Rotary Knife Vacuum Attachment for Carcass Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power operated rotary knives lack an efficient method to remove cut or trimmed material, such as unwanted fat tissue, from carcasses during processing, leading to contamination and increased operator effort in collecting the material.
Innovation Solution
A power operated rotary knife with an elongated annular blade and a vacuum attachment assembly that routes removed material away from the cutting region via suction, allowing for easier access to deep areas and reducing operator fatigue by minimizing the need for manual collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional power operated rotary knives are used for cutting and trimming operations, then cutting speed and efficiency are improved, but removed material accumulates and causes contamination and increased operator effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cutting function with the material removal function by integrating a vacuum attachment assembly directly to the rotary knife blade. The vacuum adapter couples to the blade housing and creates fluid communication between the central open region and the vacuum source, merging two operations (cutting and suction) into a single integrated tool that eliminates material accumulation and contamination issues
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum attachment assembly acts as an intermediary system that captures removed material at the cutting zone. The vacuum adapter and hose create a pathway that intercepts material before it can accumulate or contaminate the work area, effectively mediating between the cutting blade and the environment to prevent harmful effects
2Length of moving object
If the rotary knife blade is extended to reach deep areas, then accessibility to hard-to-reach areas is improved, but drag and difficulty in manipulation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotary knife blade into multiple functional sections: a drive section with gear teeth for motor engagement, a blade section with cutting edges for material removal, and an intermediate spacer section connecting them. This segmentation allows the long blade to be structurally divided into manageable parts, reducing overall drag while maintaining reach capability and ease of manipulation
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
The solution enables efficient removal and collection of trimmed material, reducing contamination and operator effort, while allowing for precise cutting in hard-to-reach areas with reduced drag and improved manipulation of the rotary knife blade.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum attachment assembly for routing removed material away from a cutting region of the product via vacuum pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A power operated rotary knife including: a handle assembly, a head assembly and a vacuum attachment assembly. The handle assembly includes an elongated cylindrical handle housing defining a handle assembly longitudinal axis extending through a throughbore of the handle housing. The head assembly includes a rotary knife blade rotatably supported for rotation about an axis of rotation in a blade housing and a frame securing the blade housing to the distal end of the handle assembly in a position offset from the handle housing, the axis of rotation of the rotary knife blade being spaced apart from and parallel to the handle longitudinal axis. The vacuum attachment assembly includes an adapter extending at an angle away from the handle housing such that a central axis of the adapter is transverse to the with respect to the rotary knife blade axis of rotation and the handle assembly longitudinal axis.