Meat grill installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing meat grill installations are inefficient in processing large quantities of meat, particularly frozen meat, due to limited capacity and manual handling, which can lead to health risks and uneven cooking.

Innovation Solution

A meat grill installation featuring a detachable horizontal cylindrical carrier with rotating motors, heaters, position adapters, sensors, and a conveyor belt, allowing for controlled heating and cutting of large quantities of meat, ensuring even cooking and efficient processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual handling and traditional grilling methods are used, then health risks are reduced through careful processing, but processing capacity and productivity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the meat processing task into distinct functional modules: cylindrical carriers hold meat portions, multiple heaters independently control heating zones, position adapters independently adjust heater positions, and sensors monitor temperature. This modular segmentation enables high-capacity automated processing while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical element serves multiple functions: it holds large quantities of meat, rotates to enable uniform heating from all directions, and interfaces with both heaters and cutting elements. The position adapters serve dual purposes by controlling both heater positioning and heating duration. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If frozen meat is processed in large quantities, then productivity increases, but uniform cooking and temperature control become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidcooking uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality control through multiple independently controlled heaters, each capable of adjusting its position and temperature settings to match the specific heating requirements of different meat zones. Sensors positioned at various locations provide localized temperature feedback, enabling precise control of cooking uniformity across the entire large quantity of meat being processed simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical element rotates continuously during the heating process, ensuring that all surfaces of the meat portions receive uniform exposure to heat from multiple heaters. This continuous rotational action, combined with the heaters operating throughout the entire rotation cycle, guarantees uniform cooking across all meat items processed in large quantities without interruption or variation in heating quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If the cylindrical element rotates during heating, then uniform cooking is achieved, but maintaining consistent heater-to-meat distance becomes challenging as meat is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking uniformityVSAvoidposition control mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The position adapters are designed as dynamic mechanisms that can adjust heater positions in real-time during the heating process. As the cylindrical element rotates and meat is gradually consumed, the position adapters automatically modify the distance between heaters and meat surfaces to maintain optimal heating conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability preserves cooking uniformity without requiring overly complex control systems, as the adapters respond automatically to changing geometric conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If multiple heaters are used to process large quantities of meat, then processing capacity increases, but energy consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidheating energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multiple heaters operating simultaneously to process large quantities of meat in parallel, achieving high productivity through partial action on multiple fronts rather than sequential processing. Each heater operates at optimal power levels for its specific zone, and the overall energy consumption is managed by the coordinated control system that activates heaters only when and where needed during the continuous rotation cycle, balancing high capacity with reasonable energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enables the efficient processing of 100-3000 kg of frozen meat in a short time with precise temperature control and uniform slicing, reducing health risks and increasing productivity.

Implementation Method 1

at least two heaters (30) for grilling the meat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a motor for rotating the cylindrical element around its horizontal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 3

a conveyer belt is provided located underneath the cylindrical element for receiving and transporting heated meat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConveyor transport:

Implementation Method 4

a cutting element is provided for removing a slice of a predetermined thickness of meat from the detachable cylindrical element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical cutting:

Implementation Method 5

at least one sensor is provided, preferably at least two sensors, for determining a temperature of the heated meat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3760087B1Meat grill installation
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 3D FOOD MASCH BV
  • EP3760087B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3760087B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3760087B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Meat grill installation (100) comprising a detachable horizontal cylindrical element (10) for carrying meat, the cylindrical element comprising a series of meat fixators (12),a motor (20) for rotating the cylindrical element around its horizontal axis,at least two heaters (30) for grilling the meat, the at least two heaters divided over a circumference of the cylindrical element, and wherein a length of each heater is individually adapted to a length of the cylindrical element,at least two position adapters (40) for maintaining each individual heater at a predetermined distance from the cylindrical element,at least one sensor (50), preferably at least two sensors, for determining a temperature of the heated meat,a conveyor belt (60) located underneath the cylindrical element for receiving and transporting heated meat,a cutting element (70) for removing a slice of a predetermined thickness of meat from the detachable cylindrical element, and at least one controller.