Automatic Food Skinning Device with Dynamic Hold-Down Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skinning methods for fish fillets, such as using knives or conveyor-fed machines, often result in lacerations, poor yields, and damage due to inconsistent pressure and aggressive hold-down mechanisms, which are not adaptable to varying product thicknesses or orientations.
Innovation Solution
An automatic skinning device with a hold-down mechanism linked to the skinning mechanism, using deformable discs for consistent pressure and adjusting pressure during the skinning process to prevent damage, allowing for head-first or tail-first feeding and easy adjustment for different skin thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a knife or conveyor-fed skinning machine is used, then skinning can be performed, but lacerations and repetitive motion injuries occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional knife-based mechanical cutting system with a drum-based frictional dragging system. The skin is removed by friction between the product surface and the drum surface, eliminating the need for sharp blades and manual knife operations, thereby preventing lacerations and repetitive motion injuries while maintaining skinning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary drum mechanism between the product and the skinning action. The drum rotates against the product surface, mediating the skin removal process through controlled friction rather than direct knife contact, which reduces harmful mechanical stress on both the operator and the product
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional hold-down devices are used, then pressure is applied to keep product in place, but damage and yield loss occur due to aggressive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic hold-down mechanism where rollers can independently adjust their position and pressure application points. This allows the system to adapt to varying product shapes and thicknesses, maintaining stable positioning without applying excessive aggressive pressure that would cause damage or yield loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies hold-down pressure locally at specific points rather than uniformly across the entire product surface. The rollers are positioned to contact only necessary areas for stabilization, leaving other areas free from pressure-induced damage, thus maintaining product integrity while ensuring proper positioning
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment is required for different skin thicknesses, then adaptability is reduced, but automation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-adjusting mechanism where the drum system automatically adapts to different product dimensions and skin thicknesses through feedback from sensors or mechanical linkages. The system self-regulates pressure and rotation parameters without requiring manual intervention, maintaining high adaptability while minimizing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal drum-based skinning mechanism that can handle multiple product types and skin thicknesses through a single integrated system. The drum's rotational speed, surface characteristics, and positioning can be varied to accommodate different products, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices or complex manual adjustment mechanisms
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 device minimizes skin patches, reduces damage and yield loss, and eliminates the need for manual adjustments, providing a more efficient and gentle skinning process that adapts to varying product shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of deformable curved spokes 44 that extend from a central opening 46 to the outer perimeter 42
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.