Dough Shaping Machine Universal Joint Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough kneading and shaping machines using conical rollers face challenges in maintaining hygiene and efficiency due to mechanical transmission components being close to the dough handling zone, leading to contamination and requiring complex synchronization of roller motors.
Innovation Solution
The machine employs a universal joint mechanism to transmit rotational movement to the conical rollers, eliminating the need for pinion and spur gears, and uses a single drive motor with a manual lever for table elevation, allowing for versatile adjustments and reduced mechanical parts in the processing region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical transmission components (pinion gears, spur gears) are used to drive conical rollers, then the rollers can be rotated efficiently, but the mechanical parts are positioned close to the dough handling zone causing contamination and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical transmission components (pinion gears and spur gears) from the dough handling zone entirely. The drive mechanism is extracted and positioned away from the working area, eliminating the source of contamination while preserving the roller rotation function through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a belt transmission system as an intermediary mechanism to transfer rotational motion from the drive motor to the conical rollers without requiring direct mechanical contact near the dough. This mediator allows the drive system to be positioned remotely while maintaining functional connection.
2Ease of operation
If multiple electric motors are used to rotate each conical roller individually, then precise control of roller rotation is achieved, but the synchronization complexity and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation control of all conical rollers into a single drive system. Instead of using multiple independent motors that require synchronization, one drive motor controls the rotation of all rollers through the belt transmission system, eliminating synchronization complexity while maintaining operational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive motor performs the function of multiple motors by driving all conical rollers simultaneously through the transmission system. This universal drive mechanism simplifies the system while achieving the same operational outcome that would otherwise require multiple synchronized motors.
3Ease of operation
If a hydraulic jack or jack with lever and rack is used to lift the table, then the table can be displaced linearly against the conical rollers, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a manual lever system that allows the operator to directly lift the table against the conical rollers using mechanical advantage. The system uses the operator's input force efficiently without requiring additional energy-consuming mechanisms like hydraulic jacks, achieving table displacement through self-service manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive energy-consuming hydraulic systems with a simple, low-cost manual lever mechanism. While the lever requires manual effort, it eliminates the need for complex hydraulic components and continuous energy supply, providing a cost-effective solution for the lifting function.
Data Source
AI summary
DOUGH KNEADING AND SHAPING MACHINE with conical rollers to knead and shape dough on a table, including a drive mechanism comprising a gear motor with axis at the output of the reducer, and the end of the axis is set in a beam which has, at each end, a pair of gears geared to a sprocket fixed to the structural body of the machine, the gears have an axis supported on bearings and coupled to a universal joint, and the universal joint transmits rotation to an axis, and the axis has at the bearing ends embedded in the rigid structure and with the aid of screws and structural elements, the rigid frame is fixed to the beam, and the axis end is set at the vertex of the body of the cone, and the cone has a surface cap fixed by screws on the body to cover the entire conical surface of the cone.