Meat Stuffing Machine with Movable Casing Support and Dual Clipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meat stuffing machines require manual intervention for casing placement on the stuffing tube, use casings with larger diameters than the meat, and struggle to ensure optimal conditions for stuffing, leading to inefficiencies and increased labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A meat stuffing machine with automated casing positioning, compacting, and clipping mechanisms that use casings with diameters matching the meat, ensuring reliable and safe operation with minimal manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single clipping head is used to close and cut the casing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and reliability of casing closure deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single clipping head is divided into two separate clipping heads (first clipping head and second clipping head) positioned at different locations. Each clipping head independently closes and cuts the casing at its respective position, ensuring precise closure at both ends of the meat portion while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
2Reliability
If the supporting means are always in advanced position close to the outlet end, then the casing is better supported during insertion, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting means are designed to be movable between retracted and advanced positions rather than fixed. They can be dynamically positioned close to the outlet end during casing insertion to provide reliable support, then retracted to minimize device complexity and space requirements when not in use
3Ease of operation
If the ribbon is unwound and supported continuously, then the casing application is smoother, but the loss of time and energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ribbon is unwound and positioned in advance before the casing application process begins. The supporting means are advanced to their support position beforehand, so that when the casing is applied, the ribbon is already in place and supported, ensuring smooth application without continuous intervention and minimizing overall handling time
Data Source
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AI summary
A meat stuffing machine, which comprises a base frame (2) which supports at least one mold (3) for forming a portion of meat (100) to be stuffed, and a pusher (4), for conveying the portion of meat (100) through a stuffing tube (5) to which a casing (6) designed to accommodate the portion of meat (100) can be applied; means (7) are provided for unwinding, from a spool (8), a ribbon (9) of the casing (6) in a flattened condition and supporting means (10) are provided for supporting the inlet end (6a) of the casing (6) in the open condition, the supporting means being movable on command between a retracted position, in which they are spaced from the outlet end (5b) of the stuffing tube (5), and an advanced position, in which they are closer to the outlet end (5b) of the stuffing tube (5); a pair of clipping heads (30a, 30b) comprising a first clipping head (30a) and a second clipping head (30b), are provided downstream of said stuffing tube (5), with respect to the advancement direction of the portion of meat (100) through the stuffing tube (5), said clipping heads (30a, 30b) being actuatable on command in order to close and cut said casing (6), at regions of the casing (6) that are substantially proximate to the longitudinal ends of the portion of meat (100) inserted in said casing (6). At least one of said clipping heads (30a, 30b) is movable toward the other.