Modular Meat Cutting Assembly with Reciprocal Blade Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The food processing industry faces inefficiencies and inconsistencies in cutting meat products, particularly with manual and existing automated systems, which struggle to consistently cut through heavy gristle and muscle membrane, leading to sanitation issues and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A modular cutting assembly with a blade assembly, mating assembly, and stabilizing assembly that uses a combination of rotational and reciprocal motion to perform a multipoint cutting procedure, ensuring accurate cutting and efficient processing of meat products, including features like an ejecting assembly to remove cut pieces and a stabilizing assembly to maintain spacing for precise cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual cutting is used for meat products, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but consistency in size, shape, and weight of cut pieces deteriorates, and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting assembly incorporates adjustable components that allow the cutting path, blade position, and processing parameters to be dynamically adjusted based on different meat product types and desired cut specifications, enabling both consistency and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows modification of cutting parameters such as blade speed, feed rate, and cutting depth to optimize performance for different meat products while maintaining consistent cut quality through automated control
2Productivity
If automated cutting systems are used to improve productivity, then processing speed increases, but the ability to cut through heavy gristle and muscle membrane deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary softening or pre-processing of tough connective tissues before the main cutting action, enabling automated blades to effectively cut through heavy gristle and muscle membrane without compromising processing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting system employs composite blade structures or combinations of different cutting mechanisms (e.g., rotary blades with reciprocating motion) to enhance the ability to cut through tough tissues while maintaining high productivity
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual handling is used for extensive processing, then adaptability is maintained, but sanitation problems and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated cutting assembly performs handling and processing functions autonomously with minimal human intervention, reducing sanitation risks and safety hazards while maintaining adaptability through programmable control systems
Solution Approach 2:
Manual handling operations are replaced with automated mechanical systems that can be easily sanitized and controlled, eliminating direct human contact with meat products during critical processing stages
4Productivity
If conventional automated equipment is used, then productivity improves, but efficiency and reliability in consistent cutting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting assembly incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor cutting quality, blade position, and material properties, automatically adjusting parameters to maintain consistent cut dimensions and quality across high-volume production
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts cutting parameters in real-time based on feedback from sensors and process monitoring, ensuring consistent cutting quality even when processing large volumes of varying meat products
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for cutting a meat or food product passing along a path of travel comprising a cutting roller having a plurality of cutting blades radially mounted thereon. A mating assembly interacts with the cutting blades to accomplish a multipoint cutting procedure facilitated by the concurrent rotation of the cutting roller and cutting blades as well as a linear reciprocal travel thereof transverse to the path of travel. A stabilizing assembly restricts the dimensional variance of the spacing between the cutting roller and mating assembly, through which the meat product travels and an ejecting assembly removes cut portions from the cutting blades, back onto the path of travel. The assembly includes a modular construction disposal within and removal from a processing line associated with the path of travel.