Automatic meat transfer and cutting system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic meat transfer and cutting system designed to organically integrate the processes from the input of raw meat to transfer and cutting, and comprises: a transfer unit that transfers raw meat from a loading section to a cutting section; and a cutting unit that cuts the raw meat transferred from the transfer unit according to a preset input value.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic meat conveying and cutting system, and more specifically, to an automatic meat conveying and cutting system designed to organically integrate the processes from the input of raw meat to conveying and cutting, enabling batch processing. Background Technology

[0003] The meat processing industry necessarily involves a process of cutting raw meat into uniform sizes or thicknesses to commercialize it, in order to meet the diverse tastes and demands of consumers.

[0004] Conventional meat processing methods primarily relied on manual labor or the use of semi-automated simple shredders.

[0005] However, manual meat processing had limitations, such as inconsistent size and quality of chopped meat depending on the worker's skill level, and there was always a risk of safety accidents caused by sharp cutting blades.

[0006] In addition, the repeated exposure of meat to human hands raised concerns about cross-contamination, revealing vulnerabilities in terms of food hygiene management.

[0007] To overcome this, numerous devices for automatically transporting and cutting meat have been developed and introduced to industrial sites.

[0008] However, in existing automated facilities, the speed of the transfer conveyor and the operating speed of the cutting blade are often driven independently, so bottlenecks frequently occurred before the cutting section due to timing mismatches between the two processes, causing raw meat to be pushed back or stall.

[0009] This bottleneck phenomenon caused the texture of the raw meat to be crushed or damaged, significantly lowering the marketability of the final product.

[0010] Furthermore, the process of applying additives such as seasonings or preservatives to enhance the flavor or shelf life of meat is typically performed on separate lines before and after cutting, which resulted in a longer overall processing workflow and reduced production efficiency.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop a system that can fundamentally solve the problems of the aforementioned conventional technology by seamlessly linking the flow from the input of raw meat to cutting and precisely synchronizing the conveying speed and cutting speed.

[0012] Meanwhile, the aforementioned background technology is technical information that the inventor possessed for the derivation of the present invention or acquired during the process of deriving the present invention, and it cannot necessarily be considered publicly known technology disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present invention. Prior art literature

[0014] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0031746 (Published on April 4, 2012) The problem to be solved

[0015] The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide an automatic meat transfer and cutting system capable of stably transferring raw meat from the loading section to the cutting section, while simultaneously precisely coordinating the cutting speed and transfer timing according to preset input values ​​to prevent bottlenecks and damage to the raw meat during the meat processing process.

[0016] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0018] An automatic meat conveying and cutting system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a conveying unit that conveys raw meat from a loading section to a cutting section; and a cutting unit that cuts the raw meat delivered from the conveying unit according to a preset input value.

[0019] In one embodiment, the conveying unit can control the conveying speed to match the cutting speed of the cutting unit so as to perform continuous conveying of raw meat.

[0020] An automatic meat conveying and cutting system according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include an additive application device that applies an additive to raw meat and then transfers it to the conveying unit.

[0021] In one embodiment, the additive application device may include: a transfer rail installed at an earlier stage of the transfer unit; a slider that slides along the transfer rail; a lifting winch installed on the slider that moves the raw meat up and down and transfers the raw meat coated with additives to the transfer unit; and an additive application unit installed on the lower side of the transfer rail that sprays the additives to apply them to the raw meat when the raw meat moves down and up by the lifting winch.

[0022] In one embodiment, the additive application unit may include: a unit body formed in a circular ring shape that forms an inner space sufficient for raw meat to move along the inner side; a rotating ring-shaped frame connected and installed along the inner circumference of the unit body and driven to rotate; a support ring-shaped frame formed in a circular ring shape with a diameter smaller than that of the rotating ring-shaped frame and disposed inside the rotating ring-shaped frame; a spray nozzle installed along the inner circumference of the support ring-shaped frame and spraying additives in the direction of raw meat moving along the inner side of the support ring-shaped frame while rotating together with the support ring-shaped frame as it rotates; and an airflow inducing part installed between the rotating ring-shaped frame and the support ring-shaped frame to support the support ring-shaped frame and to rotate the support ring-shaped frame together with the rotating ring-shaped frame as it rotates, while simultaneously inducing an upward or downward airflow.

