Food Production Barrier Panel With Interlocking Slots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing barrier panels in food production environments are prone to harboring bacteria due to design flaws that create areas difficult to clean, and materials like plastic degrade quickly, while stainless steel lacks translucency and glass is heavy and breaks easily during cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A separator panel assembly with a lower panel portion and vertical frame members, featuring interlocking slots and tabs, stabilizer pins, and a watershed flange to minimize contact points and facilitate easy sanitization without disassembly, using stainless steel for the frame and a durable translucent material for the upper panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing barrier panels use gripping devices to hold panels vertically, then the panels can be mounted and removed, but the gripping surfaces create areas that harbor bacteria and are difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel mounting and removalVSAvoidbacterial harborage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the gripping device entirely from the panel design. Instead of using traditional gripping mechanisms that create hard-to-clean surfaces, the panel is inserted into the frame and held by friction and the interlocking slot-tab system, eliminating the bacterial harborage zones while maintaining ease of installation and removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of gripping the panel from the outside with clamps or holders, the panel interlocks with the frame from the inside through slots and tabs, inverting the traditional mounting approach to eliminate external gripping surfaces that harbor bacteria

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If plastic panels are used for barriers, then the panels are lightweight and shatter-resistant, but the plastic surfaces degrade over time creating space for bacterial contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshatter resistanceVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite construction with a stainless steel frame providing structural strength and hygiene, combined with a translucent panel material that meets safety requirements. The stainless steel components resist degradation and bacterial growth while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The panel design allows for easy replacement of the translucent panel portion when it degrades, while the durable stainless steel frame remains in place. This extends the overall system life while maintaining hygiene standards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Illumination intensity

If glass panels are used for barriers, then the panels provide translucency, but the glass is heavy and easily breaks during removal for cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetranslucencyVSAvoidbreakage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a translucent panel material that is not glass - likely a durable plastic or acrylic that provides the necessary translucency while being more impact-resistant and less prone to breakage during handling and cleaning operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If stainless steel panels are used for barriers, then the panels are durable and easy to sanitize, but the panels lack translucency to see products and processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitization easeVSAvoidtranslucency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier system is segmented into two functional parts: a stainless steel frame that provides durability and easy sanitization, and a translucent panel insert that provides visibility. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its optimal function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines stainless steel with a translucent material in a composite construction, where the stainless steel frame provides hygiene and strength while the translucent panel provides visibility, achieving both requirements simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

5Strength

If panel assemblies have multiple contact points for mounting, then the panels can be securely held, but the contact points create areas where contaminants may become trapped and are difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel holding securityVSAvoidcontaminant trapping

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple external contact points to hold the panel, the design uses an internal interlocking slot-tab system where the panel is held by friction and mechanical interlocking, minimizing external contact points that could trap contaminants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12134891B2Separation panels in food production

Publication Date: 2024.11.05 LEWIN JESSE JAMES

AI summary

A barrier panel to separate food production operations and/or operators in food processing facilities, minimizing contact between the components to minimize bacteria and contaminant harbors, which requires little or no disassembly for cleaning, the upper portion of the panel being translucent or transparent and supported by contact tabs which are rounded to minimize surface area touches.