Eccentric Cam Meat Pressing for Compact Direct Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pressing devices for meat products face challenges in optimizing space usage and efficiency due to complex drives with deflections, which increase size and reduce efficiency, particularly when compressing products into standardized shapes for further processing.

Innovation Solution

The use of an eccentric cam driven by a rotating motor, allowing a pressing member to move over 90 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, directly converts rotational motion into linear motion without intermediate transmissions, minimizing space and torque requirements, and enabling precise control through a servomotor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If complex drives with deflections are used to move the pressing member, then the pressing device can achieve the required motion, but the device size increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressing member motion controlVSAvoiddrive system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex deflection mechanisms from the drive system. By using a linear drive that moves directly in the pressing direction without intermediate deflections or directional changes, the invention removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while maintaining the required pressing motion control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a rotational drive that requires complex deflections to achieve linear motion, the patent inverts the approach by using a linear drive that moves directly along the pressing direction. This reversal of the motion generation approach eliminates the need for complex transmission mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If complex drives with deflections are used, then the pressing member can be moved, but the pressing device width increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressing member displacementVSAvoidpressing device width

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drive system into a simple linear actuator that moves only in the pressing direction, separating it from the pressing chamber. This segmentation allows the drive to be positioned optimally without increasing the overall device width, as the linear drive occupies minimal space compared to complex rotational mechanisms with deflections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the dimension of motion generation by using a linear drive that moves along the pressing direction (one-dimensional linear motion) rather than using rotational motion with multiple deflections. This dimensional simplification reduces the space required in the horizontal plane, thereby minimizing the pressing device width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If complex drives with deflections are used, then the pressing member can be actuated, but energy efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressing member actuationVSAvoiddrive efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by using a linear drive that moves directly in the pressing direction without energy-consuming intermediate deflections. The linear motor converts electrical energy directly into linear motion, maintaining continuous useful work throughout the actuation process and minimizing energy losses that would occur in complex transmission systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical transmission systems with deflections with a direct linear motor drive. This substitution eliminates mechanical losses associated with gears, belts, and other transmission components, achieving more efficient energy conversion from electrical to mechanical work while maintaining pressing member actuation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design achieves efficient, space-saving, and cost-effective operation with reduced torque demands, allowing for precise product shaping and easy maintenance, while maintaining compact dimensions and enhancing operational safety.

Implementation Method 1

The drive of the pressing device is configured to drive at least one eccentric cam, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, in order to move the pressing member from the starting position into the end position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric cam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentUS12501909B2Pressing device

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 TEXTOR MASCHBAUU

AI summary

A pressing device for pressing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partly frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, comprises a pressing chamber. The pressing chamber comprises a counter-element and a pressing member that is movable by a drive, wherein the pressing member can be moved from a starting position towards the counter-element into an end position in order to compress the product, and wherein the drive is configured to drive at least one eccentric cam, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, in order to move the pressing member from the starting position into the end position, wherein the pressing member can be moved from the starting position into the end position by a rotation of the eccentric cam of more than 90 degrees.