Method for in-line measurement of the temperature of products travelling on a conveyor in a food processing operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature measurement methods in food processing, such as manual sampling and pyrometry, are not continuous, costly, and prone to false readings due to conveyor temperature interference, necessitating a more reliable and cost-effective in-line measurement solution.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a pyrometer with a laser or ultrasound system to measure product thickness, combined with a computer evaluation to filter out unreliable readings and provide a reliable average temperature, using smoothing calculations to refine the measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pyrometer is used to continuously measure surface temperature of products on a conveyor, then continuous temperature monitoring is achieved, but false measurements occur due to conveyor temperature interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (conveyor belt) from the measurement field by using a transparent conveyor belt that allows infrared transmission. This enables the pyrometer to measure only the product temperature without being influenced by the conveyor belt temperature, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent conveyor belt acts as an intermediary that transmits infrared radiation from the product to the pyrometer while blocking the conveyor belt's own thermal radiation. This mediator enables accurate product temperature measurement through the conveyor belt, solving the interference problem.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual sampling is used to measure product temperature, then measurement cost is reduced, but measurement continuity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical sampling system with an automated optical measurement system (pyrometer). This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact and manual intervention, enabling continuous non-contact temperature monitoring while maintaining cost-effectiveness through automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system operates autonomously without requiring human intervention. The pyrometer automatically continuously measures product temperature, and the system self-regulates based on the transparent conveyor belt's infrared transmission properties, achieving continuous monitoring without additional labor costs.
3Measurement precision
If a transparent conveyor belt is used to enable product temperature measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent conveyor belt serves multiple functions: it transports the product and simultaneously acts as an infrared-transparent window for temperature measurement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement windows or complex transparent mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameter (infrared transmission) of the conveyor belt material to enable temperature measurement. By selecting a material that is transparent to infrared radiation, the system achieves accurate non-contact temperature measurement without adding complex measurement infrastructure, as the conveyor belt itself becomes the measurement interface.
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
Provides continuous, reliable temperature measurements of products on a conveyor, distinguishing between product presence and absence, enhancing measurement accuracy and reducing false readings.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrometer, fixed in space in a position close to (above or to the side of) the conveyor, is implemented in order to carry out a continuous measurement of the surface temperature of the products moving along
Implementation Method 2
a distance measurement with a laser (a laser or another distance measurement system based on another principle such as ultrasound, visible light, or even a physical sensor), which measures the thickness of the product
Data Source
AI summary
Method for determining the temperature of products transported on the conveyor belt of a cryogenic tunnel, comprising the following steps: —continuously measuring the surface temperature of products travelling on the conveyor belt; —measuring the thickness of a product at the point where the temperature measurement is taken; —performing the following evaluation: a. when the thickness of the product is within a certain range, then the temperature measured for said product is considered to be a reliable value; b. when the thickness of the product is outside the range, then the last temperature value of the measured product is considered to be a reliable value according to paragraph a) above; c. after a determined period of time during which the measured thickness is outside the range, it is concluded that there are no products on the conveyor belt and the temperature measurements are no longer taken into account.