Multi-Mode Food Coating Machine with Adjustable Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food product coating machines lack versatility in handling both fragile and non-fragile food items, as they often require a rotary tumbling drum that can disintegrate delicate products, necessitating an alternative method for coating that allows both drum-mode and conveyor-mode operations.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode coating machine with an adjustable infeed and discharge conveyor system that allows food products to bypass the rotary tumbling drum, enabling both drum-mode and conveyor-mode operations, where the position of the conveyor assemblies can be adjusted to accommodate different food types, and includes a variable speed elevator device for optimal coating adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rotary tumbling drum is used for coating food products, then coating adherence is improved, but fragile food products disintegrate
Solution Approach 1:
The coating machine allows dynamic switching between two operational modes: drum-mode for robust coating adherence and conveyor-mode for gentle handling of fragile products. The system adapts its mechanical action based on product requirements, making the coating process dynamic rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating machine is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated system that can operate in both drum-mode and conveyor-mode. This multi-functionality allows the same machine to handle both robust and fragile food products effectively, eliminating the need for separate coating equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rotary tumbling drum is used for coating, then uniform coating is achieved, but the machine cannot handle fragile formed products
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between tumbling action for uniform coating and conveyor transport for fragile products. The adjustable infeed and discharge conveyor positions enable the machine to adapt its operational characteristics based on the specific product requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-mode operation provides universality, allowing the machine to process various food product types including both robust items requiring tumbling for uniform coating and fragile formed products requiring gentle conveyor-based coating.
3Device complexity
If the conveyor assemblies are fixed in position, then the machine structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different food types
Solution Approach 1:
The infeed and discharge conveyor assemblies are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing operators to reposition them to optimize the coating process for different food types. This adjustability provides versatility without significantly complicating the overall machine structure.
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 effectively coats food products with particulate material while preventing disintegration of fragile items, offering a versatile solution for various food types by allowing adjustable tumbling and conveying options, ensuring efficient and uniform coating adherence.
Implementation Method 1
a fraction of the particulate coating material adheres to the food product
Implementation Method 2
an elevator device with a longitudinal axis, wherein the elevator device is adapted for lifting the coated food products at least to the upper horizontal level
Implementation Method 3
an infeed conveyor assembly, adapted for conveying the food products to be coated to a release end of the conveyor assembly, wherein the infeed conveyor assembly conveys the food products to be coated horizontally at a first horizontal level
Implementation Method 4
a discharge conveyor assembly, adapted for conveying the coated food products horizontally at the upper horizontal level from the coating machine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~3A
AI summary
The invention relates to an in-line multi-mode coating machine adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material, the machine comprising in-line with each other and in succession: an infeed conveyor assembly, a rotary tumbling drum, an elevator device and a discharge conveyor assembly. In a drum-mode, the rotary tumbling drum is adapted to be supplied with particulate coating material and to tumble the food products and particulate coating material together. In a conveyor-mode of the coating machine the infeed conveyor assembly and the discharge conveyor assembly are arranged to adjoin each other whilst extending through the rotary tumbling drum, so that food products bypass the rotary tumbling drum and the elevator device.