Cloth Loader Auxiliary Drive for Oven Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloth loaders for large deck ovens are cumbersome, energy-inefficient, and risk the quality of baked goods due to prolonged oven flap opening times and high inertial mass, while fully motorized systems are expensive due to complex electronics.
Innovation Solution
A cloth loader with an electric auxiliary drive that supports manual operation, reducing the need for complex electronics and allowing for easier and safer handling, featuring a base frame with movable cloth slides and a sensor-activated drive that assists the operator with force-dependent control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If all fabric slides are pushed together into the multiple-hearth oven and pulled out of it again, then the opening time of the oven flap is reduced, but the inertial mass increases and requires relatively large force to start moving
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between fabric slides is made detachable, allowing them to be divided into individual movable units. Each fabric slide can be moved independently or in smaller groups, reducing the inertial mass that must be accelerated at once and thereby reducing the force required to start movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static coupled state to a dynamic state where the degree of coupling can be adjusted. Fabric slides can be coupled together when needed for simultaneous movement, and decoupled when individual movement is required, optimizing the balance between time efficiency and force requirements.
2Ease of operation
If fully motorized or fully automatic cloth loaders are used, then the operation becomes easier and more precise, but the device complexity and cost increase due to complex electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the operator's own manual input forces as the control signal for the auxiliary drive. The sensor detects the force applied by the operator, and the auxiliary drive automatically adjusts to support this force, eliminating the need for complex electronic control systems while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A force sensor acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual input and the auxiliary drive. The sensor converts mechanical force into an electrical signal that controls the auxiliary drive, providing a simple yet effective interface that requires no complex electronics.
3Force
If cloth slides are pushed into the deck oven one after the other, then the force required to move them is reduced, but the opening time of the oven flap increases and energy is consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows fabric slides to be divided into segments that can be moved in optimized groups. Rather than moving all slides simultaneously (high force) or one by one (high time), the detachable coupling enables flexible grouping, moving multiple slides together when the auxiliary drive is engaged and individual slides when using manual force only.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic engagement of the auxiliary drive to move multiple fabric slides in sequence rather than continuously. The auxiliary drive is activated in periodic intervals to move groups of slides, optimizing the balance between force application and time efficiency.
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 simplifies operation, reduces costs, and enhances safety by providing intuitive control over the cloth pusher movement, while maintaining efficiency and preventing quality loss during loading and unloading.
Implementation Method 1
Electric auxiliary drive (17) which is activated by manual movement of the at least one fabric slide (6) and which contributes to moving the fabric pusher in the direction specified by the manual force
Implementation Method 2
A sensor (25) which generates a signal which depends on forces applied to the handle (24)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A cloth loader (1) for placing and picking up dough pieces on the loading platform of an oven, a proofing cabinet, or a loading trolley, preferably with a mobile base frame (2) that allows the cloth loader (1) to be moved freely between different locations, with at least one cloth slider (6) which is slidably mounted on the base frame (2) and can be moved between two extreme positions, one of which is the maximum retracted transport position, in which the cloth slider (6) is completely or substantially within the base frame (2), and the other is the maximum extended loading position, in which the cloth slider (6) extends over the loading platform of the oven or the like in order to place and/or pick up several dough pieces, wherein the cloth slider (6) has an electronic auxiliary drive (17) which is activated by manually moving the cloth slider (6) and contributes toto move the cloth slider (6) in the direction specified by manual force.