Straight Conveying Poultry Leg Positioning Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry leg processing devices face challenges in efficiently positioning and cutting poultry legs along a conveying path, particularly in adapting to varying leg lengths and requiring dynamic positioning that restricts processing speed and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A positioning device with a stationary holding and guiding gap along a straight conveying path, using driven pressing elements to bend poultry legs into a reference position, allowing for precise cutting and processing independent of the cutting tool's location, and enabling high-speed, space-saving processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a circular guide or carousel is used to position poultry legs, then the knee joint can be positioned independently of length deviations, but the processing speed is restricted and the conveying path becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a circular guide that moves the cutting tool to the poultry leg, the invention inverts the approach by using a straight conveying path where the poultry leg is conveyed past a stationary cutting tool. This eliminates the need for curved tracks and carousel stations, allowing higher processing speeds while maintaining positioning precision through the straight-line reference edge guidance system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs dynamic positioning elements that can move along the straight conveying path to engage with the poultry leg at different positions. These positioning elements can be adjusted dynamically to accommodate varying leg lengths while maintaining accurate positioning relative to the stationary cutting tool, resolving the contradiction between precision and speed
2Measurement precision
If a circular guide or carousel is used to position poultry legs, then the knee joint can be positioned independently of length deviations, but the device complexity increases due to curved tracks and carousel stations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention simplifies the conveying path by inverting the traditional approach: instead of a complex circular guide moving the cutting tool, a straight conveying path conveys the poultry leg past a stationary cutting tool. This eliminates curved tracks and carousel stations, reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning precision through the straight-line reference edge guidance system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the cutting tool from the moving components of a circular guide and makes it stationary. The poultry leg itself becomes the moving element conveyed along a simple straight path, eliminating the need for complex curved tracks and carousel stations while maintaining positioning accuracy through the reference edge system
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic positioning is used to adapt to varying leg lengths, then positioning flexibility is improved, but the processing speed is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses dynamic positioning elements that can be adjusted along the straight conveying path to engage with poultry legs of varying lengths. These elements move dynamically to accommodate different leg lengths while the poultry leg itself is conveyed at high speed past the stationary cutting tool, resolving the contradiction between positioning flexibility and processing speed by separating the adjustment mechanism from the conveying motion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A positioning device (1) for positioning poultry legs (9) conveyed hung in single file comprises a flexing device (4) for flexing and positioning the poultry legs and a stationary holding and guiding device (5). The flexing device (4) forms a hooking device for suspending the poultry leg (9) at the region of the knee joint (93) in a holding and guiding slot (51) of the holding and guiding device (5). Travelling positioning elements (7) are formed by driven press elements which grip the poultry leg (9) from below on an axial leg side (940) to flex and lift said leg. Each travelling positioning element (7) forms, with a stationary positioning element (6), a functional pair of positioning elements (6, 7). One of the two positioning elements (6, 7) engages in the hollow of the knee (95) of the poultry leg (9) while the other positioning element (6.2; 7.1) is configured for placement on the thigh (92) on the front side (941) of the leg. Processing stations (56) can be arranged along the holding and guiding slot (51). In a method, carried out during the conveying, for removing the thigh meat from the poultry legs (9) conveyed in single file, said poultry legs are axially conveyed in a first said positioning device (1.1) with a transverse leading lateral side (950) of the leg and in a second said positioning device (1.2) with an axially leading knee cap side (940) of the leg. Cuts are made at the front side (941) of the leg and at the back side (942) of the leg along the first stationary holding and guiding slot (51.1). Cuts are made at the lateral sides (950) of the poultry leg along the second stationary holding and guiding slot (51.2), and the thigh meat (922) is pushed to the proximal end of the thigh bone (921).