Inclined Slide Plates for Uniform Particulate Food Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food product coating machines experience dehomogenization of particulate coating material due to differences in momentum and friction effects, particularly at larger velocities and wider machine widths, leading to uneven particle size distribution on food products.
Innovation Solution
The coating machine employs slide plates inside the upper particulate coating material supply unit with opposing inclinations and varying pocket configurations in the elevator device to mitigate dehomogenization, ensuring a more homogeneous distribution of particle sizes by redirecting coarser and finer particles to opposite sides and controlling the timing of their deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the elevator device operates at larger velocities and wider machine widths to increase productivity, then the coating material is deposited more quickly and covers larger areas, but dehomogenization occurs due to differences in momentum and friction effects for different particle sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The supply unit is divided into multiple zones with different slide plate configurations. Each zone handles specific particle size ranges by directing them to different lateral positions, preventing dehomogenization even at high velocities and wide machine widths
Solution Approach 2:
Different lateral regions of the supply unit are given different functions: some regions receive coarser particles while others receive finer particles. This local differentiation ensures uniform particle distribution across the entire width, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling high productivity
2Area of stationary object
If the machine width is increased to coat wider food products, then more products can be processed simultaneously, but particle size distribution becomes non-uniform across the width
Solution Approach 1:
The problem of lateral particle distribution is solved by introducing a lateral dimension control mechanism through inclined slide plates. Particle trajectories are controlled in the lateral direction by adjusting slide plate angles, ensuring uniform distribution across increased machine widths
Solution Approach 2:
Slide plates act as intermediary elements between the elevator device and the coating application point. These plates redirect particles laterally to achieve uniform distribution across the width, mediating between the single-point deposition and the wide coverage requirement
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 setup results in a more uniform distribution of particulate coating material across the food products, enhancing the quality and consistency of the coating process, reducing the risk of loose coatings and oil contamination issues.
Implementation Method 1
differences in momentum and friction effects for the different size fractions of the particulate coating material
Implementation Method 2
particulate coating material that is dropped onto the first slide plate slides down towards a distal opposite second lateral side
Data Source
AI summary
An in-line coating machine adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material has a food products conveyor assembly, a coating device arranged between the inlet and the outlet of the machine, and an excess coating material separation station configured to cause excess coating material to be separated from coated food products in order to recover excess coating material for re-use. An excess coating material recovery conveyor has a bed support and a recovery conveyor run above the bed support. A particulate coating material elevator device receives a portion of the excess coating material from the recovery conveyor and supplies the excess coating material to the coating device for re-use. An elevator device fill assembly along the recovery conveyor is configured to fill the elevator device with recovered excess coating material. Herein a coating material supply unit comprises slide plates which are mounted at an inclination.