Conveyor oven
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor ovens experience significant heat and noise loss due to open ends, requiring complex disassembly for maintenance and end plug removal, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor oven design featuring removable end plugs that pivot into a closed position, with an upper edge received in a pocket and a chamfer surface allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without moving the conveyor frame, minimizing heat leakage and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If end plates are used to close the open areas at the inlet and outlet ends of the oven tunnel, then heat loss to the environment is minimized, but the end plates cannot be freely assembled or removed without moving the conveyor frame
Solution Approach 1:
The end plug is divided into a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion configured to engage with the conveyor frame and the second portion forming the closed end wall. This segmentation allows the end plug to be removed in two stages: first disengaging from the conveyor frame, then removing the end wall portion, enabling maintenance without moving the entire conveyor assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the conveyor frame movement requirement from the end plug installation process. By designing the end plug with a specific engagement mechanism that allows detachment from the conveyor frame, the solution removes the constraint that previously required conveyor frame movement for end plug removal.
2Ease of repair
If the conveyor frame is moved to remove end plates for maintenance, then end plates can be accessed, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The end plug is segmented into a conveyor-frame-engaging first portion and a removable second portion forming the end wall. This allows maintenance personnel to access the end plug by simply detaching and removing these portions without needing to move the heavy conveyor frame, significantly reducing maintenance time and improving ease of repair.
3Loss of energy
If the end plug has uniform thickness for thermal insulation, then heat loss is minimized, but the end plug cannot be freely assembled or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The end plug is divided into a first portion for conveyor frame engagement and a second portion forming the end wall. This segmentation allows the end plug to maintain sufficient thickness for thermal insulation in the second portion while enabling easy assembly and disassembly through the engagement mechanism in the first portion, reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the engagement function from the thermal insulation function by separating the end plug into two portions. The first portion handles the mechanical engagement with the conveyor frame, while the second portion maintains the thermal insulation function with appropriate thickness, simplifying the overall assembly process.
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 design reduces heat loss and simplifies maintenance by allowing for quick and efficient installation and removal of end plugs without disassembling the conveyor, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The removable end plug is configured to pivot into a closed position while an upper edge of the removable end plug is received in a pocket
Implementation Method 2
The end plug 168 has a thickness to provide thermal insulation
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor oven for cooking food includes an oven housing defining an oven chamber in which the food is cooked. A conveyor is operable to convey the food through the oven chamber. An opening is defined in an end of the oven chamber, a portion of the conveyor extending through a first portion of the opening. A second portion of the opening below the conveyor is closed by a removable end plug. The removable end plug is configured to pivot into a closed position while an upper edge of the removable end plug is received in a pocket formed at the end of the oven chamber by the oven housing and/or at least one stationary portion of the conveyor.