Particulate Food Coating Supply with Inclined Slides for Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating machines dehomogenize particulate coating materials due to differences in momentum and friction effects, especially at larger velocities and wider machine widths, leading to uneven distribution of particle sizes on food products.
Innovation Solution
The use of inclined slide plates within the upper particulate coating material supply unit, where the direction of inclination for each plate is opposite, and varying pocket configurations in the elevator device to redistribute particles based on their size and momentum, combined with a holed sieve plate to control particle flow, ensuring a more homogeneous distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the elevator device operates at larger velocities and the machine has wider width, then the productivity and coating coverage are improved, but the particulate coating material becomes dehomogenized due to differences in momentum and friction effects
Solution Approach 1:
The upper supply unit is divided into multiple lateral zones with slide plates in each zone, allowing independent control of particle flow paths. This segmentation enables different momentum groups to be redirected to appropriate lateral positions, maintaining homogeneity despite high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Slide plates are introduced as intermediary elements between the deposit area and the supply opening. These plates mediate the particle flow by redirecting particles based on their momentum, preventing direct deposition that would cause dehomogenization while maintaining high throughput.
2Speed
If the velocity of the elevation device is increased, then the coating process efficiency is improved, but the distribution of particle sizes becomes non-uniform due to momentum differences
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to slow down particles to maintain uniform distribution, the invention inverts the approach by using the high velocity to advantage. Slide plates redirect higher momentum particles to outer lateral zones and lower momentum particles to inner zones, converting the velocity-induced separation into a controlled spatial distribution that maintains overall homogeneity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine width is increased to handle wider food products, then the adaptability and coating coverage are improved, but the friction effects cause greater dehomogenization of particulate coating material
Solution Approach 1:
The supply unit is divided into lateral zones with locally optimized slide plate configurations. Each zone has slide plates angled according to the specific friction and momentum characteristics of that region, allowing tailored particle flow control that compensates for width-related dehomogenization effects.
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
This setup mitigates the dehomogenization of particulate coating materials, resulting in a more uniform application of coating particles on food products, enhancing product quality and reducing the risk of loose coatings or oil contamination.
Implementation Method 1
the particulate coating material may be dehomogenized during its deposit into the upper particulate coating material supply unit due to differences in momentum and/or friction effects
Implementation Method 2
a particulate coating material elevator device comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to receive a portion of said excess coating material from said recovery conveyor and to supply said excess coating material to the upper particulate coating material supply unit
Data Source
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AI summary
An in-line coating machine (1) adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material has a food products conveyor assembly, a coating device (30) arranged between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4) of the machine, and an excess coating material separation station configured to cause excess coating material to be separated from coated food products in order to recover excess coating material for re-use. An excess coating material recovery conveyor has a bed support and a recovery conveyor run above the bed support. A particulate coating material elevator (40) device receives a portion of the excess coating material from the recovery conveyor and supplies the excess coating material to the coating device for re-use. An elevator device fill assembly along the recovery conveyor is configured to fill the elevator device with recovered excess coating material. Herein a coating material supply unit comprises slide plates (110, 111) which are mounted at an inclination.