Mass Distribution Device for Foodstuff Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass distribution devices for foodstuff materials, especially those with fibers like turkey, tend to orient fibers in the direction of product flow, causing deformation during cooking as fibers shrink, leading to undesirable oval shapes instead of round products.
Innovation Solution
A mass distribution device with a base member extending around the cylindrical circumference of a mold drum, featuring an introduction area with multiple holes to press the mass into cavities, preventing fiber orientation and allowing uniform shrinkage during cooking. The base member can be made of metal or plastic, with holes arranged equidistantly and varying in length and cross-section to maintain consistent flow resistance, and a cutting member is used to cut fibers and control flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mass is fed continuously to cavities in the drum, then productivity is improved, but fibers in the mass orient themselves in the direction of product flow causing deformation during cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The base member is segmented with multiple holes distributed across its surface, through which mass is pressed into cavities at different locations simultaneously. This segmentation of the feeding process prevents continuous unidirectional flow that causes fiber orientation, while maintaining high productivity through parallel filling of multiple cavities.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the base member have holes positioned to feed specific cavities in the drum. The local feeding geometry is optimized for each cavity position, ensuring that mass enters cavities from directions that prevent fiber alignment with the drum rotation direction, thereby maintaining product shape uniformity while sustaining continuous production.
2Adaptability or versatility
If base member covers entire cylindrical circumference, then adaptability to various cavity configurations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base member is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different cavity configurations on the drum. By providing a distributed array of holes across the base member surface, it can feed various cavity patterns (single row, multiple rows, different spacing) without requiring custom-designed base members, thus achieving multi-functionality while maintaining relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base member is designed to work dynamically with the rotating drum, where holes are positioned to feed cavities at optimal moments during rotation. This dynamic positioning allows the same base member structure to adapt to different cavity configurations and rotation speeds, providing versatility without increasing structural complexity.
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 device ensures that products maintain their shape during cooking by preventing fiber orientation and allowing uniform shrinkage, reducing leakage and product deformation, and is adaptable for various meat types and mold shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a multitude of holes through which the mass is pressed into the cavities
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an mass distribution device for supplying a mass of foodstuff starting material to one or more cavities of a mold drum for molding products from the mass, comprising a base member which extends partially around the outer cylindrical circumference of the drum and which has an introduction area through which the mass is the fed to the cavities. The invention further relates to a molding device and to a process for operating the inventive mass distribution device.