Adjustable Shrimp Cutting Assembly for Variable Cut Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shrimp processing machines require extensive downtime and adjustments to accommodate different shrimp sizes and cut lengths/depths, leading to increased production costs and inconsistencies in cut quality.
Innovation Solution
The development of an adjustable cutting assembly and meat picking assembly in a shrimp processing machine, allowing for customizable cut lengths, depths, and styles, such as the 2-4 cut, through a drive gear, adjustable roller plate, cam plate, and picker adjuster system, enabling quick adjustments for varying shrimp sizes and cut preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional shrimp processing machines process shrimp at high speeds, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inconsistencies in cut depth and length
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting assembly is made dynamically adjustable during operation. The cutter shaft can be rotated to different angular positions around the main gear, and the cam plate can be adjusted to different orientations, allowing the cut depth and length to be modified without stopping the machine. This dynamic adjustability enables high-speed processing while maintaining consistent cut quality through automated positioning mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional machines are adjusted to accommodate different sized shrimp, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to extensive downtime required for adjustments and calibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting assembly is pre-configured with multiple fixed angular positions and cut depths that correspond to different shrimp sizes. Before processing a batch of shrimp, the operator simply selects the appropriate pre-set configuration by rotating the cutter shaft to the corresponding position, eliminating the need for extensive adjustments and calibrations during operation. This preliminary configuration approach minimizes downtime while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting assembly allows rapid dynamic adjustment between different shrimp size configurations during operation. The cutter shaft can be quickly rotated to different angular positions, and the cam plate can be rapidly repositioned, enabling the machine to adapt to different shrimp sizes without significant downtime. This dynamic adjustability is achieved through mechanical indexing systems and quick-release mechanisms.
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 machine efficiently processes shrimp of different sizes with minimal downtime, allowing for quick selection of desired cut styles and lengths, reducing production costs and improving cut consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a drive gear coupled to an adjustable drive shaft, an adjustable roller plate coupled to the adjustable drive shaft and disposed adjacent to the drive gear
Implementation Method 2
a cam plate having a first end and a second end, and a cutting device adapted to cut a shrimp that is coupled to the cam plate. The adjustable roller plate includes a roller coupling portion that secures a plurality of rollers to the adjustable roller plate and a roller adjusting portion that rotatably adjusts a position of the adjustable roller plate
Implementation Method 3
a cutting device adapted to cut a shrimp that is coupled to the cam plate
Data Source
AI summary
A shrimp processing machine includes an adjustable cutting assembly and an adjustable meat picking assembly. The adjustable cutting assembly is adapted to adjust between a first configuration that forms a cut having a first length on a shrimp and a second configuration that forms a cut having a second length on the shrimp. The adjustable cutting assembly is further adapted to adjust between a first position that forms a cut having a first depth on the shrimp and a second position that forms a cut having a second depth on the shrimp. The adjustable meat picking assembly is adapted to rotatably adjust when a meat picker contacts the shrimp to remove shrimp meat from a shrimp shell.