2Ease of manufacture
If a mechanical crushing apparatus with a drive shaft is used, then the sample can be processed, but the device complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase due to seals and rotating parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex mechanical crushing apparatus with its drive shaft, seals, and rotating parts. Instead, a simple piston mechanism is used to eject the solidified sample, dramatically reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining the core functionality of sample processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston mechanism is designed to be simple and self-contained, requiring no complex sealing arrangements or rotating parts. The piston simply moves linearly to eject the sample, making the system easier to manufacture and maintain while eliminating the need for frequent seal replacement.
3Productivity
If samples are processed in sequential order with complete crushing and melting before next sample, then thorough processing is achieved, but the productivity is low due to long waiting periods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables continuous operation by rapidly ejecting solidified samples using a simple piston mechanism. The removal process is so efficient that the measurement chamber is ready for the next sample almost immediately, allowing continuous sequential processing without long idle periods, thereby maintaining thorough processing while dramatically improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is positioned and ready to eject the sample as soon as solidification is complete. This preliminary positioning allows immediate sample ejection without waiting for complex crushing mechanisms to be activated, reducing the idle time between samples and enabling more frequent analysis while ensuring complete solidification occurs first.
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 solution enables rapid and precise determination of crystallization curves, reducing cycle time, preventing solid particle reintroduction, and improving the quality and shelf life of chocolate by allowing continuous sampling and gentle melting, with reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a cooled wall (20) being designed and arranged to solidify the liquid sample (38) of fat-containing mass contained in the measurement chamber (9)
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor (16) being designed and arranged to sense the temperature of the sample (38) of fat-containing mass contained in the measurement chamber (9)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for determining crystallization solidification curves of a chocolate mass (6) includes a removal location (37), a measurement chamber (9) and a melting chamber (21). The removal location (37) serves to remove a liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from a flow of liquid chocolate mass (6). The measurement chamber (9) is connected to the removal location (37) such that the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) enters the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a temperature sensor (16) serving to sense the temperature of the sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a cooled wall serving for solidification of the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a movable piston (14; 41). The melting chamber (21) is separate from the measurement chamber (9), and it serves to melt the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6). The piston (14; 41) of the measurement chamber (9) is moved in a way to transfer the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from the measurement chamber (9) into the melting chamber (21).