Rotating Blade Alignment for Consistent Carcass Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanized meat processing systems face challenges in cutting carcasses efficiently due to fixed blade orientations, leading to wasted meat and inconsistent cut sizes and shapes, as they are not suited to handle carcasses in various orientations and positions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A meat processing system with a blade that can rotate and translate to align with the intended cut path, allowing for variable angles between the blade plane and the conveyor axis, reducing resistance and lateral forces during cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed blade orientation is used in mechanized processing, then the system is simpler and faster, but it leads to wasted meat and inconsistent cut sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is transformed from a fixed component to a dynamic one capable of rotation and translation. The blade movement assembly allows the blade to change its orientation and position dynamically to align with the intended cut path, enabling consistent cuts despite variations in carcass orientation and position on the conveyor.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade system is designed to perform multiple cutting functions by varying its orientation. A single blade can now handle different cut types (transverse, longitudinal, angled) by rotating to the appropriate angle, eliminating the need for multiple fixed blades for different cut orientations.
2Productivity
If mechanized processing is used, then processing speed increases, but the system cannot handle carcasses in various orientations and positions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The blade movement assembly enables the blade to dynamically adjust its position and orientation to match the carcass placement on the conveyor. This dynamic adaptation allows the mechanized system to handle carcasses in various orientations and positions while maintaining high processing speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the blade (angle, position) based on the detected carcass orientation and desired cut path. By varying these parameters, the system maintains adaptability to different carcass configurations while operating at mechanized processing speeds.
3Force
If the blade is fixed relative to the conveyor, then the system is simpler, but it creates increased resistance and lateral forces during cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The blade movement assembly allows the blade to dynamically align with the intended cut path, presenting its edge rather than its broad side to the cutting direction. This alignment minimizes the surface area in contact with the carcass during cutting, thereby reducing resistance and lateral forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A meat processing system comprising a blade, a blade movement assembly, a controller and a conveyor. The blade is configured to cut a carcass into pieces and lies substantially in a blade plane. The conveyor is configured to move the carcass along a first axis. The controller is configured to control the blade movement assembly to rotate the blade or a portion of the blade to vary an angle between the blade plane and the first axis. The blade movement assembly may also be configured to translate the blade to move the blade transverse to the first axis. A method of operating a meat processing system is also disclosed. The method includes conveying a carcass or section of carcass along a first axis, controlling a blade movement assembly to rotate a blade or a portion of a blade to vary the angle between a blade plane and the first axis, and cutting the carcass or section of carcass into pieces.