Fish Slicer Knife Arrangement with Active Guide Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slicer apparatuses for fish fillets suffer from low working speed and knife deflection, leading to poor cutting quality and variation in slice thickness, especially when handling thick or frozen fillets, and require frequent knife replacement due to wear.
Innovation Solution
The slicer apparatus features active movable guide means at both ends of the knives, coupled to a common actuator, to prevent knife deflection and ensure uniform cutting, along with a conveyor system with varying surfaces for enhanced friction and a vision system for precise thickness detection and computer-controlled cutting parameters, and a method for quickly replacing knives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reciprocating knives are forced through thick or frozen fish fillets to increase cutting speed, then productivity increases, but knife deflection occurs leading to poor cutting quality and variation in slice thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The knife assembly is segmented into multiple knives (typically 3-5 knives) arranged in parallel on a common boom, allowing the cutting force to be distributed across multiple cutting edges rather than concentrated on a single knife, reducing deflection while maintaining cutting speed
Solution Approach 2:
The boom supporting the knives is made flexible or spring-loaded to allow controlled deflection and return, enabling the knife assembly to dynamically adapt to variations in fillet thickness and density while maintaining consistent cutting pressure and slice uniformity
2Device complexity
If a single conveyor system is used to transport fillets through the cutting station, then device complexity is reduced, but cutting quality deteriorates when handling two wide fillets simultaneously due to boom deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into separate conveyor belts for each cutting station or fillet position, allowing independent control and positioning of each fillet during cutting, preventing interference and boom deflection when handling multiple wide fillets simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting apparatus is designed to accommodate fillets of varying widths by allowing the boom and knife assembly to adjust in position and angle, cutting fillets in different dimensions or orientations as needed to maintain quality
3Productivity
If reciprocating knives are used to slice fish fillets quickly, then productivity increases, but knife wear increases requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple knives are combined on a single reciprocating boom assembly, allowing the cutting action to be distributed across multiple blades that can be rotated or replaced in sequence, extending the overall service life of the cutting system while maintaining high working speed
Solution Approach 2:
The knife assembly is designed to allow quick removal and replacement of individual knives, and the reciprocating motion naturally creates conditions for knife sharpening or replacement without stopping production, enabling continuous operation with minimal downtime
Data Source
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AI summary
Slicer apparatus (1) of the type used for slicing in particular fish fillets, where the apparatus comprises a conveying path (2) and cutting means (20) arranged in said conveying path (2), where the cutting means (20) comprises a set of moveable reciprocating knives (40) and a cutting land (70), where the cutting means further comprises means for moving the knives (40) relative to the cutting land (70) and the surface of the conveyor path (2), wherein the cutting means (20) are arranged on a common member which member may be rotated through a predetermined arch about a horizontal axis, perpendicular to the conveyor path's (2) transport direction. The means for moving te knives (40) relative to the cutting land (70) comprise active moveable guide means (44, 45).