[0023] In one embodiment, the spray nozzle may include: a nozzle mount in which a plurality of nozzles are connected and installed so as to be rotatable at regular intervals along the inner circumference of the support ring-shaped frame, and a nozzle mounting groove is formed on the front surface exposed from the inner circumference of the support ring-shaped frame, with the inner diameter tapering inwardly; a spray tip installed on the inclined surface of the nozzle mounting groove to spray an additive, wherein the direction of the additive spraying changes continuously as the nozzle mount rotates; a rotary driving ring installed along the inner side of the support ring-shaped frame to be rotatably driven; and a rotary driving gear installed by axial coupling to the nozzle mount and connected and engaged with the rotary driving ring by gear coupling, which rotates as the rotary driving ring rotates to rotate the nozzle mount.

[0024] In one embodiment, the airflow guide may include: an angle adjustment ring installed along the inner side of the rotating ring-shaped frame and driven to rotate; a plurality of flip wings spaced apart at regular intervals between the rotating ring-shaped frame and the support ring-shaped frame; a wing rotation shaft installed at the middle of the flip wings to support and connect the flip wings so that they can rotate between the rotating ring-shaped frame and the support ring-shaped frame, and rotates in a forward or reverse direction to adjust the arrangement angle of the flip wings; and a rotation gear installed by shaft coupling on one side of the wing rotation shaft, connected by engaging with the angle adjustment ring by gear coupling, and rotating the wing rotation shaft together as the angle adjustment ring rotates in a forward or reverse direction. Effects of the invention

[0026] The automatic meat conveying and cutting system according to one embodiment of the present invention combines the conveying and cutting processes of raw meat into a single automated system, thereby fundamentally eliminating the risk of safety accidents that may occur during manual work and significantly improving the overall hygiene level of the processing process.

[0027] In addition, by stably maintaining a constant alignment state and an appropriate entry speed when the raw meat is transferred to the cutting unit through the conveying unit, tissue damage to the raw meat is minimized, and high-quality processed meat with an even and clean cut surface can be consistently produced.

[0028] Furthermore, since continuous unmanned cutting operations can be performed while flexibly responding to variations in the shape or weight of the input raw meat, it provides the advantageous effect of maximizing the production yield of the entire meat processing line and drastically reducing the time required for the process.

[0029] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and various effects may be included within the scope obvious to a person skilled in the art from the contents described below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an automatic meat conveying and cutting system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a drawing showing another embodiment of an automatic meat conveying and cutting system. Figure 3 is a drawing showing the additive application device of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a drawing showing the additive application unit of Figure 3. Figures 5 and 6 are drawings showing the injection nozzle of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a drawing showing the airflow guide of Figure 4. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0032] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that various embodiments of the invention are different but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in relation to one embodiment. It should also be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not intended to be limiting, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims, including all equivalents to those claimed therein, provided appropriately described. Similar reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions across various aspects.

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an automatic meat conveying and cutting system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic meat conveying and cutting system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a conveying unit (100) and a cutting unit (200).

[0036] The transfer unit (100) performs the role of stably transferring raw meat from the loading section to the cutting section, and by transferring it to the cutting unit (200) while firmly maintaining a preset alignment state regardless of the shape or weight variation of the raw meat, it enables precise targeting in the subsequent cutting process.

[0037] In one embodiment, the transfer unit (100) may include a configuration that controls the transfer speed in accordance with the cutting speed of the cutting unit (200).

[0038] The transfer unit (100) receives real-time load status and cutting speed data of the cutting unit (200) to enable continuous transfer of raw meat (1), and actively and variably controls the driving speed of its own drive unit. By doing so, it fundamentally prevents bottlenecks or stagnation of the raw meat (1) that may occur before entering the cutting section, thereby inducing a smooth process flow.

[0039] A transfer unit (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention having the configuration described above contributes significantly to preventing overloading of the entire system and extending the lifespan of the equipment by establishing a smart transfer environment that is perfectly synchronized with the work pace of the cutting unit (200).

