Removable Crosspiece for Meat Processing Auger Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In meat processing plants, especially those producing sausages, the existing crosspieces are not removable or washable, leading to wear and tear of components, meat contamination with metal chips, and difficulty in maintenance, which affects the quality and safety of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A washable and removable crosspiece with a central circular hole and radial arms, designed to engage with the auger's terminal part, allowing rotation without transferring rotational forces, and featuring a coupling system for easy disconnection and reconnection, along with a water-based cleaning system to facilitate maintenance and prevent meat residue flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the crosspiece is made fixed and non-removable in traditional meat processing plants, then the structural stability and functionality are maintained, but the components suffer from excessive wear and metal chips contaminate the meat
Solution Approach 1:
The crosspiece is designed with a removable coupling system that allows it to transition between a fixed operational state and a removable maintenance state. The coupling projection and recess enable easy assembly and disassembly, transforming a traditionally static component into a dynamic one that can be removed for cleaning and maintenance, thereby preventing wear and contamination while maintaining structural stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The crosspiece is divided into separable components through the coupling system, with the central body featuring a coupling projection that engages with the support structure's coupling recess. This segmentation allows the crosspiece to be detached from the support, enabling independent cleaning and maintenance of each component, thus preventing metal chip contamination and excessive wear.
2Ease of repair
If the crosspiece is made removable and washable, then maintenance and cleaning become easy, but the device complexity increases due to coupling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into simple, standardized components: a coupling projection on the crosspiece and a corresponding coupling recess on the support structure. This segmentation creates a modular assembly that is easy to manufacture and maintain, reducing overall device complexity while enabling easy removal and cleaning of the crosspiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling projection and recess act as intermediary elements that facilitate the connection and disconnection between the crosspiece and support structure. These simple intermediary components enable easy maintenance and cleaning without requiring complex mechanisms, thus improving ease of repair while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If water cleaning systems are added to the crosspiece, then meat residue removal is improved, but the device complexity and potential for meat flow back increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water inlet hole and inner channel are integrated directly into the support structure, merging the cleaning function with the existing structural components. This integration eliminates the need for separate cleaning mechanisms, improving cleaning efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity. The water flow path is combined with the structural support elements, creating a streamlined design.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner channel acts as an intermediary water conduit that directs cleaning water from the inlet hole to the coupling recess area. This simple intermediary channel enables effective meat residue removal without requiring complex pumping or spraying systems, thus improving cleaning efficiency while keeping the device complexity low.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the crosspiece remains stationary and fixed, then the meat transfer function is stable, but the auger and containment cylinder suffer from oscillation-induced wear
Solution Approach 1:
The crosspiece is designed with a removable coupling system that allows it to transition between a fixed operational state and a removable maintenance state. During operation, the fixed crosspiece provides stable meat transfer, while the ability to remove and replace it extends the service life of both the crosspiece and surrounding components by enabling periodic maintenance and preventing oscillation-induced wear accumulation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Reversibly removable and washable crosspiece (100), comprising a central body (10) centrally provided with a circular hole (11) engaged with a terminal part (130) of the auger (110) preventing excessive oscillations and preventing the transmission of rotational forces to the crosspiece (100), said central body (10) being provided with a plurality of fixed radial arms (12), terminating with a perimeter circular crown (13), said perimeter crown (13) being provided with a plurality of coupling systems (15), suitable to be stably but reversibly engaged with the corresponding coupling systems (25) arranged on the inner surface of a fixed support (20), constituted by an irremovable and concentric circular crown with respect to said central body (10), provided, on the outer surface thereof, with at least one water inlet hole (23), suitable to be stably and reversibly engaged with a water inlet device (22); said fixed support (20) being provided with an inner channel (26) suitable to connect said water inlet hole (23) with a plurality of water outlet holes (24), suitably positioned at each coupling system (25), the water jet being suitable to remove meat residues and enable an easy disconnection and re-connection of the central body (10) with the fixed support (20).