Meat Mincer Knife Assembly Spring Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Meat grinders face challenges in efficiently separating hard materials from usable materials, require frequent disassembly for sanitation, pose safety concerns, and have high production and replacement costs due to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a grinding housing with a compressible spring arrangement and a stop mechanism for consistent pressure, easy disassembly features like removal slots, and cost-effective production methods such as cast flutes, which enhance the separation of hard materials, improve disassembly efficiency, and reduce wear and replacement needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the orifice plate is held in place by a mounting ring and bridge structure, then the orifice plate can be removed for cleaning, but the disassembly and reassembly process is time-consuming and prone to improper reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting ring is segmented with notches that allow it to be easily manipulated and positioned. The bridge structure is divided into separate components that can be independently assembled, facilitating quick disassembly and reassembly of the orifice plate assembly without requiring complex tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates self-aligning features where the orifice plate, mounting ring, and bridge structure have complementary geometric features that automatically guide proper positioning during reassembly. This self-service mechanism ensures correct reassembly without requiring operator skill or time-consuming alignment procedures.
2Productivity
If the knife assembly is held against the orifice plate with constant pressure, then grinding effectiveness is improved, but the parts experience increased wear and require more frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangement provides dynamic, adjustable pressure between the knife assembly and orifice plate. The spring can be compressed to increase pressure for improved grinding effectiveness, or relaxed to reduce wear when maximum grinding pressure is not needed. This dynamic pressure control allows optimization of both productivity and parts longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism allows easy adjustment of the contact pressure parameter between the knife assembly and orifice plate. By changing the spring compression level, the operator can optimize the pressure parameter to achieve either maximum grinding effectiveness or reduced wear conditions, depending on operational needs.
3Manufacturing precision
If the orifice plate is advanced inwardly by the mounting member, then proper engagement with the knife assembly is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting ring incorporates asymmetric notches and the bridge structure has asymmetric engagement features that guide the orifice plate into its correct inward position. This asymmetric design provides automatic alignment and positioning accuracy without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting ring and bridge structure are designed to work together as an integrated assembly, combining the functions of positioning, securing, and advancing the orifice plate into a single coordinated structure. This merging of functions reduces overall structural complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each function.
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 design increases the output of usable material, simplifies and ensures proper reassembly, enhances operator safety, and reduces production and replacement costs by maintaining consistent pressure and facilitating easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible spring arrangement associated with the feed screw and the knife assembly wherein the compressible spring arrangement is configured to apply outward pressure on the knife assembly that urges the knife assembly against the orifice plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An assembly for providing constant force between a knife assembly and an orifice plate (74) of a grinding machine is disclosed. The assembly comprises a stop (111) in the grinding head (56) of the machine past which the orifice plate (74) cannot be inserted and a tensioning device (58) for maintaining a constant tension of the knife assembly against the orifice plate (74).