Sorting Device with Pivotable Transport Medium for Hygienic Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices in industrial settings face challenges in achieving high sorting speed, easy assembly/disassembly, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining hygiene standards, especially in food processing where components must be easily cleanable and have minimal contact with products.
Innovation Solution
A sorting device with a modular design featuring a first fixed axis and a pivotable second axis, where an endless transport medium circulates around both shafts, allowing the upper run to remain straight in both pivot positions, preventing abrasive wear and enabling easy cleaning, and allowing for a sorting gap to be opened or closed to separate products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If several processing lanes are arranged in parallel to achieve high throughput rate, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic sorting mechanism where a single processing lane can be rapidly switched between different sorting states. The movable guide plate can quickly change position to divert products to different lanes, and the conveyor belt can dynamically open sorting gaps. This dynamic capability allows one lane to functionally replace multiple static lanes, achieving high throughput without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional sorting mechanisms are used to separate products, then sorting function is achieved, but the number of parts touching products increases, making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sorting function from complex mechanical interactions and implements it through a simplified system. Instead of multiple moving parts contacting products, the invention uses a movable guide plate that can be easily removed and a conveyor belt system that creates sorting gaps. This reduction in contacting parts dramatically improves cleanability while maintaining the sorting function.
3Speed
If discrete sorting mechanisms are used for each product, then precise sorting is achieved, but sorting speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary positioning of products on the conveyor belt before the sorting decision is made. Products are pre-aligned and positioned in a standardized manner, allowing for rapid sorting decisions and actions. This preliminary preparation enables high-speed sorting without sacrificing precision, as the sorting mechanism only needs to execute a simple diversion action rather than positioning each product individually.
Data Source
AI summary
A sorting device with a transport medium pivotable between two pivot positions and placed around two shafts. The pivot axis about which the transport medium is pivotable is spaced apart from the shaft axes and an upper run formed by the transport medium is straight in both pivot positions.