Food Slice Folding Conveyor With Stationary Intermediate Belt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slicers for food products require complex movements of components, particularly the discharge unit, to achieve aesthetically pleasing and novel food configurations, which complicates the packaging process and manual handling.

Innovation Solution

A folding device is integrated between conveyor belts, using an intermediate belt to lift and fold food discs, creating longitudinal and transverse folds without requiring complex movements of the slicer components, achieved by a stationary folding device with a rotatable roller and adjustable belt geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If complex movements of discharge unit and conveyor belts are used to achieve aesthetically pleasing food configurations, then the visual appeal and arrangement variety of food slices is improved, but the device complexity and control system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood configurationVSAvoidslicer component movements

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the discharge unit and conveyor belts to create folds, the invention uses a stationary folding device with a stationary intermediate belt that lifts the food product to create folds. The food product itself is moved over the stationary folding structure, inverting the traditional approach where the structure moves to manipulate the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

A stationary intermediate belt is introduced as a mediator between the conveyor belts and the folding device. This intermediate belt lifts the food product and guides it over the stationary folding device, enabling fold creation without requiring movement of the main conveyor system or discharge unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple degrees of freedom and precise timing of component movements are implemented to meet packaging requirements, then the adaptability to different packaging arrangements is improved, but the control system complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidcomponent timing and control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the control approach by making the folding device stationary and using the natural movement of the food product through the system to achieve folding. This eliminates the need for complex timing coordination of multiple moving components while maintaining adaptability through the stationary folding structure's geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary folding device with the intermediate belt serves multiple functions: it creates longitudinal folds, controls food product positioning, and adapts to different packaging requirements through its fixed geometry, eliminating the need for multiple specialized moving components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the conveyor belts and folding device are made movable in all three spatial directions to achieve desired food slice geometry, then the manufacturing flexibility and configuration variety are improved, but the mechanical complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood slice geometry flexibilityVSAvoidconveyor belt and folding device movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the conveyor belts and folding device in all three spatial directions to achieve desired geometries, the invention uses a stationary folding device where the food product's natural conveyance creates the necessary movements. The stationary intermediate belt lifts the food product to engage with the folding device, eliminating the need for complex multi-directional movements of heavy mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the movement requirement from the heavy mechanical components (conveyor belts and folding device) and transfers it to the lightweight food product itself. The stationary folding device only needs to provide a fixed geometric structure, while the food product's conveyance and lifting create the desired geometries without requiring energy-intensive movement of mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4463405B1Apparatus for conveying and folding slices of food

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 GEA FOOD SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH

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AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying slices of food, comprising a belt conveyor defining a plane of conveyance in which the slices of food are conveyed along a main conveying direction, and at least two conveyor belts, and the apparatus also having a folding device which projects into the plane of conveyance between the conveying belts.