Sanitary Slide Gate Using Magnetic Attachment for Food Conveyor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide gate designs for conveyor systems in the food processing industry are complex, leading to sanitation issues, difficulty in maintenance and cleaning, and increased costs due to the need for multiple tools and limited access for repair and reinstallation.
Innovation Solution
A simplified slide gate design using permanent magnets to hold the gate slide plate in place, eliminating the need for tensioning members and allowing for easy sliding between closed and open positions, facilitated by magnetic mounting rails and a pneumatic actuator for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional fasteners and mounting rails are used to secure the slide gate, then the gate can be firmly attached to the conveyor trough, but the complexity of the mechanism increases and sanitation becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical fasteners (bolts, screws, clips) with a magnetic attachment system. Permanent magnets embedded in the slide gate interact with magnetic mounting rails on the conveyor trough to provide secure attachment without mechanical fasteners. This substitution eliminates complex fastening mechanisms while maintaining firm attachment strength, directly resolving the contradiction between attachment strength and mechanism complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple fasteners and mounting components are used, then the gate can be securely fastened, but the time and tools required for removal and reinstallation increase
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing multiple mechanical fasteners with a magnetic attachment system, the patent enables rapid removal and reinstallation of the slide gate. The magnetic connection can be easily broken by lifting or sliding the gate, eliminating the time-consuming process of removing multiple fasteners with hand tools or power tools, thus resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and maintenance time.
3Strength
If complex mounting mechanisms are used, then the gate can be firmly secured, but the risk of parts falling into the product stream increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic attachment system eliminates mechanical fasteners and small mounting components that could potentially fall into the product stream. The permanent magnets are embedded within the slide gate structure, and the magnetic mounting rails are integrated into the conveyor trough, removing loose parts that could contaminate the product while maintaining firm mounting strength through magnetic attraction.
4Ease of operation
If traditional slide gate mechanisms are used, then the gate can be actuated, but the number of components increases making cleaning more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the slide gate mechanism. By using a magnetic attachment system with a simple actuating mechanism, the design removes complex mounting brackets, fasteners, and adjustment mechanisms that would interfere with cleaning. The simplified structure with fewer parts makes the gate easier to clean while maintaining actuation functionality.
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
The design reduces complexity and manufacturing costs, enhances ease of cleaning and operation, and provides a sanitary solution with reduced risk of parts falling into the product stream, while maintaining the gate's functionality under high acceleration conditions.
Implementation Method 1
magnets sized and configured to hold the gate slide plate against the adjacent surface of the conveyor trough through the attraction of the magnets to the magnetic mounting rails
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a slide gate 201 for use in conveyor systems that include permanent magnets 221 to hold slide gate components in place relative to a conveyor trough 202, while allowing the slide gate 201 to slide between open and closed positions relative to an opening or cutout 219 formed in the conveyor floor. The slide gate 201 is controllably opened and closed by an actuator system and can be magnetically attached to the actuator system 215 such that the slide gate 201 is attached to the conveyor system entirely through magnetic force. Magnetic attachment of the slide gate 201 provides improved performance, ease of cleaning, and safety compared to known slide gate systems.