Helical Discharge Flute Grinding Machine Hard Material Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Meat grinders face challenges in efficiently separating hard materials from usable materials, require frequent disassembly for sanitation, pose safety concerns, and have high production and replacement costs due to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A grinding machine design featuring a helical discharge flute in the discharge passage, easy disassembly and reassembly features, and cost-effective production methods, including a self-correcting orifice plate installation and wear-reducing bushing and center pin design, to enhance separation efficiency, safety, and reduce part replacement needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional discharge passage is used in the collection housing, then hard material can be collected, but the separation efficiency of hard materials from usable materials is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge passage is formed with a helical flute (curved geometry) instead of a straight passage. The helical flute creates a spiral flow path that利用 centrifugal force to separate hard materials from usable materials, improving separation efficiency while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The helical flute in the discharge passage creates a fluid dynamic effect where the spiral flow pattern separates materials based on density and size. The flowing material along the helical path allows lighter usable materials to be carried forward while heavier hard materials are separated, resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and productivity
2Reliability
If the grinding head is designed for frequent disassembly for sanitation, then hygiene is maintained, but the complexity of disassembly and reassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collection housing is designed as a separable component that can be easily detached from the discharge passage. This segmentation allows the collection housing to be removed for cleaning while leaving the discharge passage in place, simplifying the disassembly process for sanitation purposes while maintaining hygiene requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The collection housing is extracted as a separate removable component from the overall grinding head assembly. This allows operators to access and clean the collection housing independently without disassembling the entire grinding head, reducing disassembly complexity while maintaining sanitation standards
3Speed
If conventional discharge passages without helical flute are used, then the structure is simpler, but hard material advances slowly through the discharge passage
Solution Approach 1:
The helical flute creates a spiral flow path that utilizes centrifugal force to accelerate hard material movement through the discharge passage. The curved geometry of the helical flute generates rotational flow that propels material forward more quickly than a straight passage, improving advance speed while adding moderate structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The helical flute creates a fluid dynamic effect where the spiral flow pattern accelerates material movement. The flowing material along the helical path generates momentum that speeds up hard material transport through the discharge passage, resolving the contradiction between advance speed and structural complexity
4Productivity
If the auger extends fully through the collection cavity and discharge passage, then hard material transport is effective, but wear to the auger increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auger is extracted from the discharge passage at the downstream end, creating a gap between the auger tip and the discharge passage outlet. This extraction reduces the length of the auger that is in contact with hard materials, thereby reducing wear while maintaining effective transport through the collection cavity and most of the discharge passage
Solution Approach 2:
The design accepts that the portion of the auger in the discharge passage will experience wear, but by limiting the exposure length, the overall wear is reduced to acceptable levels. The auger can be replaced less frequently while maintaining effective hard material transport, balancing productivity and reliability
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 design maximizes usable material output, simplifies disassembly and reassembly, improves operator safety, and reduces production and replacement costs by effectively separating hard materials and distributing wear evenly across components.
Implementation Method 1
the discharge passage is defined by an inner surface that includes a helical discharge flute; the helical discharge flute cooperating with the auger to advance hard material through the discharge passage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A helical discharge flute (158) formed in the sides of a collection cone (90) of a grinding machine is disclosed. The collection cone (90) has a collection area (104) and a discharge area (106), with a discharge tube at the most downstream end. The helical discharge flute (158) cooperates with an auger (108) located through the bore of the collection discharge area to create a restricted flow of material into the flute (158). In this manner, only hard particles are removed from the collection cavity (104) of the collection cone (90) and discharged to the discharge tube.