Machine for extracting puree, or juice, from food products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for extracting puree and juice from food products face issues with manual positioning of the sieve relative to the rotor, leading to potential damage, reduced yield, and safety hazards during maintenance and product extraction.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a displacement device to automatically adjust the sieve's position between predetermined limits, ensuring correct alignment with the rotor, using actuators like pneumatic, hydraulic, or electromechanical systems, and a control unit for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual positioning of the sieve is used during maintenance, then workers can access cleaning devices, but the sieve may fall down and hit the rotor causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement device automatically moves the sieve to a predetermined safe first limit position before maintenance operations begin, preventing the sieve from falling down and hitting the rotor. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the risk of damage while allowing workers safe access to cleaning devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement device with control unit automatically controls sieve positioning during maintenance operations, eliminating the need for manual positioning by workers. The system serves itself by detecting when maintenance is needed and automatically adjusting the sieve position to prevent accidents.
2Productivity
If the sieve is positioned too close to the rotor, then extraction efficiency improves, but the sieve may contact the rotor causing wear and blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement device enables dynamic adjustment of the sieve position along the axial direction, allowing the system to optimize the distance between sieve and rotor for maximum extraction efficiency while automatically preventing contact that would cause wear or blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the position of the sieve relative to the rotor and provides feedback control through the displacement device, automatically adjusting the position to maintain optimal extraction efficiency while preventing harmful contact between the sieve and rotor.
3Ease of operation
If frequent manual repositioning of the sieve is performed, then cleaning operations can be completed, but production time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement device with control unit automatically performs sieve repositioning for maintenance operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This automation reduces production time loss while ensuring proper cleaning accessibility, as the system independently manages positioning without interrupting the production workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement device pre-positions the sieve to appropriate locations before maintenance is needed and automatically returns it to the working position after cleaning, minimizing production interruptions and maximizing productivity while maintaining ease of cleaning access.
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
Ensures safe and efficient operation by preventing sieve misalignment, maximizing yield, and reducing mechanical wear, while allowing for automated maintenance and product extraction.
Implementation Method 1
During its rotation about the rotation axis, the rotor applies a centrifugal force on the treated product that causes the same to selectively pass through the sieve
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for extracting puree, or juice, from a food product, comprises a machine body provided with an inlet for introducing a food product. Downstream of the inlet, an extraction section is provided comprising a sieve with a plurality of holes, and a rotor configured to rotate about a rotation axis, operated by a motor through a motor shaft, to apply a centrifugal force to the food product to cause the same to be separated into a main product, comprising the puree, and/or the juice, which passes through the holes and is discharged from the extraction section through a first outlet, and a waste product comprising the skins, and the seeds, which, does not pass through the holes of the sieve, and is discharged through a second outlet. Further, a displacement device is configured to move the sieve with respect to the machine body along a longitudinal direction.