Carcass Cutting Device with Protruding Edge Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The position of separation of a slaughtered animal's head is not well controlled in existing cutting devices, leading to inefficiencies and the presence of bone fragments in the cut carcass parts.
Innovation Solution
A cutting device with knives featuring a protruding cutting edge portion centrally located on at least one knife, which guides along the cranium posterior side to ensure precise cutting close to the head, minimizing bone fragments and maximizing meat yield, and an automated system for positioning and moving the knives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional mechanical scissor knives are used for cutting, then the cutting device is simple in structure, but the position of separation is not well controlled leading to bone fragments in the cut carcass parts
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is divided into two independent but cooperating knives, each with its own drive mechanism. This segmentation allows each knife to be controlled independently to achieve precise separation positioning while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide mechanism acts as an intermediary between the drive system and the cutting knives, ensuring precise positioning and control of the separation point. This intermediary component enables accurate cutting position control without requiring complex direct control systems.
2Loss of substance
If the cutting position is moved closer to the head to maximize meat yield, then more meat remains on the trunk, but the risk of cutting into the cranium increases causing bone fragments
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect the position and orientation of the cranium in real-time, providing feedback to the control system. This allows the cutting position to be dynamically adjusted to maximize meat yield while preventing cutting into the cranium and avoiding bone fragments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning and positioning actions before the actual cutting occurs. The knives are positioned and aligned in advance based on detected anatomical landmarks, ensuring the cutting path is optimized for meat yield while safely avoiding the cranium.
3Productivity
If manual operation is used for simplicity, then the device is easy to operate, but productivity is limited compared to automated systems
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to different operating modes. The system can operate in manual mode for simplicity and flexibility, or switch to automated mode for high productivity, with smooth transitions between modes maintained through dynamic control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (30) for cutting the head off a slaughtered animal's carcass comprising: at least two knives (31,32), both provided with a cutting edge (33, 34); and controls for moving the knives towards and away from each other such that the cutting edges of the knives cooperate in a cutting action, whereby at least one of the knives is provided with a position-finding protruding cutting edge portion (35,36). The invention also relates to an automatic work station comprising such a cutting device and a manipulator for positioning the cutting device. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for cutting the head off a slaughtered animal's carcass.