Vacuum Transfer Apparatus with Automated Weighing Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum transfer systems for food products, such as marinated chicken, face challenges in minimizing moisture loss during processing and lack automation in controlling product ingress and quantity into a vacuum chamber, leading to inefficiencies in product transfer and weighing.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an electronic sensor to control the gate opening time and strain gauge load cells on a portioning hopper to automate the product transfer process, ensuring precise control over the quantity of chicken fillets entering the vacuum chamber and minimizing moisture loss by using a combination of timing circuits and a paddle wheel to adjust the transfer rate based on weight data from the load cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual control of product transfer is used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but productivity and measurement precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic control by feeding back weight measurements from load cells to control the vacuum source timing, replacing manual control and improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated feedback loops
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with electronic sensing and control systems, using load cells and automated timing circuits to control the vacuum source, thereby improving productivity and measurement precision
2Loss of time
If extended exposure to atmospheric conditions occurs during transfer, then transfer time increases, but moisture loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous vacuum pressure throughout the transfer process by coordinating the vacuum source operation with the gate timing, ensuring product remains under vacuum protection and preventing moisture loss while enabling efficient transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent activates the vacuum source before opening the product gate and maintains vacuum pressure during the entire transfer process, preparing the environment in advance to prevent moisture loss before exposure occurs
3Manufacturing precision
If precise product weighing is implemented, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses load cells to continuously monitor product weight and feeds this information back to control the vacuum source timing and gate operation, achieving precise quantity control through automated feedback rather than complex mechanical weighing mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the load cells into the existing hopper structure, allowing the same component to serve both structural support and weight measurement functions, thereby improving manufacturing precision without significantly increasing device complexity
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
This solution effectively reduces moisture loss and automates the product transfer process, allowing for precise control over the quantity of food products transferred, improving the efficiency and accuracy of vacuum transfer operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one strain gauge load cells on a hopper for determining product weight in the hopper
Implementation Method 2
transport of the food product is drawn into a vacuum chamber from the hopper upon activation of the vacuum source
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum transfer apparatus and process with weighing controls. An exemplary vacuum transfer apparatus includes a hopper that retains food product and includes a discharge port. A vacuum chamber has an inlet coupled to the discharge port of the hopper, and a member that is time-controlled to dispense product from the vacuum chamber. A portioning hopper receives product from the vacuum chamber and dispenses a predetermined weight of product.