Freely Programmable Magnetic Trays for Compact Hygienic Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing importance of hygiene and compactness, particularly in terms of machine length, is a challenge in food processing, especially when cutting and packaging food products.
Innovation Solution
A line comprising a food processing apparatus and a packaging machine is designed with a placement and transport apparatus that uses tablet trays to transport food products in a contact-free manner, utilizing a magnetic field for precise control and programmable movement, ensuring accurate placement and packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional contact-based transport mechanisms are used, then machine structure is simple, but hygiene is compromised and machine length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based transport systems with a magnetic field-based transport system. Tablet trays made of magnetic material are moved along a transport path using magnetically actuated drive elements, eliminating the need for physical contact mechanisms like conveyors or rails. This substitution achieves contact-free transport that maintains hygiene while allowing compact machine design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the drive system and the tablet trays. Instead of direct mechanical contact, magnetic forces serve as the mediating mechanism to transmit motion to the trays. This intermediary approach enables contact-free transport, improving hygiene while allowing for more compact machine architecture.
2Reliability
If contact-free magnetic transport is implemented, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical contact-based transport mechanisms with a magnetic field system. By using magnetically actuated drive elements and magnetic tablet trays, the system eliminates the need for mechanical linkages, bearings, and contact surfaces, thereby improving hygiene while managing complexity through field-based actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of transport from mechanical contact to magnetic field interaction. This parameter change allows for contact-free operation, improving hygiene. The magnetic material properties of the tablet trays and the magnetic field strength become the key controllable parameters, simplifying the overall system architecture despite the introduction of magnetic components.
3Length of stationary object
If tablet trays are made thin for compactness, then machine length is reduced, but positioning precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic field-based positioning instead of mechanical positioning systems. The magnetically actuated drive elements can precisely control the position and movement of thin tablet trays through magnetic field gradients and timing, achieving high positioning precision without requiring thick mechanical structures or complex mechanical guidance systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positioning mechanism from mechanical to magnetic field-based control. By controlling magnetic field strength, direction, and timing, the system achieves precise positioning of thin tablet trays. The key parameters become magnetic field characteristics rather than mechanical dimensions, allowing thin trays to be positioned with high precision.
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
This solution ensures high positional accuracy and efficient transportation of food products, allowing for precise portioning and packaging while maintaining hygiene and minimizing machine length.
Implementation Method 1
The tablet trays are suspended and also moved by means of a magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
along which tablet trays move in a contact-free manner along a freely programmable lane. The tablet trays are suspended and also moved by means of a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A line having a food processing apparatus and a packaging machine between which a placement and transport apparatus is provided that has a plurality of tablet trays on which food products are placed and with which the food products are transported towards the packaging machine, the tablet trays move in a contact-free manner along a closed transport surface; a method for producing packaged food slices using the line, the food products are deposited onto the tablet trays and then transported towards the packaging machine; a method for cleaning the line, the tablet trays are lifted from the transport surface and the transport surface is cleaned with a cleaning liquid; and a method for cleaning the line, the tablet trays are removed from the transport surface and cleaned in a cleaning machine.