Frozen Block Separation With Elevator Cutting And Plate Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating frozen blocks, such as frozen meat blocks, are inefficient, inaccurate, and unsafe, particularly in the pet food industry, where precise portioning is crucial for quality control.
Innovation Solution
A stainless steel apparatus with an elevator, cutting member, and hydraulically activated plates is used to elevate, cut, and transfer frozen blocks into batch receptacles, utilizing a human-machine interface for precise control and sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual separation methods are used for frozen blocks, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity and manufacturing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: an elevator system for vertical movement, a cutting member for portioning, and plates for transferring portions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability despite the increased complexity required for automated operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If automated cutting is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical cutting with an automated cutting member that can be precisely controlled. The cutting member is positioned and actuated through mechanical means that provide accurate, repeatable cuts, eliminating the variability inherent in manual separation while maintaining relatively simple mechanical components.
3Reliability
If stainless steel construction is used, then reliability and sanitation are improved, but weight of stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus utilizes stainless steel construction throughout, changing the material parameter to prioritize sanitation capability and reliability. This material selection ensures the equipment can be properly sanitized for food safety while maintaining structural integrity, accepting the weight increase as a necessary trade-off for meeting hygiene requirements in food processing applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A frozen block separation system is disclosed herein. An example system includes a product receptacle having an elevator and an opening configured to receive a frozen product in a stacked block format and elevate the frozen product to a cutting height, a cutting member positioned above the product receptacle, the cutting member configured to move perpendicularly to the frozen product and remove a portion of the frozen product when the frozen product is at the cutting height, and a first plate that is configured to move the portion in a first direction, from the cutting member into a batch enclosure.