Poultry Breast Fillet Detection via Inductive Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic breast fillet extraction devices for poultry carcasses often fail to reliably differentiate between completely and incompletely filleted carcasses, necessitating costly manual inspection and intervention.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a measuring system that automatically detects the angular position of a sensing element to determine if the breast fillet is fully removed, using a pivotable feeler element and inductive sensor to assess the filleting success, allowing for the differentiation between filleted and unfilleted carcasses and enabling automatic ejection of incompletely processed ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inspection is used to verify filleting completeness, then detection reliability is improved, but labor costs and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated mechanical sensing system. A probe element with force-sensitive resistor scans the breast side of the poultry carcass, mechanically detecting the presence or absence of breast fillet through contact sensing, thereby eliminating the need for manual inspection while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-inspection by the processing machine itself. The sensing element automatically scans each carcass and provides feedback to the control device, which then directs the ejection device to remove incompletely filleted carcasses, allowing the system to monitor and correct its own performance without external human intervention
2Measurement precision
If complex sensing systems are used to detect filleting completeness, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential sensing function needed for filleting detection. Instead of using complex multi-sensor systems, it employs a single probe element with a force-sensitive resistor that measures only the presence or absence of breast fillet through simple contact force detection, achieving sufficient precision with minimal complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter from complex visual or dimensional analysis to simple contact force measurement. The force-sensitive resistor detects changes in force when the probe contacts the breast fillet, converting a complex quality assessment into a simple physical parameter measurement that is easy to detect and evaluate
3Extent of automation
If mechanical scanning systems are used to inspect poultry carcasses, then automation level is improved, but hygiene maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe element is designed as a slender, simple mechanical structure that can be easily cleaned. The force-sensitive resistor is positioned at the tip of the probe, allowing the entire sensing element to be quickly rinsed and sanitized, meeting hygiene requirements while maintaining automation
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing element is designed to be simple and replaceable. If contamination occurs, the entire probe assembly can be quickly replaced rather than requiring complex disassembly and cleaning procedures, effectively treating the sensing element as a disposable or easily renewed component to maintain hygiene standards
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
This solution eliminates the need for manual inspection, ensures high reliability in filleting assessment, and meets hygiene standards with a robust and easy-to-clean design, reducing personnel costs and improving processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive sensor is provided which is designed and configured to detect the angular position about the pivot axis upon deflection of the sensing element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the automatic breast fillet extraction from poultry carcasses (11) or parts thereof, comprising a conveying device (10) designed for the continuous conveying of the poultry carcasses (11) in a conveying direction (12), wherein the conveying device (12) has receiving elements (14) designed for holding and conveying the poultry carcasses (11) along a processing path (13), wherein processing stations are arranged on the processing path (13) and the processing stations have at least one fork leg removal station and a breast fillet removal station, and at least one measuring device (15) arranged downstream of the breast fillet removal station on the processing path (13) in the conveying direction (10), past which the poultry carcasses (11) held by means of the receiving elements (14) are conveyed.that the breastbone of each poultry carcass (11) is oriented at least substantially transversely to the conveying direction (12) towards the measuring device (15) on the breast side, wherein the measuring device (15) has a sensing element (16) which is designed and configured for mechanically sensing the poultry carcasses (11) on the breast side. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.