Flexible Meat Stripper Aperture for Debones Poultry Thighs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deboning methods for animal extremity parts with elongate bone shafts, such as poultry thighs, face issues with meat loss and damage due to fixed or variable meat stripper openings, leading to complications and rapid wear of flexible stripper disks, which require frequent replacements and hinder processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that engage the bone between the first knuckle and the sleeve of meat, using a knuckle gripper to move the meat stripper and cutter in a controlled manner, cutting the meat circumferentially around the second knuckle, allowing for efficient meat removal without manual processing of cartilage or gristle remnants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed-size opening is used in the meat stripper, then the structure is simple, but important amounts of meat will be left on the bone shaft and the removed meat will be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeat stripper structureVSAvoidmeat loss and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible rubber or elastomeric stripper disk with a centre aperture that can dynamically adjust its shape and size during operation. The flexible material allows the aperture to deform and adapt to the bone shaft diameter, enabling proper meat removal without damage while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stripper disk's physical parameters (flexibility, elasticity) are changed to allow dynamic adjustment of the aperture size. This parameter change enables the opening to match different bone shaft diameters, preventing both meat loss and damage without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If flexible rubber or elastomeric stripper disks are used, then structural complications are reduced and reliability is enhanced, but rapid wear occurs requiring frequent replacements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidstripper disk service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent accepts the limited service life of flexible stripper disks and designs the system to accommodate frequent replacements. The disposable nature of these wear-prone components is acknowledged, and the system is configured to allow easy replacement without disrupting overall operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of substance

If the opening of the meat stripper is made variable, then meat removal effectiveness is improved, but substantial complication is added to the apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeat removal effectivenessVSAvoidmeat stripper mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible rubber or elastomeric stripper disk that inherently provides variable opening capability through its material properties. This approach achieves effective meat removal without adding substantial mechanical complexity, as the flexibility itself provides the adjustment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If manual handling of knuckle ends through central aperture is used, then the apparatus is simple, but handling control is difficult given increasing demand for processing speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus structureVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible stripper disk automatically guides and positions the knuckle ends through its centre aperture without requiring complex manual handling mechanisms. The disk's flexibility and geometry enable self-guided insertion, maintaining simplicity while supporting high processing speeds through automated positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2528446B1Method and apparatus for removing a sleeve of meat from an animal part having a bone with knuckles on each of its opposite ends

Publication Date: 2017.07.05 FOODMATE

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AI summary

A method of automatically removing a sleeve of meat (D) from an animal part having a bone with a first knuckle (B) on one of two opposite ends of an elongate bone shaft (A) and a second knuckle (C) on another of the two opposite ends. The method includes the steps of engaging the bone of the animal part with a part of a meat stripper (13) between its first knuckle (B) and the sleeve of meat (D) and engaging the bone by a knuckle gripper (71) between the part of the meat stripper (13) and the first knuckle (B). The method continues with moving the meat stripper (13) and the knuckle gripper (71) away from one another, while stripping and gathering the sleeve of meat (D) towards the second knuckle (C). In a subsequent step the method discontinues moving away the meat stripper (13) and knuckle gripper (71) from one another upon the part of the meat stripper (13) engaging the second knuckle (C). A further method step then advances a meat cutter (51) in a direction towards the meat stripper (13) opposite of the knuckle gripper (71) and cuts the sleeve of meat (D) gathered by the meat stripper (13) circumferentially around the second knuckle (C). The method finishes by retracting the meat cutter (51), disengaging the knuckle gripper (71), removing the bone from the gathered sleeve of meat (D) and from the meat stripper (13), and collecting the gathered sleeve of meat (D) for further processing. An apparatus for performing the method according to this method is also provided.