Vertically Stacked Feed Production System With Gravity-Assisted Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock and animal feed production processes rely on horizontally oriented production methods, leading to high energy costs and contamination issues due to horizontal transport of raw materials, which does not meet the stringent requirements for food industry standards.
Innovation Solution
A vertically oriented production system where treatment machines move horizontally, utilizing gravity for material displacement and alternating static and dynamic treatment layers to minimize transport and reduce contamination, with mobile treatment modules dockable between static layers and equipped with input and output buffers for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If horizontal transport of raw materials is used in production processes, then ease of operation is maintained, but energy consumption increases and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal transport to vertical transport by stacking treatment layers one above another. Raw materials are fed at the top and discharged at the bottom, utilizing gravity for material flow. This dimensional change eliminates the need for horizontal conveyors and reduces energy consumption while maintaining operational simplicity through automated vertical processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal production flow by implementing a vertical configuration where treatment modules are stacked and move vertically rather than horizontally. This inversion allows gravity to assist material flow, reducing the energy required for transport while maintaining ease of operation through automated module movement and positioning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If horizontal transport of raw materials is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but contamination of products occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By stacking treatment layers vertically and feeding materials from top to bottom, the patent eliminates horizontal conveyors that are sources of contamination. The vertical configuration with gravity-assisted flow reduces contact points and potential contamination routes while maintaining operational simplicity through automated module positioning and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the production system into separate vertical treatment layers, each handling specific processing tasks. This segmentation isolates different processing stages vertically, reducing cross-contamination risks between stages while maintaining ease of operation through modular design that allows independent module movement and positioning.
3Use of energy by moving object
If mobile treatment modules move horizontally between docking locations, then adaptability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the movement direction of treatment modules from horizontal to vertical, with modules moving between docking locations on different vertical levels. This vertical movement utilizes gravity for material flow between layers, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adaptability through the ability to position modules at various vertical docking locations for different processing configurations.
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 approach reduces energy consumption and contamination by ensuring all material flow is from top to bottom under gravity, minimizing horizontal transport and enabling simultaneous processing and transport, thus meeting the stringent requirements for both animal feed and food products.
Implementation Method 1
For the necessary displacement of the substances used in the process, inter alia intermediate products, maximum use is being made of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
System for the production of animal feed and/or food products, comprising static treatments such as storage, heating, drying, cooling, etc., dynamic treatments such as cleaning, blending, grinding etc., and transport operations. The system comprises a housing and/or framework (2) with vertically stacked, each horizontally extending treatment layers, of which the static treatment layers (3), arranged for the predominantly static treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, and the dynamic treatment layers (4), arranged for intermediate transport and the predominantly dynamic treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, alternating each other vertically. The static treatment layers comprise static treatment modules (5) for performing predominantly static treatments. The dynamic treatment layers are provided with mobile treatment modules (8) for performing predominantly dynamic treatments, wherein the mobile treatment modules are displaced in the horizontal direction between the docking locations (A, B) during the treatment of the material. Furthermore, a vertical cleaning channel (14) is provided and the housing is tower-shaped and provided with solar panels, windmill blades and an electricity generator.