Automated Clipping Packaging Apparatus for Whole Muscle Meat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging systems for discrete pieces of whole muscle products, such as meat, face inefficiencies in automating the wrapping and clipping process, particularly in ensuring exposure to environmental conditions and maintaining product integrity during processing.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a mounting frame with pivotable product chutes and a pusher mechanism to automate the wrapping of products in netting, followed by a clipper mechanism that applies closure clips to secure the netting, ensuring efficient and secure packaging while allowing exposure to processing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated packaging systems are implemented for discrete pieces of whole muscle products, then productivity and processing efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is divided into distinct functional modules: a pusher mechanism for product insertion, a netting chute for wrapping, and a clipper mechanism for sealing. Each module operates independently but coordinates through a control system, allowing the complex automation task to be managed through modular components rather than a monolithic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher mechanism, netting chute, and clipper mechanism are integrated into a single coordinated system that processes products continuously. The control system merges the operation of these separate components into a unified automated workflow, where the pusher inserts the product, the netting wraps it, and the clipper seals it in sequence without manual intervention between steps.
2Reliability
If products are fully enclosed in netting material, then product integrity is maintained, but exposure to environmental conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The netting material is applied selectively to enclose the product only in the regions where structural integrity is needed, while leaving portions of the product surface exposed. The gathering mechanism creates localized enclosure at the ends of the product where clips are applied, rather than completely sealing the entire product, thus maintaining integrity where necessary while preserving environmental exposure where beneficial.
3Device complexity
If manual packaging methods are used for discrete pieces of whole muscle, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity and processing efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs the packaging operations without continuous manual intervention. The pusher mechanism automatically inserts products, the netting chute automatically wraps the products as they pass through, and the clipper mechanism automatically applies closure clips. The control system coordinates these actions based on product flow, enabling the system to service itself through automated detection and actuation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting, by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through first and second axially aligned product chutes; (b) pulling covering material from an exterior surface of a covering material chute residing about the second product chute to automatically enclose the object in the material as the object exits the second product chute; (c) applying at least one clip to the material to secure the object in the material; and (d) pivoting the covering material chute and second product chute together to load a sleeve of material onto the covering material chute.