Articulating Stripper Plate Dislodges Lodged Meat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated meat processing equipment for poultry thighs often experiences issues with meat lodging in or on stripper plates, leading to malfunctions and the need for manual intervention, particularly in the United States where chicken thighs are larger and meatier, causing inefficiencies in processing.
Innovation Solution
An improved meat stripper apparatus with articulating stripper plates that can pivot to dislodge and drop lodged meat into a collection location, utilizing a cam mechanism and magnetic biasing to ensure efficient meat separation and collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed stripper plates are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but meat becomes lodged in or on the stripper plates and does not fall to collection location
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper plate is transformed from a fixed static component to a dynamic articulating component that can pivot between a stripping position and a dislodging position. This dynamic capability allows the plate to actively dislodge and drop lodged meat into the collection location, resolving the reliability issue while adding controlled complexity to the device.
2Productivity
If larger U.S. chicken thighs are processed, then product demand is met, but meat lodging in stripper plates becomes more prevalent
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating mechanism enables the stripper plate to adapt its position dynamically during the stripping cycle, allowing effective handling of larger, meatier U.S. chicken thighs. The pivot action creates additional motion that dislodges meat that would otherwise become lodged, maintaining reliability while processing larger products.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the stripper plate by introducing angular movement and position variation. This parameter change allows the plate to effectively process larger thigh dimensions while preventing meat lodging through the articulating dislodging action.
3Reliability
If manual monitoring and intervention are implemented, then lodged meat can be removed, but processing efficiency decreases and additional personnel are required
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating stripper plate performs self-service by automatically dislodging and dropping lodged meat into the collection location through its pivot action. This eliminates the need for manual monitoring and intervention, maintaining reliability while preserving processing efficiency and eliminating the need for additional personnel.
4Extent of automation
If stripper plates are made movable and articulating, then meat can be dislodged automatically, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating stripper plate incorporates a pivot mechanism that provides automatic meat dislodging capability. While this adds movement complexity, the design integrates the articulation into the existing stripper structure, achieving automation without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stripper plate is segmented into movable and fixed portions, with the articulating plate able to pivot independently. This segmentation enables automatic dislodging functionality while keeping the overall device architecture relatively simple and manageable.
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
The solution effectively prevents meat from lodging on the stripper plates, allowing for automatic collection and reducing the need for manual intervention, enhancing processing efficiency and reliability in poultry processing plants.
Implementation Method 1
meat lodged in or on the pivot plates is dislodged and dropped from the meat stripper to a collection location below
Implementation Method 2
magnets in the pivot shaft and pivot block that urge the pivot shaft and pivot plate to the stripping position with interacting magnetic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A meat stripper is disclosed for stripping meat from the bone of an animal part. The meat stripper includes a slide block and a first stripper plate assembly including an arm pivotally mounted to the slide block and having a first stripper plate at an opposite end. A second stripper plate assembly including an arm is pivotally mounted to the slide block and has a second stripper plate at an opposite end with the second stripper plate opposing the first stripper plate. The first and second stripper plates move away from each other to open the meat stripper when the arms are pivoted apart and move toward each other to surround the bone when the arms are pivoted together. A mechanism is disclosed for moving the stripper plates along the length of the bone to strip meat from the bone. A mechanism also is disclosed for articulating at least one of the stripper plates after meat has been stripped from the bone in such a way that meat lodged in or on the stripper is dislodged and falls to a collection location below. In one example, the pivot plate pivots to dislodge the meat and is magnetically biased to a stripping position.