Clipping Machine Drive Decoupling for Flexible Sausage Gathering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clipping machines for producing sausage-shaped products face challenges in achieving a balance between flexibility in adapting to different products and minimizing construction and control complexity, as they either require a fixed mechanical coupling of drive components or a complex, separate drive system for each component.
Innovation Solution
A clipping machine with a common drive for radial movement of gathering and clipping tools, and a separate drive for axial movement of a displacer unit, controlled by sensors and a control unit, allowing independent adjustment of the plait-like portion length and production cycle optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common drive with fixed mechanical coupling is used for gathering and clipping tools, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different products is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into a common drive for gathering and clipping tools, and a separate drive for the displacer unit. This allows independent control of different components, enabling adaptation to various products while maintaining relatively simple construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control where the separate drive for the displacer unit can be activated or deactivated based on the specific product being manufactured. This dynamic adjustment capability provides flexibility in changing production processes without requiring a completely separate drive system for each component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate drives are provided for each movable major device, then adaptability to different products is maximized, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive functions by providing a common drive for gathering and clipping tools, reducing the total number of separate drives needed. This consolidation maintains adaptability through the addition of a single separate drive for the displacer unit, rather than requiring separate drives for all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The common drive serves multiple functions by driving both the gathering means and clipping tools through fixed mechanical coupling. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity while maintaining the capability to adapt to different products through the separate displacer unit drive.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the displacer unit is axially movable to form plait-like portion, then adaptability to different filling degrees is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented by providing separate control for the displacer unit's axial movement, independent from the common drive. This allows precise adjustment of the plait-like portion length for different filling degrees without adding complex control mechanisms throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that provide feedback on the position and movement of the displacer unit and other components. This feedback mechanism enables precise control of the axial movement for forming plait-like portions of different lengths, simplifying the control amount through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Clipping machine (100) for producing sausage-shaped products comprising a filling tube, gathering means (300) for gathering the casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, the gathering means including a first and second displacer (310, 320), a clipping device (200) having first and second closing tools (212, 222) for applying a closure means to the plait-like portion and closing said closure means, common drive means (400) for commonly moving the gathering means and the clipping tools, single drive means (600) for separately driving the second displacer for forming the plait-like portion, independently from the common drive means, a first sensor (404) associated with the common drive means, a second sensor (604) associated with the single drive means, a discharge device (700) discharging the product from the clipping machine, a third sensor (732) associated with the discharge device which is adapted to detect the position of the discharge device relative to the clipping machine.