Pin Bed Conveyor Belts for Shrimp Peeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanized shrimp peeling technologies using emery cloth are difficult to clean and less effective, especially when peeling thawed deep-frozen shrimp, as they do not adequately separate the shrimp's armature from the meat.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible synthetic material conveyor belts with pin beds and metal pins that grip the shrimp, allowing for a pressing force to separate the armature from the meat, providing a cleaner and more effective peeling process by adapting to individual shrimp shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If emery cloth is used on conveyor belts for shrimp peeling, then friction contact is achieved for peeling, but the conveyor belt becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt surface is segmented into discrete metal pins rather than a continuous emery cloth layer. Each pin acts as an independent friction element, allowing the surface to be easily cleaned by removing debris from individual pin locations, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining peeling effectiveness and improving cleanability.
Solution Approach 2:
The abrasive function is extracted from the conveyor belt material itself and transferred to separate metal pins. This allows the base conveyor belt material to remain smooth and cleanable, while the pins provide the necessary friction for peeling, separating the cleaning function from the peeling function.
2Ease of operation
If emery cloth is used on conveyor belts, then friction contact is provided, but it is not effective in fully separating armature and meat of thawed deepfrozen shrimp
Solution Approach 1:
The metal pins are positioned to make initial contact with the shrimp surface before the main squeezing action occurs. This preliminary gripping action pre-positions the shrimp and ensures proper alignment, allowing the subsequent squeezing force to effectively separate the armature from the meat even in difficult thawed deepfrozen shrimp.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining metal pins (for gripping and friction) with the conveyor belt structure (for support and movement). This composite configuration provides both the mechanical grip needed for effective peeling and the structural stability required for reliable operation, achieving complete separation of armature and meat.
3Strength
If rigid materials are used for conveyor belts, then structural strength is maintained, but adaptability to individual shrimp shapes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system implements local quality by using rigid metal pins for structural strength and friction, while the surrounding conveyor belt material remains flexible to adapt to shrimp shapes. This localized application of rigidity where needed (at pin contact points) and flexibility where needed (in the belt structure) resolves the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt uses a flexible belt structure that can conform to the contours of individual shrimp, while metal pins protrude from this flexible surface to provide the necessary gripping force. The flexible belt adapts to shrimp shape variations, ensuring consistent contact and peeling effectiveness across different shrimp sizes and forms.
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 solution results in a more easily cleanable and efficient separation of shrimp meat from armature, improving peeling effectiveness across various shrimp types and dimensions, including thawed deep-frozen ones.
Implementation Method 1
the first shrimp contacting side makes a first friction contact with the underside of the shrimp and the second shrimp contacting side makes a second friction contact with the topside of the shrimp
Implementation Method 2
there is exerted a pressing force onto the shrimp situated in said interspace, wherein said pressing force moves in a squeezing direction... so that the armature of the shrimp opens on the backside and the meat of the shrimp is squeezed out of the armature
Data Source
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AI summary
In the mechanized peeling of shrimp according to the invention each shrimp is transported in a transport direction (22) in-between a first shrimp contacting side (41) of a first endless conveyor belt (11) and a second shrimp contacting side (42) of a second endless conveyor belt (12), while on the shrimp there is exerted a pressing force which moves in a squeezing direction (21) which crosses the transport direction (22). At least one of the endless conveyor belts is, at least at its shrimp contacting side, made of a flexible synthetic material (81, 82), and comprises a pin bed of pins (51, 52), which with their free pin ends (61, 62) protrude at the shrimp contacting side of the endless conveyor belt for gripping at the shrimp. The invention enables optimal peeling results with excellent food hygiene.