Reciprocating Mold Plate Breather System for Food Patty Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-speed food patty molding machines lack energy efficiency, durability, maintenance-free operation, controllability, uniformity in patty production, output rate, convenience in cleaning, and quiet operation, particularly when processing specific food materials.
Innovation Solution
An improved automated food patty molding machine with an auxiliary pumping arrangement for a breather air system in a reciprocating mold plate forming machine, featuring a pumping surface that reciprocates with the mold plate, a pumping chamber, and a valve system to manage air and fines, enhancing energy efficiency and output while maintaining uniformity and ease of maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed molding machines are used to increase productivity, then output rate is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The breather system operates periodically during the reciprocating cycle of the mold plate, with the pumping surface creating vacuum during extension and positive pressure during retraction. This periodic action enables continuous air and fines removal without requiring constant power input, thus maintaining high productivity while improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The breather system utilizes the existing reciprocating motion of the mold plate to drive the pumping action, converting the mechanical energy already present in the system into useful vacuum and positive pressure cycles. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate powered vacuum pumps, reducing energy consumption while maintaining high output rates
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex valve systems are added to improve controllability, then ability to tune for particular food materials is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breather system with its vacuum and positive pressure cycles serves multiple functions: removing air during filling, evacuating fines during extension, and flushing passages during retraction. This multi-functionality provides enhanced controllability for different food materials without adding complex specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
The breather air system acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the food product filling process and the air/fines removal process. The controlled air flow through the breather plate and passages provides tunable control over the filling and ejection processes without requiring direct mechanical intervention
3Productivity
If reciprocating mold plate operation is used to achieve high productivity, then output rate is improved, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic principles where the reciprocating mold plate creates vacuum and positive pressure in the breather system. This pneumatic action quietly moves air and fines through the passages without the mechanical contact and impact noise associated with traditional mechanical ejection systems
Solution Approach 2:
The breather system replaces traditional mechanical knock-out cups or air blasts with a pneumatic vacuum-based ejection mechanism. The mold plate itself acts as the pumping surface, eliminating the need for separate high-noise ejection mechanisms while maintaining high productivity
4Manufacturing precision
If breather air system is used to remove fines, then manufacturing precision is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breather system continuously removes food fines and debris through the vacuum and positive pressure cycles, preventing accumulation in the mold cavities and passages. This self-cleaning action maintains uniform patty production while reducing the frequency and complexity of manual cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The breather system operates continuously during the entire reciprocating cycle, constantly removing fines and maintaining clean passages. This continuous action ensures consistent patty uniformity and reduces maintenance intervals compared to periodic cleaning requirements
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 machine achieves higher energy efficiency, increased durability, improved controllability, enhanced output rate, and easier maintenance, producing uniform patties with reduced noise and improved cleaning convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the pumping surface creates a vacuum in the pumping chamber during movement of the mold plate in one direction
Implementation Method 2
creates positive pressure in the pumping chamber during movement of the mold plate in an opposite direction
Implementation Method 3
An air passage is in fluid communication with the air opening for expressing air from the cavity into the air passage during filling of the cavity with pressurized food product
Data Source
AI summary
A breather air and food product fines pumping system for a reciprocating mold plate food product forming machine pumps air and fines to a collection area. A pumping surface is provided by a rearward facing surface of the mold plate. A pumping chamber is arranged between the pumping surface and a food product fines collection area. The rearward facing surface of the mold plate defines a movable limit of the pumping chamber. A valve element of a first valve is arranged between the pumping chamber and the collection area to create suction in the pumping chamber when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving forward, and to allow the pumping chamber to pump air and fines into the collection area when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving rearward. Breather holes in a breather plate are in communication with a breather passage that is in communication with the pumping chamber and with outside air through further valve arrangements. The further valve arrangements and the first valve act to flush the breather passage with outside air to drive air and fines in the breather passage into the pumping chamber where it is then pumped to the collection area.