Gravity-Assisted Sausage Rolling Machine Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for rolling food dough casings around sausages do not effectively utilize gravity to reduce costs, differing from the need for a cost-efficient method that leverages gravitational forces in the process.
Innovation Solution
A machine comprising a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a third conveyor, a carrier, and a pusher block, where the third conveyor is rotatably affixed to a horizontal surface, allowing the food dough casing to fall downwardly by gravity, with the carrier and pusher block facilitating the wrapping of the sausage, utilizing the gravitational force to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional rolling machines are used to wrap dough casings around sausages, then the wrapping function is achieved, but the cost is higher and gravity is not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the dough casing conveyor and sausage conveyor at the same horizontal level, creating an equipotential surface that allows the dough casing to fall onto the sausage under gravity without requiring additional lifting mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by utilizing gravity (improving cost efficiency) while maintaining a relatively simple horizontal conveyor structure (avoiding excessive complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The dough casing automatically falls and wraps around the sausage under the influence of gravity, without requiring active driving forces or complex control systems. The system uses the natural gravitational force to perform the wrapping action, reducing mechanical complexity while achieving the desired function economically.
2Ease of manufacture
If gravity is utilized to reduce costs, then cost efficiency improves, but the machine structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wrapping process into distinct functional segments: a dough casing conveying section, a sausage conveying section, and a wrapping section. Each segment is handled by dedicated conveyors positioned at specific locations, allowing gravity to act on the dough casing as it transitions from the conveying section to the wrapping section. This segmentation enables gravity utilization without requiring a completely restructured machine design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the otherwise horizontal conveyor system by allowing the dough casing to fall downward under gravity onto the sausage. This vertical drop from the horizontal conveyor level to the wrapping surface utilizes gravitational force while maintaining the overall horizontal flow of the conveyor system, thus adding a dimensional element that enables gravity utilization without fundamentally complicating the machine structure.
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 machine effectively reduces costs by utilizing gravity to roll the food dough casing around the sausage, improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the process through the strategic placement and operation of conveyors and a pusher block, ensuring a consistent and complete wrapping of the sausage.
Implementation Method 1
the food dough casing falls downwardly by the gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A machine utilizing gravity to reduce costs when rolling a food dough casing around a sausage. The machine includes first, second, and third conveyors, a carrier, and a pusher block. The third conveyor is disposed to one side of the carrier, and is rotatably affixed to a horizontal surface. The second conveyor is rotatably affixed above the third conveyor. The pusher block is disposed to the other side of the carrier, is slidably affixed to the horizontal surface, and pushes the sausage towards the carrier, initially. The first conveyor is rotatably affixed above the pusher block, and conveys the food dough casing initially, and thereafter, the food dough casing falls downwardly by the gravity. The carrier is disposed between the pusher block and the third conveyor, is rotatably affixed to the horizontal surface, and relays a partially food dough cased sausage to between the second conveyor and the third conveyor.