Continuous Poultry Leg Cutting With Contactless Joint Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position of intermediate joints in animal legs, such as the knee joint in poultry legs, are cumbersome, require process interruptions, and are not always accurate.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for continuously harvesting surrounding meat from animal legs using contactless detection of the intermediate joint, such as X-ray imaging, to align the cutting implement with the joint without interrupting the conveyance, allowing for accurate cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contactless detection methods (X-ray, ultrasound) are used to determine intermediate joint position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with contactless detection methods such as X-ray imaging and ultrasound technology. These methods enable non-contact determination of intermediate joint positions, eliminating the need for physical interference with the animal legs while providing precise positional data for accurate meat harvesting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces imaging technologies (X-ray, ultrasound) as intermediary means to indirectly determine joint positions. Instead of directly measuring or physically interacting with the joint, the system uses these intermediary detection methods to capture positional information, which is then processed to determine the exact location of the intermediate joint for cutting operations.
2Productivity
If continuous conveyance is maintained throughout the process, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of the intermediate joint position using contactless methods while the animal legs are in continuous conveyance. This preliminary action allows the system to determine the exact cutting location before the cutting operation, ensuring that precision cutting can be achieved without interrupting the continuous flow of animal legs through the processing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from contactless detection (X-ray, ultrasound) to continuously monitor and adjust cutting implement positioning. The detected joint positions are fed back to the control system, which then adjusts the cutting implement alignment in real-time, maintaining both continuous conveyance and precise cutting accuracy through closed-loop control.
3Measurement precision
If the process is interrupted to determine intermediate joint position, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous detection during the conveyance process, eliminating interruptions to maintain productive flow. The contactless detection systems (X-ray, ultrasound) operate continuously or in rapid succession as animal legs pass through the detection zone, ensuring that joint position determination occurs without stopping the conveyance system or losing productive time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic or rapid sequential detection cycles where contactless imaging is performed at specific moments during conveyance. This allows multiple animal legs to be processed in rapid succession without requiring continuous interruption, maintaining high productivity while achieving precise measurement through timed detection cycles.
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 continuous and accurate meat harvesting by aligning the cutting implement with the intermediate joint, maintaining process efficiency and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
contactless detection of the position and extent of at least a part of the first and second animal bones within the surrounding meat, so as the locate an exact position of the intermediate joint
Implementation Method 2
the contactless determining of the location of the intermediate joint is performed using ultrasound
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of, and an apparatus (1) for, continuously harvesting surrounding meat from a successive plurality animal legs (17) having articulated first and second animal bones and an intermediate joint. The method continuously conveys the animal legs (17) through a path of conveyance, and determines a location of the intermediate joint. Based on the determined location of the intermediate joint, adjusting a position of the intermediate joint and a cutting implement (135) relative to one another, and performing cutting of tissue at a location commensurate with the location of the intermediate joint. The step of determining the location of the intermediate joint is performed contactless, and without interrupting continuous conveyance of the animal legs.