Poultry Breast Gristle Removal Device with Stationary Cutting Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual separation of breast cartilage from poultry breast carcasses is laborious and inefficient, especially at high conveying speeds, leading to incomplete recovery and an inability to meet demand due to the need for manual handling which is impractical at speeds like 15 km/h.
Innovation Solution
A device with a transport system moving the breast carcass along a rectilinear path and a stationary cutting device with transverse and frontal cutting edges, oriented to make defined cuts perpendicular to the median plane, allowing for automated separation of breast cartilage without slowing down the conveying speed or re-gripping the carcass, using cutting edges that are flat and straight, and optionally rotating or scraper mechanisms to facilitate the removal of separated cartilage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated cutting is implemented at high conveying speeds (e.g., 15 km/h), then productivity increases, but manual harvesting becomes impossible and cartilage recovery becomes incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is segmented into multiple independent cutting edges (transverse cutting edge and frontal cutting edge) that work simultaneously to separate different portions of the breast cartilage. This segmentation allows the system to handle the cartilage removal task at high speeds by dividing the cutting action into multiple specialized components rather than relying on a single cutting point
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specifically designed cutting device as an intermediary between the moving breast carcass and the cartilage recovery process. This intermediary device with its predetermined orientation and multiple cutting edges enables automated cartilage separation at high conveying speeds, bridging the gap between automated processing and complete cartilage recovery
2Manufacturing precision
If the cutting device is stationary with predetermined orientation, then manufacturing precision of cuts is improved, but adaptability to variations in carcass position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device features locally optimized cutting edges with specific geometries and orientations tailored to their particular cutting tasks. The transverse cutting edge is designed for horizontal cutting while the frontal cutting edge is designed for vertical cutting, with each edge having its own optimal angle and shape for its specific location and function, enabling precise cuts while accommodating carcass variations
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting device employs asymmetric cutting edges with different orientations and geometries - the transverse cutting edge runs horizontally while the frontal cutting edge runs vertically, creating an asymmetric configuration that allows the stationary device to handle the asymmetric variations in carcass positioning and orientation effectively
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for removing a breast gristle (24) from a poultry breast carcass (4), comprising a transport apparatus (2) for moving the breast carcass along a straight, in particular horizontal motion path (26) in a fixed orientation, wherein a median plane (20) of the breast carcass is oriented perpendicularly to the motion path, a stationary cutting apparatus (30) having a transversal blade (32), for making a transversal cut passing through the breast gristle, the transversal cut extending in a transversal cut plane arranged perpendicularly to the median plane, wherein the transversal cut plane and a transversal plane (34) of the breast carcass arranged perpendicularly to the median plane include an angle up to 30°, and having a frontal blade (36) for making a frontal cut passing through the breast gristle, the frontal cut extending in a frontal cut plane arranged perpendicularly to the median plane, wherein the frontal cut plane and a frontal plane (38) of the breast carcass arranged perpendicularly to the median plane and perpendicularly to the transversal plane include an angle up to 30°, and to a method.