Integrated Drive Control for Coextruded Food Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for manufacturing co-extruded food products are structurally complex, require significant space, are costly, and have high cleaning efforts due to separate control units and external data interfaces for inner and outer mass filling machines.
Innovation Solution
Integrating additional drives into the inner mass filling machine allows for a central control unit, reducing the need for external data interfaces and space, while simplifying operation and cleaning by placing all drives within the inner mass filling machine, which acts as a drive center for peripheral pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate filling machines for inner mass and outer mass are used with independent control units, then each machine can independently control its mass delivery, but the device complexity and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive systems of both filling machines into a single integrated drive unit. The inner mass filling machine and outer mass filling machine share common drive mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate control units and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining independent mass delivery control through coordinated drive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated drive unit serves multiple functions by controlling both the inner mass filling machine and outer mass filling machine. This universal drive system can coordinate the operation of both machines, providing multi-functionality that reduces the number of separate control units required while maintaining reliable independent control of each mass delivery process.
2Ease of operation
If separate control units and external data interfaces are used for inner and outer mass filling machines, then each machine can be controlled independently, but the space required and cleaning effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control units into a single integrated control system that manages both the inner mass filling machine and outer mass filling machine. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate control units and external data interfaces, significantly reducing the space required while maintaining independent control capabilities through a unified control architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external pumps with separate drives are used for inner and outer mass, then mass delivery flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and cleaning effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the drive systems of multiple external pumps into a single coordinated drive unit. This allows the system to maintain mass delivery flexibility and adaptability while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate drives for each pump. The integrated drive system can coordinate multiple pumps working together to deliver both inner and outer masses.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional components such as lubricant or adhesive agent pumps are added, then processing capability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated drive unit is designed to provide multi-functional control, accommodating not only the inner and outer mass filling machines but also additional components such as lubricant and adhesive agent pumps. This universal drive system can coordinate multiple processing functions, improving overall processing capability while avoiding the need for separate drive systems for each component.
Data Source
AI summary
In a device for manufacturing co-extruded food products with a filling machine, including a pump for an inner mass coupled to a drive and a control unit at least for the drive, to which a coextrusion unit disposed at the outside is connected, and to which a pump being coupled to a drive at least for delivering the outer mass to the coextrusion unit is connected. The drive of the outer mass pump is integrated into the inner mass filling machine.