Chocolate Mold Horizontal Shaker Kinetic Homogenization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chocolate production methods face issues with uniformity and air bubbles in chocolate masses, leading to inconsistent product quality due to noise-polluting shaking or vibrating processes.

Innovation Solution

A device that moves the mold horizontally to hit a side stop, transferring kinetic energy for homogenization while minimizing noise through elastic strips and adjustable lateral play, combined with vertical vibrations for comprehensive mass distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the mold is vigorously shaken or vibrated to homogenize the chocolate mass and remove air bubbles, then the homogeneity and quality of the chocolate product is improved, but noise emissions increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of chocolate massVSAvoidnoise emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a vibrating table that generates vertical vibrations to homogenize the chocolate mass and remove air bubbles from the mold cavities. This mechanical vibration approach achieves the desired homogeneity (improving manufacturing precision) while the vibration frequency and amplitude can be controlled to minimize noise emissions compared to vigorous shaking methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows for adjustable vibration parameters including frequency and amplitude of the vibrating table. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves effective homogenization of the chocolate mass while minimizing noise emissions. The ability to change operational parameters enables balancing between quality improvement and noise reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional tapping devices with rotating imbalance are used to fill molds, then the chocolate mass distributes more evenly, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution of chocolate massVSAvoidcomplexity of tapping device
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of mold filling and homogenization from the complex rotating imbalance tapping device. By using a simpler vibrating table that generates vertical vibrations, the system achieves effective chocolate mass distribution without the mechanical complexity of rotating imbalance mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotating imbalance system with a vibration-based system. The vibrating table uses vibrational energy rather than mechanical rotation to achieve mold filling and homogenization, substituting a simpler mechanical system for a more complex one while maintaining or improving distribution quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If the mold is struck laterally against a stop to homogenize the mass, then air bubbles are removed effectively, but the risk of mold damage or misalignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval of air bubblesVSAvoidrisk of mold damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses vertical vibrations from the vibrating table to remove air bubbles from the chocolate mass. This vibration-based approach achieves effective deaeration without the need for lateral striking against stops, thereby eliminating the risk of mold damage or misalignment while maintaining the ability to remove air bubbles effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using lateral horizontal motion to strike the mold against a stop (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using vertical vibrations to achieve the same homogenization and air bubble removal effect. This inversion of the motion direction eliminates the harmful lateral impacts while maintaining the beneficial deaeration effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Achieves intensive homogenization and distribution of chocolate mass within the mold, reducing noise emissions and ensuring consistent product quality without air bubbles, while maintaining the effectiveness of the vibrating process.

Implementation Method 1

moves the mold horizontally to hit a side stop, transferring kinetic energy for homogenization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectKinetic energy transfer: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

minimizing noise through elastic strips

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

minimizing noise through elastic strips and adjustable lateral play

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNoise absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 4

combined with vertical vibrations for comprehensive mass distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 5

The mass poured into the alveolus is not free of air inclusions... The mass solidifies, crystallizing to form the outer shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4087410B1Device and method for producing a product
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 KNOBEL GUIDO
  • EP4087410B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4087410B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4087410B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2E

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for producing a product which consists at least partly of a flowable mass that can be filled into a mold (1). The mold (1) is paired with a vibrating or shaking device, and the mold (1) is arranged on a support (3, 5). According to the invention, the mold (1) should be movable or shakable in a horizontal direction on the support (3, 5) by means of at least one horizontal shaker (12), and in the process the mold should strike a stop.