Pump Feeder Mixing Viscous Edible Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food production machinery faces challenges in automating the mixing of viscous ingredients like date paste without breaking down additional ingredients or overworking the paste, and in maintaining a consistent supply of these materials for mass production.
Innovation Solution
A pump feeder system with a hopper, mixing paddles, and counter-rotating augers with varying screw pitches, which mixes and compresses edible materials without overworking them, ensuring uniform distribution and handling of both large and small chunks, and connects to a pump for extrusion and cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional mixing machines are used to mix viscous ingredients like date paste, then mixing speed can be increased, but the additional ingredients break down and the date paste becomes overworked
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is segmented into an upper chamber for gentle mixing and a lower chamber for discharge, with mixing paddles positioned to create localized mixing zones rather than aggressive whole-chamber mixing. This segmentation allows faster processing while preserving ingredient integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing mechanism uses adjustable paddle speed and rotation direction to change mixing parameters, enabling gentle mixing for delicate ingredients while maintaining productivity. The system can switch between different mixing intensities based on material properties.
2Device complexity
If traditional feeders are used for viscous materials, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but consistent supply for mass production cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is designed with specific geometry and the mixing paddles perform preliminary mixing and homogenization before material enters the discharge chamber. This preliminary action ensures consistent material properties are achieved before mass production processing, improving supply reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-chamber design with continuous mixing in the upper chamber and continuous discharge from the lower chamber ensures uninterrupted material flow. The system maintains continuous useful action throughout the feeding process, preventing pauses in mass production.
3Loss of time
If high-speed mixing is applied to viscous paste, then production time is reduced, but the paste texture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing paddles use periodic reciprocating motion rather than continuous high-speed rotation, creating gentle folding and turning actions that mix ingredients effectively without generating excessive shear forces that would deteriorate paste texture.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing system employs dynamic paddle movement with variable speed and direction control, adapting the mixing action to the specific rheological properties of the viscous material. This dynamic approach reduces production time while preserving texture stability.
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
The system effectively mixes and forms viscous edible materials into desired shapes without breaking down additives, handles varying chunk sizes, and provides a consistent supply, preventing operational pauses and ensuring uniform product formation.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second augers are located within the lower chamber. The first and second augers are configured to cause movement of edible material from a first end of the lower chamber to a second end of the lower chamber.
Implementation Method 2
The first and second mixing paddles are located within the upper chamber. The first and second mixing paddles are configured to cause movement of edible material within the upper chamber.
Implementation Method 3
The first auger has a first region with a relatively larger screw pitch and a second region with a relatively smaller screw pitch... The first and second augers are configured to counter rotate.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump feeder includes a hopper, a first mixing paddle, a second mixing paddle, a first auger, a second auger and dual outlets. The hopper receives edible material in the form of a thick, viscous base and mix-ins, and includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The first and second mixing paddles are located within the upper chamber and cause movement of the edible material within the upper chamber for both breaking apart and mixing of the edible material. The first and second augers are located within the lower chamber and cause movement of the edible material from a first end of the lower chamber to a second end of the lower chamber. The outlets are located at the second end of the lower chamber and connected to an inlet of a pump which further compresses the mixed edible material for delivery to an extruder die and cutting assembly.