Rotating Eccentric Pressing Means for Compact Meat Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressing devices for meat products, particularly those used in processing lines, face challenges in minimizing size and complexity while ensuring efficient movement of pressing means, often resulting in increased costs and reduced efficiency due to the need for complex drive systems to achieve necessary travel distances.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rotatable eccentric drive that allows the pressing means to move over 90°, preferably up to 180°, enabling a larger travel distance with a smaller eccentricity, thus reducing the required torque and eliminating the need for inefficient translations between rotary and linear movements, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If complex deflections are used to redirect linear movement transversely to the direction of travel, then the pressing device width can be minimized, but the drive design becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex deflections to redirect linear movement, the invention inverts the approach by using a rotatable pressing means that converts rotary movement directly into pressing action. The pressing means rotates about a horizontal axis, with its pressing surface oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel, eliminating the need for transverse redirection mechanisms and simplifying the overall drive design.
2Area of stationary object
If complex deflections are used to redirect linear movement, then the pressing device width can be minimized, but drive efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates energy losses associated with complex deflection mechanisms by inverting the approach: the pressing means itself rotates to perform the pressing action. This direct rotary-to-compression conversion removes intermediate transmission stages, thereby maintaining drive efficiency while achieving a compact width.
3Area of stationary object
If the pressing means is moved by a drive with complex deflections, then the device width is reduced, but the construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the pressing mechanism to use direct rotation, the invention eliminates costly complex deflection components. The pressing means simply rotates about a horizontal axis, requiring only basic rotational support structures rather than expensive multi-stage transmission systems, thereby reducing construction costs.
4Length of moving object
If a large eccentricity is used to achieve necessary travel distance, then the pressing means can move sufficiently, but the required torque increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a large eccentricity in a reciprocating mechanism that would require high torque, the invention inverts by using direct rotation of the pressing means. The pressing surface rotates about a horizontal axis, converting rotary motion directly into compression force, thereby achieving sufficient travel distance with significantly reduced torque requirements.
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
This solution allows for a compact, efficient, and cost-effective pressing device with reduced complexity, enabling precise control and movement of the pressing means while minimizing space requirements and operational costs, thereby enhancing the processing efficiency of meat products.
Implementation Method 1
The drive (71) is designed to drive an eccentric (73) which is rotatable about a rotational axis (D) for moving the pressing means (27) from the starting position (O) to the end position (E)
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A pressing device for pressing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partially frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, comprises a pressing chamber. The pressing chamber includes a counter element and a pressing element movable by means of a drive, wherein the pressing element can be moved from a starting position towards the counter element to a final position for compressing the product, and wherein the drive is configured to drive at least one eccentric rotatable about a pivot axis for moving the pressing element from the starting position to the final position, wherein the pressing element can be moved from the starting position to the final position by a rotation of more than 90 degrees of the eccentric.