Magnetic Poultry Transfer Unit for Greasy Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current poultry processing apparatuses face reliability issues due to a polluted environment with grease and blood, leading to unpredictable conditions and poor transfer reliability, especially at increased processing speeds beyond 8000 chickens per hour, as existing technologies are unsuitable for higher speeds.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of transfer units with a circulating support and magnet configuration, utilizing a Halbach array of alternating poles and layers with high magnetic permeability, including aluminum and steel, to induce eddy currents and magnetic braking, which maintains reliable transfer and weighing accuracy without physical contact, thus enhancing stability and reducing maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional transfer means are used in a polluted environment with grease and blood, then the processing apparatus can operate, but the transfer reliability deteriorates due to unpredictable conditions and solidified grease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical transfer means with a magnetic field-based system. Magnets mounted on the circulating support interact with magnetically conductive material in the poultry, enabling transfer through magnetic attraction and eddy current braking without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates the negative effects of grease and blood on mechanical components while maintaining reliable transfer operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the transfer means and the poultry. The magnetic field, generated by magnets on the circulating support, acts as a non-contact mediator to transfer the poultry through the polluted environment. The eddy currents induced in the magnetically conductive material serve as the intermediary mechanism for braking and controlling the transfer, avoiding direct mechanical contact with contaminants.
2Productivity
If processing speed is increased beyond 8000 chickens per hour, then productivity improves, but transfer reliability deteriorates and becomes unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field-based transfer system enables higher processing speeds by eliminating mechanical contact and friction limitations. The eddy current braking mechanism provides speed-dependent damping forces that increase with velocity, allowing reliable transfer at speeds exceeding 8000 chickens per hour, potentially reaching 12000-15000 chickens per hour as mentioned in the patent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the speed-dependent nature of eddy current effects to maintain control at higher velocities. As processing speed increases, the eddy currents induced in the magnetically conductive material generate stronger braking forces, providing automatic speed regulation and maintaining transfer reliability even at increased productivity levels.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical transfer means are used in contact with polluted environment, then transfer function is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase due to wear and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical transfer means with a magnetic field-based system that operates without physical contact between the transfer mechanism and the poultry. The magnets mounted on the circulating support transfer the poultry through magnetic attraction and eddy current braking, eliminating wear on mechanical components and reducing maintenance requirements in the polluted environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The eddy current braking mechanism provides automatic speed control and damping without requiring external intervention or adjustment. The system self-regulates based on the relative motion between the magnets and the magnetically conductive material, reducing the need for maintenance and adjustment even in the demanding processing environment.
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 configuration significantly improves the reliability and accuracy of poultry transfer between processing lines, maintaining operability even in greasy and bloody conditions, and supports higher processing speeds by increasing braking forces with eddy currents and magnetic attraction, ensuring maintenance-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
induce eddy currents in the circulating support to counteract relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support
Implementation Method 2
The circulating support comprises material that is magnetically conductive and that the transfer means are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support to counteract relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support
Data Source
AI summary
Processing apparatus for poultry that may include one or more transfer units placed intermediate and conveying poultry from a first line to a subsequent second line. The transfer means may include at least one magnet for inducing eddy currents in a circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support. The at least one magnet may be embodied with a series of alternating north-poles (+) and south-poles (−) facing the circulating support.