Sausage Portioning Device with Curved Twisting Rollers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sausage portioning devices tend to tear casings, limit the number of twists, and are not easily cleanable, noisy, and produce sausages of fixed length.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotating plate and clamps that pinch and twist continuous sausages using upper and lower rollers with concave and convex profiles to match the sausage shape, along with a lateral member and elastic return means to minimize casing tearing and allow for multiple twists, and a mechanism for easy cleaning and adjustable sausage length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional twisting members with flat surfaces are used, then the sausage can be twisted, but the casing is torn and the number of twists is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The upper and lower twisting members are equipped with rollers having concave and convex curved surfaces that match the cylindrical shape of the sausage. This curvature allows the rollers to contact the sausage along its surface without creating stress concentration points, enabling multiple twists (more than 2.5 turns) without tearing the casing, thus resolving the contradiction between twisting capability and casing integrity.
2Strength
If sheep casings are used to prevent tearing, then casing strength is sufficient, but the number of twists is limited to 2.5 turns
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface geometry parameter of the twisting members from flat to curved (concave/convex profiles). This parameter change allows the system to achieve more than 2.5 twists without increasing casing strength requirements, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining casing integrity regardless of casing type used.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is fixed, then it is simple to manufacture, but it cannot be dismantled for cleaning and produces noisy operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including the plate, clamps, twisting members with rollers, and support structure. These segmented components can be easily detached from one another, allowing for simple dismantling and cleaning operations while maintaining overall device simplicity. The modular design enables maintenance without increasing manufacturing complexity.
4Device complexity
If the sausage length is fixed by the device design, then the device is simple, but it cannot produce sausages of varying lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable elements that allow the operational parameters (such as the position of clamps or the rotation angle of the plate) to be dynamically changed during operation. This enables the production of sausages with varying lengths without requiring multiple fixed-device configurations, thus providing versatility while maintaining relative device simplicity.
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 device reduces casing tearing, increases the number of twists, and allows for the production of sausages with varying lengths and diameters while being quiet, easy to clean, and maintaining casing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The lateral member is mounted to move relative to a support carrying it, in at least one direction extending transversely to a continuous sausage extending between the two clamps during a twisting operation, and in that the twisting means comprise elastic return means, called second elastic return means, of the lateral member towards a continuous sausage extending between the two clamps during a twisting operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for portioning a continuous sausage (10), comprising: - a support (11); - a plate (2) rotatably mounted on the support (11) around an axis (20) of the plate; - at least two clamps (3) mounted on the plate (2) around the axis (20) of rotation, the two clamps (3) being movable between a closed position in which they are capable of clamping a continuous sausage (10) and pulling it at least partially around the plate (2), and an open position in which they are capable of receiving a continuous sausage (10) or releasing the continuous sausage (10); - twisting means (4), mounted on the plate (2), and interposed between two clamps (3).