2. In a factory, there is a metal mesh conveyor belt which moves semi-
processed material through a 5 meter long furnace. Although material
is properly aligned at furnace input, material emerges at the output in
a misaligned manner. Since it is difficult to see the inside of the
furnace as it is totally encased and extremely hot, nobody knows what
happened inside. Provide potential solutions which have no
productivity impact.
Boundary conditions:
- This is a conveyor in a food processing plant.
- The semi-processed materials are dough.
- The furnace is used to remove moisture from the dough.
- The dough is oval in shape.
- Only metal mesh conveyor is used to transport materials inside
the furnace.
- Metal mesh conveyor is not used outside the furnace to save
cost.
3. Systems Subsystems Supersystems
- Furnace
- Conveyor
- Heating element
- Heat resistant
casing
- Control system
- Conveyor belt
- Motor
- Sprocket
- Bearing
- Roller
- Chain
- Semi-processed
material
- temperature
- humidity
- speed
6. Improving Worsening
- use of energy by moving
object
- productivity
- loss of time
Inventive principles:
- parameter changes
- strong oxidants
- periodic action
- mechanical vibration/oscillation
7. The forward and backward movement of bearing will cause the left
and right oscillation of conveyor, providing a self adjusting
mechanism within an acceptable range.