Rigid Slat Loin Puller Conveyor for Accurate Carcass Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional belt conveyors in loin puller machines sag under the weight of carcasses, leading to inaccurate cutting and reduced yield, resulting in significant downtime and lost profits.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with an endless loop chain assembly and rigid slats, including belly and chine slats, supports the carcass without sagging, ensuring accurate cutting by blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a belt conveyor is used, then the conveyor can move carcasses through the cutting blades, but the belt sags under the weight of the carcass causing inaccurate cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous belt conveyor is segmented into individual rigid slats that are separately mounted on the chain assembly. Each slat is structurally independent and designed to be rigid enough to support carcass weight without sagging, while the segmented structure allows for easier replacement and maintenance of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system uses a composite structure combining rigid slat materials (such as metal or high-strength plastic) with the chain assembly support system. This composite construction provides the necessary rigidity to prevent sagging while maintaining the flexibility needed for conveyor operation.
2Productivity
If a seamless belt conveyor is used, then the conveyor can operate continuously, but the entire belt must be replaced when damaged causing significant downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into separate slat components that can be independently replaced. When one slat becomes damaged, only that specific slat needs to be removed and replaced, rather than replacing the entire continuous belt. This segmentation dramatically reduces maintenance downtime and allows the conveyor to remain operational with minimal interruption to the 1350 carcasses per hour processing rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for easy removal and replacement of individual damaged slats while retaining the functional slats. The reusable slats are recovered and kept in service, while only the damaged portion is discarded and replaced, reducing waste and maintenance costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid slat conveyor is used, then the conveyor does not sag under carcass weight, but the structure becomes more complex compared to a simple belt
Solution Approach 1:
The chain assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the rigid slats, enables the conveyor motion, and acts as the mounting framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate support structures, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity despite the transition from a simple belt to a rigid slat construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor for a loin puller machine has a plurality of rigid belly slats and chine slats to support the carcass which is carried past knives or blades on the machine for skinning, trimming, and cutting the meat carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are attached to chains extending around a drive roller and an idler roller to form an endless loop. The belly slats have a flat upper surface and the chine slats have a curved upper surface corresponding to the belly portion and chain portion of the carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are spaced apart from one another to define a gap through which the cutting blades of the machine extend.