Food Portion Transport Mover Contamination Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food portion transportation systems are prone to contamination and inefficiencies due to dirt, incorrect portions, and clogging, which complicates the removal of unwanted residues and affects hygiene and operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
A removal device is integrated into the transportation system to temporarily remove dirt and incorrect portions from sensitive areas, using a combination of conveyor belts, guides, and active removal mechanisms to prevent contamination and ensure accurate portion handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional transport system is used for food portions, then the system is simple in structure, but contamination and clogging occur on the track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of the track by removing it entirely. Instead of having portions travel on a continuous track surface that can be contaminated, the system uses individual transport movers that travel through the air above the track, with portions transferred only at discrete transfer points. This eliminates the track surface from being exposed to food residues and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transport movers as intermediary carriers between the portion cutting station and packaging machines. These movers act as isolated transfer vehicles that pick up portions at one location and deliver them to another without the portions contacting the track system, thereby preventing contamination of the track.
2Reliability
If the track system is exposed to food residues, then the system structure remains simple, but cleaning becomes difficult and hygiene standards deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful exposure of the track to food residues is eliminated by extracting the track from the direct transport path. Portions are transferred to and from isolated transport movers at discrete points, preventing food residues from accumulating on the track surface and making the track system inherently cleaner and easier to maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conveyor belts as flexible thin film structures for portion transfer at discrete points. These belts can be easily cleaned and are replaceable, providing a hygienic interface for portion transfer without exposing the main track system to contamination.
3Reliability
If incorrect portions are removed from the conveyor system, then hygiene is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to additional removal devices
Solution Approach 1:
The transport movers are designed with self-contained portion holding capabilities and can be individually controlled to skip transfer points. This self-service capability allows the system to automatically exclude incorrect portions without requiring external removal devices, maintaining hygiene while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of transport movers, where each mover can be independently programmed to stop at specific transfer points based on portion verification. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to handle incorrect portions flexibly without requiring fixed removal infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If multiple transport movers operate simultaneously in a rail system, then productivity increases, but the risk of collisions and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control through sensors that detect the position and status of each transport mover in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to coordinate mover movements, prevent collisions, and ensure that only verified correct portions are transferred, maintaining high productivity while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport system is segmented into discrete, independently controllable transport movers rather than a continuous conveyor. Each mover operates as an isolated unit with its own control, allowing parallel operation at high speeds without collision risk, while the modular structure prevents contamination spread between movers.
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 effectively maintains high hygiene standards and operational reliability by preventing contamination and ensuring only correct portions reach the packaging machines, even in demanding environments, and can be implemented with justifiable effort to achieve IP69K-capable transport systems.
Implementation Method 1
the runner in particular comprising at least one permanent magnet and the track system being designed as a motor stator
Implementation Method 2
the track system or the individual tracks of such a transport system can be subdivided into a large number of track elements which to a certain extent each form a single linear motor
Implementation Method 3
each transport mover is provided with a transducer which induces a signal in the stator formed by the railway system, which enables the control device to determine the exact position of the transport mover
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for moving portions each comprising at least one slice separated from a food product, in particular by a slicing device, in particular by a high-speed slicer, having a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting portions, having a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction and having a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the track system and at least one portion carrier mounted on the runner, wherein for at least one sub-section of the track, in particular a section at risk of contamination, a discharge device is provided which is designed to at least intermittently discharge next to the section, contamination and/or incorrect portions originating from the foods, in particular occurring when cutting the food products and/or during handling of the portions.