Food-Processing Lifting Device With Locking-Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting devices for food processing machines, such as filling machines and cutters, fail to ensure that conveyor trolleys are securely locked, risking personal injury and property damage due to potential slipping during lifting operations.
Innovation Solution
A lifting device with a U-shaped receptacle and a locking element, equipped with a sensor to detect the locking position, prevents the conveyor trolley from being lifted unless the locking element is correctly engaged, ensuring secure locking through a control system that only allows operation when the locking element is in the proper position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional lifting device without position detection is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is insufficient as the conveyor trolley may slip out during lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a sensor device to detect the position of the locking element and convey this information to the control system. The control system then uses this feedback to determine whether to allow lifting operation, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that ensures the locking element is in the correct position before lifting occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical locking verification with an automated sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical interlocks or manual checks, the system uses sensors (optical, electrical, or electromechanical) to detect locking element position and controls lifting operation through an automated control system, substituting mechanical verification with sensor-based monitoring.
2Ease of operation
If manual checking of locking position is required, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation deteriorates as the operator must pay particular attention to correct positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the locking mechanism to automatically indicate its own status through the sensor device. The system automatically detects whether the locking element is in the correct position and communicates this information to the control system, eliminating the need for operator inspection or manual verification of locking position.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device provides automatic feedback to the control system about the locking element's position, allowing the system to autonomously determine whether lifting should be permitted. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for operator attention to locking position verification.
3Productivity
If the locking element must be manually positioned, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity decreases due to additional operator steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by designing the locking element and sensor device so that the locking position is automatically established when the conveyor trolley is inserted into the receptacle. The sensor device is pre-positioned to detect the locking element's position automatically, eliminating the need for separate manual positioning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism automatically positions itself and communicates its status through the sensor device without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically detecting and reporting the locking state, eliminating operator steps and improving productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lifting device, in particular a lifting device for a food processing machine, and a food processing machine with a receptacle for a conveyor carriage, wherein the receptacle has receiving slots for locking rails arranged laterally on the conveyor carriage and with a locking element that locks a locking rail in a receiving slot in a locking position P. Furthermore, a sensor device is provided for detecting whether the locking element is in the locking position.