Deformable Duct Pressure Control for Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for producing liquid and semi-liquid food products, such as ice cream, face reliability issues due to delicate pressure switches that are prone to breakage and require materials compatible with food products, and existing solutions like gear pumps with recirculation ducts are complex and not always effective in maintaining optimal pressure within the processing tank.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a deformable connecting duct and a control unit that measures radial deformation to regulate the transfer of liquid base products, ensuring pressure within the processing container is maintained within a predetermined interval without direct contact with the product, using a peristaltic pump or compressed air for transfer, and disabling transfer when the container is empty to prevent suboptimal product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure switch is used to sense pressure inside the tank, then pressure regulation is achieved, but the pressure switch is prone to breakage and has poor reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a deformable duct as an intermediary element between the tank and the control system. The duct's deformation state reflects the pressure condition, allowing the control unit to sense pressure indirectly through the duct's physical state rather than through direct contact with the product via a traditional pressure switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure switch with a control system that measures the deformation of the deformable duct. This substitution eliminates the need for direct mechanical pressure sensing in contact with the product, using instead the duct's deformation as a proxy indicator of pressure conditions.
2Reliability
If a gear pump with recirculation duct is used to maintain pressure, then pressure regulation is achieved, but the system becomes complex and is not always effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure regulation function from the pump system and integrates it into the deformable duct's inherent properties. The duct's deformability provides automatic pressure compensation without requiring complex recirculation systems, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable duct serves itself by automatically adjusting its deformation state in response to pressure changes. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for external control systems like recirculation ducts, allowing the duct to maintain pressure balance through its own physical properties.
3Productivity
If the pump operates continuously, then product transfer is maintained, but pressure control becomes difficult and product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the pump operation based on the real-time deformation state of the deformable duct. The pump operates intermittently rather than continuously, adjusting its operation to match the actual pressure conditions indicated by the duct's deformation, thereby achieving both efficient product transfer and precise pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from the deformation state of the deformable duct and adjusts pump operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the pump operates only when needed, maintaining optimal pressure conditions while preventing product quality deterioration from continuous operation.
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 solution provides a reliable and simple method to maintain optimal pressure in the processing tank, preventing contamination and extending machine life while ensuring the production of high-quality ice cream by accurately controlling pressure and overrun through feedback-controlled deformation measurements.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a radial deformation of the deformable portion (4a, 4b) of the connecting duct (4)
Implementation Method 2
The aforesaid means (5) for transferring the liquid base product comprise a peristaltic pump
Implementation Method 3
The aforesaid means (5) for transferring the liquid base product comprise a compressor, operatively connected to the supplying container (3) so as to transfer compressed air into the supplying container (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for making liquid and/or semi-liquid food products from liquid and/or semi-liquid base products comprising the steps of: preparing a container for supplying the base products, a container for processing the base products and a duct connecting the supplying container to the processing container and having at least one deformable portion; transferring the liquid base products through the connecting duct from the supplying container to the processing container; measuring a deformation value of said deformable portion of said connecting duct; controlling said supplying of the liquid base products through said connecting duct, from the supplying container to the processing container as a function of the measured value of deformation of the portion of the connecting duct.