Manual Meat Press Toggle Lever for Precise Thickness Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual meat presses are cumbersome, time-consuming, and often expensive, failing to deliver precise and uniform meat pressing results.
Innovation Solution
A manual meat press with a stationary holding console, a support plate, a pressure plate, and a lifting device operated by a single actuating lever, allowing for a pivoting movement that simplifies the pressing process and ensures precise thickness control through a toggle lever mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional manual meat press with separate operating lever and lifting device is used, then the pressing function can be achieved, but the device becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the operating lever and lifting device into a single integrated mechanism. The actuating lever directly controls both the swivel arm movement and the lifting device, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating lever serves multiple functions: it controls the swivel arm pivoting movement, activates the lifting device, and maintains parallel alignment of the pressure plate. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex lifting device with multiple components is used, then precise pressing can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is segmented into modular components including the guide piston, guide sleeve, and toggle lever mechanism. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of individual parts while maintaining precise pressing capability through the coordinated action of these modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide piston and guide sleeve act as intermediary elements that translate the toggle lever movement into precise linear motion of the pressure plate. This intermediary mechanism achieves pressing precision without requiring complex direct drive systems, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If the pressure plate is moved using a direct lifting mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the pressing force is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device employs a dynamic toggle lever mechanism that transforms the operator's input force into amplified pressing force through mechanical advantage. The toggle lever's pivoting motion creates a dynamic force multiplication effect, delivering sufficient pressing force while maintaining relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide piston and guide sleeve create a hydraulic-like mechanism where the piston moves within the sleeve to transmit and amplify force. This pneumatic/hydraulic principle allows simple structural elements to generate sufficient pressing force through fluid pressure transmission.
4Device complexity
If the pressure plate is not kept parallel to the support plate, then the mechanism is simpler, but the pressing results become uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The guide piston and guide sleeve system provides continuous feedback on the pressure plate's position and alignment. As the guide piston moves within the guide sleeve, it automatically maintains parallel alignment between the pressure plate and support plate, ensuring uniform pressing results without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide piston acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the lifting force and the pressure plate alignment requirement. It translates vertical lifting motion into controlled pressure plate movement while maintaining parallel alignment, achieving both simplicity and pressing uniformity.
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 design enables quick, precise, and effortless meat pressing with minimal effort, requiring less space and being cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a swivel arm (7) which is pivotably mounted on the stationary holding console (5) about a horizontal pivot axis (9)
Implementation Method 2
a lifting device (10) for moving the pressure plate (2) between an upper lifting position and the lower end position over a stroke extending to the lower end position
Implementation Method 3
the actuating lever (11) is operatively connected to both the swivel arm (7) and the lifting device (10)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a manual meat press for pieces of meat, comprising a stationary holding console 5, a support plate 3, a pressure plate 2, a lifting device for moving the pressure plate 2 between an upper lifting position and a lower end position, and an actuating lever 11 for manually moving the pressure plate 2 relative to the support plate 3. The lifting device is attached to a pivot arm 7, which is pivotably mounted on the stationary holding console 5 about a horizontal pivot axis 9.