[0040] The cutting unit (200) precisely cuts the raw meat (1) delivered from the conveying unit (100) according to a preset input value, and by finely adjusting the entry angle and descent speed of the cutting blade in conjunction with the conveying timing of the conveying unit (100), it provides the effect of minimizing tissue damage to the raw meat (1) and maximizing the quality of the cut surface.

[0041] The automatic meat transfer and cutting system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention, having the configuration described above, can improve hygiene by excluding the intervention of a worker and dramatically increase the production yield of the entire process by organically integrating and automating the transfer and processing mechanism from the input of raw meat (1) to the final cutting.

[0043] Figure 2 is a drawing showing another embodiment of an automatic meat conveying and cutting system.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 2, an automatic meat conveying and cutting system (20) according to another embodiment includes a conveying unit (100), a cutting unit (200), and an additive application device (300).

[0045] Here, the transfer unit (100) and the shredding unit (200) are identical to the components of FIG. 1, so the description is omitted to avoid duplication of description.

[0046] The additive application device (300) applies the additive to the raw meat (1) and then transfers it to the transfer unit (100), and by uniformly applying the additive, such as seasoning or preservative, to the surface of the raw meat (1), it provides the effect of improving the flavor of the product and extending its shelf life.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, the 'additive' applied to the raw meat through the additive application device (300) encompasses all forms of substances added to improve the marketability, flavor, preservation, and functionality of the raw meat, and is not limited to any one type.

[0048] Specifically, the above additive may include the following substances depending on the purpose.

[0049] First, as a flavor enhancer to enhance the taste and aroma of raw meat, at least one of natural seasoning powders such as refined salt, sea salt, herbs, spices, garlic extract, and onion extract, a marinade liquid sauce for marinating meat, natural flavorings, and artificial flavorings may be applied.

[0050] Second, as preservation enhancers and antioxidants to inhibit the proliferation of microorganisms and extend shelf life, organic acids such as citric acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid, antioxidant substances such as potassium sorbate, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and tocopherol, or natural antimicrobial extracts may be applied.

[0051] Third, as water-retention and meat quality improvers to prevent drip loss and impart a tender texture, phosphates (such as sodium polyphosphate) that increase the water retention capacity of meat, brine (a mixture of purified water and salt), or plant-based protein-degrading enzymes (meat tenderizers) such as papain and bromelain that soften the meat may be applied. In addition, functional substances such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids may be included to provide additional nutrition to consumers.

[0052] In addition, the additive may be provided in the form of a liquid, a viscous gel, or fine powder and aerosol depending on its physical properties. The additive application unit (340) of the present invention can actively vary the airflow intensity of the airflow induction unit (345) and the spray pressure of the spray nozzle (344) in response to the physical properties (viscosity, particle size, etc.) of the supplied additive, thereby allowing any form of additive, such as liquid or powder, to be uniformly applied to the surface of the raw meat without clumping.

[0053] The automatic meat conveying and cutting system (20) according to another embodiment having the configuration described above can maximize work efficiency and produce meat products of consistent quality by integrating the additive application process before the conveying and cutting process into a single automated line.

[0055] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the additive application device of Figure 2.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 3, the additive application device (300) includes a transfer rail (310), a slider (320), a lifting winch (330), and an additive application unit (340).

[0057] The transfer rail (310) is installed at the stage prior to the transfer unit (100) and supports smooth and precise linkage between processes by providing a guide path that allows the slider (320), which will be described later, to move stably without shaking.

[0058] The slider (320) slides along the conveyor rail (310) and performs the role of quickly and accurately transporting a heavy raw meat (1) to a designated work position, thereby shortening the process tact time.

[0059] The lifting winch (330) is installed on the slider (320) and lifts and moves the raw meat by suspending it through a hook or clamp-shaped binding means (not shown in the drawing) provided at the end, and finely adjusts the height so that the raw meat vertically penetrates the inner space in the center of the additive application unit (340), thereby increasing the targeting accuracy in the application process and smoothly inducing the subsequent transfer process.

[0060] The additive application unit (340) is installed on the lower side of the transfer rail (310) and sprays the additive to the raw meat (1) when the raw meat (1) is lowered and raised by the lifting winch (330), and the additive is evenly sprayed without any blind spots even on the curved surface and between the fine wrinkles of the raw meat (1), thereby greatly improving the overall coating quality.

