Poultry Leg Deboning Gripper with Dynamic Force Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deboning poultry legs face challenges in achieving accurate movement and force application, leading to risks of bone shattering or incomplete meat harvest due to inconsistent gripping.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a conveying unit, a deboning unit with a gripper actuated by carriers for precise gripping and adjustable biasing force, and a precutting system for optimizing meat removal, allowing for controlled gripping and efficient meat harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a gripper grips the meat too firmly, then the meat can be effectively pulled off the bone, but the risk of shattering the bone increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper system employs three independently controllable carriers that can be dynamically adjusted during operation. The first carrier positions the gripper, the second carrier controls gripper closure, and the third carrier adjusts biasing force. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt gripping force in real-time, applying sufficient force for effective meat removal while preventing excessive force that would shatter the bone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of gripping force through the adjustable biasing force mechanism. The third carrier can be positioned at different locations to vary the biasing force applied to the gripper, thereby controlling the closing force. This parameter adjustment enables optimization between meat harvest efficiency and bone integrity protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a gripper grips the meat too weakly, then the bone remains intact, but the risk of incomplete meat harvest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic three-carrier control system allows progressive application of gripping force. The carriers can be adjusted during the deboning process to increase biasing force as needed, ensuring complete meat removal while monitoring bone integrity. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling force optimization during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control where the position of the third carrier relative to the first carrier determines the biasing force magnitude. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to actual deboning conditions and adjust gripping force accordingly, ensuring complete meat harvest while protecting bone integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the gripper movement is highly accurate, then precise control over meat removal is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gripper control function into three separate carriers, each responsible for a specific aspect: positioning, closure actuation, and biasing force. This segmentation allows each carrier to be relatively simple in design while achieving high overall precision through their coordinated operation with individual guides.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channels act as intermediaries between the carriers and the base member, providing precise movement paths without requiring complex direct control mechanisms. The guides translate simple carrier movements into accurate gripper positioning and actuation, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high precision.
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 system ensures reliable and efficient deboning by providing precise control over the gripper's movement and force, reducing the risk of bone damage and improving meat yield.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member, such as a spring, is interposed between the second carrier and the third carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.