Cross-Cut Tenderizer Automated Rotation and Blade Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meat tenderizer systems require manual rotation of products by 90 degrees to achieve a cross-hatch pattern, which is inefficient, prone to human error, and hazardous due to the need for manual handling near rotating blades.
Innovation Solution
A cross-cut tenderizer system with a cartridge design featuring parallel shafts and stacks of blades with teeth forming continuous ridges, allowing for automated 90-degree rotation without manual intervention by using a stripper to separate the product from the blades, preventing sticking and tearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual rotation of the product by 90 degrees is used to achieve cross-hatch pattern, then the cross-cut tenderizing effect is achieved, but the operation is inefficient and hazardous
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated conveyor belts to rotate the product 90 degrees between cartridges, eliminating the need for manual rotation. The conveyor system automatically positions and transports the product through multiple tenderizing passes, making the system self-servicing without requiring operator intervention near the blades.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt acts as an intermediary mechanism between the tenderizer cartridges and the operator. It handles the product rotation and transport functions, separating the hazardous blade operation from the operator's hands and providing automated control over the cross-cut tenderizing process.
2Extent of automation
If multiple tenderizer cartridges with conveyor belts are used to automate rotation, then automation is achieved, but the system requires precise positioning and manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed to automatically position products between cartridges without requiring manual adjustment. The automated positioning mechanism ensures consistent 90-degree rotation and alignment, allowing the system to operate autonomously without operator intervention for positioning.
3Productivity
If conventional overlapping blade stacks are used, then tenderizing action is achieved, but product sticking and tearing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the overlapping blade configuration that causes sticking and tearing problems. Instead of using conventional overlapping stacks, the invention uses separate, non-overlapping blade stacks with gaps between them, eliminating the harmful sticking and tearing effects while maintaining effective tenderizing action through the gaps.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A tenderizer system, apparatus and method to tenderize meat products and other foods through a cross-cut tenderizing process. This process can be performed by a tenderizer cartridge including at least two shafts in parallel, where a stack of blades are disposed on each shaft and in contact with each other along a respective shaft, each blade including teeth around outer circumferences such that each blade in contact is aligned to form continuous ridges that extend in parallel with the shafts.