Hinged Tray Mechanism for Gravity-Assisted Sausage Rolling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual production of sausage rolls is time-consuming, results in non-uniform shapes and sizes, and is not suitable for mass production due to the lack of efficient machinery.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sausage dispenser, and a hinged unit that utilizes gravity and actuators to rotate and wrap food dough casing around sausages, ensuring consistent and efficient rolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual production method is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but productivity is low and manufacturing precision is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: a first conveyor for transporting dough casings, a second conveyor for receiving finished sausage rolls, a sausage dispenser for providing sausages, and a hinged unit for the wrapping operation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling mass production while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged unit serves multiple functions: it receives the dough casing from the first conveyor, positions it around the sausage, and transfers the wrapped sausage to the second conveyor. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, balancing productivity improvement with device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If manual production method is used, then device complexity is low, but manufacturing precision and uniformity are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged unit is designed to automatically wrap the dough casing around the sausage through its own motion. When the hinged unit rotates, it naturally guides the dough casing to envelop the sausage uniformly without requiring external intervention, ensuring consistent wrapping quality while minimizing the need for complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The dough casing is positioned and prepared on the first conveyor before the wrapping operation begins. The sausage is also pre-positioned in the hinged unit, so that when wrapping commences, all components are ready for immediate action, ensuring uniform results from the start of the process
3Productivity
If manual production method is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and manufacturing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The first conveyor continuously transports dough casings to the hinged unit, and the second conveyor continuously receives finished sausage rolls. This continuous flow eliminates idle time between operations, enabling mass production while the automated nature of the conveyors maintains ease of operation through simple load-and-go functionality
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 the production of uniformly shaped sausage rolls at a faster rate, facilitating mass production by automating the rolling process and reducing manual labor.
Implementation Method 1
rotate the tray portion about the hinge to a second position such that gravity causes the sausage to roll in a second direction onto the second conveyor
Data Source
AI summary
A sausage rolling machine utilizes gravity to reduce costs when rolling a food dough casing around a sausage. A first conveyor rotates in a first direction so as to move a food dough casing toward an edge of the first conveyor. A second conveyor is disposed below the first conveyor. A sausage dispenser dispenses a sausage. A hinged unit is disposed below the sausage dispenser and includes a hinge and a tray portion extending from the hinge. The hinged unit receives the food dough casing that is falling off the edge of the first conveyor when the hinged unit is at rest, initiates wrapping of the food dough casing around the sausage, and rotates the tray portion about the hinge, causing the sausage to roll onto the second conveyor while also causing the sausage to be partially wrapped by the food dough casing.