Sausage Twisting Apparatus Movable Frame Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sausage filling machines face challenges in cleaning due to complex construction and the telescopic structure of the supply duct, which allows food product to infiltrate and lodge between moving parts, complicating the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A movable frame or support carriage is introduced to facilitate the movement of the loading, twisting, and rotation devices, along with the addition of transfer ducts and a displacement drive member, allowing for a compact and easily cleanable design by controlling fluid communication and positioning of the filling tubes and transfer ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a telescopic structure is used for the supply duct to allow retraction, then the apparatus can release the filling tube from the braking device, but food product infiltrates and lodges between the telescopic parts, complicating cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic telescopic structure from the supply duct system. Instead of using telescopic parts that create crevices for food residue, the patent employs a fixed supply duct that remains stationary throughout the filling process. The filling tube is released from the braking device through a different mechanism that does not involve telescopic movement, thereby eliminating the cleaning complexity associated with telescopic structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many components are present in the apparatus, then the loading and twisting functions can be performed, but the constructional complexity increases and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges several functions into fewer components. The supply duct is designed to serve multiple purposes: it supplies food product, maintains positioning during filling, and facilitates release without requiring separate telescopic mechanisms. The braking device and rotation unit are integrated in a way that reduces the total number of discrete components while maintaining the ability to perform both loading and twisting functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed supply duct structure serves multiple functions throughout the operating cycle: it provides product supply, maintains structural integrity during filling, and enables release of the filling tube. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components for each function, thereby simplifying the overall apparatus construction while maintaining versatility.
3Ease of repair
If the apparatus structure is simplified for easier cleaning, then maintenance becomes easier, but the ability to perform loading and twisting functions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the apparatus into distinct functional modules: a fixed supply duct, a movable filling tube, a braking device, and a rotation unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The fixed supply duct provides a simple, cleanable structure, while the movable components are designed to work together without requiring complex assembly, thus maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A twisting apparatus (10) comprising a loading device (20) intended to load a food product into a casing (21), and a braking device (12), is described. The loading device (20) comprises two tubular filling bodies, or filling tubes (14, 15), intended to support the casing and a twisting device (18) intended to rotate each filling tube (14, 15) about its axis, and a movable frame (27) or carriage able to support the loading device (20). The twisting apparatus (10) includes a rotation unit (23) intended to cause rotation of the loading device (23) and angularly displace the two tubular filling bodies (14) with respect to the braking device (12). Also provided is a displacement drive member connected to said movable frame or carriage (27) so as to move with an approaching and separating displacement, or to-and-fro movement, the two tubular filling bodies (14, 15) away from and towards the braking device (12). The rotation unit (23) includes a rotation drive member fixed to said movable frame or carriage (27) and is able to be moved by said displacement drive member together with the loading device (20). The displacement drive member is also configured to move the loading device with respect to an entry member for supplying the product.