Rotating Hopper Mixing Apparatus for Pre-Weighed Noodle Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing fried noodles are inefficient due to manual input and weighing of noodles into a receiving tray, which reduces productivity.
Innovation Solution
A mixing apparatus with rotating hoppers that automatically coat noodles with an additive as they fall, eliminating the need for subsequent weighing by ensuring the desired amount is coated before falling into the tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual input and weighing of noodles into receiving tray is performed, then weighing accuracy is ensured, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-weighing noodles before they enter the coating process. The noodles are weighed in advance in the hopper, coated with additive during rotation, and then discharged into the receiving tray. This eliminates the need for post-coating weighing, maintaining measurement accuracy while improving productivity since the weighing operation is performed once before coating rather than after manual transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the weighing operation from the post-coating process and performs it separately before coating. By separating the weighing step from the coating and receiving process, the system avoids the need for manual transfer and subsequent weighing, thus maintaining accuracy while eliminating productivity losses associated with manual handling.
2Ease of operation
If manual input of noodles into receiving tray is performed, then noodle placement control is achieved, but labor effort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the rotation of the hopper itself to control the discharge of noodles into the receiving tray. As the hopper rotates, noodles are automatically discharged at controlled intervals without manual intervention. This maintains placement control through the mechanical rotation mechanism while eliminating labor effort and reducing time consumption compared to manual input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic rotation of the hopper to control noodle discharge. The rotational motion provides automatic, consistent discharge intervals that maintain placement control while eliminating static manual handling operations, thus reducing time consumption and labor effort.
3Stability of the object's composition
If coating process is performed in large cooking pot, then additive mixing is achieved, but subsequent manual transfer and weighing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the hopper to perform multiple functions: storing noodles, weighing them, coating them with additive through rotation, and discharging them into the receiving tray. This consolidates multiple operations into a single device, reducing process complexity while maintaining additive mixing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the weighing, coating, and discharge operations into a single integrated hopper system. By combining these functions that were previously separate steps into one device, the process complexity is reduced while the additive mixing function is maintained through the rotation-based coating mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing apparatus is configured to efficiently input noodles coated with an additive to a receiving tray, with no need to perform weighing again after the noodles are input to the receiving tray. The mixing apparatus includes at least two hoppers that each house falling noodles and that allows the noodles to fall through rotation of the hoppers. A supply device supplies a sauce to the noodles in the hoppers, and the two hoppers are spaced from one another in the falling direction.