Continuous Marbled Food Production With Adjustable Injection Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing marbled vegan meat substitutes are discontinuous, complex, costly, and limited in flexibility, with challenges in adjusting the distribution and volume ratios of secondary masses, and lack the ability to create realistic marbling structures efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A device with multiple nozzles and mixers that allow for continuous production of marbled food products by injecting additional mass flows into a base mass flow, enabling adjustable nozzle positions, depths, and flow rates to create lifelike marbling patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual work steps are used to incorporate secondary mass into base mass, then marbling structure can be created, but production is discontinuous and hourly output is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical work with a mechanical injection system consisting of nozzles that inject additional mass flows into the base mass flow. This substitution enables continuous production while maintaining marbling structure quality, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment methods are used for distribution and volume ratios, then some control is achieved, but the process is complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses adjustable nozzles with variable positions, depths, and flow rates to control the distribution and volume ratios of additional mass in the base mass. By changing physical parameters (nozzle position, depth, flow rate) rather than complex manual adjustments, the system achieves precise control with simpler operation.
3Productivity
If coextrusion dies are used for simultaneous extrusion of inner and outer mass, then production can be continuous, but marbling structure cannot be created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the additional mass into multiple separate flows injected through multiple nozzles at different positions and depths into the base mass flow. This segmentation allows continuous production while creating the complex marbling structure that single-channel coextrusion cannot achieve.
4Productivity
If existing manufacturing processes are used, then production can proceed, but the range of usable masses is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal injection system that can handle various types of pasty masses (base mass and additional mass) with different properties. The adjustable nozzles and continuous flow system can accommodate different mass combinations, enabling the production of diverse marbled food products beyond what existing processes allow.
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
Enables continuous, flexible, and cost-effective production of marbled food products with customizable marbling structures, using interchangeable nozzles and mixers to achieve realistic fatty patterns without excessive mechanical stress.
Implementation Method 1
one or more nozzles (7) for injecting a plurality of additional mass flows (6) into the base mass flow (5)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for producing marbled foodstuffs (2), in particular meat substitute products, comprising: a housing (3) with an inlet (4) for a base mass flow (5), a plurality of nozzles (7a, 7b, 7c) for injecting a plurality of additional mass flows into the base mass flow (6) and an outlet (8) for the marbled foodstuff (2), which has a marbled structure of the pasty additional mass in the base mass.