Food Tablet Manufacturing via Electromagnetic Wave Sintering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing tablets for hot beverage brewing are costly, complex, and environmentally impactful due to the need for enclosures and inefficient energy use, with limitations in variable compaction and energy frequency.
Innovation Solution
An automated apparatus that produces self-supporting tablets without enclosures, using a combination of grinding, moistening, homogenizing, weighing, forming, and irradiating with electromagnetic waves to achieve variable compaction and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electromagnetic waves are administered using a generator of fixed frequency, then the apparatus structure is simple, but the ability to produce tablets with different sizes and organoleptic properties is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the electromagnetic wave frequency variable rather than fixed. The generator is configured to emit electromagnetic waves at variable frequencies, allowing the same apparatus to produce tablets with different sizes and organoleptic properties by adjusting the frequency parameter during operation.
2Productivity
If manual homogenizing and moistening steps are used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but the tablet manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical homogenizing and moistening operations with automated systems. The apparatus includes automated mixing devices and controlled water addition mechanisms that perform these functions without manual intervention, thereby reducing manufacturing time while maintaining product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs homogenizing and moistening operations automatically as part of the production cycle. The apparatus self-regulates the addition of water and mixing processes without requiring manual intervention, enabling continuous automated production.
3Ease of manufacture
If enclosures are used to contain products, then the products are protected, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the enclosure component from the system. Instead of using physical enclosures (plastic, paper, aluminum) to contain the products, the invention uses electromagnetic wave treatment to directly modify the grounds, thereby removing the need for enclosures and simplifying the manufacturing process.
4Device complexity
If ultrasonic vibrations are used for tablet production, then enclosures are eliminated, but the tablet compaction is non-uniform and thickness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ultrasonic vibration with electromagnetic wave treatment. Instead of using mechanical vibrations that cause non-uniform compaction, the system uses electromagnetic waves to heat and treat the grounds uniformly throughout, achieving consistent compaction and greater thickness capability while maintaining enclosure elimination.
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 apparatus enables quick, energy-efficient, and cost-effective production of self-supporting tablets with adjustable water permeability, reducing manufacturing and environmental costs while improving production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating means (27) downstream from the forming means (26) for irradiating the tablet with a beam of electromagnetic waves to overheat the particles of the wetted mixture to partial baking and/or sintering
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4B
Figure 5~7B
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for manufacturing food tablets for hot beverage brewing, said apparatus (1) comprising a reservoir (2) for feeding infusible loose food products, grinding means (3) for grinding the loose products to obtain grounds with a given particle size, moistening means (9) for moistening the grounds to a given moisture content, mixing and homogenizing means (10) for mixing and homogenizing the wetted grounds to obtain a homogeneous mixture, weighing means (25) for weighing the homogeneous mixture to obtain a dose having a predetermined weight, forming means (26) for forming the dose of mixture into a tablet having a predetermined volume, irradiation means (27) for irradiating the tablet with electromagnetic waves to overheat the particles of the wetted and homogenized mixture to partial baking and/or sintering and impart relative compactness and self-supporting ability thereto without requiring an enclosure, and wherein control means (51 ) are provided, which act on the grinding means (3), the moistening means (9), the homogenizing means (10), the weighing means (25), the forming means (26) and the irradiating means(27) to control the particle size, moisture content, homogeneity, weight, volume and compactness parameters of the tablet and change water permeability of the finished tablet according to the aforementioned parameters.