Buffering System for Meat Packaging Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated bagging systems for meat products face issues with untimely product delivery, blockages, and accumulation due to irregular flow of meat products, which disrupts the processing and packaging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of buffering systems strategically positioned along the meat product packaging line to control the flow of meat products, using uniform spacing devices, object recognition systems, and spiral conveyors to regulate spacing and timing, ensuring a consistent and managed flow to the packaging station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automated bagging systems process meat products in an ebb and flow manner, then the system can handle variable product input, but this results in untimely product delivery, blockages, and massive accumulation of product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by accumulating meat products in a buffer before they reach the bagging system. The buffer pre-stores products in an organized manner, ensuring that the bagging system receives a steady supply regardless of variable input rates. This prevents untimely product delivery and blockages by having products ready in advance at the required rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer acts as an intermediary between the variable product input and the bagging system. It decouples the two processes, allowing the buffer to absorb fluctuations in product arrival while providing a steady stream to the bagging system. This mediator prevents massive accumulation and blockages by regulating the flow between source and processing.
2Productivity
If meat products are conveyed randomly spaced to the bagging system, then the system can accept continuous product flow, but this causes blockages and accumulation at the bagging station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the continuous random product flow into discrete, evenly spaced units within the buffer. Each product is separated and positioned at regular intervals, transforming the random flow into an organized sequence. This segmentation prevents blockages by ensuring products are spaced appropriately for the bagging system to process them individually without accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer provides dynamic flow regulation, adjusting the spacing and timing of products as they move from random input to organized output. The system dynamically responds to variations in input rate and bagging speed, maintaining optimal spacing to prevent blockages while preserving continuous flow capability.
3Device complexity
If no buffering system is used, then the packaging line is simpler and more direct, but this results in untimely product delivery and massive product accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer serves as a mediating element that, while adding structural complexity, eliminates time losses associated with untimely product delivery and massive accumulation. It synchronizes product flow with bagging capacity, ensuring products arrive at the optimal moment for processing, thereby improving overall production efficiency and timing.
Data Source
AI summary
Meat products are provided to an automated bagging system in a controlled and managed manner. Packaging systems in accordance with the present invention preferably include one or more buffering systems capable controlling the flow of meat products to a bagging system. Buffering systems are positioned along a meat product packaging line to provide such flow control. Plural buffering systems may be used as arranged in one or both of in series and in parallel.