Food Slice Conveyor Frame for Safer Cleaning and Load Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicing apparatuses in the food industry face issues with uneven load distribution, operational hazards, and frequent cleaning requirements due to cantilevered drive rollers, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A movable frame with plug-in axles and drive rollers that allows for rapid changeover and cleaning, featuring a trough-shaped design for safety and uniform load distribution, with removable components for easy maintenance and improved conveyor belt guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If drive rollers are mounted as cantilevered on one side, then the structure is simplified, but load distribution becomes uneven and operational hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally designing the frame with a trough shape that is asymmetric in cross-section, with the bottom surface inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis. This asymmetric geometry creates a self-centering effect that ensures uniform load distribution on the drive rollers while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If drive rollers are mounted as cantilevered on one side, then installation is easier, but operational hazards and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of exposed rotating drive rollers into a benefit by designing the trough-shaped frame that encloses and protects them. The same asymmetric trough structure that ensures proper load distribution also serves as a safety shield, preventing contact with rotating components while maintaining ease of installation.
3Reliability
If frequent cleaning and maintenance are required, then hygiene standards are met, but production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the conveyor system into modular components - the trough-shaped frame can be detached as a separate unit for cleaning, while the drive rollers and other components remain in place. This modular segmentation allows frequent cleaning to maintain hygiene standards without requiring complete disassembly, thus preserving production efficiency.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the frame is stationary and fixed, then structural stability is ensured, but rapid changeover and cleaning become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the trough-shaped frame with movable and detachable characteristics. The frame can be shifted longitudinally and removed from the device, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one that adapts to maintenance and changeover requirements while maintaining structural stability during operation through its asymmetric self-centering geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for transporting food slices having at least two conveyor belts, at least two drive rollers, each of the at least two conveyor belts can be guided about one of the respective at least two drive rollers and can be driven thereby, a moveable frame including a plurality of plug-in axles, each of the plurality of plug-in axles being securely connected to the moveable frame, the moveable frame is moveable between an operating position and a maintenance position, in the operating position, the at least two drive rollers and the plurality of plug-in axles are arranged parallel to one another and each of the at least two drive rollers is arranged laterally between two plug-in axles.