[0061] An additive coating device (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention having the configuration described above can minimize waste of additives and ensure a uniform and high-quality coating state throughout the entire product by implementing a three-dimensional additive spraying mechanism that is organically linked with the vertical and horizontal movement trajectories of the raw meat (1).

[0063] Figure 4 is a drawing showing the additive application unit of Figure 3.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 4, the additive application unit (340) includes a unit body (341), a rotating ring-shaped frame (342), a supporting ring-shaped frame (343), a spray nozzle (344), and an airflow guide (345).

[0065] The unit body (341) is formed in a circular ring shape that forms an inner space sufficient for the raw meat (1) to move along the inside, and acts as a physical partition to prevent the scattering of additive dust, thereby maintaining a hygienic environment inside the workplace and increasing the convenience of maintenance.

[0066] The rotating ring-shaped frame (342) is connected and installed along the inner surface of the unit body (341) to rotate, and serves as a base that stably transmits rotational power without interruption to the supporting ring-shaped frame (343) to be described later.

[0067] The support ring-shaped frame (343) is formed in the shape of a circular ring with a diameter smaller than that of the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and is positioned inside the rotating ring-shaped frame (342). It forms a rigid structural support that is synchronized with the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and can continuously rotate around the circumference of the raw meat in a forward or reverse direction as shown by the arrow in the drawing.

[0068] The spray nozzles (344) are spaced at equal intervals in the circumferential direction along the inner surface of the support ring-shaped frame (343) as shown in the drawing, forming a radial concentrated spray structure toward the center where the raw meat is located, and spray additives in the direction of the raw meat (1) moving along the inner side of the support ring-shaped frame (343) while rotating together with the support ring-shaped frame (343) as it rotates, and induce the additives to penetrate deeply into and adhere to the surface of the raw meat (1) by striking the additives radially from all directions of 360 degrees.

[0069] The airflow induction unit (345) is installed between the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and the supporting ring-shaped frame (343) to support the supporting ring-shaped frame (343), and as the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) rotates, it rotates the supporting ring-shaped frame (343) together with it and induces an upward or downward airflow, and through the induced vortex, prevents the sprayed additive from escaping to the outside and creates an aerodynamic coating effect that strongly presses the additive toward the surface of the raw meat (1).

[0070] An additive application unit (340) according to one embodiment of the present invention having the configuration described above can maximize the adhesion efficiency of the additive and drastically reduce the time required for the application process by combining a multi-directional dynamic spray structure that rotates around the raw meat (1) and active airflow control technology.

[0072] Figures 5 and 6 are drawings showing the injection nozzle of Figure 4.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the injection nozzle (344) includes a nozzle mount (3441), an injection tip (3442), a rotary drive ring (3443), and a rotary drive gear (3444).

[0074] A plurality of nozzle mounts (3441) are rotatably connected and installed at regular intervals along the inner surface of a support ring-shaped frame (343), and a nozzle mounting groove (3441a) is formed on the front surface exposed from the inner surface of the support ring-shaped frame (343) so as to tape down to gradually decrease in diameter as it goes inward, and serves as a guide to protect the spray tip (3442) from external impact while gathering the initial spray trajectory of the additive to the center.

[0075] The spray tip (3442) is installed on the inclined surface of the nozzle mounting groove (3441a) to spray additives, and is positioned at an angle set with respect to the rotational center axis of the nozzle mount (3441) so that the direction of the spraying of additives changes continuously as the nozzle mount (3441) rotates, thereby breaking away from monotonous unidirectional spraying and forming a dynamic three-dimensional spraying pattern in the shape of a spiral or cone, which helps the additives to perfectly penetrate even the fine crevices and uneven parts of the raw meat (1).

[0076] The rotary drive ring (3443) is installed along the inner side of the support ring-shaped frame (343) and is rotaryly driven, serving as a core drive source that supplies collective and uniform rotational power to a plurality of nozzle mounts (3441).

