Integrated Comminution and Mixing Device for Icing Sugar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for comminuting and mixing products, such as icing sugar, often result in poor quality due to separate machines that degrade freshly created surfaces and are energetically unfavorable, leading to clumping and reduced flowability.
Innovation Solution
A device that integrates a comminution area with a mixing area in a common machine housing, where comminution and mixing occur sequentially with a defined atmosphere, allowing for immediate conditioning and mixing to stabilize the product's flowability and prevent clumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate machines are used for comminution and mixing, then each process can be performed with dedicated equipment, but the freshly created surfaces are degraded before mixing and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the comminution device and mixing device into a single integrated machine housing with multiple working areas. The comminution area with comminution elements and mixing area with mixing elements are arranged sequentially within the same housing, allowing freshly comminuted product to be immediately mixed without exposure to degrading environmental conditions. This eliminates the need for separate machines and intermediate transfer operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate machines are used for comminution and mixing, then each process can be optimized independently, but energy efficiency decreases due to larger machine surface area
Solution Approach 1:
By merging comminution and mixing operations into a single machine housing, the total external surface area of the equipment is reduced compared to using two separate machines. This smaller surface area minimizes heat loss to the environment, improving energy efficiency and process heat retention while still allowing independent optimization of each working area's parameters.
3Ease of operation
If comminution and mixing are performed in sequence in separate machines, then each process can be controlled independently, but processing time increases and product flowability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated device enables continuous processing where the product flows directly from the comminution area to the mixing area without interruption or intermediate storage. This continuous action eliminates idle time between operations and prevents the deterioration of product flowability that occurs during delays, while still allowing independent control of each process stage through separate drives and parameter settings.
4Device complexity
If comminution elements and mixing elements are arranged sequentially in a common housing, then equipment complexity is reduced, but space utilization becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes vertical stacking of working areas within the machine housing, with the comminution area positioned above the mixing area. This vertical arrangement in the height dimension allows both processes to be integrated without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint, efficiently utilizing three-dimensional space within the housing.
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 integrated approach enhances product quality by maintaining flowability and reducing equipment needs, while being energetically more efficient by minimizing machine surface area and optimizing process heat retention.
Implementation Method 1
a comminution area (13) with a comminution element (3) for comminuting the product (P)
Implementation Method 2
a mixing area (14) with a mixing element (4) for mixing the comminuted product (P)
Implementation Method 3
The aim here is to transport away the amount of water released after recrystallization so that it does not remain in the heap
Implementation Method 4
optimizing process heat retention
Data Source
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AI summary
In a device for comminuting and mixing one or more products, a process consisting of grinding, conditioning, and mixing is to take place. This is achieved by sequentially arranging a comminution zone 13 with comminution element 3 and a mixing zone 14 with mixing element 4 in a common machine housing.