Tuna Canning Feeder With Automated Cutting And Continuous Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tuna canning process faces challenges in achieving constant weight and quality due to the variability in tuna loins' compactness, density, and shape, leading to manual handling issues, waste, and increased labor costs, as well as requiring multiple operators to maintain a continuous feed.

Innovation Solution

A feeder system with adjustable conveyor belts and a cutting mechanism that forms tuna 'pats' of consistent size and shape, minimizing manual handling and automating the loading process to ensure constant weight and quality, reducing waste and labor requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual intervention is used to adapt tuna loins to required size, then the feeding process can be performed with simple equipment, but the tuna loin is damaged and waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding equipmentVSAvoidtuna waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated mechanical system consisting of conveyor belts and a cutting device. The first conveyor belt transports tuna loins automatically, and the cutting device with a moving blade precisely cuts them to the required size without manual intervention, thereby eliminating damage from rough handling while maintaining equipment simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the conveyor belt automatically feeds tuna loins to the cutting position and the cutting device automatically processes them. This eliminates the need for operator intervention in the feeding and cutting process, reducing both labor costs and mechanical damage to the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If manual intervention is used to adapt tuna loins, then equipment can be simple, but the density of fed product becomes inconstant affecting weight precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding equipmentVSAvoidtuna cake weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains constant product density by controlling the cutting parameters. The cutting device is positioned at a fixed distance from the conveyor belt, ensuring that tuna loins are cut to a consistent length. This parameter control (cutting position and belt speed) ensures uniform product density and constant weight in the dosing chamber, achieving manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple operators are used to guarantee continuous feed, then feeding reliability is improved, but labor cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding continuityVSAvoidlabor requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous operation through the conveyor belt system that continuously transports tuna loins from the supply position through the cutting device to the dosing chamber. The belt operates without interruption, ensuring continuous feeding to the canning machine without requiring multiple operators to maintain feed continuity, thus improving reliability while reducing labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If manual adaptation of tuna loins is performed, then equipment can be simple, but productivity decreases due to slow processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding equipmentVSAvoidcanning production rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2260714B1Feeder for machine for canning tuna and the like and relevant operating cycle

Publication Date: 2011.09.21 JOHN BEAN TECH SPA

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AI summary

A feeder for a machine for canning tuna and similar food products includes a feeding device with conveyor belts (1, 2), said feeding device being suitable to feed tuna loins (T) towards the conveyor belt (B) of the canning machine and to shape the loins (T) into loins (T') having a preset thickness, an outlet mouth (6) located at the end of the belts (1, 2) and through which the loins (T') having a preset thickness are fed, a knife (5) adjacent to the mouth (6) and suitable to separate the portion of loin (T') projecting through the latter so as to obtain a tuna pat having preset thickness and width, a mobile wall (7) located opposite the outlet mouth (6) and having a width at least equal thereto, the distance from the mouth (6) to the mobile wall (7) corresponding to the maximum width of the tuna pat to be formed, as well as a mobile shovel (8) suitable to move the newly-formed tuna pat perpendicularly in the direction of motion of the conveyor belt (B) of the canning machine, until it reaches a preset distance from the last previously-formed tuna pat (P) arranged on the conveyor belt (B). Such a feeder allows the canning machine to obtain tuna cakes with premium quality appearance and constant weight, thanks to the fact that the tuna is not damaged by rough manual treatments and is fed in a continuous way with substantially constant characteristics.