Flexible Tooling Attachment for Robotic Fryer Cleanability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated cooking systems, particularly robotic fryer systems, face challenges in cleanability and sterilization due to complex geometries and components that trap food particles and cooking mediums, making it difficult to comply with sanitation standards.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece attachment made of flexible, food-grade material that covers moving components and openings of the automated tooling, allowing for easy cleaning and sterilization, while being removable to maintain system functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robotic arms with complex moving components are used to automate food preparation, then productivity and automation extent are improved, but cleanability and sterilization compliance deteriorate due to gaps and cavities that trap food particles
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible cover made of food-grade thermoplastic material is used to envelop the robotic arm components. The cover acts as a flexible shell that can conform to the moving parts while maintaining a smooth, cleanable surface that prevents food particle accumulation and meets sanitation standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed as a segmented structure with multiple sections that can be separately attached and removed from different portions of the robotic arm. This segmentation allows for easier cleaning and maintenance of individual sections while maintaining overall automation functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If components are covered to meet sanitation standards, then cleanability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional covering components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cover sections are merged into a single integrated attachment assembly that can be installed as one unit on the robotic arm. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall attachment structure while still providing comprehensive coverage for sanitation compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover attachment is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides sanitation compliance by covering moving components, maintains accessibility to essential features, and enables easy removal for cleaning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece attachment is used to cover components, then ease of cleaning is improved and manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different tooling configurations may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece cover incorporates varying thicknesses and flexibility characteristics in different regions to accommodate specific local requirements of the robotic arm components. Thinner, more flexible sections adapt to moving parts while thicker sections provide robust coverage for stationary components, all within one piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover material and geometry are designed with adjustable parameters such as material thickness, flexibility, and attachment opening dimensions that can be modified to适配 different tooling configurations while maintaining the single-piece construction advantage.
Data Source
AI summary
Example apparatuses are directed to an automated tooling having a plurality of assembled components including at least one moving component. The plurality of assembled components define one or more openings. The apparatus further includes an attachment comprising a plurality of surfaces, each of a single piece of material, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces is configured to directly interface with and cover a component of the automated tooling. A first surface of the plurality of surfaces is configured to cover the at least one moving component, and a second surface of the plurality of surfaces is configured to cover one or more of the openings defined by the automated tooling. The attachment defines at least one attachment opening that allows the plurality of surfaces to be removably attached to the automated tooling such that the plurality of surfaces directly interface and cover the components of the automated tooling.