Meat Portioning Line with Automatic Weight Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently producing portions of exact weight from large individual meat slices while minimizing effort and costs, as the weight variation of meat slices makes it difficult to achieve consistent portion weights within a narrow target range, leading to significant losses and manual adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that initially ensure equal weight distribution of meat slices in containers, with automatic separation and buffering of containers that are too heavy or too light, followed by precise exchange of slices on compensating scales to achieve target weights, reducing manual work and losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the same number of meat slices are placed in each container with roughly similar weight, then the weight range of filled containers is already within a specified bandwidth, but the weight still varies and requires further adjustment to meet narrow target weight range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the portion assembly process into multiple stages: initial automatic assembly with rough weight control, first weighing and automatic separation into weight classes, and selective exchange of meat slices based on weight deviation. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on a specific weight control task, achieving high precision without requiring the entire system to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary weight classification by separating portions into too-heavy and too-light buffers before the final exchange operation. This preliminary action reduces the workload of the final weight adjustment stage, as portions are already grouped by weight deviation magnitude, enabling more efficient slice exchange operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If portions are manually adjusted to achieve exact weight, then portion weight precision is improved, but working time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service weight adjustment through automatic weighing, automatic separation into weight classes, and automated selection of portions for slice exchange. The computer-controlled system autonomously identifies which portions need adjustment and facilitates the exchange process, minimizing manual intervention while maintaining high weight precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through continuous weighing of portions and automatic separation based on weight measurements. The system uses weight deviation information to guide the slice exchange process, ensuring portions are adjusted only as needed to reach the target weight range, thereby maintaining precision without excessive manual work.
3Manufacturing precision
If portions that are too heavy or too light are stored in separate buffers, then weight classification is achieved, but floor space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal buffer arrangement to vertical stacking of buffers. By arranging too-heavy and too-light buffers in vertical layers rather than side-by-side horizontally, the system achieves the same weight classification functionality while significantly reducing the floor space footprint of the buffer storage area.
4Productivity
If meat slices are transported individually on conveyor belts, then efficient transport is achieved, but hygiene is compromised due to contact with other meat slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts meat slices from the shared conveyor belt environment and places them into individual containers at the assembly station. Once in containers, slices are isolated from contact with other meat slices during transport and handling. This extraction eliminates the contamination pathway while maintaining transport efficiency, as slices move through the system in protected individual containers rather than exposed on open conveyors.
Data Source
AI summary
Producing portions (1a,b) of precise weight from meat slices (2a,b) of varying weight by: a) placing a number of individual products into each container; b) weighing the individual filled containers; c) automatically separating the weighed containers into a product line (4) and at least one overweight buffer (5) and at least one underweight buffer (6); d) providing one underweight portion (8) from the underweight buffer (6) and one overweight portion (7) from the overweight buffer (5) side by side on separate balancing scales (9a,b); e) exchanging, in particular automatically, one or, if necessary, two individual products from the underweight portion (8) for those from the overweight portion (7) and vice versa, until both portions (7, 8) are within the target weight range.