Flexible Circular Knife for Meat Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for releasing meat from bone structures in the food processing industry are complex and cost-intensive, with limited adjustment capabilities that result in ineffective and low meat yield due to their reliance on axial adjustment and large mass movements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a flexible circular knife featuring areas of reduced material thickness and involute openings, allowing for passive control and precise cutting near bones without active adjustment, combined with compensating elements and sliding bodies for enhanced flexibility and stability, enabling efficient meat separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If known adjustment mechanisms (servo motors, stepper motors, pneumatic components) are used to position cutting knives, then the cutting position can be adjusted, but the device becomes complex and cost-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The circular knife is designed to automatically adjust and maintain optimal cutting position through its own flexibility and the natural interaction with the bone structure during operation, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The knife transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible structure by creating openings in the material, changing its physical parameter (flexibility) to enable automatic adaptation to the cutting task
2Manufacturing precision
If rigid circular knives are used for cutting, then structural stability is maintained, but the ability to adapt to bone contours and achieve close cutting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The circular knife incorporates flexible regions with openings that allow the knife blade to bend and conform to the contours of bone structures, enabling precise cutting along complex geometries while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The knife is segmented into flexible regions with openings and rigid regions, allowing different parts of the knife to perform different functions - the flexible parts adapt to contours while the rigid parts maintain structural stability
3Adaptability or versatility
If axial adjustment mechanisms are used for knife positioning, then simple linear movement is achieved, but multi-axis adaptation to bone structures is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The knife transitions from a statically positioned rigid component to a dynamically adaptable flexible structure that can naturally assume optimal positions in multiple directions through its flexibility during the cutting process
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible knife automatically adapts its position and orientation to match the bone structure geometry through its own physical properties during operation, without requiring external multi-axis adjustment mechanisms
4Speed
If large masses are moved for knife adjustment, then positioning is achieved, but the adjustment speed and responsiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible knife automatically adjusts its position through its own flexibility and the forces generated during normal operation, eliminating the need for external actuation systems that would require moving large masses
Solution Approach 2:
The knife's physical parameter (flexibility) is changed to enable it to respond rapidly to operational conditions without requiring active control systems or movement of large masses
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
The solution enables close and precise cutting along bones with minimal meat loss, reducing the need for complex adjustments and large mass movements, resulting in a simple, efficient, and high-yield meat processing system that can be easily retrofitted into existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The reduction in material makes the circular knife flexible. In other words, the circular knife can be deflected or bent due to existing, controlled instability, in particular through contact with the product to be processed itself
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) designed and configured for separating meat from a bone structure (11) or parts thereof, comprising at least one cutting unit (12) which includes at least one knife carrier (13) with a knife shaft (14) rotatably mounted in the knife carrier (13), wherein a circular knife (15) is arranged and fixed on the knife shaft (14) in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner and is rotationally fixed relative to the knife shaft (14), and a drive (16) for rotating the knife shaft (14), which is characterized in that the circular knife (15) has, in addition to a recess (21) for mounting on the knife shaft and optionally for creating the form-fitting connection with the knife shaft (14), at least a region of reduced material thickness in the area of a circular knife plane spanned by the circular knife (15).The invention further relates to a corresponding device (36) and a corresponding method for the automatic processing of products of the food processing industry.