RF Thawing Conveyor Hygiene and Energy Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency thawing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining hygiene and productivity due to liquid contamination and uneven energy distribution, leading to bacterial growth, partial cooking, and increased maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency apparatus with a conveyor belt and integrated cleaning system, featuring a cover to protect the oscillating voltage generator, raised edges to contain liquids, and a washing plant for continuous cleaning, ensuring the conveyor belt and tunnel remain clean and hygienic during operation, and precise energy control for homogeneous thawing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor belt is cleaned at predetermined intervals to maintain hygiene, then the level of hygiene is improved, but the apparatus must be stopped causing loss of productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is activated preliminarily during the transition phases when products are being loaded or unloaded, before the main thawing operation begins. This allows the conveyor belt to be cleaned in advance without interrupting the productive thawing cycle, maintaining hygiene while preserving operational time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning operations are integrated into the continuous operational cycle by performing them during loading/unloading transitions rather than stopping the apparatus. The conveyor belt cleaning occurs continuously during these transition phases, ensuring hygiene maintenance without breaking the productive thawing workflow.
2Reliability
If the radio frequency emitting devices are placed in a separate room to protect them from detergent damage, then the reliability of the emitting devices is improved, but the bulk of the apparatus increases and cleaning access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cover or shielding structure is placed over the emitting devices within the same apparatus housing. This thin protective barrier allows the devices to remain in the thawing chamber for compact integration while protecting them from detergent damage during cleaning operations, avoiding the need for separate rooms or complex external positioning.
3Ease of operation
If leachate is allowed to drip through the conveyor belt during thawing, then the thawing process is simplified, but contamination of the apparatus and food products occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid collection tray or drainage system is introduced as an intermediary layer between the conveyor belt and the apparatus structure. This intermediary component collects leachate that drips through the conveyor belt during thawing, preventing contamination of the apparatus while allowing the simplified drip-thawing process to continue uninterrupted.
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 apparatus maintains high hygiene and productivity by allowing continuous operation with effective cleaning, preventing bacterial contamination and ensuring uniform thawing, while the cover and integrated cleaning system protect components and workers, and the raised edges and washing plant manage liquid containment and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The products to be thawed are then moved forward through a tunnel provided in the apparatus itself and are subjected to an electromagnetic fields, emitted by emitting devices
Implementation Method 2
a washing plant for continuous cleaning, ensuring the conveyor belt and tunnel remain clean and hygienic during operation
Implementation Method 3
raised edges to contain liquids
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A radio frequency apparatus (1) for thawing food products, through the use of an oscillating electromagnetic field, comprises a continuous conveyor belt (2), on which the food products are positioned, elements (3) for supporting and for moving the conveyor belt (2) forward, an inlet section (4), for the introduction of the food products to be thawed, a central section (5), defining a tunnel in which the food products are thawed, an outlet section (6), from which the thawed food products come out, at least one oscillating voltage generator (9), for generating the oscillating electromagnetic field, and elements (21) for washing and/or sanitizing the conveyor belt (2) and/or the inlet section (4) and/or the central section (5) and/or the outlet section (6).