Meat Trim Management System Buffer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Trim Management Systems (TMS) face challenges in achieving both weight and fat/meat relationship targets without rejecting a large amount of incoming meat trim products, leading to inconsistent weight distribution in bags and reduced throughput, as each trim piece is treated as a single unit despite varying weights and compositions.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates receiver and buffer means at each station to form sub-batches that meet pre-defined criteria, allowing for flexible weight and volume targets, and uses an X-ray machine to determine the fat/meat relationship and weight of incoming trim products, enabling more efficient distribution and increased throughput by treating accumulated trim as a lump rather than individual pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the weight target at each receiver bin is set to around 10kg, then the bag weight target is achieved, but a large amount of incoming COTs must be rejected due to weight distribution variations (1-8kg range)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple receiver bins into a single receiver bin with an integrated buffer means. The buffer accumulates incoming COTs and allows them to be mixed and matched to achieve precise weight targets (e.g., 10kg±0.1kg) without rejecting trim pieces. This merging eliminates the need to reject COTs that would be unsuitable for individual bins, as the buffer provides flexibility to select from a larger pool of available trim.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer means preliminarily accumulates and stores incoming COTs before they are transferred to the receiver bin. This preliminary accumulation allows the system to prepare a sufficient pool of trim pieces with appropriate fat/meat relationships and weights, ensuring that when packaging is needed, the precise weight targets can be achieved without rejection.
2Loss of substance
If the number of receiver bins is increased to reduce trim rejection, then more flexibility is achieved in meeting weight targets, but the TMS becomes more spacious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple receiver bins into a single receiver bin equipped with a buffer means. The buffer performs the accumulation and selection functions that would otherwise require multiple separate bins. This consolidation reduces the number of bins needed while maintaining or improving the ability to meet weight targets with minimal trim rejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The single receiver bin with buffer means performs multiple functions that would otherwise require separate bins: it accumulates trim, selects trim based on weight and fat/meat relationship, and packages trim to precise weight targets. This multi-functional design reduces system complexity while achieving the same or better performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If the COTs are made smaller (less than 2kg) to improve weight distribution, then more uniform bags can be created, but the throughput of the TMS is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the weight of individual COTs by allowing the buffer to accumulate varying numbers and sizes of trim pieces. Instead of fixing COT weights to be small, the buffer enables flexible combination of trim pieces to achieve the desired final bag weight targets. This dynamic approach maintains throughput while achieving uniform weight distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of COT weight from a fixed small value (less than 2kg) to a variable value determined by the buffer accumulation process. The buffer allows COTs to be of varying weights (within the 1-8kg range or broader), and through selective accumulation and mixing, achieves precise final weight targets without limiting throughput.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operators manage multiple bins, then the system can handle various weight targets, but the operation becomes more complex and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single receiver bin with buffer means serves as a universal platform that can handle various weight targets and fat/meat relationship specifications. The buffer's accumulation and selection capabilities provide the flexibility previously requiring multiple specialized bins and operators. A single operator can now manage this multi-functional receiver, simplifying operation while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the operational responsibilities of multiple operators into a single operator role. The buffer means automates or facilitates the selection and accumulation process, reducing the need for multiple operators to manually manage multiple bins. This consolidation improves ease of operation while the system maintains adaptability to different weight targets through the buffer's flexible accumulation capabilities.
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 approach significantly reduces trim rejection, achieves uniform weight distribution in bags, and increases throughput by allowing weights above 1kg and enabling precise sub-batch formation, resulting in a more compact and efficient TMS.
Implementation Method 1
determining a weight of the incoming COTs, determining a fat/meat relationship for the incoming COTs by means of an X-ray machine
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
This invention relates to a trim management system (TMS) (200) and a method for processing of meat trim products, where the meat trim products are supplied as a sequence of collections of trim (COTs) (204), each COT comprising plurality of meat trim products. A trim parameter determining apparatus (TPDA) (201) is provided for determining the fat/meat relationship for the COTs, and plurality of receiver stations (202) are arranged along a conveyor means (210) having associated diverting means (203) for transferring the COTs from the conveyor means to the receiver stations. A control unit (209) is provided for controlling the transferring of the COTs from the conveyor means (210) to the receiver stations (202) based on the determined fat/meat relationship of the COTs to complete target batches at the receiver stations that fulfill a predetermined criterion including total fat/meat relationship criterion. The receiver stations include a receiver means (206), and a buffer means (205) arranged between the conveyor means and the receiver means, where the buffer means is adapted to accumulate COTs from the conveyor means having total fat/meat relationship that fulfills the fat/meat criterion of the selected receiver station, where transferring of the COTs to the receiver means is performed via the buffer means.