Spring-Biased Gripper Plates for Meat Part Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional devices for holding suspended meat parts, such as poultry, are unreliable due to varying joint sizes and slippery joints, leading to frequent slippage and inefficiencies in meat processing, resulting in waste and the need for costly hand processing.
Innovation Solution
A meat part holder with spring-biased gripper plates that expand to securely hold bones just below the joint, and pivot arms that increase grip force during processing, preventing slippage even under downward forces like those from meat strippers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional holders (shackles, pronged holders) are used to suspend chicken parts, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the reliability is poor due to frequent slippage caused by varying joint sizes and slippery joints
Solution Approach 1:
The holder employs spring-biased gripper plates that dynamically adjust their position and apply variable gripping force. The spring mechanism allows the plates to move and adapt to different bone sizes and shapes, providing reliable gripping force throughout the processing operation without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder changes the gripping parameter from fixed geometric constraints (prongs or shackles) to variable spring-biased contact pressure. The spring mechanism allows the gripper plates to maintain optimal contact pressure against the bone regardless of joint size variations, transforming the holding mechanism from shape-dependent to pressure-dependent.
2Reliability
If fixed prong holders are used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates under processing forces as joints can slip through the fixed structure
Solution Approach 1:
The holder replaces fixed prong structures with dynamic spring-biased gripper plates that can move and adapt. The spring mechanism provides continuous adjustment capability, allowing the plates to maintain secure grip on bones of varying sizes and shapes throughout the processing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-biased gripper plates automatically adjust and maintain optimal gripping force without external control systems. The spring mechanism self-regulates the gripping pressure based on the bone's position and the applied processing forces, eliminating the need for complex active control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If traditional holders are used, then manufacturing cost is low, but productivity decreases due to frequent slippage requiring hand processing
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-biased gripper plates provide dynamic adaptation to different bone configurations, ensuring consistent gripping reliability throughout the automated processing line. This eliminates slippage-related interruptions and hand processing requirements, maintaining high productivity without complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder uses simple, inexpensive spring mechanisms and gripper plates that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. This cost-effective approach achieves reliable gripping without requiring expensive complex mechanisms, making the solution economically viable for high-volume processing operations.
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 holder effectively prevents chicken parts from slipping during processing, enhancing efficiency and reducing waste by maintaining secure grip on bones, especially during meat stripping and cut-up operations.
Implementation Method 1
The holder has a pair of opposing gripper plates that are biased toward one another by a spring
Implementation Method 2
the gripper plates are forced apart against the bias of the spring to allow the bone to slide into a space between the plates
Implementation Method 3
pivot arms are arranged such that the gripper plates actually exert more force against the bone as the meat part is pulled downwardly away from the meat part holder
Data Source
AI summary
An animal part holder has first and second gripper plates between which an animal part can be slid. A mechanism coupled to the gripper plates for yieldably biasing the gripper plates toward one another so that the gripper plates engage and grip an animal part disposed between the gripper plates. In addition, the mechanism is configured to cause the gripper plates to tighten their grip on the animal part in response to a pulling force tending to pull the animal part out of the grip of the holder. A method of gripping the bone of an animal part includes disposing the bone between gripper plates and applying a biasing force to the gripper plates to cause the gripper plates to bear against the bone with a force. The method may further include applying a force to the gripper plates greater than the biasing force in response to a pulling force applied to the animal part to cause the gripper plates to grip the bone tighter.