Pasta Pre-drying Agitator Bypass Conduit Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pasta drying and mechanical agitation devices, known as 'shakers,' suffer from high energy consumption and uncontrolled air entry, leading to humidity loss and potential pasta defects like cracks and chromatic unevenness.
Innovation Solution
A pre-drying and mechanical agitation device with a containment structure, agitation and transport means, heating and ventilation systems, and a bypass conduit to control air flow, reducing uncontrolled air entry and maintaining humidity through selective air introduction and air circulation management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air is allowed to enter freely through the inlet opening, then the containment structure is easily ventilated, but energy consumption increases and humidity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of air flow control from free/uncontrolled to regulated/controlled by introducing a control valve and regulation mechanism. The valve allows precise adjustment of air inlet quantity, transforming the system from passive ventilation to active air flow management, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve acts as an intermediary element between the inlet opening and the containment structure interior. It mediates the air flow by selectively opening or closing the passage, preventing uncontrolled air entry while still allowing regulated ventilation when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and ventilation requirement.
2Loss of energy
If uncontrolled air entry is prevented, then energy consumption is reduced, but pasta humidity may become too high causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the state of air flow and humidity is continuously monitored and adjusted. The control valve responds to humidity levels and processing requirements, dynamically regulating air inlet quantity. This closed-loop control ensures pasta quality uniformity while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding both excessive and insufficient ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the air flow parameter based on processing stage and pasta humidity state. By adjusting the valve opening degree according to real-time conditions, the patent achieves precise control over humidity removal, preventing both energy waste from over-ventilation and quality defects from under-ventilation.
3Stress or pressure
If high quantity of air is expelled to prevent pressure buildup, then pressure control is maintained, but internal humidity decreases excessively causing cracks and chromatic unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve serves as an intermediary that regulates the expulsion of air from the containment structure. By controlling the outlet air flow rate, it prevents excessive pressure buildup while avoiding over-drying of the pasta. This mediation ensures both pressure control and humidity maintenance, preventing structural defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the air expulsion parameter through the control valve to match the pasta drying progress. As pasta approaches target humidity, the valve restricts air outlet flow to prevent over-drying and cracks. This parameter adjustment maintains pressure control while protecting pasta structural uniformity.
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 reduces energy consumption and maintains humidity, resulting in structurally and chromatically uniform pasta by controlling air flow and humidity levels within the device.
Implementation Method 1
heating means, suitable for heating an air flow that passes through them
Implementation Method 2
ventilation means, suitable for generating one or more air flows which pass through the heating means and the agitation and transport means, and then return cyclically in the ventilation means
Implementation Method 3
suction and expulsion means of the air contained in the support structure and/or of the air exited from the outlet opening
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a predrying and mechanical agitation device (1) for the production of the pasta which, thanks to a bypass conduit (50) that puts a delivery region (10a) of ventilation means (10) of said device (1) in fluid communication with an inlet opening (3) thereof, bypassing the agitation and transport means (6) and the heating means (8) of said device (1), has a relatively low energy consumption and an effective maintenance of humidity inside the containment structure (2) of the device (1).