Poultry Transfer Unit With Eddy Current Braking for Contaminated Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry processing apparatuses face reliability issues due to grease and blood contamination, leading to poor transfer performance, especially at higher processing speeds, and prior solutions like magnetically conductive materials lack clarity in material properties.
Innovation Solution
The circulating support is made of materials with specific magnetic permeability, including ferritic stainless steel and aluminum layers, inducing eddy currents to counteract relative motion, combined with magnetic attraction, and using magnets to manage collisions and maintain operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If processing speed is increased to handle more poultry per hour, then productivity is improved, but reliability of transfer deteriorates due to grease and blood contamination affecting transfer means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based braking systems with electromagnetic eddy current braking. Magnets mounted on transfer means generate eddy currents in the circulating support, creating electromagnetic forces that slow and stop the transfer means without physical contact. This eliminates wear and maintains reliability even at higher processing speeds and in contaminated environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the circulating support to be magnetically conductive (specifically ferritic stainless steel with magnetic permeability at least that of vacuum). This material property enables the eddy current braking mechanism to function effectively, allowing the system to maintain reliable transfer operation at increased processing speeds of 12,000-15,000 chickens per hour.
2Reliability
If conventional magnetically conductive material is used in circulating support, then eddy current braking is enabled, but material properties are unclear making implementation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides specific, measurable material parameters for the circulating support: magnetic permeability of at least that of vacuum, and specifically identifies ferritic stainless steel as the preferred material. This clear specification enables manufacturers to select appropriate materials and ensures proper eddy current braking functionality while eliminating ambiguity in implementation.
3Force
If physical contact braking is used between transfer means and circulating support, then relative motion is controlled, but wear and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical contact braking with non-contact electromagnetic eddy current braking. Magnets on the transfer means interact with the magnetically conductive circulating support through electromagnetic fields, creating braking forces without physical contact. This eliminates wear on both the transfer means and circulating support, significantly reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining effective braking control.
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
This solution enhances transfer reliability and reduces wear, maintaining accurate poultry transfer even at increased speeds, with improved braking forces and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
the circulating support comprises material or a layer of material with a magnetic permeability that is at least the magnetic permeability of vacuum, and that the circulating support further comprises ferritic stainless steel or a layer of ferritic stainless steel
Implementation Method 2
inducing eddy currents to counteract relative motion
Implementation Method 3
combined with magnetic attraction, and using magnets to manage collisions and maintain operational reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
Processing apparatus (1) for poultry comprising one or more transfer units (2) placed intermediate and conveying poultry from a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group comprising a slaughtering line (3), an evisceration line (4), a chilling line (5), a sorting line (6), a cutup line (7, 8) and/or another type of line or lines, wherein each transfer unit (2) is embodied with a circulating sup-port (9) onto which a plurality of transfer means (10) are mounted that in a not obstructed situation do not carry out a relative movement with respect to the support (9), yet in an obstructed situation are able to move relative to the support (9), and that the circulating support (9) is arranged to convey the transfer means (10) between a supply station (3.1; 4.1; 5.1; 6.11, 6.12) at the side of the first line and a discharge station (4.0; 5.0; 6.0; 7.0; 8.0) at the side of the second line and vice versa, the transfer means (10) are provided with at least one magnet (11) so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support (9) that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means (10) and the circulating support (9), wherein the circulating support (9) comprises material or a layer (14) of material with a magnetic permeability that is at least the magnetic permeability of vacuum.