Overhang Rail Transport System for Carcass Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for transferring four-legged slaughter animal carcass parts are labor-intensive and limit throughput speed, often requiring manual handling and horizontal deboning, which is inefficient and prone to automation limitations.

Innovation Solution

An overhang rail transport system with synchronized movement of first and second carriers allows for automatic transfer of carcass parts from one carrier to another, eliminating the need for intermediate handling and enabling direct processing between different deboning lines or cooling facilities, using a transfer zone where the relative horizontal distance between carriers decreases to facilitate seamless weight transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual handling and horizontal conveyor transfer methods are used, then flexibility in processing is maintained, but productivity is limited and labor intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughput speedVSAvoidmanual labor requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-transfer of carcass parts from overhead carriers to horizontal conveyors through gravity-assisted dropping mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual handling while maintaining continuous processing flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual lifting and transferring operations are replaced by a mechanical system combining overhead carriers with controlled dropping mechanisms that automatically transfer carcass parts to horizontal conveyors at processing stations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If overhead carrier transfer systems are implemented, then automation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic transfer capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system aligns the horizontal conveyor surfaces with the dropping point of overhead carriers, creating a gravity-based transfer mechanism that eliminates complex lifting mechanisms while achieving automatic transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The transport system is divided into independent overhead carrier sections and horizontal conveyor sections, allowing each to operate independently and simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling automatic transfer at interface points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3962277B1Overhang rail transport system and method

Publication Date: 2023.11.29 MAREL RED MEAT BV

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c
Figure 1d

AI summary

A system and a method for automatic transfer of carcass parts suspended from a first carrier to being suspended from a second carrier. The carcass parts may be a half carcass that may have been eviscerated and cleaned. The first carrier may be an industry standard gambrel or a single carrier or a Marel DeboFlex carrier, for example a Euro Carrier. The second carrier may be a single carrier, for example a Euro Carrier, or a Marel DeboFlex carrier.