Dough Folding Channel with Compensatory Movement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough folding systems cause undesirable stretching and tensile stress in dough sheets due to varying distances between the folding channel outlet and the shelf, leading to increased costs and complexity with separate conveyor belts for height adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system where the folding channel is guided movably, with compensatory movements to maintain a constant distance between the feed device and the dough depository, and the folding channel outlet is coupled to a linear drive for precise control, eliminating the need for separate ascending conveyor belts and reducing drive and component costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the folding channel outlet is pivoted back and forth over the shelf, then the dough sheet can be folded and deposited, but the distance between the folding channel outlet and the shelf surface periodically changes causing stretching and tensile stress in the dough sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The folding channel is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt its position dynamically. The folding channel can move vertically to maintain a constant distance from the shelf surface while still performing the folding operation, thus preventing dough sheet stretching while enabling folding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control where the position of the folding channel is continuously adjusted based on the distance to the shelf surface. This ensures that the folding channel outlet maintains a constant distance from the shelf, preventing variations in dough sheet length while still allowing the folding operation to proceed.
2Manufacturing precision
If a vertically pivotable feed conveyor belt is used to maintain constant distance, then dough sheet stretching is avoided, but additional construction costs and separate drive motors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The feed conveyor belt and the folding channel are merged into a single integrated structure. The folding channel is positioned on the feed conveyor belt and moves together with it, eliminating the need for separate vertical pivot mechanisms and additional drive motors. This combination maintains constant distance while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed conveyor belt serves multiple functions: it transports the dough sheet horizontally and simultaneously provides vertical movement capability for the folding channel. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ascending conveyor belts and vertical adjustment mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If the folding channel is articulated in the entrance area with vertical pivoting, then constant distance can be maintained, but the feed conveyor belt must be at the same height as the folding channel entrance requiring separate ascending conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The folding channel is integrated with the feed conveyor belt structure, positioned on top of it. This merging allows the folding channel to move vertically with the conveyor belt while maintaining a constant distance from the shelf, eliminating the need for separate vertical pivot mechanisms and height adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional horizontal conveyor arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where the folding channel operates on top of the moving conveyor belt. This dimensional change allows the folding channel to maintain constant vertical distance from the shelf while the conveyor belt provides both horizontal and vertical movement, eliminating the need for separate ascending conveyors.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Method for overlapping, folding and/or layering a dough strip (1) by placing it from a feeding device (2) via its outlet through a folding channel (3) with an inlet (31) and an outlet (4) onto at least one tray (5), by guiding the outlet (4) of the folding channel (3) back and forth over the tray (5), and thereby placing the dough strip (1) at least partially overlapping onto the tray (5).The distance between the folding channel outlet (4) and the tray (5) is kept constant, the distance between the feed device (2) and the tray (5) is kept constant, and the inlet (31) of the folding channel (3) is guided relative to the outlet of the feed device (2) to perform equivalent and/or compensating movements such that stretching or tensioning of the dough band (1) from the outlet of the feed device (2) to the tray (5) is avoided and/or the length of the dough band (1) from the feed device (2) to the tray (5) is kept constant or substantially constant.