Oscillating Clamping Mechanism for Pin Bone Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for removing pin bones from fish fillets are structurally complex and often result in broken bones or unreliable detachment, leading to incomplete removal.
Innovation Solution
A compact apparatus with a clamping mechanism featuring oscillating rotational movement, driven by an electric motor, allows for gentle and effective clamping and detachment of pin bones, utilizing movable clamping jaws that can adjust frequency and amplitude to suit different fish fillets, and is integrated with a control unit for automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a roller with textured surface and vibration generator is used to clamp and detach pin bones, then the pin bones can be detached from the fillet, but the system becomes structurally complex and pin bones may break during clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into two independent functional components: a base body for clamping the pin bone and a separate oscillating unit that provides the oscillating rotational movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining reliable detachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oscillating rotational movement to the base body, transforming it from a static clamping device to a dynamic one. This dynamic movement enables the clamping jaws to gently detach pin bones through oscillation rather than through complex vibration mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure while improving reliability.
2Productivity
If strong clamping force is applied to extract pin bones, then extraction efficiency improves, but pin bones break and bone remnants remain in the fillet
Solution Approach 1:
The base body performs oscillating rotational movement rather than rotating in a fixed direction. This dynamic oscillation gently loosens the pin bone from the fillet tissue through alternating motion, enabling extraction without applying excessive force that would cause breakage, thus maintaining bone integrity while ensuring efficient removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating rotational movement creates periodic action with alternating directions. This periodic motion repeatedly applies and releases clamping force in a controlled manner, gradually detaching the pin bone without sudden forceful extraction that would lead to breakage, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring bone integrity.
3Productivity
If the clamping mechanism rotates in one direction only, then pin bones can be pulled out, but fresh fish fillets make detachment difficult and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The base body is designed to perform oscillating rotational movement with alternating directions instead of unidirectional rotation. This dynamic capability allows the clamping jaws to adapt to the firm adhesion in fresh fillets by using oscillation to progressively loosen the pin bone, making detachment both reliable and maintainable for productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating rotational movement changes the motion parameters from fixed unidirectional rotation to variable bidirectional oscillation. This parameter change enables the system to handle the varying adhesion strength in fresh fillets, providing reliable detachment while maintaining extraction speed through controlled oscillatory motion.
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 apparatus ensures reliable and efficient removal of pin bones without breaking them, improving the success rate of boning and reducing manual effort, especially for fresh fish fillets, and can be integrated into automatic fish processing lines.
Implementation Method 1
the drive is designed and configured for exerting an oscillating rotational movement of the base body about the rotational axis D and thereby of the clamping jaws about the central axis M
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus, designed and configured for the removal of pin bones from a fish fillet that has been completely separated from the skeleton, comprising a tool having a clamping mechanism for clamping and releasing individual pin bones, a drive for the rotary driving of at least parts of the clamping mechanism and means for transmitting the rotational movement from the drive to the clamping mechanism, which is characterized in that the clamping mechanism comprises a base body that can be driven such that it rotates about a rotational axis, with which at least two clamping jaws are associated, which clamping jaws define a resulting central axis M and are for clamping and releasing the pin bones, wherein the clamping jaws are designed and configured such that they can move towards and away from one another, and the drive is designed and configured for exerting an oscillating rotational movement of the base body about the rotational axis and thereby of the clamping jaws about the central axis M. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.