Food Pressing Device With Telescopic Guide Rail

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for producing food products face challenges such as manual adjustment requirements, process interruptions, limited heat treatment capabilities, and potential damage due to uneven compression.

Innovation Solution

A device with an open housing design that allows for the stacking of mold containers and the use of a pneumatically driven pressure die, guided by telescopic rails, to apply a uniform pressing force and enable efficient heat treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a manual spindle drive is used for the pressure die, then the device can be simple in structure, but the production process must be interrupted for manual adjustment and the operation is uneconomical

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical spindle drive with an automated drive system that can operate continuously without manual intervention. This substitution eliminates the need to interrupt the production process for adjustments while maintaining structural efficiency through automated control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive system is designed to automatically adjust and maintain the pressure die position without requiring manual intervention. The system performs self-adjustment during operation, allowing continuous production without interruptions while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through integrated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Force

If a closed pressing container is used, then the pressing force can be applied from below, but the meat products can only be heat treated to a limited extent and the pressure die can tilt sideways

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing container is designed with an open structure rather than fully closed, allowing heat treatment media to access the meat products from multiple directions. This segmentation of the container walls enables both pressing force application from below and comprehensive heat treatment, while guide rails prevent sideways tilting of the pressure die.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide rails are introduced as intermediary elements between the pressure die and the container walls. These rails act as mediators that constrain the pressure die to vertical movement only, preventing sideways tilting while allowing the open container structure to enable both pressing and heat treatment functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the pressure die compresses meat products with deviations in composition, then the pressing force can be applied, but the pressure die can tilt sideways causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail system provides real-time feedback and constraint on the pressure die position during compression. When variations in meat product composition cause uneven compression forces, the guide rails immediately counteract any sideways movement tendency, maintaining vertical alignment and preventing damage to the pressing container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rails are positioned to engage with the pressure die before any sideways tilting can occur. This preemptive constraint arrangement cushions against potential damage by preventing the development of harmful lateral forces, even when composition variations in the meat products cause uneven compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enables efficient, continuous production of food products with improved accuracy and quality, allowing for uniform heat treatment and reducing the risk of damage or process interruptions.

Implementation Method 1

at least one telescopic guide rail arranged between a cover of the housing and the pressure die for guiding the pressure die in the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical guidance:

Implementation Method 2

at least one drive arranged in a bottom region of the housing for driving a pressure die which is mounted in the housing so as to be slidable in the direction of the stack for exerting a pressing force upon the stack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS20250040584A1Device or method for producing a food product from a portion of food

Publication Date: 2025.02.06

AI summary

The invention relates to a device or a method for producing a food product from a portion of food. The device comprises a housing which is open on at least one side for receiving a plurality of separate mold containers which are arranged directly on top of one another in at least one stack and can each be filled with a portion of food. The device furthermore comprises at least one drive arranged in a bottom region of the housing for driving a pressure die which is mounted in the housing so as to be slidable in the direction of the stack for exerting a pressing force upon the stack and a telescopic guide rail arranged between a cover of the housing and the pressure die for guiding the pressure die in the housing.