Clean-Meat Extruder Sealing for Consistent Gap-Free Extrusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extruders face challenges in achieving consistent extrusion due to gaps between the barrel and piston, as well as between the barrel and the base cap, leading to inconsistent material flow and contamination risks, particularly in the production of plant-based and cell-based meat products, which require uniform texture and appearance.

Innovation Solution

The use of a sealing device with a resilient protruding edge and sealing rings to close gaps between the barrel and piston, and spacer rings to fill gaps between the barrel and base cap, ensuring a consistent extrusion process and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional extruders are used without sealing devices, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and consistency of extrusion are poor due to gaps between barrel and piston allowing material leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextrusion consistencyVSAvoidsealing device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing device is introduced as an intermediary component between the barrel and piston to prevent direct contact and material leakage. The sealing device includes a sealing member that contacts the barrel inner surface and a support member that holds the sealing member, mediating the interaction between piston and barrel to eliminate gaps while maintaining extrusion consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing member is designed as a flexible component that can deform to conform to the barrel's inner surface, ensuring complete sealing. The flexible nature of the sealing member allows it to adapt to slight variations in barrel geometry while maintaining contact, preventing material leakage without requiring precision machining of rigid components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If sealing devices are added to close gaps, then the manufacturing precision and extrusion consistency improve, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextrusion process stabilityVSAvoidsealing device components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing device is divided into distinct functional segments: a sealing member for contact sealing and a support member for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the sealing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the gap between barrel and piston, supports the sealing member, and guides the piston movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If gaps between barrel and base cap are not sealed, then the device structure is simple, but contamination risks increase and extrusion consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidsealing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing member is positioned as an intermediary between the barrel and base cap to prevent direct exposure of the extrusion chamber to the external environment. This sealing member blocks the pathway for contaminants while maintaining the structural simplicity of the overall device by using a single-component sealing solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution ensures a consistent and predictable extrusion process, producing meat products with uniform texture and appearance, scalable for industrial use and suitable for low or zero gravity environments, while minimizing contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing device with a resilient protruding edge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

sealing rings to close gaps between the barrel and piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

spacer rings to fill gaps between the barrel and base cap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 4

Devices, systems, and methods for extruding clean-meat materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtrusion: Extrusion

Data Source

PatentUS20260033500A1Devices, systems, and methods for extruding clean-meat materials

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 FEIBLEMAN DOROTHY

AI summary

Food product extruder systems are provided for producing extruded meat products. Extruded food products produced from such food product extruder systems are also provided.