Pivotable Transport Elements for Fish Fillet Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for transferring fish and meat products in the processing industry can only control the orientation of articles to a limited extent, and require many moving parts that are difficult to clean and maintain hygiene standards.
Innovation Solution
A circulating continuous conveying device with pivotable transport elements allows for precise control of article transfer position and orientation, using a control device to pivot transport elements and change article orientation during transfer, while also being designed for easy cleaning with flat, smooth drive belts and guide elements to reduce dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional pusher devices are used to transfer articles, then the structure is simple, but the orientation control of articles is limited and cannot be precisely adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying device is divided into multiple transport sections, each with independent pivotable transport elements. This segmentation allows individual control of each section to achieve precise orientation control while maintaining overall system manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The transport elements are designed to be pivotable about axles, allowing dynamic adjustment of the conveying plane orientation. This enables articles to be transferred at different orientations by controlling the pivot angle, achieving precise orientation control through dynamic mechanical adjustment
2Ease of operation
If many moving parts are used in the conveying device, then the transfer function is achieved, but cleaning and sterilization become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable transport elements are extracted as separable components that can be easily removed from the conveying device. This allows the moving parts to be taken out for cleaning and sterilization independently, significantly improving maintenance ease while maintaining the necessary mechanical functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The transport elements utilize flat, smooth surfaces that resemble flexible shell structures, which prevent dirt accumulation and facilitate easy cleaning. The smooth surfaces minimize areas where contaminants can adhere, making the device easier to maintain hygienic standards
3Manufacturing precision
If articles are transferred by gravity drop, then the transfer speed is fast, but the orientation of articles cannot be controlled or changed during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The transport elements are positioned and oriented in advance before article transfer. By pre-adjusting the pivot angle of transport elements, the desired article orientation is prepared beforehand, ensuring precise orientation control is achieved before the gravity drop occurs, without slowing down the transfer process
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
Enables precise and hygienic transfer of articles to predetermined positions with controlled orientation, improving positioning accuracy and reducing cleaning efforts, particularly suitable for transferring fish fillets with variable orientation requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the articles are transferred to the predetermined end position in at least one transfer region, under the effect of gravity, in a plane lying below the conveying plane
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method, configured for transferring articles of the fish and meat processing industry in a predetermined end position, including a continuous conveying device with a plurality of transport sections for individually receiving the articles and movable in the conveying direction, which transport sections comprise in the conveying position a transport element pair forming two article support surfaces. Each transport element is configured to be controllably pivotable about axles, running in the edge region of the respective transport section, so that the articles (10) are transferred to the predetermined end position, under the effect of gravity, in a plane lying below the conveying plane by controlled pivoting of both transport elements while retaining the article orientation or by controlled pivoting of one of the respective transport elements of one of the respective transport element pairs while changing the article orientation.