Automated Alignment Device for Elongated Food Products

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual alignment and sorting of elongated food products, such as sausages, for downstream slicing is labor-intensive and inefficient, involving heavy lifting and potential damage to products.

Innovation Solution

An automated device with an incoming product conveyor, a displacement device on a track for relocating products onto an outgoing conveyor, and retractable guides for alignment, along with a control system for sorting imperfect products, reduces manual labor and facilitates efficient alignment and sorting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual alignment and sorting of elongated food products is used, then flexibility in handling different product types is maintained, but labor intensity increases significantly and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual handling flexibilityVSAvoidalignment and sorting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to automatically detect product characteristics and the displacement device to self-adjust product positioning, eliminating the need for manual alignment while maintaining adaptability to different product types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical alignment operations are replaced by an automated control system that uses sensors to detect product positions and a displacement device to mechanically adjust positioning, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual lifting and handling of heavy food products is performed, then product inspection and sorting can be done, but product damage increases and worker safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct inspection qualityVSAvoidproduct damage during handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Manual lifting and handling operations are replaced by the displacement device that uses automated mechanical systems to position products, eliminating the harmful effects of manual handling while maintaining inspection quality through sensor-based detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The displacement device acts as an intermediary between the incoming conveyor and outgoing conveyor, automatically transferring and positioning heavy products without direct human contact, thereby preventing product damage while maintaining inspection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If automated displacement device is implemented, then productivity and alignment precision improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated alignment speedVSAvoidautomation system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The displacement device is designed to handle multiple product types and perform both alignment and sorting functions through a single integrated system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high productivity and precision across different operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2938563B1A device for alignment of elongated food products

Publication Date: 2018.03.28 TROSTERUD MEKANISKE VERKSTED AS

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AI summary

A device (1) for alignment of elongated food products to be further processed, wherein the device comprises an incoming product conveyor (21) for transporting incoming elongated products into the device, a displacement device (23) displaceable arranged on a displacement track (29) for relocating the incoming products from the incoming product conveyor (21) onto an outgoing product conveyor (26) having capacity for arranging two or more incoming products (20') side by side, before transporting the two or more incoming products simultaneously out from the device, is described.