Helical Discharge Flute for Hard Material Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Meat grinders face challenges in efficiently separating hard materials from usable products, require frequent disassembly for sanitation, pose safety concerns, and have high production and replacement costs due to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
The grinding head features variable flutes for material control, a stop portion for consistent orifice plate alignment, a tensioning device for constant pressure, recesses for easy disassembly, fluted collection passages for hard material separation, a self-correcting installation feature, and a wear-reducing design with evenly spaced projections and recesses to extend part life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flutes are cast along with the head, then production cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flutes and the grinding head into a single integrated component that is cast as one piece. This eliminates the need for separate machining or welding operations, reducing production cost while maintaining functional precision through controlled casting processes
2Reliability
If the grinding head is disassembled frequently for sanitation, then hygiene is improved, but time is lost and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding head is divided into separable components including the orifice plate, knife assembly, and feed screw that can be quickly removed and cleaned independently. This segmentation allows rapid sanitation without disassembling the entire unit, reducing time loss while maintaining hygiene standards
3Reliability
If hard materials are separated from usable materials, then product quality is improved, but output of usable materials may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate features selectively positioned and sized openings that create different flow paths - smaller openings for quality control in certain zones and larger openings in other zones to maximize usable material output. This local variation in opening characteristics allows simultaneous achievement of quality separation and high productivity
4Productivity
If the knife assembly is held against the orifice plate with constant pressure, then grinding efficiency is improved, but wear on parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife assembly positioning system uses a dynamic adjustment mechanism with stops at multiple positions that allow the knife assembly to be positioned at optimal distances from the orifice plate. This dynamic positioning capability enables constant pressure for high efficiency during operation, while the ability to adjust positions reduces wear by allowing periodic changes in contact pressure and distribution
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
This design enhances the separation of hard and soft materials, simplifies disassembly and reassembly, improves operator safety, reduces production costs, and extends the life of parts by distributing wear evenly.
Implementation Method 1
The discharge passage includes a single, helical discharge flute that defines a discharge path for material advanced by rotation of the auger
Data Source
AI summary
A helical discharge flute formed in the sides of a collection cone of a grinding machine is disclosed. The collection cone has a collection area and a discharge area, with a discharge tube at the most downstream end. The helical discharge flute cooperates with an auger located through the bore of the collection discharge area to create a restricted flow of material into the flute. In this manner, only hard particles are removed from the collection cavity of the collection cone and discharged to the discharge tube.