Chicken Leg Slitting Device with Dual Pressing Organs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for slitting chicken legs in processing lines often result in bone splinters and require complex pressurization and depressurization techniques, making the process inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A device with a movable supporting surface and two pressing organs that align the chicken leg into a straight orientation, allowing the knife to slit along the bone from the ankle joint to the thighbone while avoiding bone splinters by stabbing into the flesh adjacent to the bone and maintaining the leg's orientation during cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pressing devices with complex pressurization and depressurization are used, then the leg can be positioned for cutting, but the device complexity increases and the process becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing function is divided into two separate pressing organs: a first pressing organ that presses the leg against the supporting surface, and a second pressing organ that pushes the leg into straight orientation. This segmentation allows each organ to perform a specific function independently, simplifying the overall control mechanism while maintaining reliable positioning and orientation during the slitting process
Solution Approach 2:
The two pressing organs are positioned and configured in advance to automatically align the leg in the correct orientation before the knife engages. The first pressing organ secures the leg against the supporting surface, and the second pressing organ pre-aligns the drum and thigh into substantial straight orientation, eliminating the need for complex real-time pressurization and depressurization adjustments during cutting
2Productivity
If the knife is moved along the bone of the leg, then a slit can be provided, but bone splinters occur
Solution Approach 1:
The movable supporting surface acts as an intermediary that maintains the leg in a stable, straight orientation during the slitting operation. By securing the leg against this supporting surface with the first pressing organ while the second pressing organ maintains straight orientation, the leg remains properly positioned and stabilized, allowing the knife to move along the bone at high speed without causing bone splinters
3Ease of operation
If the leg is not kept in straight orientation, then the positioning is simpler, but the knife cannot accurately slit along the bone from ankle joint to thighbone
Solution Approach 1:
The two pressing organs work together to automatically maintain the leg in straight orientation throughout the slitting process. The first pressing organ secures the leg against the supporting surface, while the second pressing organ continuously pushes the leg into substantial straight orientation of the drum and thigh, ensuring the leg self-maintains the correct position without requiring complex external positioning mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for slitting a chicken leg which is suspended at its ankle joints from a carrier that forms part of a train of carriers that are movable in a processing line that passes the device is provided. A positioning step is applied for placing the leg in a suitable position for cutting the leg. Subsequently in a stabbing step a knife is brought into engagement with the leg. The stabbing step is followed by a slitting step in which the knife is moved along the leg so as to provide a slit in the longitudinal direction of the leg in order to enable a subsequent deboning step of the leg. In the positioning step a first pressing organ engages the leg in the vicinity of the knee joint so as to press the leg against a movable supporting surface for the leg that is positioned opposite to the pressing organ. A second pressing organ engages the leg from the side so as to push the leg into a substantially straight orientation of the drum and the thigh with respect to each other.