Brine Injection Machine With Integrated Filtration and Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brine injection machines lack an integrated brine filtering system, leading to increased operational space requirements and difficulty in maintenance and inspection of filtration components, while also failing to efficiently control brine levels and detect clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
A brine injection machine with an integrated pre-filtering and fine filtering system within the main frame, featuring a detachable auxiliary frame for easy maintenance, electronic control for brine level management, and clogging detection using sensors and machine learning algorithms to optimize brine recycling and injection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brine filtering unit is added to the injection machine, then brine filtration and recycling capability is improved, but device complexity and operational space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pre-filtering unit, fine filtering unit, pre-filtered brine tank, and pumping unit completely within the main frame of the injection machine. The pre-filtering unit is mounted on the conveyor structure, and the fine filtering unit is installed inside the pre-filtered brine tank, creating a compact integrated filtration system that reduces overall device complexity despite adding filtration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The fine filtering unit is nested inside the pre-filtered brine tank, with filtration elements arranged adjacent to the bottom of the tank. The pre-filtering unit is mounted on the conveyor structure, utilizing existing structural space. This nesting approach allows multiple filtration components to occupy minimal space within the machine framework.
2Area of stationary object
If filtration components are integrated within the main frame, then operational space requirements are reduced, but maintenance and inspection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is divided into modular units: a pre-filtering unit mounted on the conveyor structure and a fine filtering unit inside the pre-filtered brine tank. The pre-filtering unit can be detached from the conveyor structure, allowing maintenance personnel to access and service the pre-filter element without disassembling the entire machine, thus maintaining ease of repair while achieving compact integration.
3Measurement precision
If electronic control and sensors are added for brine level management and clogging detection, then injection precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs automatic level sensing and clogging detection that triggers automated responses. Level sensors detect brine levels in the tank and supply circuit, while clogging sensors monitor the filtration system. When clogging is detected, the system automatically alerts operators and can automatically adjust pumping operations, reducing the need for complex manual control systems while maintaining high measurement precision.
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
Reduces operational space requirements, simplifies maintenance, ensures precise brine control, and promptly alerts for clogging, thereby maintaining efficient brine injection operations.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-filtering unit arranged below the conveyor so as to receive surplus brine from the brine injection operation and configured for pre-filtering the surplus brine
Implementation Method 2
a pumping unit configured and arranged for suctioning the pre-filtered brine from the pre-filtered brine tank through a fine filtering unit and recycling the filtered brine to the brine supply circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A brine injection machine for injecting brine to meat pieces is provided. The machine comprises an auxiliary frame (10) configured to carry a pre-filtering unit (6), and a pre-filtered brine tank (7), the auxiliary frame being detachable with regard to the main frame (1). At least one level sensors (32) is configured for detecting an amount of pre-filtered brine in the pre-filtered brine tank (7), and an electronic control device is configured for controlling the brine injection operation as a function of the amount of pre-filtered brine in the pre-filtered brine tank (7) that can be recycled, as detected by the at least one level sensor (32) at the end of a brine injection cycle. It is also disclosed a method for operating a brine injection machine according to the invention.