Food Processing Scanner with Segmented Conveyor Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing devices with scanners for determining food product properties are expensive and inefficient due to the need for large scanners and maintaining distances between products during X-ray scanning, which limits scanning quality and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A food processing device with separately drivable conveyor tracks and a movable scanning unit, allowing for efficient and accurate scanning of multiple food products by conveying them individually through a compact scanner area, using X-ray or optical scanning, and enabling precise alignment and analysis without product interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple food products are scanned simultaneously using a common scanner, then scanning efficiency is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to shielding effects and interference between products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning system into multiple independent scanning units, each assigned to a specific conveyor track. This segmentation eliminates interference between products on different tracks while maintaining high scanning efficiency. Each scanning unit independently scans products on its designated track without affecting others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single common scanner serving multiple tracks to multiple scanners distributed across different spatial dimensions (one per track). This dimensional distribution resolves the conflict between simultaneous scanning capability and measurement accuracy by providing dedicated scanning resources to each product stream.
2Area of stationary object
If a large scanner is used to scan multiple products simultaneously, then scanning coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of one large scanner, the system uses multiple smaller scanning units distributed across separate conveyor tracks. Each scanning unit has a compact design suitable for its specific track, reducing individual complexity while collectively providing comprehensive coverage across all tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
Each scanning unit is designed to scan only the products on its specific conveyor track rather than attempting to scan all tracks simultaneously. This partial action approach reduces the required size and complexity of each scanner while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If products are kept at a distance during scanning, then measurement precision is improved, but conveyor track spacing must increase
Solution Approach 1:
By assigning dedicated scanning units to each conveyor track, the system eliminates the need for increased spacing between tracks. Products can be positioned closely together on each track without interfering with the scanning of products on adjacent tracks, as each scanner operates independently on its own track.
4Measurement precision
If products are scanned sequentially on separate conveyor tracks, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple independent scanning operations into a unified parallel processing system. Multiple conveyor tracks with dedicated scanning units operate simultaneously, combining their individual scanning capacities to achieve high overall throughput while maintaining the measurement precision of sequential scanning on each track.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous scanning operation across all conveyor tracks simultaneously, eliminating idle time between scanning different products. Each scanning unit continuously scans products as they pass on its designated track, maximizing productivity while preserving measurement accuracy.
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 high-quality scanning with reduced scanner size and cost, allowing for faster scanning and precise analysis of food products, while maintaining efficient conveyor operations and accurate weight determination, thereby improving overall processing efficiency and reducing operational expenses.
Implementation Method 1
The product scanner is operated using X-rays and simultaneously scans multiple food products arranged on the various parallel lanes
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The apparatus has a scanner (2) including a scanning unit (17) i.e. radiographic unit, for determining properties of food products (4-7) e.g. food bar. Two parallel separately drivable conveyor tracks (8-15) supply the food products to the scanner, and a control unit controls the drive of the conveyor tracks. The control unit separately controls drive of the conveyor tracks to convey the food products of the conveyor tracks through a scanning area of the scanner. The scanning unit comprises an X-ray source and a detector. An independent claim is also included for a method for scanning food products with a scanner.