Offset Guide Member for Poultry Viscera Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern poultry slaughtering systems face challenges in precisely separating viscera sets at high processing speeds, particularly in distinguishing between edible and inedible parts, as the gallbladder often contaminates edible components due to improper separation, especially when natural variations in viscera sets occur.

Innovation Solution

A guide member with an elongated opening and a gripping member are used to suspend intestines and gallbladder below and liver/gizzard above, with offset sections and curved edges to ensure proper orientation, allowing for precise separation by guiding the viscera set through the opening and using a blade for separation, while the gripping member assists in maintaining the intestines' position for accurate separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high processing speeds are used to increase productivity, then the processing speed increases, but the separation precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidseparation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is positioned to receive and orient the viscera set before the actual separation operation. The elongated opening with offset sections pre-positions the intestines and gallbladder in the correct orientation, ensuring they are properly aligned before the separation blade acts on them. This preliminary orientation action enables high-speed processing without sacrificing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the gallbladder is separated from the liver, then the contamination of edible parts is reduced, but the loss of liver tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidliver tissue loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member features an elongated opening with offset proximal and distal sections, creating a localized orientation zone. This design applies different spatial constraints to different parts of the viscera set: the intestines and gallbladder are oriented through the offset opening, while the liver and gizzard rest on the separation support surface. This local differentiation enables precise separation that protects liver tissue while removing the gallbladder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If natural variations in viscera sets are accommodated, then the adaptability increases, but the separation precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of variationsVSAvoidseparation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member serves multiple functions: it receives viscera sets with natural variations, orients them through the elongated opening with offset sections, supports the liver and gizzard on its surface, and guides the separation process. This multi-functional design accommodates anatomical variations while maintaining consistent separation precision across different viscera sets.

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

This method enhances the precision of separating viscera sets, reducing the risk of liver tissue discard and gallbladder contamination, enabling efficient separation even at high processing speeds, thus maintaining quality and reducing waste.

Implementation Method 1

viscera sets suspended from holders under the influence of gravity are inserted between stationary horizontal guide plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The intestine pack is clamped between clip brackets rotating about a reversing wheel. The clip brackets are successively displaced downward for exerting a downward directed pull in the intestine pack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3068230B1A guide member, a guide assembly, a system and a method for separating a viscera set eviscerated from slaughtered poultry

Publication Date: 2017.10.18 LINCO FOOD SYST AS

AI summary

A guide member (4) for use in separating viscera sets eviscerated from slaughtered poultry comprising a separation support surface (41, 42) having an elongated opening (43) for receiving a viscera set (1) in a manner whereby at least the intestines (15) and the gallbladder (18) are suspended below said guide member (4) and the liver (16) and gizzard (17) are positioned above said guide member. The elongated opening (43) extends away from a front edge of the separation support surface and a distal section of the opening is off-set in relation to a proximal section in a direction substantially parallel to the front edge. A gripping member (3) may be arranged below said guide member for gripping a part of the intestines (15). In a method according to the invention the guide member (4) is moved into contact with the viscera set whereby the intestines and/or gallbladder enters the elongated opening.