Needle Gripper for Deformable Food Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gripping devices for deformable food products, especially soft and sticky ones, face issues with clogging, deformation, and hygiene problems during high-speed handling on production lines, as they are not suitable for handling products with varying shapes and temperatures, leading to inefficiencies and product damage.

Innovation Solution

A gripping device with a perforated plate and a system of needles that can move between deployed and retracted positions, using compressed air for gentle handling and reduced contact with the food product, combined with a robust and easy-to-clean design made from high-density polyethylene, allowing for precise gripping and movement of deformable food items without deformation or clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If needles are used to grip deformable food products, then gripping force is improved, but fouling and sticking phenomena occur leading to hygiene problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping forceVSAvoidfouling and sticking

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle gripper employs dynamic movement where needles extend to penetrate and grip the food product, then retract completely to release it. This dynamic extension-retraction cycle prevents fouling by minimizing contact time and area, allowing the needles to grip firmly during transport and release cleanly at the destination without sticking phenomena.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful contact between needles and food product surface by using through-orifices in a support plate. Needles extend through these orifices to grip the product internally, then fully retract into the support plate structure, separating the gripping function from the release function and eliminating fouling on the external surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Force

If suction system is used to grip deformable food products, then gripping capability is improved, but clogging occurs during suction phase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping capabilityVSAvoidclogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the suction-based mechanical system with a needle penetration system. Instead of using suction force to grip the food product surface (which causes clogging), the system uses mechanical needle penetration through the product to internal structures, providing secure gripping without the clogging issues associated with suction systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If receiving surfaces are used to support food products, then product stability is improved, but deformation and destructuring occur during depositing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct stabilityVSAvoiddeformation and destructuring

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The needle gripper uses dynamic extension and retraction to minimize contact deformation. Needles extend only when necessary to grip the product internally, maintaining stability during transport, then fully retract to release the product without the continuous surface contact that causes deformation and destructuring during depositing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If standardized shape requirements are imposed for effective gripping, then gripping reliability is improved, but adaptability to varying product shapes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to varying product shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The needle gripper achieves universal applicability by using multiple needles that can penetrate and grip various food product shapes and sizes. The needles extend through orifices in the support plate to reach internal structures of different product geometries, providing reliable gripping across diverse product forms without requiring standardized shapes, thus combining reliability with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables efficient, high-speed handling of deformable food products with reduced damage and contamination, improved cleanliness, and adaptability to varying product shapes and sizes, while minimizing noise and energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing system adapted to blow gas through said receiving surface so as to detach the food product from the gripper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3630658B1Gripping device with needles for deformable food product

Publication Date: 2024.12.25 BEL

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AI summary

A gripping device for at least one deformable food product has at least one perforated plate defining at least one receiving surface for the deformable food product, and for each receiving surface, a pair of needles associated with the receiving surface. Each needle of the pair is able to be moved between a retracted position, in which the needle does not pass through the receiving surface, and a deployed position, in which the needle passes through the receiving surface. A facility has the gripped device for producing deformable food products, and a method for moving a deformable food product uses the gripping device.