Automated Offal Preservation System with Precision Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for mixing slaughter offal with preservative agents lack precise control over preservative concentration, leading to potential health hazards from hydrogen sulfide formation and interference with heparin extraction, and are cumbersome to install, connect, and clean.

Innovation Solution

A mixing apparatus with a programmable control unit and automated dosing system for precise addition of preservative agents, featuring adjustable and detachable preservative reservoirs, sensors for level detection, and a diaphragm pump for accurate metering and stirring, ensuring consistent preservation and easy installation and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual preservative addition is used in collection tanks, then the system is simple to operate, but the preservative concentration cannot be strictly controlled leading to decay or interference with heparin extraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreservative concentration controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs level sensors that detect the mucosa level in the collection tank and provide feedback to the control unit, which automatically activates the pump and preservative dosing system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures precise preservative concentration control without requiring complex manual monitoring and adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to automatically perform preservative dosing and mucosa transfer operations without continuous human intervention. The control unit autonomously manages the entire process from detecting mucosa accumulation to dosing preservative and transferring the mixture, making the complex automation transparent to the user while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If preservative concentration is increased to prevent decay, then mucosa preservation is improved, but heparin extraction is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemucosa preservationVSAvoidheparin extraction interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system precisely controls the preservative dosing parameters based on the actual mucosa volume detected by level sensors. By adjusting the preservative amount to match the exact mucosa quantity in the tank, the system achieves reliable preservation while avoiding excessive preservative concentrations that would interfere with subsequent heparin extraction processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding a fixed excessive amount of preservative, the system adds only the partial amount necessary based on real-time mucosa level detection. This ensures sufficient preservation without over-dosing, thereby preventing interference with heparin extraction while maintaining reliable mucosa preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If multiple collection tanks and storage reservoirs are used, then processing capacity is increased, but the risk of widespread decay increases with any dosing mishap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidpreservation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the processing into multiple independent collection tanks, each equipped with its own automated dosing and control system. This segmentation isolates potential dosing errors to individual tanks, preventing widespread decay across all tanks and reservoirs while maintaining high overall processing capacity through parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each collection tank is equipped with level sensors and automated control systems that continuously monitor and adjust preservative dosing. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable preservation in each tank independently, preventing the propagation of dosing errors across the entire system while enabling high productivity through multiple concurrent tanks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If automated metering control is implemented, then preservative dosing precision is improved, but the number of parts and connections increases making installation and cleaning difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreservative dosing precisionVSAvoidinstallation and cleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pump unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a mucosa transfer pump and a preservative dosing pump. This universal design reduces the total number of separate components and connections required for automated metering, thereby maintaining dosing precision while simplifying installation and cleaning procedures compared to systems with separate dedicated pumps for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system ensures accurate preservation of offal with minimal preservative content deviations, reducing health risks and facilitating efficient heparin extraction, while being easy to install, operate, and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

a pump unit operatively connectable to the discharge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

an agitator extending into the offal collection tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAgitation: Stirring

Data Source

PatentEP2456314B1Apparatus and method of preserving mucosa
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 MERCK SHARP & DOHME BV
  • EP2456314B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2456314B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2456314B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A mixing apparatus (1) for mixing slaughter offal with a preservative agent, the apparatus comprising an offal collection tank (3) with a bottom (4) provided w ith a discharge opening (5) connectable to a closable discharge, an agitator (8) extending into the offal collection tank, and a pump unit (9) operatively connectable to the discharge, wherein the apparatus further comprises a preservative reservoir (7) mounted on top of the collection tank (3). A collection and preservation system is provided, wherein the addition of preservation agent can be strictly controlled, can easily and quickly be installed and connected when it is to be used. After use, the system is easily removed and cleaned.