Dough Carrier Assembly with Pushing Device and Confining Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems in proving cabinets and baking ovens impede heat exchange and require complex coupling mechanisms, leading to space inefficiency and increased mechanical parts, especially in multi-level dough treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
A simplified assembly using a pushing device and guidance system with supporting and confining members allows carriers to abut and push each other loosely, eliminating the need for coupling mechanisms and optimizing heat exchange by reducing friction and preventing carrier slippage, while maintaining carriers in a single plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a belt conveyor or link conveyor is used to convey dough pieces and bakery products, then the conveyor can transport the products through the proving cabinet, baking oven or cooling device, but the belt or links at least partially shield the dough pieces and bakery products, which impedes and slows down the heating or cooling down process
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple independent storeys (at least two) positioned at different heights within the treatment chamber. Each storey carries its own set of carriers, allowing simultaneous processing at different levels. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single complex belt system while improving heat circulation around carriers on each level.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-level horizontal conveyor to a multi-level vertical arrangement. Carriers are distributed across multiple storeys stacked vertically, utilizing the third dimension (height) to increase processing capacity without adding horizontal space. This dimensional change allows heat to circulate more effectively around all carriers simultaneously.
2Productivity
If coupled carriers are used in a device having multiple dough treatment spaces placed above one another, then the carriers can be conveyed through the treatment spaces, but the carriers when being entered have to be coupled to the carriers in the dough treatment space and when being discharged have to be uncoupled, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead of using coupled carriers that require coupling and uncoupling operations, the invention employs independent carriers on each storey that are pushed individually by pushing devices. This extraction of the coupling function eliminates the complexity of coupling mechanisms while maintaining the ability to convey multiple carriers through treatment spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Each carrier is pushed independently by its own pushing device, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external coupling mechanisms. The carriers move through the treatment spaces autonomously, with each storey's carrier being propelled by a dedicated pushing device, eliminating the need for inter-carrier coupling.
3Productivity
If a multi-level carrier system is used to increase processing capacity, then more dough pieces can be treated simultaneously, but the carriers may slide over each other if not properly constrained, reducing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance device features an asymmetric structure with a supporting member having a first distance (larger) and a confining member having a second distance (smaller) from the carrier surface. This asymmetric arrangement creates a mechanical constraint that prevents carriers from sliding vertically over one another while still allowing horizontal movement, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy in the multi-level system.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the carriers on different storeys. The supporting member and confining member form a guidance structure that mediates the interaction between carriers, preventing unwanted sliding while allowing the carriers to be pushed forward. This intermediary structure ensures precise carrier positioning without requiring direct contact or coupling between carriers.
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Assembly for subjecting dough pieces to a dough treatment, comprising: a number of storeys (2, 3, 4, 5) situated above one another for placing a number of carriers (6) for the dough pieces (61), wherein each storey is provided with an inlet and an outlet, and with a guidance device (25, 35, 45, 55) guiding the carriers (6) from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the guidance device comprises a supporting member (152) for supporting the carriers (6) and a confining member (153) for in vertical sense confining the carriers (6), a first lifting device (7) for conveying a carrier to an inlet of one of the storeys, a second lifting device (8) for receiving a carrier from an outlet of one of the storeys, and a pushing device (9) for pushing a carrier (6) placed on the first lifting device (7) into one of the storeys, wherein when entering the carriers present in the storey in question are pushed onwards by the entered carrier.