Shutter Piece Design for Food Enveloping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shutter devices for forming food products like sweet buns face issues with the outer skin material being deformed due to elasticity, leading to a recessed top and surface roughness, and require consistent force throughout the gathering process to prevent protrusion.

Innovation Solution

A shutter piece design with a second side surface that contacts the outer skin material earlier than the first side surface to intensively gather and stretch it, combined with a pyramid-like space defined by the shutter set to store the gathered material, ensuring a larger central portion and preventing surface roughness by adjusting the gathering force throughout the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the shutter set applies strong force to centrally gather the outer skin material, then the centrally gathering effect is enhanced, but the surface of the outer skin material gets rough (scratched)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentrally gathering effectVSAvoidsurface roughness

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter piece is divided into multiple side surfaces (first, second, and third side surfaces) that perform different functions at different stages of the gathering process. The second side surface contacts and gathers the material early, while the first side surface seals it later, segmenting the gathering action into controlled phases that prevent surface damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second side surface is positioned to contact the outer skin material before the first side surface seals it. This preliminary contact allows the material to be gradually gathered and stretched into position before final sealing, preventing sudden force application that would cause surface roughness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the shutter set applies weak force to centrally gather the outer skin material, then the surface remains smooth, but the top of the enveloped food product becomes recessed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface smoothnessVSAvoidtop shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter piece utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with side surfaces at different heights and angles. The pyramid-like space created by multiple shutter pieces provides vertical dimension for material storage, allowing sufficient material to be gathered to the center without requiring excessive horizontal force that would damage the surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Different side surfaces of the shutter piece have different orientations and positions to apply force at different locations and stages. The second side surface applies gentle gathering force at the periphery early in the process, while the first side surface applies sealing force at the center later, creating localized quality control throughout the gathering process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the shutter set applies consistent strong force throughout the gathering process, then the centrally gathering effect is maintained, but the outer skin material protrudes upward from the shutter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentrally gathering consistencyVSAvoidmaterial protrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter piece design creates dynamic control of gathering force through the sequential engagement of different side surfaces. As the shutter closes, the second side surface engages first to gather material, then the first side surface engages to seal it, creating a dynamic progression of force application that adapts to the material's position and prevents over-compression and protrusion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances the centrally gathering effect, maintains consistent force during the process, and prevents the outer skin material from protruding upward, resulting in a more evenly formed and aesthetically pleasing product.

Implementation Method 1

The outer skin material is deformable, but has its elasticity to resist a force of centrally gathering the outer skin material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3305098B1Shutter piece, shutter set, shutter device, and shape forming device

Publication Date: 2024.07.31 RHEON AUTOMATIC MASCH CO LTD

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5(a)~5(c)

AI summary

A shutter piece (3, 3', 103, 203) has a first side surface (13, 113, 213) which seals a peripheral portion (DE) of an outer skin material (D) above an inner material (F), a second side surface (15, 115, 215) which is located below the first side surface (13, 113, 213) and contacts the outer skin material (D) earlier than the first side surface (13, 113, 213) so as to centrally gather the outer skin material (D) toward a location above a center of the inner material (F), and a third side surface (17, 117. 217) which is located below the first side surface (13, 113, 213) and defines a portion of a pyramid-like space (17a, 117a, 217s) above the inner material (F) when the peripheral portion (DE) of the outer skin material (D) is sealed by the first side surface (13, 113, 213).