Modular Dough Dividing Machine with Quick-Connect Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough dividing machines lack easy detachability for maintenance, repair, and product/format changes, leading to complex assembly sequences and reduced accessibility for cleaning and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular design with quick connection devices allows for easy detachment and reassembly of modules, such as the feed chamber, piston, and mouthpiece modules, enabling separate cleaning and maintenance without affecting other modules, and a linear actuator for precise stroke displacement of the dough feed piston.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a modular design with quick connection devices is implemented, then ease of repair and maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dough dividing machine is divided into modular units (feed chamber module, piston module, mouthpiece module, hopper module) that can be independently detached and assembled using quick connection devices. This segmentation enables easy maintenance and repair of individual modules without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick connection devices enable dynamic reconfiguration of the modular units, allowing operators to quickly attach and detach modules based on maintenance needs, production requirements, or format changes, transforming a static structure into a dynamically adaptable system.
2Ease of operation
If modules are made detachable for maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is segmented into detachable modules with standardized connection interfaces, allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance while maintaining reliable connections through properly designed quick connection devices that ensure secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick connection devices serve multiple functions: enabling easy detachment for maintenance, ensuring reliable connection during operation, and allowing flexible reconfiguration for different production formats, thereby addressing both accessibility and reliability requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If a linear actuator is used for precise piston displacement, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical linkage system (crank-connecting rod) is replaced with a linear actuator that directly drives the piston along the guide plane, eliminating the need for complex conversion mechanisms and providing precise stroke displacement control through direct linear motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear actuator extracts the precision positioning function from the complex mechanical linkage system, concentrating the control capability in a single device that can be independently adjusted and controlled to achieve precise stroke displacement.
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
Simplifies maintenance, repair, and product/format changes by allowing modules to be easily replaced or rearranged, improving accessibility and reducing the risk of dough damage during processing.
Implementation Method 1
a stroke displacement drive of the dough feed piston is designed as a linear actuator with a linearly driven drive component
Implementation Method 2
The drive component is guided via a linear guide with two guide elements running parallel to one another in the guide plane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a dough dividing machine (1) with a dough feed hopper (2), a dough feed chamber (4) at the outlet of the dough feed hopper (2), a dough nozzle (7) in the dough conveying path after the dough feed chamber (4), and at least one stroke-adjustable dough feed piston (6) for feeding the dough located in the dough feed chamber (4) to the dough nozzle (7). For improved ease of assembly, the dough dividing machine is modularly designed and comprises at least two of the following modules: a feed chamber module (4) formed by the dough feed chamber (4), a hopper module (2) formed by the dough feed hopper (2), a piston module (6) formed by the dough feed piston (6), and a nozzle module (7) formed by the dough nozzle (7). At least one quick-connect device is used for assembling and disassembling the modules.