Meat Pressing Device Segmented Pressing Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing meat product pressing devices are limited in their ability to apply consistent pressure across different sizes of shape containers and meat portions, leading to uneven pressing and requiring a stable, heavy housing to transfer forces.

Innovation Solution

The device features multiple shape container recording rooms with individually configurable press elements that can move towards each other, allowing for consistent pressure application across different size containers, and a lightweight housing design that minimizes pressure on the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If mold containers are stacked directly on top of one another with a single drive, then the device structure is simple, but the pressing force is uneven and the housing must be heavy and stable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidpressing force uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the pressing function into multiple independent pressing element arrangements, each with its own drive mechanism. This segmentation allows each pressing element to independently apply force to individual mold containers, ensuring uniform pressing force without requiring a heavy housing to distribute loads, while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a single drive presses multiple stacked mold containers, then the device is simple to operate, but different sizes of containers receive uneven pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcontainer size adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing element arrangements are designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing each pressing element to adapt to different container sizes and positions. The drives can be independently controlled to provide dynamic adjustment of pressing forces, enabling the device to handle various container configurations while maintaining ease of operation through automated or semi-automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the housing is designed to be stable and rigid to transmit pressing forces, then the device is reliable, but the housing becomes heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmission stabilityVSAvoidhousing weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the pressing function into multiple independent pressing element arrangements with individual drives, the device eliminates the need for a heavy, rigid housing to transmit forces across multiple stacked containers. Each pressing element can be supported by a lighter housing structure since forces are applied locally rather than transmitted through the entire housing structure, maintaining reliability through distributed independent force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enables flexible handling of various shape container sizes, ensures even pressure distribution, and reduces the weight and structural requirements of the housing, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective meat product pressing device.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one tension element is drive-connected to the drive at its other end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Implementation Method 2

The pressing elements are each designed as movable pressing elements which can be moved towards and away from the other pressing element of the relevant pressing element arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4529771A1Apparatus for producing meat products
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 RUHLE
  • EP4529771A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4529771A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4529771A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device (1) for producing meat products has a housing (2) open on at least one side, in which several forming container receiving chambers (3) are arranged one above the other, each serving to receive at least one forming container that can be filled with a portion of meat. Each forming container receiving chamber (3) is associated with at least one pressing element arrangement, comprising an upper pressing element (8A, 8B) arranged above the forming container receiving chamber (3) and a lower pressing element (9A, 9B) arranged below the respective forming container receiving chamber (3). The pressing elements (8A, 8B, 9A, 9B) of the individual pressing element arrangements are movable between a rest position and a pressing position, moving towards and away from each other.At least one deflection element for a tension element (17) is arranged on at least one pressing element (8A, 8B, 9A, 9B) of each pressing element arrangement. The tension element is guided over the deflection elements of the pressing element arrangements in such a way that the upper and lower pressing elements (8A, 8B, 9A, 9B) of the pressing element arrangements can be moved relative to each other from their rest position to the pressing position by applying a tensile force to the at least one tension element (17). To tension the tension element (17), it is supported at one end against the housing (2) and connected at its other end to a drive (18).