Food Processing System Sorting and Weighing Before Marinating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food processing systems face challenges in accurately sorting and weighing solid food products after marinating, as marinades make the products sticky and difficult to separate, leading to inaccurate sorting and weighing, and customers are charged for the weight of the marinade along with the product.

Innovation Solution

A food processing system that sorts and weighs solid food products before marinating, using a weighing system to divide bulk products into individual batches, which are then marinated in a separate receptacle, keeping the weighing and sorting system clean and hygienic, and allowing for precise measurement of the marinade's contribution to the final product weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If solid food products are marinated before sorting and weighing, then the marinating process can be completed, but the marinade makes the products sticky and difficult to separate, leading to inaccurate sorting and weighing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing accuracyVSAvoidstickiness from marinade
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs sorting and weighing of solid food products before the marinating process. The weighing system receives bulk solid food products, determines their weight, and conveys them to a marinating receptacle only after weighing is complete. This preliminary action ensures that the weighing measurement is not affected by the sticky marinade that will be applied later, thereby maintaining high weighing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If solid food products are marinated before sorting and weighing, then the marinating process can be completed, but the determined weight includes both the product and marinade, leading to unfair pricing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct weight measurementVSAvoidmarinade weight contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The weighing operation is performed before the marinating process begins. The weighing system measures the weight of the solid food product in its original state, before any marinade is applied. The product is then conveyed to the marinating receptacle where marinade is added. This sequence ensures that the recorded weight reflects only the product weight, not the combined weight of product plus marinade, enabling fair pricing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If solid food products are marinated before sorting and weighing, then the marinating process can be completed, but the weighing and sorting system becomes contaminated with marinade, reducing hygiene

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarinating timeVSAvoidmarinade contamination of equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system completes sorting and weighing operations before the marinating process begins. The weighing system and sorting mechanisms handle only dry, unmarinated solid food products. After weighing, the products are conveyed to a separate marinating receptacle where marinade is applied. This separation ensures that the weighing and sorting equipment remain free from marinade contamination, maintaining hygiene and ease of cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2925150B1A food processing system and a corresponding method for sorting, weighing, conveying and marinating solid food products
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 CABINPLANT INTERNATIONAL AS
  • EP2925150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2925150B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2925150B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a food processing system for sorting, weighing, conveying and marinating solid food products. The food processing system comprises a weighing system having a receiving section for receiving solid food products in bulk (14) and a discharge section (24) for selectively discharging a batch of solid food products. The food processing system further comprises a marinating receptacle (34) having an inlet for receiving the batch of solid food products. The food processing system further comprises a supply tube (36) for supplying an amount of marinade to the marinating receptacle and an agitator for agitating the batch of the solid food products and the amount of marinade. The food processing system has an outlet (40) for discharging the batch of the solid food products together with the amount of marinade and a packing station for packing the batch of the solid food products and the amount of marinade into a package.