Mold Drum Cavity Layout for Uniform High-Speed Food Moulding
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-capacity drum moulding installations for food products, such as meat patties, face challenges in achieving uniformity in shape and composition due to non-uniform filling events, leading to variations in density and taste, particularly at high production speeds.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a moulding installation with a mould drum having mould cavities arranged in a pattern that allows sequential filling events, where only one cavity is filled at a time, with a pause between each filling event to maintain consistent pressure and flow, ensuring uniform filling and product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple mould cavities are filled simultaneously at high production speeds, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to non-uniform filling events causing variations in shape and composition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the filling process by arranging mould cavities in a specific pattern and controlling the drum rotation to ensure that cavities are filled sequentially rather than simultaneously. This segmentation of the filling events maintains uniformity while allowing continuous high-speed operation of the drum
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs periodic action by creating pauses between filling events through controlled drum rotation. The drum rotates continuously at high speed, but the cavity arrangement and timing create periodic intervals where filling occurs uniformly, then pauses briefly, maintaining precision while achieving high productivity
2Productivity
If filling pressure is increased to maintain flow at high production speeds, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variations in density and composition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by keeping the drum rotating continuously at high speed without interruptions. The sequential filling pattern with brief pauses ensures that mass flow remains consistent and continuous into each cavity, preventing density variations while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temporal parameter of the filling process by introducing controlled pauses between filling events. This parameter change allows the system to maintain lower, more uniform filling pressures while achieving high production speeds, thereby preventing density variations
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for molding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass, use is made of a molding device with a mold drum provided with mold cavities having a fill opening for the introduction of foodstuff mass. A mass feed member transfers mass into passing mold cavities. A pump is connected to the inlet of the mass feed member. Product removal takes place downstream of the fill position. The operation of the pump and the rotation of the mold drum are controlled in combination with the design of the mold cavities pattern on the drum and of the mouth of the mass feed member such that in the method all mold cavity filling events during a revolution of the mold drum are performed in sequential order.