Dough Coiling Device Vacuum Suction Plate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough wrapping devices face challenges in holding the dough in a defined position during the wrapping process, leading to issues like tearing, wrinkles, and uneven winding, especially when dealing with dough products containing fillings, due to inefficient holding mechanisms that result in high air consumption and noise.
Innovation Solution
A dough wrapping device utilizing a vacuum suction device with suction channels on a plate that adapts to the shape and size of the dough, allowing for even holding and reduced air consumption, combined with adjustable wrapping components and mats to manage fillings and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheels or disks are used to hold the dough piece during wrapping, then the dough can be held in position, but the wheels foul when contacting filling and only provide selective holding at one point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic suction through a vacuum source connected to suction channels in a plate to hold the dough piece. This replaces mechanical wheel contact with air pressure differential, eliminating wheel fouling from filling while providing uniform holding across the entire dough surface area.
2Reliability
If a perforated conveyor belt with vacuum chamber is used, then the dough piece can be held during wrapping, but high negative pressure is required resulting in high air consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates suction channels only in the area where the dough piece is positioned on the plate, rather than across the entire conveyor belt width. This localized suction approach reduces the volume of air that must be moved while maintaining effective holding of the dough piece.
3Reliability
If a driven drum with hole pattern is used for suction, then the dough piece can be held, but the drum requires complex cleaning and significant negative pressure generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the suction function into a stationary plate with channels that is easily accessible for cleaning, rather than a rotating drum where holes are enclosed. The plate can be removed and cleaned without dismantling the entire device, significantly reducing maintenance complexity.
4Reliability
If conventional vacuum systems are used, then the dough piece can be held, but considerable air noise is generated due to high air consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces air noise by localizing suction channels to match the dough piece area, minimizing the total air volume that must be moved. Less air movement through the vacuum system results in significantly reduced noise generation from the vacuum source and air flow.
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 ensures secure, even wrapping of dough products without tearing, reduces air consumption and noise, and allows for efficient processing of various dough sizes and shapes with minimal energy use and easy cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum suction device for holding the starting piece of dough and of course also for holding the piece of dough during the wrapping process below the conveyor belt
Data Source
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AI summary
The dough coiling machine (1) for mechanically producing a coiled dough products from an initial dough piece (5), comprises a first conveyor belt device (2) with a contact area, on which the initial dough piece is placed for coiling with an initial contact surface, where the conveyor belt device is arranged below a winding device (8) of the dough coiling machine, and a low-pressure suction device provided below the contact area of the conveyor belt device, where the low-pressure suction device is designed to hold the initial dough piece onto the contact area of the conveyor belt device. The dough coiling machine (1) for mechanically producing a coiled dough products from an initial dough piece (5), comprises a first conveyor belt device (2) with a contact area, on which the initial dough piece is placed for coiling with an initial contact surface, where the conveyor belt device is arranged below a winding device (8) of the dough coiling machine, and a low-pressure suction device provided below the contact area of the conveyor belt device, where the low-pressure suction device is designed to hold the initial dough piece onto the contact area of the conveyor belt device during coiling using the winding device. The low-pressure suction device is formed with a plate (4) having suction channels running through the plate. The suction channels have suction openings in the direction of the surface of the plate turned towards the contact area of the conveyor belt device. The suction channels are arranged, so that they constrain on a part of the surface of the plate turned towards the contact area of the conveyor belt device, where the part of the surface plate corresponds to the initial contact surface of the initial dough piece in its shape and size. The contact area of the conveyor belt device is formed in an air-permeable manner and/or formed with openings and/or holes or formed as perforated belt and/or with the belt thickness in the range of millimeter. The plate defines a triangular template of the initial dough piece on the surface turned towards the contact area of the conveyor belt device by the arrangement of the suction openings. The plate and/or an upper area of the plate, which defines the template of the initial dough piece and is turned towards the contact area of the conveyor belt, are interchangeable. The low-pressure suction device has a suction element connected or connectable with an opening of a suction channel running through the plate and not turned towards the contact area of the conveyor belt. The winding device has two winding components extending in the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt device with a pivot arm, where the winding components are adjustably spaced apart from each other vertically or transversely to the conveyor direction in a plane parallel to the conveyor plane. One of the winding components of the winding device has a pre-matte for lifting a front edge of the initial dough piece in the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt device or for rolling the initial dough piece and/or a winding matte for winding or wrapping the initial dough piece or an already partially winded dough piece. The pre-matte is a wire matte and/or the winding matte is a plastic matte, rubber matte, elastic matte and/or matte contactably flexibly adapted to the initial dough piece or already partially winded dough piece. One of the winding components of the winding device has a weight chain, a weight piece and/or a weight part movably arranged related to an axis and/or variable and/or exchangeable with respect to its weight force, where the axis runs vertically or transversely to the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt device in the plane parallel to the conveyor plane. The dough coiling machine has a stripping- and/or brushing arrangement for cleaning the contact area of the conveyor belt device. A second conveyor belt device is provided in connection to the first conveyor belt device in the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt device, so that the second conveyor belt device is operated with less speed with respect to the first conveyor belt device and/or the winding matte of the winding device extends up to in the area of the second conveyor belt device. Two position influencing units are arranged above the conveyor belt device at a suitable and/or changeable height in a clip-like manner, are spaced apart vertically or transversely to the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt device in the plane parallel to the conveyor plane and are displaceable and/or exchangeable in the conveyor direction or a direction, where the position of the already winded dough piece is influenced by the position influencing units. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method for mechanically producing a coiled dough products from an initial dough piece.