Rotatable Carrier Rod Conveyor for Hygienic Food Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food processing conveyors face challenges in maintaining hygiene due to contamination from microbiological germs, particularly through cross-contamination via processing equipment, necessitating frequent cleaning and shutdowns, and existing modular belts require replacement when the surface wears out.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor system with carrier rods that can be rotated and adjusted in position to extend service life, featuring a closed conveying surface for improved hygiene and reduced contamination risk, with components outside the conveying corridor to minimize germ transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional modular belts are used with fixed carrier surfaces, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the service life is limited and requires frequent replacement when surfaces wear out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice life of carrier rodsVSAvoidcomplexity of carrier rod structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier rod is designed with rotatable lateral surfaces that can dynamically change orientation during operation. The lateral surfaces are transferable between a conveying position (within the carrier segment) and a dislocated position (outside the carrier segment), allowing the same physical surface to be reused multiple times by rotating it to fresh surfaces, thereby extending service life without requiring replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier rod is segmented into multiple lateral surfaces (at least two, preferably three or four) that can independently serve as conveying surfaces. This segmentation allows one surface to wear out while others remain functional, and worn surfaces can be rotated out of service while fresh surfaces take their place, effectively multiplying the service life of a single carrier rod

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of stationary object

If carrier rods have multiple lateral surfaces that can be rotated, then the service life is extended, but the device complexity and cleaning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice life of carrier rodsVSAvoidease of manufacturing carrier rods with multiple surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier rod incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows lateral surfaces to be transferred between conveying and dislocated positions. This dynamic capability enables the same carrier rod to present multiple fresh surfaces to the conveying corridor over time, extending its operational life without requiring manufacturing of multiple separate carrier rods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier rod is pre-configured with multiple lateral surfaces during manufacturing, prepared in advance for rotation and reuse. This preliminary preparation allows the carrier rod to undergo multiple conveying cycles with different surfaces, reducing the frequency of replacement and maintenance interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the conveying surface is open and modular, then assembly is easy, but cross-contamination risk increases due to germ nesting in link connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assembling conveyorVSAvoidcross-contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier rod is designed as a continuous, seamless structure without traditional link connections between modules. The lateral surfaces form a continuous conveying path that eliminates gaps and crevices where germs could nestle, while still maintaining modular assembly capabilities through standardized interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having separate modular belt segments connected by links (which create contamination risks), the invention inverts the approach by using continuous carrier rods with rotatable surfaces. This eliminates the problematic link connections while preserving the benefits of modular design through the carrier rod structure itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4279423B1conveyor

Publication Date: 2025.12.03 INTERROLL HLDG

Figure 1~8
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5b

AI summary

Conveyor (1), in particular food conveyor (1), in particular unpacked-food conveyor, the food conveyor (1) comprises a conveying carrier (2), wherein the conveying carrier (2) is adapted to carry an object, in particular food (9), from a first end (1A) to a second end (1B) along a, in particular horizontal, conveying direction (D), the conveying carrier (2) comprises a plurality of separate carrier segments (20) which run on a circumferential orbit (O), so that the carrier segments (20) define an upper run (2U), a lower run (2L), and curved turning sections (2C) connecting the upper run (2U) and the lower run (2L); wherein the carrier segments (20) having a carrier rod (21), wherein the plurality of carrier rods (21) located on said upper run (2U) forming a conveying surface (11), in particular on which the conveyed object (9) comes to rest.