Meat Grinder Funnel Attachment with Helical Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meat grinders lack an efficient mechanism to direct ground meat from the discharge tube into a collection container, leading to potential spills and inefficiencies in the meat handling process.
Innovation Solution
A meat grind bag filling funnel attachment is designed to attach to the discharge tube of a meat grinder, featuring a funnel structure made of a flexible, water-insoluble polymer sheeting with a snap fastener system and a suspension structure using a helical coil spring and hooks to suspend the funnel, ensuring smooth transport of ground meat into a collection container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a funnel structure is added to direct meat flow, then meat handling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be assembled together, allowing for easier manufacturing and cleaning while maintaining the directional flow function. Each segment can be independently manufactured and then assembled to form the complete funnel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel structure is designed to nest within or attach to the existing meat grinder components, specifically the discharge tube. This nested configuration allows the funnel to be integrated into the existing device without requiring a complete redesign, thereby improving efficiency while limiting the increase in overall complexity.
2Reliability
If a suspension structure with helical coil spring is used, then reliability of meat transport is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension structure incorporates a helical coil spring that provides dynamic adjustment and flexibility in positioning the funnel. This dynamic element allows the funnel to move freely within certain limits, ensuring reliable meat transport while accommodating variations in meat flow and container positioning without requiring complex rigid mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension structure is designed to be self-adjusting through the helical coil spring mechanism, which automatically positions the funnel appropriately as meat flows through the system. This self-service capability reduces the need for external control mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while limiting the increase in complexity.
3Ease of operation
If snap fastener system is used for funnel assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The snap fastener system incorporates preliminary positioning features such as guide pins, alignment ribs, or pre-formed recesses that ensure accurate alignment before the final snapping action. This preliminary action simplifies the assembly process for the user while ensuring that the manufacturing precision requirements are met during the final fastening step.
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 solution effectively directs ground meat from the meat grinder into a collection container, reducing spills and enhancing the efficiency of the meat handling process by providing a secure and controlled flow of material.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension structure using a helical coil spring and hooks to suspend the funnel
Implementation Method 2
The funnel structure transports the meat ground by the meat grinder to the collection container
Data Source
AI summary
The meat grind bag filling funnel attachment is configured for use with a meat grinder. The meat grinder further comprises a discharge tube. The meat grind bag filling funnel attachment attaches to the discharge tube. The meat grind bag filling funnel attachment receives meat ground by the meat grinder and transports the received meat to a collection container designated to receive the ground meet. The meat grind bag filling funnel attachment comprises a funnel structure and a suspension structure. The funnel structure transports the meat ground by the meat grinder to the collection container. The suspension structure suspends the funnel structure from the discharge tube of the meat grinder.