Slack Separation Hopper Gate Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods face challenges in effectively separating excess slack from a mixture of product and slack during packaging, leading to issues like wastage, uneven coating, and compromised seal quality due to excess slack floating or being trapped.
Innovation Solution
A hopper with a moveable gate that allows for the separation of product and slack through distinct paths, where the gate is configured to retain product when closed and allow slack to exit via a separate path, ensuring accurate separation and reduction of wastage by directing excess slack into a separate vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If excess slack is separated between mixing and packaging, then wastage is reduced and coating evenness is improved, but the process complexity increases due to the need for separation apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into two distinct discharge paths: a first path for product and a second path for excess slack. The gate is segmented to selectively close off one path while opening the other, enabling separation of the mixture into its constituent components through spatial division of the discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate mechanism extracts and removes excess slack from the mixture by selectively closing the first path and directing only slack through the second path. This extraction function separates the harmful excess material from the useful product before packaging.
2Productivity
If excess slack is allowed to float freely in packaging, then packaging speed is maintained, but seal quality is compromised due to slack trapped in the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The separation of excess slack is performed preliminarily in the hopper before the product is discharged into packaging. By removing excess slack in advance through the selective gate mechanism, the packaging process can proceed at full speed without risk of slack interfering with the sealing operation.
3Reliability
If the sealing step is delayed to allow slack to settle, then seal quality is improved, but process speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The slack settlement and separation process is performed preliminarily in the hopper before packaging, eliminating the need for post-packaging delays. The gate mechanism ensures slack is removed in advance, allowing immediate sealing at full process speed without compromising seal quality.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a higher ratio of slack to product is used in mixing, then coating evenness is improved, but excess slack separation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge function is segmented into two separate paths with different aperture sizes. The first aperture accommodates both product and slack, while the second aperture is sized to pass only slack particles. This segmentation enables effective separation even when the mixture contains high proportions of slack, maintaining coating evenness while facilitating separation.
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
The solution effectively separates excess slack from the product, reducing wastage and improving packaging quality by ensuring that only the product enters the packaging, thus preventing issues like burnt coatings and compromised seals.
Implementation Method 1
The first path can comprise a first aperture sized to permit egress of both product and slack... The second path can comprise a second aperture sized to permit egress of slack... but not of product
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for separating excess slack out from a mixture of product and slack. For example, the slack could be a food product coating. According to one aspect, there is provided a hopper for diverting excess slack away from a mixture of product and slack, the hopper comprising a gate moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the gate is configured such that: when the gate is in the open position a first path is provided for contents of the hopper, comprising a mixture of product and slack, to exit the hopper; and when the gate is in the closed position the first path is closed by the gate so that product is retained in the hopper and a second path, different from the first path, is provided for slack to exit the hopper.