Pivotable Feed System for Tortilla Sheeter Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tortilla sheeters require significant effort and time to evacuate the feed system during quality control procedures, as they need to be moved away from the feed system, which disrupts production and poses safety risks due to their large size.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable feed system supported by a pivotable support assembly that allows the nozzle to rotate between positions, enabling evacuation without moving the sheeter, thus reducing downtime and improving safety by maintaining production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sheeter is moved away from the feed system for evacuation, then the feed system can be evacuated, but production stops and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feed system is made dynamically reconfigurable through a pivotable support assembly that allows the nozzle to rotate between a first position (directing masa into the sheeter) and a second position (directing masa into a container). This dynamic positioning enables evacuation without moving the sheeter, maintaining production continuity while achieving evacuation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed system is segmented into a movable nozzle component supported by a pivotable support assembly, separating the evacuation function from the sheeter itself. This segmentation allows the nozzle to be independently repositioned for evacuation while the sheeter remains stationary and operational.
2Reliability
If the sheeter is moved away from the feed system for evacuation, then the feed system can be evacuated, but time is lost moving the sheeter
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable support assembly enables rapid repositioning of the nozzle between operational and evacuation positions without the time-consuming process of moving the entire sheeter. The rotational mechanism allows quick transition, minimizing evacuation time while maintaining full evacuation capability.
3Reliability
If the sheeter is moved away from the feed system for evacuation, then the feed system can be evacuated, but safety risks increase due to the large size and weight of the sheeter
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation function is extracted from the sheeter by making the feed system pivotable. Instead of moving the entire 15,000+ pound sheeter, only the lighter feed system needs to be repositioned via the pivotable support assembly, significantly reducing safety risks while maintaining evacuation capability.
4Productivity
If a fixed feed system is used, then the structure is simple, but evacuation requires moving the sheeter which disrupts production
Solution Approach 1:
A pivotable support assembly with rotational capability is introduced to allow the feed system to dynamically switch between operational and evacuation positions. This adds controlled complexity to enable continuous production during evacuation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable feed system serves multiple functions: directing masa into the sheeter during normal operation and directing masa into a container during evacuation. This multi-functionality is achieved through the rotational capability of the support assembly, allowing one system to handle both operational modes without requiring separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A masa processing system can include a sheeter and a pivotable support assembly. The sheeter can be configured to receive a feed of masa. The pivotable support assembly can include a post having a lower fixed end and an upper end and a pivotable assembly coupled with the upper end of the post. The pivotable assembly can include a pivot member rotatably coupled with the post and being pivotable about a vertical axis and a transverse support having a first end coupled with the pivot member and a second end opposite the first end. The pivotable support assembly can be configured to rotate about the vertical axis between a first position in which the second end of the transverse support is disposed over the sheeter and a second position in which the second end of the transverse support is disposed away from the sheeter.