Shape-Following Poultry Scrapers for Breast Cartilage Meat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual removal of meat remaining on breast cartilage after separating breast meat with wings and poultry tenderloins in poultry carcasses is inefficient and requires automation.
Innovation Solution
A scraper apparatus with a pair of scrapers disposed opposite each other, supported by a mechanism that allows displacement in a perpendicular direction to follow the shape of the breast cartilage, efficiently removing attached meat by pinching it between the scrapers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual removal of meat from breast cartilage is used, then flexibility and adaptability to different carcass shapes are maintained, but productivity is low and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper apparatus employs a dynamic support part that can displace in the perpendicular direction to follow the shape of the breast cartilage. This dynamic adjustment allows the rigid scrapers to adapt to variations in carcass geometry without requiring complex programmable robotic systems, thereby achieving automation while controlling device complexity through mechanical adaptability rather than electronic control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support part is designed to automatically follow and adapt to the shape of the breast cartilage through its displacement mechanism, eliminating the need for external control systems or complex positioning mechanisms. The apparatus self-adjusts to different carcass shapes through the inherent flexibility of the support structure, achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid scrapers are used for meat removal, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to follow the shape of irregular breast cartilage is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The support part is designed with displacement capability in the perpendicular direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to follow the contours of the breast cartilage. This mechanical dynamic adaptation enables rigid scrapers to effectively contact and scrape meat from irregularly shaped surfaces without requiring the scrapers themselves to be flexible or complex in structure
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper apparatus divides the support function into a separate, movable support part that can independently displace to accommodate shape variations, while keeping the scrapers themselves simple and rigid. This segmentation allows the complex adaptability function to be isolated in the support mechanism while maintaining simplicity in the actual meat-contacting scraping elements
3Extent of automation
If automation of meat removal is implemented, then labor requirements are reduced, but the risk of damaging breast cartilage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic displacement capability of the support part allows the scraping apparatus to automatically adapt to the shape of the breast cartilage, applying pressure only where needed and avoiding unnecessary force on delicate areas. This mechanical adaptability enables consistent, damage-free scraping across different carcass shapes without requiring complex sensors or control systems to monitor cartilage integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus incorporates feedback through the mechanical interaction between the displacement support part and the breast cartilage shape. The support part's movement is naturally constrained by the cartilage contours, providing passive feedback that prevents excessive pressure application. This mechanical feedback loop automatically adjusts scraping pressure based on the underlying cartilage shape, preventing damage while maintaining automation
Data Source
AI summary
A scraper apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pair of scrapers disposed opposite each other in a perpendicular direction to a conveying direction of a poultry carcass held by a holder and configured to remove meat attached to a processed portion of the poultry carcass by putting the processed portion between the pair of scrapers. The scraper apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a support part which supports the pair of scrapers so as to allow displacement of the pair of scrapers in the perpendicular direction to follow the shape of the processed portion of the poultry carcass moving in the conveying direction.