Skin Scratching Assembly with Transverse Sliding Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin scratching technologies for animal carcasses, particularly poultry, face challenges with taut or dry skin that is difficult to access, leading to unreliable skinning and wear on scratching elements due to contact with the supporting body.
Innovation Solution
A pair of sliding elements with scratching elements that move transversely and are guided by control surfaces on the supporting body, allowing for precise skin scoring without direct contact with the body, using longitudinal grooves to avoid wear and ensure reliable cuts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding elements with scratching elements are used to score the skin, then reliable skin cutting is achieved, but the scratching elements come into contact with the supporting body causing wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air gap as an intermediary space between the scratching elements and the supporting body. This air gap prevents direct contact while allowing the scratching elements to effectively score the skin, thereby eliminating wear and damage to the scratching elements while maintaining cutting reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the scratching elements in a third dimension by creating a spatial separation (air gap) from the supporting body. This dimensional arrangement allows the scratching elements to operate effectively without contacting the supporting body, resolving the contradiction between cutting reliability and element durability.
2Manufacturing precision
If control means are added to move scratching elements transversely, then precise skin scoring is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting body itself serves as the control means by providing control surfaces that directly guide the movement of sliding elements. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate complex control systems, achieving precise skin scoring while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting body performs multiple functions: it supports the carcass, provides control surfaces for guiding sliding elements, and maintains the air gap. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while achieving precise scoring through the integrated control mechanism.
3Area of stationary object
If space-saving design is implemented, then compact processing machine is achieved, but access to taut or dry skin becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable sliding elements that can move transversely along control surfaces. This dynamic capability allows the scratching elements to adapt to varying skin positions and tensions, maintaining ease of operation on taut or dry skin within a compact machine footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of the scratching elements through transverse movement along control surfaces. This parameter adjustment enables access to different areas of the skin including taut or dry regions, while the overall compact design is maintained through efficient space utilization.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
The arrangement (1) has a passage (11) that extends in a passage direction (D). A control unit (13) is formed transverse to the passage direction. A set of sliding elements (14) is arranged on the passage. The set of sliding elements is assigned on both sides of a support body (15). A set of control faces (16) is arranged on the support body such that the set of sliding elements is movable against the control faces for effecting change in width of the passage. A set of longitudinal grooves (17) is arranged in which a set of protruding elements (12) are freely movable. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a processing machine (2) a method for providing two-sided lateral cracks in the skin of a slaughtered animal body.