Pivoting Egg Transport Channel for Full-Surface Pasteurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transporting elements for spherical, cylindrical, or egg-shaped articles, such as eggs, in cooking appliances and pasteurizers, do not effectively wet the entire surface of the articles during treatment, limiting the efficiency of processes like pasteurization.
Innovation Solution
A channel-like transporting element with curved, slot-shaped apertures that allow eggs to pivot 180° along a meandering conveying route, ensuring the entire surface is exposed to heated water, and includes stable longitudinal crosspieces and mounting elements for secure attachment and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the conveying route is formed in a meandering fashion to keep the transport path short and the appliance compact, then the appliance size is reduced, but the entire surface of the articles cannot be wetted during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The transporting element is made pivotable about its longitudinal axis, allowing it to dynamically change orientation from a first position in an ascending region to a second position in a descending region of the meandering conveying route. This dynamic pivoting motion ensures that different portions of the article surface are exposed to the spray nozzles at different locations along the route, achieving complete surface wetting within the compact appliance.
2Reliability
If fixing elements cover a large area of the eggshell surface, then the eggs are securely fixed in position, but the sprayable surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing elements are designed as discrete, spaced-apart structures (such as raised portions or protrusions) rather than continuous coverage. This segmentation provides sufficient fixation points to secure the articles during transport while leaving the majority of the article surface exposed and accessible to the spray nozzles for effective treatment.
3Device complexity
If the transporting element is fixed in a single position, then the structure is simple, but the articles cannot be treated over the entire surface
Solution Approach 1:
The transporting element incorporates a pivotable connection that allows it to rotate about its longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability enables the element to assume different orientations as it moves through the meandering conveying route, ensuring that all surfaces of the articles are exposed to treatment. The pivoting mechanism is integrated into the transporting element design, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving complete surface coverage.
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 even and complete wetting of eggs with heated water during pasteurization, improving treatment efficiency and allowing for a more compact appliance design.
Implementation Method 1
spraying the articles over the entire surface with water heated to approximately 60° C.
Implementation Method 2
wetting of the entire surface of the egg with heated water is possible
Data Source
AI summary
A transporting element for accommodating and for transporting spherical, cylindrical or egg-shaped articles, in particular foodstuffs, in particular eggs, along a conveying route, has a plurality of mounts arranged one beside the other along the longitudinal extent. The transporting element is designed in the form of a channel-like body with an accommodating space curved in the form of part of a circle, as seen in cross section, and encloses an angle of at least 180°. The mounts are designed in the form of slot-form apertures in that region of the channel-like body that is curved in the form of part of a circle. The apertures extending parallel to one another, and transversely to the longitudinal extent of the channel-like body, as far as longitudinal crosspieces on either side, these forming a respective longitudinal periphery.