Porous Mould Drum Cleaning Using Segmented Vent Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mould drums with porous cavities for forming food products face challenges in cleaning, particularly due to clogging and inefficient cleaning processes, leading to hygiene issues in the food processing industry.
Innovation Solution
A mould drum design with interconnected porous cavities and passages that allow for easy venting and cleaning, combined with a cleaning apparatus featuring a distribution system for cleaning fluids and recognition means for automated processing, ensures thorough cleaning and prevents clogging by using a ring-shaped distributor and form-fit means for rotation and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous structure is used in the cavity wall for forming food products, then the drum can vent gas and allow cleaning fluid penetration, but the pores become clogged with dry food residue making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity structure is segmented into a porous cavity wall and a separate non-porous passage system. The passage is divided into multiple segments that can be individually flushed, allowing cleaning fluid to reach and clear blocked pores in the cavity wall without the fluid itself becoming trapped in the passage.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-porous passage acts as an intermediary channel between the external cleaning fluid source and the porous cavity wall. This intermediary structure allows cleaning fluid to be delivered to the pores without the fluid becoming trapped in the passage, enabling effective pore cleaning while preventing passage clogging.
2Ease of operation
If passages are added to vent and clean cavities, then gas venting and cleaning fluid supply are improved, but food particles accumulate in passages causing blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The passage system incorporates dynamic flushing capability where cleaning fluid flows through the passages in a controlled manner to actively clear accumulated food particles. The passages transition from a static structure that accumulates debris to a dynamic system where fluid flow continuously clears blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage design enables continuous flushing action during the cleaning process. Cleaning fluid continuously flows through the passages to prevent particle accumulation and blockage, maintaining open passages throughout the cleaning operation rather than allowing intermittent clogging.
3Productivity
If traditional cleaning methods are used on porous drums, then the drum structure remains simple, but cleaning is insufficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical cleaning methods (manual scrubbing, brushes) are replaced with a fluid-based cleaning system. Cleaning fluid is pressurized and circulated through the passage system and porous cavity walls, using fluid dynamics rather than mechanical contact to achieve thorough and rapid cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system uses pressurized fluid flow (hydraulic principle) to clean the porous drum surfaces. Cleaning fluid is pumped under pressure through the passage system and into the porous cavity walls, using hydraulic pressure to force debris out of pores and achieve thorough cleaning quickly.
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 solution effectively prevents clogging and ensures thorough cleaning of the mould drum, maintaining hygiene standards by allowing for efficient fluid distribution and automated processing, which enhances the quality assurance and reduces downtime in food product formation and cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
each cavity has a cavity wall; i.e. sidewall and/or a bottom, which is at least partially porous so that the cavity wall is permeable for gas and/or a cleaning fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material. The mould drum comprises one or more cavities with a mould cavity wall having at least partially a porous structure, whereas each cavity is connected to a passage. The present invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus for the inventive mould drum with supporting means for supporting the axis of the drum. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for cleaning the inventive drum.