Pasta Drying Moisture Sensor Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drying devices in the pasta industry face reliability issues due to inaccurate moisture measurement during the drying process, especially when the product is in motion, leading to potential bacterial proliferation and organoleptic changes, and require complex calibration algorithms.

Innovation Solution

A drying device equipped with moisture sensor means, including electromagnetic wave and infrared transducers, positioned after the dryer assembly to measure moisture in real time and adjust drying parameters, ensuring accurate and reliable moisture measurement and feedback for optimal drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If moisture measurement is performed during the drying process with the product in motion, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to positioning and speed variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture measurement reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of measuring moisture while the product is moving through the dryer, the invention inverts the measurement timing by measuring after the drying cycle is complete. The moisture sensor is positioned at the discharge end of the dryer to measure the product once it has stopped moving, eliminating the reliability issues caused by product motion during measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary action by completing the entire drying process before performing the moisture measurement. The control unit receives the moisture measurement result after drying is complete, allowing the full drying parameters to be evaluated and adjusted based on the final moisture content rather than intermediate measurements taken during product movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If moisture measurement is performed during the final part of drying, then real-time feedback is achieved, but exact feedback on moisture variation is lost due to product movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture variation feedbackVSAvoidmoisture measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional approach by measuring moisture after the product has completed its journey through the dryer and stopped moving. This eliminates the information loss caused by product movement during measurement, as the sensor captures the final moisture state when the product is stationary at the discharge point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If transducers operate directly in the drying process, then in-line measurement is achieved, but complex calibration algorithms are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvein-line measurement capabilityVSAvoidcalibration algorithm complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention simplifies the system by positioning the moisture sensor outside the drying chamber at the discharge end, rather than operating transducers directly within the drying process. This inversion of measurement location eliminates the need for complex calibration algorithms while maintaining in-line measurement capability, as the sensor measures the product after drying without being exposed to the complex thermal and mechanical environment inside the dryer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 provides real-time monitoring and adjustment of drying parameters, enhancing process reliability, reducing waste, and standardizing product quality by ensuring precise moisture control, thus optimizing the drying process and preserving the organoleptic characteristics of pasta.

Implementation Method 1

moisture sensor means (i.e. configure to measure the moisture of the dried products) wherein the sensor means are arranged substantially in output from said dryer assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave measurement: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

A drying device equipped with moisture sensor means, including electromagnetic wave and infrared transducers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4265112A1Drying device, particularly for the pasta industry

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 R A M ELETTRONICA SRL

Figure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a drying device (1), particularly for the pasta industry, comprising a dryer assembly (2) provided with a unit for the control and management (9) of the drying parameters, such as speed of advancement and drying temperature, and with a station for the accumulation (3) of the dried product (4) which is adapted to accommodate temporarily a bundle of dried product (4), of predetermined quantity, in output the dryer assembly (2) and is adapted to unload it onto a movement line (5) that is adapted to transport the dried product (4) away from the drying device (1), for example towards an external packaging machine. The peculiarity of the invention consists in the fact of comprising moisture sensor means (8) arranged substantially in output from the dryer assembly (2) and functionally connected to said control and management unit (9) in order to vary in real time the drying parameters of the dryer assembly (2) on the basis of the moisture measurement of the dried product (4) performed by the sensor means (8).