Pivoting Guide Elements for Dough Pressing Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dough processing devices face challenges in adjusting the distance between the pressing and conveyor belts to accommodate different products, leading to potential collisions and difficulties in adapting to various dough shapes, which complicates the adjustment process and affects product quality.

Innovation Solution

A dough processing device with pivotable guide elements and an actuation mechanism, including a cam system, allows for adjustable positioning of the pressing device relative to the conveyor device, ensuring the pressing device remains aligned and close to the conveyor belt while adjusting for different product sizes, preventing collisions and enabling easy adaptation to different dough products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pressing belt is adjusted vertically to adapt to different products, then the adaptability is improved, but the horizontal distance to the working belt changes causing potential collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability to different productsVSAvoidrisk of belt collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing device is connected to the frame via pivoting guide elements that enable movement in both vertical and horizontal dimensions simultaneously. When the pressing belt is adjusted vertically, the pivoting guide elements automatically provide the corresponding horizontal displacement to maintain a constant horizontal distance between the pressing belt and the working belt, preventing collisions while allowing adaptability to different products

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the pressing device is positioned close to the working belt to prevent elastic restoring forces, then the processing effectiveness is improved, but the risk of collision increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing effectivenessVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting guide elements allow the pressing device to be positioned in both vertical and horizontal directions simultaneously. The pressing belt can be maintained at an optimally close vertical distance to the working belt for effective processing, while the horizontal distance is automatically maintained at a safe constant distance through the pivoting mechanism, eliminating collision risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4406413A1Dough processing apparatus with pivoting guide members
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 FRITSCH BAKERY TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4406413A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4406413A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4406413A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dough processing device (1) comprises a conveying device (3) configured to convey a piece of dough (4) in a production direction (P), and an action device (6) arranged opposite the conveying device (3) and configured to engage the piece of dough (4) conveyed by the conveying device (3). The dough processing device (1) further comprises a pressing device (8) arranged opposite the conveying device (3), downstream of the action device (6) in the production direction (P), and configured to press the piece of dough (4) against the conveying device (3), and a frame (2) on which the action device (6) and the pressing device (8) are mounted. The dough processing device (1) is characterized in that the pressing device (8) is connected to the frame (2) by pivotable guide elements (10).