Openwork Fabric with Segmented Elasticity for Meat Netting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tubular netting used in the food industry, particularly for meat products, lacks longitudinal elasticity, leading to issues such as bagginess, uneven shape, and poor sliceability due to its inextensible nature, which results in unsightly conical sections and inconsistent compressive force during curing and cooking processes.
Innovation Solution
An openwork fabric with alternating conjoined and intermediate members, comprising extensible and inextensible filament assemblies, where the extension limiting means controls longitudinal extension, ensuring consistent shape and size adaptation to meat products of varying diameters, thereby maintaining a uniform pattern and pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional tubular netting is used, then the netting provides basic containment, but it lacks longitudinal elasticity causing bagginess and uneven shape
Solution Approach 1:
The netting is divided into alternating elastic and inelastic segments along its longitudinal axis. The elastic segments provide necessary stretch while the inelastic segments maintain shape and prevent excessive expansion, creating a segmented structure that balances adaptability with shape uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the netting are assigned different mechanical properties. The elastic portions provide longitudinal flexibility where needed, while the inelastic portions maintain structural integrity and shape consistency in other regions, creating local quality variations that solve the overall shape uniformity problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the netting is made inextensible, then shape consistency is maintained, but it cannot adapt to meat products of varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The netting structure segments longitudinal extension into discrete elastic and inelastic zones. The elastic segments enable adaptation to varying diameters while the inelastic segments preserve shape consistency, allowing the netting to accommodate different meat product sizes without compromising overall form.
Solution Approach 2:
The netting transitions from a static, inextensible structure to a dynamic structure with controlled elasticity. The alternating elastic and inelastic segments allow the netting to dynamically adapt to varying diameters while maintaining shape consistency through the inelastic portions that anchor the overall form.
3Ease of operation
If elastic netting is used, then longitudinal extension is possible, but it causes conical sections and poor sliceability
Solution Approach 1:
The netting is segmented into alternating elastic and inelastic portions that work together to control extension. The elastic segments facilitate easy dispensing while the inelastic segments prevent excessive stretching that would cause conical sections, thereby maintaining uniform cross-section and improving sliceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The netting employs changes in mechanical parameters along its length, transitioning between elastic and inelastic states. This parameter variation allows the netting to be easily dispensed while preventing uncontrolled expansion that would create conical shapes and compromise cross-sectional uniformity.
4Force
If the netting is made from single elastic material, then it provides uniform elasticity, but it cannot provide consistent compressive force
Solution Approach 1:
The netting uses a composite structure combining elastic and inelastic materials in alternating segments. This composite approach allows the elastic portions to provide necessary compression while the inelastic portions maintain structural stability, resulting in consistent compressive force without requiring complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The netting divides the application of compressive force into segmented elastic and inelastic zones. The elastic segments generate the necessary compressive force while the inelastic segments maintain structural consistency, working together to provide uniform compressive force throughout the netting without requiring overly complex construction.
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 openwork fabric provides consistent and aesthetically pleasing hexagonal or diamond patterns on meat surfaces, ensuring even pressure and preventing air pocket formation, while maintaining shape consistency and reducing waste by minimizing shape variations during dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the one or more filaments comprises elastic thread
Data Source
AI summary
An improved tubular openwork fabric or net for food products, the openwork fabric including a plurality of filament assemblies. Each filament assembly is formed from one or more filaments and the filament assemblies are knitted as alternating conjoined and intermediate members. Each intermediate member includes a single filament assembly and each conjoined member includes a pair of filament assemblies that are worked together. The openwork fabric further includes an extension limiting member to limit a longitudinal extension of the openwork fabric.