Laser Plastic Coating Removal for Cheese Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing plastic coatings from cheese wheels are complex, expensive, and inefficient, leading to significant food waste and high costs due to the large size and varying dimensions of cheese loaves, as well as the complexity and impracticality of existing mechanical peeling devices.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing high-powered lasers to selectively separate, evaporate, or incinerate the plastic coating, with adjustable power settings and gas supply to minimize material adhesion and ensure complete removal, employing CO2 lasers for efficient absorption and precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If mechanical peeling devices with cutting blades are used to remove plastic coating, then the plastic coating can be removed, but the device complexity increases significantly and excessive cutting waste results in significant food waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical peeling devices with a laser-based system. The laser beam directly removes the plastic coating through ablation without requiring mechanical cutting blades, rollers, or compression mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the complexity of mechanical elements while reducing food waste through precise, contactless removal that follows the cheese surface contour exactly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses laser parameters (power, pulse duration, wavelength) to control the removal process. By adjusting these parameters, the system can selectively remove the plastic coating without affecting the cheese underneath, achieving precise control over the removal depth and rate. This parameter-based control replaces the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms required to accommodate varying cheese dimensions.
2Ease of manufacture
If complex mechanical peeling equipment is used, then plastic coating removal is achieved, but the equipment cost increases and it becomes impossible to keep it at the point of production
Solution Approach 1:
The laser-based system replaces expensive mechanical peeling equipment with a more economical and flexible solution. The laser system consists of relatively simple components (laser source, scanning system, gas supply) that are easier to manufacture and deploy than complex mechanical peeling devices with multiple moving parts, blades, and adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser system is self-adjusting in that it naturally adapts to the cheese surface geometry through the scanning mechanism and gas flow, without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or reconfiguration for different cheese sizes and shapes. The process automatically accommodates variations in cheese dimensions through the flexible laser scanning approach.
3Loss of time
If mechanical peeling devices are used, then plastic coating can be removed, but the cheese wheels must be transported to removal stations and back, increasing loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the plastic coating removal function directly into the cheese production line, separating the removal operation from the main production flow. The laser system can be positioned at the production location itself, eliminating the need to transport heavy cheese wheels to separate removal stations and back, thus saving significant time in the production process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical peeling devices with cutting blades are used, then plastic coating is removed, but the dimensions of different cheese wheels require complete readjustment of mechanical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanning system dynamically adapts to different cheese dimensions through programmable motion control. The scanning parameters (speed, pattern, power) can be adjusted via software to match the specific dimensions and shape of each cheese wheel, eliminating the need for physical reconfiguration of mechanical elements. This dynamic adaptability is achieved through digital control rather than mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
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 approach allows for rapid, efficient, and residue-free removal of plastic coatings, reducing waste and costs, while maintaining the quality and integrity of the cheese, with adjustable parameters for different cheese shapes and sizes, and ensuring compliance with food standards.
Implementation Method 1
the power of the laser emitting the laser beam is adjusted such that the plastic coating is removed by separating an area of the plastic coating and/or by erosion or vaporization of the plastic coating
Implementation Method 2
by erosion or vaporization of the plastic coating
Implementation Method 3
a gas is supplied to the laser beam in the area of impact on the food loaf, in particular a protective gas and/or a gas supporting the removal process and/or a gas reducing the adhesion of removed material to the remaining food
Implementation Method 4
employing CO2 lasers for efficient absorption
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for removing a plastic coating from a block of food, particularly a cheese wheel, said method functioning with the following steps: the block of food, in particular the cheese wheel, is fed with its plastic coating into the method. A laser beam is then directed onto the plastic coating of the block of food. The power of the laser which emits said laser beam is adjusted such that the plastic coating is removed by separating a region of said plastic coating and/or by eroding or vaporising the plastic coating. The invention also relates to a device for removing a plastic coating from a block of food, particularly a cheese wheel, said device comprising a conveyor device for said block of food, and a laser device for applying a laser beam to said block of food.