Curved-Path Forming Device for Rounded Food Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming rounded food products, such as balls or cylindrically formed items, face challenges in creating rounded ends due to slit-like cross-sections and require complex, costly devices with many components, making them cumbersome to assemble, disassemble, and clean, and unsuitable for cutting off food strands.
Innovation Solution
A forming device with more than two flat displacement elements that move on a curved path, allowing the openings to change cross-sectional area and slide past each other, enabling the formation and cutting of pasty food strands without a separate cutting tool, and can be easily integrated into existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If two forming plates are moved linearly toward each other to change the cross-section of the passage opening, then the device structure is simple, but slit-like or cat-eye-shaped cross sections are created and rounded ends cannot be produced
Solution Approach 1:
The forming device is segmented into multiple flat displacement elements (more than two) that can move independently on curved paths. Each displacement element has an opening, and by coordinating their movements, the device creates a rounded polygon overall opening that evolves into rounded ends during the forming process. This segmentation allows complex shape formation without requiring a single complex forming plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat displacement elements are designed to move dynamically on curved paths rather than linear motion. The openings of these elements change their relative positions continuously during movement, transforming the overall opening shape from a rounded polygon to a closed configuration that produces rounded ends. This dynamic motion pattern enables rounded shape formation while maintaining relatively simple individual component structures.
2Shape
If diaphragms with multiple separating elements are used to produce round ends, then rounded shapes can be achieved, but the device becomes complex with many individual components that are cumbersome to assemble, disassemble, and clean
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flat displacement elements are merged into a single integrated forming device structure. Instead of using separate diaphragms that must be assembled and disassembled, the displacement elements are combined into one device where all elements work together through coordinated curved path motion. This merging simplifies handling while maintaining the rounded shape formation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat displacement elements serve multiple functions: they form the rounded polygon overall opening, guide the food strand through the forming process, and ultimately close to produce rounded ends. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components for each function, simplifying the overall device structure and ease of operation.
3Shape
If diaphragms are used to produce round ends, then rounded shapes can be achieved, but the device cannot be closed such that individual components are superposed, making it unsuitable for severing food strands
Solution Approach 1:
The flat displacement elements move on curved paths that enable them to transition from an open rounded polygon configuration to a closed superposed configuration. This dynamic motion allows the same components to both form rounded ends and completely close to sever the food strand, providing versatility without requiring separate cutting tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat displacement elements are designed to perform both forming and cutting functions. During the forming phase, their openings create the rounded polygon shape. During the cutting phase, they move to a closed position where the individual components superpose, completely enclosing the food strand and severing it. This universal design eliminates the need for separate specialized components.
4Productivity
If multiple individual diaphragms are set up in parallel for multiple lanes, then production capacity increases, but the number of components greatly increases making the device very complex to assemble and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple displacement elements are merged into a single integrated forming device that can handle multiple lanes. Instead of using separate diaphragms for each lane, the invention combines multiple flat displacement elements with openings into one device structure. This merging reduces the total number of components while maintaining multi-lane production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking flat displacement elements with openings in a superposed arrangement. This dimensional approach allows multiple lanes to be served by a single integrated device rather than requiring parallel horizontal arrangements of separate components, reducing complexity while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a forming device for forming and partitioning a pasty food strand as well as to a filling machine with a respective forming device and to a method. The forming device comprises more than two flat displacement elements superposed in the direction of transport of the food strand, each having at least one opening through which the food strand can be moved in the direction of transport. The forming device further comprises a movement mechanism for moving the flat displacement elements on respective curved paths, such that the respective openings can move relative to each other, so that the cross-sectional area of the resulting overall opening of the superposed openings changes.