V-Cutout Displacement Elements for Wrinkle-Free Sausage Division

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sausage strand dividing devices cause folds and delays in the formation of the twisting point, leading to increased stress on the product casing and potential damage, especially in delicate casings.

Innovation Solution

The device employs a pair of displacement elements with outwardly widening, V-shaped cutouts and laterally curved pockets or openings, allowing the wing sections to move past each other without collision, maintaining a small distance and ensuring the twisting point forms quickly and gently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the wing sections of displacement elements are positioned close to each other to maximize constriction of the sausage strand, then the dividing efficiency is improved, but the wing sections collide during rotation causing folds and delaying the twisting point formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedividing efficiencyVSAvoidfolds and delays in twisting point formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wing sections are segmented with curved pockets or openings that create separation zones, allowing the wing sections to move past each other independently during rotation without collision, thus preventing folds while maintaining close positioning for efficient constriction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The curved pockets or openings introduce a dimensional aspect that allows the wing sections to stagger their movement paths in the rotational dimension, enabling them to pass each other without collision while maintaining effective constriction pressure on the sausage strand

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the wing sections are positioned at an angle to allow rotation without collision, then the mechanical interference is reduced, but the distance between wing sections increases reducing the constriction effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation without collisionVSAvoidconstriction effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wing sections transition from a static angular arrangement to a dynamic configuration where they move closer together during rotation due to the curved pockets, maintaining effective constriction while allowing collision-free operation through controlled movement timing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The curved pockets or openings are pre-configured to guide the wing sections through their rotational paths, preparing the movement trajectory in advance to ensure they pass each other without collision while maintaining optimal constriction positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the displacement elements are positioned closer together, then the dividing speed is improved, but the stress on the product casing increases potentially causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedividing speedVSAvoidstress on product casing
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The curved pockets or openings act as cushioning zones that distribute and soften the stress applied to the casing during the constriction process, allowing faster dividing speeds while preventing excessive stress that could damage delicate casings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4133942B1Displacement element pair
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 ALBERT HANDTMANN MASCHFABRICK
  • EP4133942B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4133942B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4133942B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a pair of displacement elements (1a, 1b) for dividing a sausage strand (11) transported between the displacement elements (1a, 1b) into individual sausages, wherein each displacement element (1a, 1b) has at least one wing (2a, 2b) with a first wing section (3a, 3b) and a second wing section (4a, 4b), between which an outwardly widening, in particular V-shaped, cutout (12) is formed, wherein both the first and the second wing sections (3a, b), (4a, b) have a laterally curved pocket (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) or an opening. The invention also relates to a corresponding device for dividing a sausage strand.