Poultry Processing Shackle with Pivotable Hook and Catching Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shackles for processing hanging poultry often get positioned in undesired orientations, leading to entanglement with adjoining shackles, interference with processing equipment, and difficulty in attaching or detaching from overhead conveyors.
Innovation Solution
The shackle design features a pivotable connection between the fastening hook and suspension rod, along with a parallel pivotable connection between the suspension rod and poultry catching element, allowing for sideward movement and limited pivotation. This design prevents undesired orientations and facilitates easy coupling and uncoupling from overhead conveyors using an open fastening hook with a retaining protrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shackle uses a fixed rigid connection between the fastening hook and suspension rod, then the structural stability is improved, but the shackle cannot adjust to prevent undesired orientations and entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed rigid connection with a pivotable connection between the fastening hook and suspension rod. This allows the shackle to dynamically adjust its orientation and position during transport, preventing undesired orientations and entanglement while maintaining structural stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of connection rigidity from fixed to movable. The pivotable connection allows angular parameter changes, enabling the shackle to adapt its orientation to avoid entanglement and interference with processing equipment while maintaining reliable attachment to the overhead conveyor.
2Reliability
If the shackle uses a complex fastening mechanism to secure to the overhead conveyor, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for attaching and detaching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening hook is designed as a separate, independent component from the suspension rod, allowing it to be easily attached to and detached from the overhead conveyor. This segmentation enables simple tool-free operation while maintaining reliable attachment through the dedicated hook geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The open fastening hook design allows the shackle to be automatically attached to the overhead conveyor without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The hook's geometry enables self-servicing attachment and detachment operations, improving ease of operation while maintaining attachment reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the shackle uses a fixed orientation design, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the shackle gets positioned in undesired orientations leading to entanglement and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable connection between the fastening hook and suspension rod provides dynamic orientation adjustment capability. This allows the shackle to adapt its position during transport, preventing undesired orientations that would cause entanglement with adjoining shackles or interference with processing equipment, while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled movement ranges.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a shackle for processing hanging poultry comprising a poultry catching element; a suspension rod; and a fastening hook; wherein one side of the suspension rod is pivotably connected with a pivotable connection with the fastening hook and the opposite side of the suspension rod is moveably coupled with the poultry catching element by a moveable coupling. The invention also provides a method for attaching a shackle for processing hanging poultry on an overhead conveyor.