Cut Food Denester With Cyclonic Flow Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for cutting food products, such as fries, face challenges in separating uniquely shaped cuts without manual intervention, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced throughput.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a denester with a cyclonic flow path and drums to separate cut food products by imparting turbulence and centripetal acceleration, using fluid flow to individually separate nested pieces without moving parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual manipulation is used to separate uniquely shaped cut food products, then separation accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation accuracyVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation with a fluid-based separation system. A fluid stream is directed at the nested food products to impart force that separates the pieces without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining separation accuracy while eliminating the throughput bottleneck caused by manual labor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs hydraulic principles by using a fluid stream (water or other liquid) to separate the food products. The fluid is directed through a nozzle or opening to create a controlled flow that penetrates and separates nested pieces, providing both accurate separation and high processing speed consistent with automated manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If manual manipulation is used to separate uniquely shaped cut food products, then separation accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the food products to separate themselves through the application of fluid force. The nested pieces are separated by the fluid stream acting directly on them, eliminating the need for external manual manipulation and reducing labor costs while maintaining separation quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a simple flow path is used, then device complexity is reduced, but separation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidseparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved or conical flow paths within the separation chamber to generate rotational and turbulent flow patterns. These curved trajectories increase the effectiveness of the fluid stream in separating nested pieces by creating dynamic separation forces, while the overall chamber design remains relatively simple and compact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Achieves high separation efficiency, with over 99% of nested food pieces being separated individually, reducing the need for manual labor and enhancing production throughput.

Implementation Method 1

The flow inlet and the flow outlet are positioned to create a cyclonic flow path through the at least one drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclonic flow: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

A system utilizing a denester with a cyclonic flow path and drums to separate cut food products by imparting turbulence and centripetal acceleration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentripetal acceleration: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

A system utilizing a denester with a cyclonic flow path and drums to separate cut food products by imparting turbulence and centripetal acceleration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3630428B1Cut food denester

Publication Date: 2025.08.06 SIMPLOT JR CO

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AI summary

A system for separating cut food products includes a flow inlet (101; 301), a flow outlet (102; 202; 302), and at least one drum (110, 140; 210, 240; 310, 340) connecting the flow inlet and the flow outlet. The flow inlet may be oriented to direct the cut food product tangentially into the at least one drum. The flow inlet may be oriented to direct the cut food product into the at least one drum at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the at least one drum. The at least one drum may be a plurality of drums including a first drum (110; 210; 310) having the flow inlet (101; 301) and a second drum (140; 240; 340) having the flow outlet (102; 202; 302). The system may include a passageway (130; 230; 330) providing fluid communication from the first drum to the second drum. The passageway may include a tapered section (135; 235). The flow inlet may be aligned with the flow outlet.