Multi-Level Meat Injection Heads for Volume Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injecting machines with multiple heads face challenges in injecting brine into meat pieces as the volume increase due to initial injection prevents previously injected meat pieces from passing under subsequent heads, requiring longer needle strokes and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The machine employs two injection heads at different heights with alternating reciprocation, allowing meat pieces to pass under the second head despite volume increase, using identical heads with offset positions and controlled brine supply to ensure even distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple injection heads are installed at the same level to increase total brine injection, then the amount of brine injected into each meat piece increases, but the volume increase of meat pieces prevents them from passing under subsequent heads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-level arrangement to a multi-level vertical arrangement of injection heads. The first injection head operates at a higher vertical level while the second injection head operates at a lower vertical level, allowing meat pieces to pass underneath the first head and be injected by the second head without interference from volume expansion.
2Ease of operation
If the stroke length of injection heads is enlarged to accommodate volume increase, then meat pieces can pass under subsequent heads, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the horizontal stroke length of injection heads, the patent utilizes the vertical dimension to separate the operating levels of multiple injection heads. This allows standard-stroke injection heads to be used while still accommodating meat piece volume expansion, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
3Ease of operation
If injection heads are arranged at different heights, then meat pieces can pass under subsequent heads, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the injection system into separate segments operating at different vertical levels. Each injection head operates independently at its designated level, with the first head at a higher level and the second head at a lower level. This segmentation allows for simplified individual head designs while achieving the overall goal of multi-stage injection.
Data Source
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AI summary
The injecting machine comprises a conveyor (10) having a support surface (10a) for conveying meat pieces in a forward direction (FD), first and second injection heads (1, 2) consecutively arranged over said conveyor (10) relative to said forward direction (FD) and with the second injection head (2) installed at a higher level over the support surface (10a) of the conveyor (10) than the first injection head (1), a plurality of parallel hollow needles (3) mounted on each first and second injection head (1, 2), each needle (3) having a longitudinal inner passage, at least one inlet opening in communication with said inner passage at an upper needle portion and a plurality of outlet openings (3 a) in communication with the inner passage distributed along a lower needle portion, head driving means for alternately reciprocating said first and second injection heads (1, 2) between an upper position (UP1, UP2), in which the tip of said needles (3) is at a distance from said support surface (10a) of said conveyor (10) sufficient for enabling the meat pieces to pass under the injection heads (1, 2), and a lower position (LP1, LP2), in which said lower needle portions of the needles (3) are stuck into the meat pieces located under the injection heads (1, 2), and brine supplying means for supplying brine to said inlet opening of the needles (3) at least when the first and second injection heads (1, 2) are in said lower position (LP 1, LP2).