Rotation Machine for Sheet Foodworkpieces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food production apparatuses face challenges in stably and accurately rotating sheet-shaped foodworkpieces by a desired angle, leading to instability and inaccuracy in food processing, particularly due to issues with holding and rotating dough sheets of varying sizes and shapes, and the risk of damage from conveyors in existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A food production apparatus comprising a first conveyor and a rotation machine with a first and second rotation unit, where the second rotation unit is actively rotatable and can move to hold and release the foodworkpiece, using protrusion portions to lift and rotate the workpiece accurately, with a control unit synchronizing the rotation and movement to maintain stability and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single press plate is used to rotate the dough sheet, then the structure is simple, but the press plate cannot properly follow the rotation of push bars, causing rotation inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The single press plate is divided into multiple press bars that can independently move. Each press bar is equipped with a separate driving mechanism (cam mechanism or motor) that allows it to follow the rotation of push bars accurately, thereby solving the rotation inaccuracy problem while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The press bars are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions to follow the rotating push bars. This dynamic configuration enables the press bars to maintain contact with the dough sheet throughout the rotation process, ensuring accurate rotation without requiring a complex single press plate structure.
2Device complexity
If push bars are located equidistant from the center of rotation, then the structure is symmetric and simple, but the size and shape of rotatable dough sheets are very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The press bars are designed with movable mounting positions on the rotating platform, allowing their radial distances from the center of rotation to be adjusted dynamically. This enables the system to adapt to dough sheets of various sizes and shapes while maintaining the overall symmetric structure, thus achieving both structural simplicity and high versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The press bar system is designed to handle multiple types of dough sheets (different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses) using the same basic structure. By allowing adjustable positioning of press bars and their independent movement capabilities, the system achieves universal applicability across various dough sheet configurations without requiring multiple specialized devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the outer periphery part of the dough sheet is not properly held by push bars, then the push bars can accommodate various sizes, but the outer periphery part may enter the conveyor gap, causing twisting or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The press bars are designed to move radially inward toward the center of rotation during the rotation process, dynamically adjusting their positioning to ensure that the outer periphery of the dough sheet remains properly supported. This dynamic adjustment prevents the dough sheet edges from entering conveyor gaps while maintaining the system's ability to accommodate various dough sheet sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The press bars are positioned and adjusted before the rotation begins, preliminarily securing the dough sheet in place. This preliminary action ensures that the dough sheet is properly held throughout the rotation process, preventing it from shifting into conveyor gaps and causing damage, while still allowing the system to handle various dough sheet dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A food production apparatus, a rotation method and a food production method which stably and accurately rotate a foodstuff workpiece by a desired angle are provided. At least any one of a first rotation unit (31) and a second rotation unit (32) is moved in such a manner that a foodstuff workpiece (W) is nipped and held by the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32). The first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32) which nip and hold the foodstuff workpiece (W) are actively rotated in synchronization with each other. At least any one of the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32) is moved in such a manner that the foodstuff workpiece (W) is released from the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32).