Encapsulating Bone Pusher for Cartilage Separation

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for processing animal parts, such as poultry or pork thighs, are inefficient as they require a manual step to remove cartilage from the meat, leading to contamination and increased processing time and cost, with human errors often resulting in incomplete removal and loss of meat fragments.

Innovation Solution

A method involving encapsulating the axial end of the bone and cartilage in an encapsulating means before separation, allowing for mechanized removal of the bone and cartilage from the meat part, ensuring complete separation without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual cutting is used to remove cartilage from meat part, then cartilage separation is achieved, but processing time increases and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartilage separation completenessVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cartilage is pre-attached to the bone end before the separation process. By encapsulating the bone end with cartilage attached, the cartilage is positioned and secured in advance, allowing for clean separation without manual cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An encapsulating means acts as an intermediary device that holds the bone end with attached cartilage together during the separation process. This mediator enables mechanized separation while maintaining cartilage integrity and preventing contamination of the meat part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual cutting is used to remove cartilage from meat part, then cartilage separation is achieved, but cost increases due to labor requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartilage removal completenessVSAvoidprocessing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cartilage is pre-attached to the bone end before the separation process. By encapsulating the bone end with cartilage attached, the cartilage is positioned and secured in advance, allowing for clean separation without manual cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An encapsulating means acts as an intermediary device that holds the bone end with attached cartilage together during the separation process. This mediator enables mechanized separation while maintaining cartilage integrity and preventing contamination of the meat part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual cutting is used to remove cartilage, then separation is achieved, but meat fragments are lost and contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation qualityVSAvoidmeat fragment loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cartilage is pre-attached to the bone end before the separation process. By encapsulating the bone end with cartilage attached, the cartilage is positioned and secured in advance, allowing for clean separation without manual cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An encapsulating means acts as an intermediary device that holds the bone end with attached cartilage together during the separation process. This mediator enables mechanized separation while maintaining cartilage integrity and preventing contamination of the meat part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8808069B2Method for processing a part of a slaughtered animal and device for applying such method

Publication Date: 2014.08.19 FPM INT

AI summary

Method for processing a part of a slaughtered animal which comprises a meat part connected to a bone and cartilage, comprising the steps of encapsulating an axial end of the bone together with the cartilage into an encapsulating means provided at a bone pusher; activating the encapsulating means into a radially open position for receiving said axial end and bringing the encapsulating means into a radially closed position for encapsulating said axial end; separating the meat part from the bone and cartilage; and releasing the axial end of the bone and cartilage from the encapsulating means.