Dough Feeding Passage with Localized Constriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough portioning systems in automated pasta production facilities face challenges in achieving uniform dough flow and distribution, leading to inefficiencies and uneven dough supply to the separation device.
Innovation Solution
A portioning device with a feeding device and a separation device, where the feeding device features a side wall with a unique geometry that includes sections with varying distances between opposite sides, creating a local constriction that increases flow resistance and ensures uniform dough distribution across the passage cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple rectangular passage is used for dough flow, then the device structure is simple, but the dough flow becomes uneven with corner areas receiving less dough
Solution Approach 1:
The passage cross-section is modified locally by reducing the distance between opposite side walls at specific positions. This creates a non-uniform passage geometry where the constriction is localized to specific regions, allowing corner areas to receive increased dough flow while maintaining simplicity elsewhere in the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage geometry is changed from a symmetric rectangular cross-section to an asymmetric configuration with varying wall distances. This asymmetric design intentionally creates different flow paths and resistance levels in different regions of the passage to compensate for corner flow deficiencies.
2Manufacturing precision
If the passage cross-section is constricted locally, then the dough flow resistance increases in corner areas, but the overall throughput may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The constriction is applied only locally at specific positions where corner flow enhancement is needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire passage. This localized modification minimizes the impact on overall throughput while achieving the goal of improved distribution uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage constriction is applied to a partial extent rather than fully constricting the flow. The distance reduction between side walls is optimized to provide sufficient flow resistance in corner areas while maintaining adequate overall throughput for production requirements.
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 consistent dough throughput and distribution across the entire passage cross-section, effectively compensating for differences in dough flow speeds between corner areas and non-corner areas, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the dough portioning process.
Implementation Method 1
a slowing of the dough flow through the passage due to friction between the dough and the side wall can be particularly pronounced
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A portioning device (3) for dough (5) comprises a feeding device (7) and a separating device (17). The feeding device (7) comprises a side wall (9) that circumferentially defines a passage (11) for dough (5) and a filling opening (13) for filling dough (5) into the passage (11). The separating device (17) is configured to separate the dough (5) in portions. The feeding device (7) is configured such that dough (5) filled through the filling opening (13) flows along a flow direction (15) through the passage (11) to the separating device (17). A first section (37) of the side wall (9) connects a first corner (29) of the side wall (9) to a second corner (31) of the side wall (9). A second section (39) of the side wall (9) connects a third corner (33) of the side wall (9) to a fourth corner (35) of the side wall (9). The first section (37) of the side wall (9) and the second section (39) of the side wall (9) are opposite each other.A position of least distance (45) between the first section (37) of the side wall (9) and the second section (39) of the side wall (9) along an extension direction of the first section (37) of the side wall (9) from the first corner (29) to the second corner (31) is closer to a midpoint between the first corner (29) and the second corner (31) than at the first corner (29) and closer to the midpoint between the first corner (29) and the second corner (31) than at the second corner (31).