Dispersing Tray Liquid Stopper Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional combination scales for food processing face hygiene issues due to liquid droplets from the unpolished back surface of the dispersing tray, which can contain foreign substances, and the time-consuming and costly process of polishing the coupling mechanism attached to the back surface.

Innovation Solution

A dispersing tray with a liquid stopper on its back surface to prevent liquid from moving outward, allowing the tray to be remounted before fully dry and reducing the need for polishing and bead cutting on the back surface, including the coupling mechanism area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the back surface of the dispersing tray is left unpolished to reduce manufacturing costs, then production cost and time are reduced, but liquid droplets containing foreign substances may run toward the outer peripheral side and drop into the delivery troughs, creating hygiene issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost and timeVSAvoidhygiene contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The back surface of the dispersing tray is divided into two zones: a polished inner region near the center and an unpolished outer region toward the periphery. This segmentation allows the tray to be manufactured more efficiently while preventing liquid droplets from reaching the delivery troughs, as the unpolished outer region contains any running liquid before it can contaminate the product zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different surface treatments are applied to different regions of the back surface: the inner region near the coupling mechanism is left unpolished to reduce manufacturing complexity, while the outer region toward the periphery is polished to prevent liquid droplets from running into the delivery troughs. This local quality approach optimizes both manufacturing efficiency and hygiene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the back surface is polished to prevent liquid droplet contamination, then hygiene is improved, but production time and cost increase due to extensive polishing and bead cutting requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene contaminationVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The back surface is segmented into polished and unpolished regions, eliminating the need to polish the entire surface. This reduces production time and cost while maintaining hygiene by confining liquid droplet containment to only the necessary outer region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of polishing the entire back surface (excessive action), only the necessary outer region is polished (partial action). This reduces manufacturing time and cost while still providing sufficient protection against liquid droplet contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the dispersing tray is remounted before fully dried to save downtime, then productivity is improved, but liquid droplets may run outward and contaminate the delivery troughs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedowntime reductionVSAvoidliquid contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The back surface is pre-treated with selective polishing in the outer region before the tray is put into service. This preliminary action ensures that even if the tray is remounted before fully dried, any liquid droplets will be contained by the polished outer region and prevented from reaching the delivery troughs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enhances hygiene by preventing liquid from reaching the delivery troughs and reduces production costs by eliminating the need for extensive polishing and bead cutting on the back surface, ensuring the dispersing tray can be easily and inexpensively produced.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid stopper that prevents outward movement of a liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

a vibration generator configured to vibrate the dispersing tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10124950B2Dispersing tray and combination scale comprising the same

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 YAMATO SCALE CO LTD

AI summary

A dispersing tray is mounted to a combination scale at a top part thereof to disperse and deliver supplied articles outwardly. The dispersing tray has, on a back surface thereof, a liquid stopper that prevents outward movement of a liquid.