Modular Press with Rotating Mobile Vessel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic fruit and grape presses face issues such as cone formation during filling, inefficient emptying, high manufacturing and maintenance costs due to rotary unions, uncontrolled juice drainage leading to oxidation and contamination, increased height and space requirements, low utilization, and limited adaptability to varying processing quantities.
Innovation Solution
A modular system of mobile press containers with flexible hoses and central media supply, allowing for continuous operation, efficient filling and emptying, and reduced pressure requirements, utilizing a combination of overpressure and underpressure for pressing, and eliminating the need for rotary unions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a permanently mounted press assembly with rotary union is used, then the press can rotate for filling and emptying, but the manufacturing and maintenance costs increase due to the rotary union being expensive and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The press system is divided into a stationary press body and a movable press container. The container can be rotated and removed independently, while the stationary body remains fixed. This segmentation eliminates the need for a rotary union in the main press structure, as the rotation is achieved by moving the entire container assembly rather than rotating connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary union component is completely extracted and removed from the press system. Instead of incorporating a rotary union to enable rotation, the design uses a removable container that can be taken out and replaced, eliminating the problematic rotary union while maintaining the necessary rotational functionality for filling and emptying operations.
2Ease of operation
If a cylindrical press chamber with rotation is used, then the press can be filled and emptied, but cone formation occurs during filling and emptying requiring continuous rotation for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The press container is designed with dynamic geometric adaptability, allowing the pressing chamber shape to change during operation. The container can be rotated to different orientations and the pressing membrane can be adjusted to modify the chamber geometry, enabling optimal material distribution and eliminating cone formation without requiring extended continuous rotation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing process uses periodic action through controlled rotation cycles. The container rotates to specific positions for filling, pressing, and emptying operations, with each phase occurring at predetermined intervals. This periodic rotation pattern allows complete filling and emptying cycles to be achieved in discrete steps rather than requiring continuous rotation for extended periods.
3Productivity
If high pressure (up to 3 bar) is used for pressing, then pressing efficiency increases, but the pressure vessel must comply with Pressure Equipment Directive resulting in increased manufacturing costs and inspection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing parameters are optimized to operate at pressures below the 0.5 bar threshold that triggers Pressure Equipment Directive compliance. By maintaining pressing pressures in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 bar, the system achieves adequate pressing efficiency while avoiding the stringent manufacturing requirements, regular inspections, and certification processes mandated for higher-pressure vessels.
4Productivity
If a large press container is used, then processing capacity increases, but the press height and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The press container design transitions from a traditional vertical orientation to a horizontal or inclined orientation. This dimensional change allows the pressing chamber to expand in horizontal space rather than vertically, maintaining large processing capacity while significantly reducing the press height and overall space requirements for installation.
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
Enables continuous processing, reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, improves juice quality, optimizes space utilization, and allows for flexible capacity adjustments without the need for extensive structural changes.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a combination of overpressure and underpressure for pressing
Implementation Method 2
A few mobile unit press containers, preferably in short cylindrical, cubic or approximately spherical form, which are easily movable
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for pressing materials containing liquid, comprising at least one mobile press vessel (2), the vessel interior of which is divided by a press membrane (4) into a pressure means chamber (6) and a pressing means chamber (8), wherein a filling and emptying opening (10), which can be closed in a pressure-tight manner, is arranged in the press vessel (2), via which opening material to be pressed containing liquid can be added to the pressing means chamber (8), wherein at least one drainage element (12) is arranged in the pressing means chamber (8), the interior of which drainage element communicates with a juice discharge (14) of the press vessel (2), via which liquid juice can be fed to a juice collecting vessel (16) during a pressing operation, characterized in that the arrangement (1) comprises a turning device (20), in which the mobile press vessel (2) can be temporarily received and can be rotated during a pressing operation from a filling position, about an angle of less than 360°, more particularly of less than 270°, in mutually opposing directions of rotation about an axis of rotation (22). The invention further relates to a method for pressing materials containing liquid using an arrangement (1) of this kind and a novel use of the mobile press vessel (2) used.