Rotating Clamper Slit Forming for Compact Meat Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing de-boning techniques for meat processing are inefficient and lack a compact automation solution that enhances processing efficiency and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A slit forming system with a clamper mechanism that rotates bone-in meat to align the meat surface with a slit forming blade, allowing for efficient and accurate slit formation across multiple stations, including a loading, slit forming, and discharge station, with clamper rotation parts ensuring optimal angles for each operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual de-boning work is performed, then labor intensity is high and efficiency is low, but if automated de-boning is implemented using existing techniques, then processing efficiency improves but device size becomes large and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated de-boning device is divided into multiple independent processing stations (loading station, slit forming station, discharge station) arranged along a circumferential trajectory. Each station performs a specific function, allowing the overall system to be compact while maintaining high processing efficiency through continuous operation at multiple stations simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The clampers move along a circumferential trajectory rather than a linear path, utilizing two-dimensional space arrangement to pack multiple processing stations into a compact footprint. This circular layout reduces the device's overall length and width compared to linear automated systems while maintaining the same processing capacity
2Device complexity
If the clamper moves along a circumferential trajectory with the slit forming station on the outer circumference, then the device layout becomes compact, but the clamper must be rotated to align the meat surface with the blade, adding operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The clamper is designed with rotational capability that allows dynamic adjustment of its orientation. As the clamper moves through different stations along the circumferential trajectory, it automatically rotates to present the meat surface at the optimal angle to the slit forming blade, transforming a static positioning problem into a dynamic solution that adapts to each station's requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The clamper rotates the meat to the correct orientation before reaching the slit forming station, ensuring that when the blade engages, the meat surface is already optimally positioned. This preliminary alignment action simplifies the actual slit forming operation and ensures consistent cutting quality
3Productivity
If multiple processing stations are arranged along a circumferential trajectory, then processing efficiency increases through continuous operation, but the device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging processing stations in a linear sequence that would require significant linear space, the system uses a circumferential arrangement where stations are distributed around a circular path. This transforms the space utilization from one-dimensional linear expansion to two-dimensional radial distribution, reducing the device's overall footprint while accommodating multiple stations for continuous processing
Data Source
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AI summary
A slit forming device according to an aspect includes a clamper configured to pass through a plurality of stations arranged on a circumference, a slit forming blade disposed on an outer circumference side or an inner circumference side of a slit forming station among the plurality of stations, and a clamper rotating part capable of rotating the clamper about a vertical line such that a slit forming surface of a work faces the slit forming blade in the slit forming station.