Helical Roller Seafood Grading Mechanism for Scallop Size Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seafood grading machines for scallops are either complex and expensive, such as mechanical drum-style devices, or costly due to individual weighing systems.
Innovation Solution
A seafood grading apparatus featuring a support frame with a first roller having a helical outer surface and a second roller driven in unison, with adjustable spacing and helical surfaces to separate scallops by size, using a drive motor to rotate the rollers and direct scallops into respective trays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical drum-style grading devices are used, then scallops can be graded by size, but the device becomes complex in construction and expensive to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The grading device is segmented into multiple rollers, each with specific helical surface patterns, that work in sequence to sort scallops by size. Each roller handles a specific size range, dividing the grading function into manageable segments that simplify individual component design while achieving accurate overall grading.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers are equipped with helical surfaces that create curved pathways for the scallops. The helical pattern on the roller surfaces generates a winding path that guides scallops of different sizes into separate collection containers, using curvature to achieve separation without complex mechanical structures.
2Measurement precision
If individual weighing systems are used to grade scallops, then size grading can be achieved, but the system becomes very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive electronic weighing systems with a purely mechanical roller-based sorting system. The helical surfaces on the rollers create physical pathways that guide scallops by size through mechanical geometry alone, eliminating the need for costly sensors, motors, and electronic controls while maintaining accurate size grading.
Solution Approach 2:
The scallops themselves are guided through the sorting process by their own weight and the helical pathways created by the rollers. The system uses the natural properties of the scallops and gravity to achieve sorting, rather than requiring active mechanical manipulation or electronic measurement, thereby reducing system cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the spacing between rollers is fixed, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various sizes of scallops
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing between the rollers is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The rollers can be positioned at different distances apart to accommodate various scallop sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same device to handle a wide range of scallop dimensions by simply changing the roller spacing, enhancing versatility without requiring multiple fixed devices.
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 apparatus efficiently grades scallops by size without the complexity and cost of existing systems, allowing for adjustable settings to accommodate various sizes and separating joined scallops effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a first roller 20 which is driven directly from a motor 16. This rotation causes a corresponding rotation of the roller 30 in an opposed direction. The rollers 20, 30 are spaced apart to define a space 95 therebetween. As the rollers 20, 30 are rotated, the scallops 19 are moved through the space 95 and are separated by size into respective trays 50, 52.
Data Source
AI summary
A seafood grading apparatus that includes a first roller supported from the frame; a drive motor for rotating the first roller about a longitudinal axis thereof; a second roller also supported from said frame and constructed and arranged in juxtaposition to the first roller. The first roller has a helical outer surface, and the second roller is for driving about a longitudinal axis thereof and in unison with the first roller. An inlet port receives pieces of seafood for the purpose of the grading thereof and arranged relative to the rollers to dispose the seafood between the rollers. At least two receiving trays are disposed downstream of the inlet port for receiving different respective size seafood pieces.