Thermal Processing Machine Scraping Means for Thermolabile Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal processing machines for unpackaged thermolabile products, such as food, face issues with differential heat dilations causing geometric incongruence between scrapers and heat exchange surfaces, leading to product degradation and economic losses due to unusable waste.
Innovation Solution
A machine design featuring scraping means with a planar shape and integrated springing means, including oblong slits for elastic contact with heat exchange surfaces, ensuring geometric alignment and optimal scraping efficiency under varying temperature conditions, and allowing for easy replacement and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat exchange surface has a complex geometry with large masses and dimensions, then the heat exchange capacity is improved, but differential heat dilations occur between the scrapers and the heat exchange surface causing geometric incongruence
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation in response to thermal expansions and contractions of the heat exchange surface. This dynamic adaptation maintains geometric congruence despite temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changes in geometric parameters of the scraper assembly in response to temperature changes. By permitting controlled movement and adjustment, the scraper maintains proper contact with the heat exchange surface across varying thermal conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the scrapers are made rigid to maintain geometric congruence, then scraping precision is improved, but the scrapers cannot adapt to thermal expansions and contractions of the heat exchange surface
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper assembly incorporates movable components that allow it to adapt its configuration in response to thermal variations. This dynamic design enables the rigid scraper elements to maintain precision while the assembly as a whole adapts to changing dimensions of the heat exchange surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper assembly is divided into multiple segments or components that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows different parts to accommodate thermal expansions and contractions independently while maintaining the overall scraping function.
3Reliability
If the scrapers are moved to systematically travel along the conduits, then product degradation is prevented, but product particles may escape the scraping action and remain in contact with hot surfaces excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the scraping action and adjust the scraper position and movement accordingly. This ensures complete coverage of the heat exchange surface and prevents any product particles from escaping the scraping zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper is designed to engage with the heat exchange surface in advance, systematically traversing the entire surface before product degradation can occur. This preliminary and continuous scraping action ensures all product particles are removed from hot surfaces.
4Power
If the machine operates at strong heat ranges, then thermal processing effectiveness is improved, but differential heat dilations cause geometric incongruence leading to product waste
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper assembly is designed to dynamically adapt to thermal expansions and contractions that occur during strong heat ranges. This maintains geometric congruence even under extreme temperature conditions, preventing product degradation and waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows geometric parameters of the scraper assembly to change in response to temperature variations. This adaptability ensures continuous effective scraping throughout the thermal processing cycle, preventing product loss.
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 enables precise and efficient scraping, preventing thermal degradation of products and simplifying maintenance, thereby enhancing processing effectiveness and reducing waste while being flexible and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
springing means (7) capable of bringing said at least one straight scraping edge (8) into elastically sprung contact with at least one such heat exchange surface (3;5,22)
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger (4), coupled to the vat (2) and supported by said lateral walls (3;5,22), with at least one heat exchange surface (3;5,22) for product contact
Implementation Method 3
the strong heat ranges incurred by the machine when in operation cause differential heat dilations to occur between the scrapers and the scraped heat exchange surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~8
Figure 9~12
AI summary
A machine (1;20;30) for the thermal processing of unpackaged products, in particular food products, comprising a vat (2) with lateral walls (3;5,22) for containing the product; a heat exchanger (4), coupled to the vat (2) and supported by said lateral walls (3;5,22), with at least one heat exchange surface (3;5,22) for product contact; scraping means (6), coupled to and moveable with respect to said heat exchange surface (3;5,22). At least one such heat exchange surface (3;5,22) is essentially cylindrical in shape; said scraping means (6), comprising springing means (7) and provided with at least one straight scraping edge (8) capable of coming into elastically sprung contact with at least one such heat exchange surface (3;5,22).