Pinching-Shaping Device for Co-Extruded Food Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pinching-shaping devices for co-extruded food products are inefficient and costly for continuous production, particularly when producing berlingot-shaped products, as they require multiple tools and are not suitable for processing multiple strands from the same extrusion machine.
Innovation Solution
A pinching-shaping device with a pair of cylindrical tools, each with radially protruding blades featuring inclined pinching surfaces that alternate in orientation, allowing for efficient pinch-shaping of co-extruded strands into berlingot shapes with adjustable pinching pressure and precise control over product shape, using a single pair of tools arranged vertically and horizontally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple tools are used to produce berlingot-shaped products, then product shape precision is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pinching functions into a single tool by distributing blades with different pinching orientations around the tool's circumference. The blades are arranged at different angular positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) to provide multi-directional pinching capabilities, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools while maintaining shape precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pinching tool is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple pinching operations simultaneously. The tool can apply pinching forces in different directions and at different locations along the extruded product through its distributed blade arrangement, making one tool equivalent to multiple specialized tools.
2Productivity
If traditional pinching-shaping devices are used, then simple device structure is maintained, but productivity and continuous production capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pinching tool is designed to enable continuous production by maintaining constant contact and pinching action throughout the extrusion process. The rotating or reciprocating motion of the tool ensures that blades continuously engage with the extruded material, allowing uninterrupted production of shaped products without stopping or resetting between cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade arrangement on the pinching tool is pre-configured with specific orientations and positions to perform multiple pinching operations in a single pass. The blades are distributed around the tool circumference to preemptively create all necessary pinch lines and shapes as the tool moves through the material, eliminating the need for sequential operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If blades with uniform pinching surfaces are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but product shape control and angular offset capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different blades on the same tool are equipped with pinching surfaces having different local characteristics, such as varying angles of inclination, different surface textures, or distinct geometric profiles. Each blade's pinching surface is optimized for its specific angular position and function, allowing precise control over the final product shape and the creation of angular offsets between adjacent pinch lines.
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
Enables the economical and efficient production of berlingot-shaped co-extruded food products by allowing angular offset of pinch lines and precise control over product shape, reducing the need for multiple tools and enhancing continuous production capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The outer periphery of each tool is provided with blades, which radially protrude... to pinch-shape between their outer periphery a strand introduced tangentially between them when they are rotated
Implementation Method 2
each provide, on their free edge radially opposite to the central axis, a pinching surface extending between first and second ends of the pinching surface which are opposite to each other along the central axis... to pinch between the respective pinching surfaces of the two blades thus aligned
Data Source
AI summary
This pinching-shaping device includes cylindrical tools, each having a central axis of tool rotation, the central axes being parallel and the outer peripheries of the tools applied tangentially against one another to pinch-shape a strand tangentially introduced between the tools during rotation. The outer periphery of each tool has radially projecting blades distributed around the central axis, each providing a pinching surface. The pinching surface extends between first and second ends inclined to the central axis. The blades of each tool are distributed following the outer periphery, alternating inclination. When a blade of the first tool is radially interposed between the two tools during the rotation, it is radially aligned with one of the blades of the second tool, the pinching surface inclined in a complementary manner to the pinching surface of first tool's blade, pinching the strand between pinching surfaces of these two aligned blades.