[0077] The rotary drive gear (3444) is installed by axial coupling to the nozzle mount (3441) and is connected by engaging with the rotary drive ring (3443) by gear coupling. As the rotary drive ring (3443) rotates, the rotary drive gear (3444) rotates, thereby rotating the nozzle mount (3441). The rotational speed of the spray tip (3442) is precisely controlled according to the set gear ratio to achieve an optimal spray density and angle suitable for the characteristics of the target raw meat (1).

[0078] A spray nozzle (344) according to one embodiment of the present invention having the configuration described above can form a high-quality additive coating layer without blind spots even on the surface of raw meat (1) with an irregular shape by applying a dual rotational spray mechanism in which the orbital motion of the entire unit and the rotational motion of individual nozzles are combined.

[0080] Figure 7 is a drawing showing the airflow guide of Figure 4.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 7, the airflow guide (345) includes an angle adjustment ring (3451), a flip wing (3452), a wing rotation axis (3453), and a rotation gear (3454).

[0082] The angle adjustment ring (3451) is installed along the inner side of the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and rotates, and provides a control base that can immediately vary the direction and intensity of the airflow according to the situation by providing a mechanical driving displacement for controlling the pitch angle of the flip wing (3452) to be described later.

[0083] A plurality of flip wings (3452) are spaced apart at regular intervals between the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and the supporting ring-shaped frame (343), and when the entire unit rotates, they actively utilize air resistance to compress the surrounding air and push it in a specific direction to form a strong downward or upward airflow barrier that surrounds the raw meat (1).

[0084] The wing rotation axis (3453) is installed in the middle of the flip wing (3452) to support the flip wing (3452) after connecting it so that it can rotate between the rotating ring-shaped frame (342) and the supporting ring-shaped frame (343), and rotates in a forward or reverse direction to adjust the placement angle of the flip wing (3452), and reverses the flow of air or generates intentional turbulence according to the stage of the coating process to maximize the kinetic energy of the sprayed additive particles.

[0085] The rotating gear (3454) is installed on one side of the wing rotation axis (3453) by means of an axial connection and is connected to the angle adjustment ring (3451) by means of a gear connection. As relative rotation (difference in rotational speed) occurs between the angle adjustment ring (3451) and the rotating ring-shaped frame (342), it rotates to rotate the wing rotation axis (3453) together, thereby ensuring that a plurality of flip wings (3452) rotate in synchronization at the same angle without error, thereby maintaining a stable and uniform aerodynamic environment.

[0086] The airflow induction unit (345) according to one embodiment of the present invention having the configuration described above can fundamentally prevent fine particle-shaped additives from scattering into the air and induce them to be concentratedly struck toward the raw meat (1) through active airflow control via precise angle adjustment of the flip wing, thereby significantly improving overall coating efficiency and economic efficiency.

[0088] The embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above can be easily modified into other specific forms without altering the technical concept or essential features of the embodiments described above. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single unit may be implemented in a distributed manner, and components described as distributed may likewise be implemented in a combined form.

[0090] The scope of protection sought through this specification is defined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description above, and should be interpreted to include all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the concept of equivalents. Explanation of the symbols

[0092] 10, 20: Automatic Meat Transfer and Cutting System 100: Transfer unit 200: Shredding unit 300: Additive application device 310: Transfer rail 320: Slider 330: Lifting winch 340: Additive application unit

Claims

Claim 1 An automatic meat transfer and cutting system comprising: a transfer unit for transferring raw meat from a loading section to a cutting section; a cutting unit for cutting raw meat delivered from the transfer unit according to a preset input value; and an additive application device for applying an additive to the raw meat and delivering it to the transfer unit; wherein the additive application device comprises: a transfer rail installed at a stage prior to the transfer unit; a slider that slides along the transfer rail; a lifting winch installed on the slider to move the raw meat up and down and deliver the raw meat coated with the additive to the transfer unit; and an additive application unit installed on the lower side of the transfer rail and spraying the additive to apply it to the raw meat when the raw meat is lowered and moved up and down by the lifting winch. Claim 2 In claim 1, the automatic meat conveying and cutting system, wherein the conveying unit controls the conveying speed in accordance with the cutting speed of the cutting unit so as to perform continuous conveying of raw meat. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete

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