Profile Scanner and Feed Assembly for Accurate Food Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicing systems experience inaccuracies due to food product shifting on conveyors caused by vibrations and speed changes, leading to discrepancies between measured and actual profiles at the slicing blade.
Innovation Solution
A food slicing apparatus with synchronized forward and rearward conveyor assemblies and integrated upper and lower scanner units that scan the food product's top and bottom surfaces to generate precise contour data, ensuring accurate positioning and slice thickness determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the laser scanner scans the food product well upstream from the slicing blade, then the scanning can be performed in a separate scanning unit, but the food product shifts position on the conveyor due to vibrations and speed changes, causing inaccuracies in the profile measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the scanning function with the conveyor system by positioning the laser scanner to scan the food product at a location proximal to the gap between conveyor assemblies, rather than in a separate upstream scanning unit. This integration ensures that the scanning occurs at the exact position where the product will be sliced, eliminating position shift errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives profile information from the laser scanner and uses this feedback to adjust the slicing blade position and slicing parameters in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that the slicing operation is based on the actual measured profile at the slicing position, compensating for any variations in product position or conveyor speed.
2Device complexity
If the food product is merely resting on a lower conveyor belt, then the conveyor system is simpler, but the food product is free to move about, even though by a slight amount, causing positional inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple conveyor assemblies (upper and lower, forward and rearward) that can be dynamically adjusted and synchronized. The conveyors are controlled to move in coordination with each other, creating a stable platform that minimizes product movement while allowing for dynamic adaptation to product variations and conveyor speed changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system adjusts conveyor speed, position, and synchronization parameters in real-time based on the scanned profile information. By dynamically changing these parameters, the system maintains precise product positioning at the slicing location while accommodating variations in product characteristics and conveyor operation.
3Measurement precision
If the scanner is positioned proximal to the slicing blade, then the profile measurement accuracy is improved, but the scanning region is more constrained and requires precise synchronization with the conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses real-time feedback from the laser scanner to adjust conveyor speed and position, ensuring that the product is precisely positioned at the scanning location and that the scanning occurs at the correct moment. This closed-loop control manages the synchronization complexity by automatically coordinating scanner and conveyor operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is designed to perform multiple functions: transporting the product, positioning it for scanning, and synchronizing with the slicing operation. The same conveyor assemblies that transport the product are also used to position it for the proximal scan, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
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
Minimizes positional errors during slicing by maintaining the food product's exact location, enabling consistent and precise slicing based on real-time contour data.
Implementation Method 1
A laser scanner is configured to continuously scan the food product as it is fed in the forward or downstream direction
Data Source
AI summary
A food slicing includes a forward conveyor assembly located proximal to the blade assembly and a rearward conveyor assembly configured to transport the food product to the forward conveyor assembly. The rearward conveyor assembly is located immediately upstream from the forward conveyor assembly and gap is formed laterally between the forward conveyor assembly and the rearward conveyor assembly, in the longitudinal direction. An upper scanner unit proximal the gap scans an upper surface of the food product while a lower scanner unit located below the forward and rearward conveyor assemblies scans a lower surface of the food product as the food product passes across the gap, to obtain contour information of the lower surface of the food product.