Vibrating Screen Conveyor for Separating Cereal Clumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food production systems face inefficiencies in separating stuck food pieces and removing clumps, particularly in mass production of cereals, where current methods like vibrating screens are time-consuming and require extensive cleaning during product changeovers.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating conveyor pan with a terminal screen unit and an upstanding deflector member directs food pieces onto a screen with spaced slots, allowing individual pieces to pass through while larger pieces are directed to an upwardly angling portion for manual removal, and the entire system is designed for easy cleaning and reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elongated vibrating screen is used to separate food pieces and remove clumps, then the separation function is effective, but the cleaning time is excessive (up to two hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently removed and cleaned. Each section is a self-contained unit with standardized dimensions, allowing rapid disassembly and reassembly without requiring cleaning of the entire elongated screen structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen transitions from a static elongated structure to a dynamic modular system where sections can be easily added, removed, and reconfigured. This dynamic design enables quick changeovers by simply swapping screen sections rather than cleaning the entire screen.
2Manufacturing precision
If an elongated vibrating screen is used for scalping food pieces, then individual pieces can be separated, but production downtime during product changeover is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is segmented into standardized modular sections that can be quickly swapped during product changeovers. Each module maintains the separation functionality while enabling rapid reconfiguration for different product specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular screen sections are designed with universal interfaces and standardized dimensions, allowing the same hardware components to serve multiple product types. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated screens for each product, reducing changeover time while maintaining separation quality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a traditional elongated screen is used, then clumps can be broken apart, but the system requires extensive cleaning and reconfiguration for product changes
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is divided into independent modular sections that can be easily removed and cleaned separately. Each module maintains the clump-breaking functionality through its vibrating mechanism and screen surface geometry, while the modular design simplifies reconfiguration for different products.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen sections are extracted as removable modules from the overall system, allowing them to be taken out for cleaning and reconfiguration without disassembling the entire elongated screen structure. This extraction approach reduces reconfiguration complexity while preserving clump removal capabilities.
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 setup efficiently separates and processes individual food pieces with reduced production downtime and allows for quick cleaning and product changeovers, enhancing overall production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The application of a vibrating effect causes the pieces to travel to the screen unit
Implementation Method 2
The screen unit includes a plurality of spaced slots through which the individual food pieces must pass
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for separating multiple food pieces and removing clumps from food pieces in order to process individual pieces for subsequent packaging includes a vibrating conveyor bed which receives a substantially continuous supply of a dried product, such as RTE cereal or another snack product, and delivers the dried product to a screen unit including a plurality of spaced slots through which only individual food pieces can pass for further processing. Prior to the screen unit, the bed can be provided with an upstanding deflector member which diverts the traveling food product away from a discharge chute and onto the screen unit. In any case, the screen unit includes an upwardly angling portion, extending away from the discharge chute, for retaining product which needs to be further processed, while the discharge chute also has an associated, raised lip for product retention purposes.