Conveyor Belt Guide for Pulsed Electric Field Food Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for processing foodstuffs with pulsed electric fields are not energy-efficient and lack a simple, continuous processing solution, particularly for lumpy materials.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a conveyor belt guided within a housing with electrodes arranged around it, where the conveyor belt is supported by lateral insulator panels and conveyor profiles, allowing for efficient generation of pulsed electric fields above the belt, ensuring continuous processing of foodstuffs without electrical resistance and enabling effective handling of lumpy materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electrodes are arranged around the conveyor belt at a distance from one another, then pulsed electric fields can be generated above the conveyor belt for continuous processing, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous processing capabilityVSAvoidelectrode arrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into lateral insulator panels that are mounted on the side walls at a distance from the housing floor, creating segmented guide structures for the conveyor belt. This segmentation allows the electrodes to be arranged around the conveyor belt at appropriate distances while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular panel design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lateral insulator panels are introduced as intermediary elements between the housing walls and the conveyor belt. These panels serve as guides and insulators, enabling the electrodes to be positioned around the conveyor belt while preventing direct contact and maintaining electrical isolation, thus simplifying the overall electrode arrangement structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the conveyor belt runs below the housing floor with water filling the container, then continuous processing is enabled, but foodstuffs may slip or get stuck between the conveyor belt and housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous processing capabilityVSAvoidfoodstuff handling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt is nested within the housing structure, running below the housing floor level. The lateral insulator panels are mounted on the side walls surrounding the conveyor belt, creating a nested arrangement where the conveyor system is contained within the housing while maintaining proper clearance to prevent slipping or sticking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The lateral insulator panels are positioned at specific locations on the side walls at a distance from the housing floor, creating localized guide structures. This local positioning provides necessary guidance and prevention of slipping only where needed, while allowing the conveyor belt to run smoothly below the housing floor for continuous processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If electrodes are arranged close to the conveyor belt for efficient electric field generation, then energy efficiency improves, but the risk of electrical resistance and processing interruptions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiency of pulsed electric field generationVSAvoidprocessing continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral insulator panels are extracted as separate components mounted on the side walls, creating clear separation between the electrodes and the conveyor belt. This extraction allows the electrodes to be positioned close to the conveyor belt for efficient electric field generation while the insulator panels prevent electrical resistance and processing interruptions by maintaining proper electrical isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 device enables energy-efficient and continuous processing of foodstuffs with pulsed electric fields, preventing slipping or sticking of materials, and allowing for efficient energy use while maintaining a simple structure.

Implementation Method 1

electrodes for the generation of pulsed electric fields are arranged, which are arranged around the conveyor belt at a distance from one another. The electrodes are connected to opposite poles of a power supply.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulsed electric field generation: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

lateral insulator panels mounted on the inside of the side walls at a distance from the housing floor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS11503844B2Method and device for continuous processing with a pulsed electric field

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 DEUTES INSTITUT FUR LEBENSMITTELTECHN

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for continuously processing foodstuffs with pulsed electric fields, comprising a conveyor belt that is guided in a housing. The conveyor belt guide encompasses the longitudinal edges of the conveyor belt respectively in a recess that is arranged e.g. within the side walls of the housing and is preferably formed by the housing floor and the lateral insulator panels mounted at a distance from the housing floor on the inner side of the side walls or are formed as a groove within the lateral insulator panels. The upper strand of the conveyor belt is guided through the guides above the housing floor within the housing.