Poultry Leg Deskinning Roller Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deskinning poultry legs, such as those described in EP 0 519 570, result in torn and partially removed skin, requiring manual trimming and potential meat damage, while alternative solutions like WO2015/072851 compromise on processing speed to achieve better skin removal.
Innovation Solution
A deskinning apparatus with top rollers above bottom rollers, both driven by a common drive but rotating in opposite directions, applies a downward force to guide skin towards bottom rollers with meshing teeth, enhancing skin removal efficiency and allowing higher processing speeds without the need for slower rotation or multiple assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single set of bottom rollers with meshing teeth is used for deskinning, then the device complexity is low, but the skin removal quality is poor resulting in torn and partially removed skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple bottom rollers with meshing teeth into a single integrated deskinning unit, merging their functions to achieve complete skin removal while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Cutting means are provided to cut into the skin of the poultry leg in the vicinity of the knee joint before the deskinning process, preparing the skin for complete removal and preventing tearing during the skinning operation
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple skin removal assemblies are used to improve skin removal quality, then the skin removal quality improves, but the device complexity and processing speed are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bottom rollers with meshing teeth are merged into a single deskinning unit, achieving complete skin removal without requiring multiple separate skin removal assemblies, thus avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom rollers with meshing teeth perform multiple functions: they grip the skin, pull it into the nip, and strip it completely from the leg, making a single unit sufficient for complete skin removal
3Productivity
If the conveyor line speed is increased for high-speed processing, then the productivity increases, but the skin removal quality deteriorates with torn and partially removed skin
Solution Approach 1:
Cutting means pre-cut the skin at the knee joint area before deskinning, preparing it for complete removal and preventing tearing even at high processing speeds
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple bottom rollers with meshing teeth work together in a coordinated manner to completely strip the skin in one pass, ensuring complete skin removal quality is maintained at high conveyor line speeds
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 apparatus effectively removes skin from poultry legs with reduced tearing and damage, enabling higher conveyor line speeds while avoiding the costs and complexity of slower processing systems.
Implementation Method 1
bottom rollers below the conveyor that are rotatable in opposite directions and are provided with meshing teeth for stripping the skin from the poultry leg
Implementation Method 2
two parallel helical rollers which mesh and can rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other, in such a way that the skin of a leg dragging over the rollers is pulled into the nip of the rollers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Method and apparatus (1) for deskinning a poultry leg (2) or part of a poultry leg, using a conveyor (14) with conveyor elements (3) from which the poultry leg (2) or part of the poultry leg is suspendable, and substantially horizontal or slightly slanting cooperating bottom rollers (4) below the conveyor (14) that are rotatable in opposite directions and are provided with meshing teeth for stripping the skin (6) from the poultry leg (2) or part of the poultry leg, and wherein a set of top rollers (7) is provided above the bottom rollers (4) and below the conveyor (14) for contacting opposite sides of the poultry leg (2) or part of the poultry leg.