Helical Food Conveyor Airflow Layout for Uniform Treatment Climate

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatment devices for food products with conditioned air face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature and humidity throughout the treatment space, leading to local deviations and potential product drying out, which can reduce capacity and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A treatment device with a helical conveying path and air-circulation means integrated within the hollow drum ensures uniform distribution of conditioned air, using air-guiding means to prevent speed peaks and maintain consistent climate conditions, while the pitch of windings near the entry is adjusted to accommodate varying product temperatures, ensuring uniform treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air-conditioning means are used to condition the air stream, then temperature and humidity control is improved, but local deviations in treatment climate occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment climate uniformityVSAvoidlocal climate consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment space is divided into multiple zones with different pitch windings, allowing segmented control of air flow distribution. The conveying path is divided into sections with varying pitch to optimize air contact in different treatment zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the conveying path have locally optimized pitch values. The pitch is varied locally to accommodate products with different temperatures and to ensure uniform air distribution across different zones of the treatment space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional means such as heating or moisturization are used to change atmosphere locally, then process requirements are met, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatmosphere control flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of additional means

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pitch parameter of the conveying path is changed to control air flow characteristics. By varying the pitch, the device achieves different treatment conditions (temperature distribution, air flow speed) without adding heating or moisturization equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pitch-adjustable conveying path serves multiple functions: it controls air flow distribution, accommodates different product temperatures, and ensures uniform treatment climate, replacing the need for separate heating or moisturization systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If windings are spaced apart to allow air flow, then air circulation is improved, but product drying may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow quantityVSAvoidproduct drying

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pitch of the windings is dynamically optimized to balance air flow quantity and product protection. The varying pitch allows regions with different air flow characteristics, ensuring sufficient air circulation while preventing excessive drying in any single zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If conventional straight sections are used at entry and exit, then product loading and unloading is simplified, but treatment space utilization is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct handlingVSAvoidtreatment space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using long straight sections for product handling, only short straight sections are implemented at the entry and exit. The helical conveying path is optimized to provide sufficient treatment space while maintaining ease of product loading and unloading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 solution achieves uniform treatment climate, reduces product drying, maintains high capacity, and simplifies cleaning by ensuring consistent air flow and temperature distribution across the treatment space.

Implementation Method 1

Air-circulation means ensure that the air is circulated throughout the treatment space via the hollow drum and via the air-conditioning means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The conveying means comprises an endless conveyor belt which, in use, travels along a helical path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9021944B2Treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 STORK TITAN

AI summary

A treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air comprises a housing which delimits a treatment space and is provided with an entry and an exit, at least one conveying device for conveying the products from the entry throughout the treatment space to the exit, the conveying device between the entry and the exit following a conveying path with several windings which are situated one above the other, air-circulation device for circulating conditioned air throughout the treatment space via a hollow drum. According to a first aspect, air-conditioning device are provided upstream of the air-circulation device for conditioning the air. According to a second aspect, at least one winding of the conveying path near the entry has a pitch which is different to the pitch of the downstream windings.