X-ray Image Capturing Device for Bone-in Meat Debonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deboning systems face challenges in accurately capturing the position and shape of bones in bone-in meat, leading to decreased yield rates and excessive cutter load due to inaccurate incision making, especially when the meat is processed at high speeds.

Innovation Solution

An X-ray image capturing device that adjusts the intensity distribution of X-rays and rotates the bone-in meat to optimize the X-ray image capture, allowing for accurate incision making by conforming the cutter trajectory to the bone shape, with an incident angle between 30° and 45°, and a shielding-box movement mechanism to synchronize with the clamp's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If X-ray image is captured with stereotypical arrangement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of bone position and shape deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveX-ray device arrangementVSAvoidbone position and shape information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by rotating the bone-in meat about the vertical axis to change the incident angle of X-rays dynamically. This allows the system to capture accurate bone position and shape information without requiring a complex fixed multi-angle X-ray device arrangement, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the incident angle parameter of X-rays by rotating the workpiece to between 30° and 45°, optimizing the X-ray image quality for accurate bone information extraction. This parameter adjustment enables precise measurement without complicating the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If incision making is performed based on inaccurate bone information, then processing speed is maintained, but manufacturing precision of incision trajectory deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidincision trajectory accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by capturing accurate X-ray images of bone position and shape before the incision making process. This advance information acquisition allows the incision trajectory to be precisely planned and executed, ensuring both high processing speed and accurate manufacturing precision without trade-offs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If cutter moves at high speed, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision of incision making deteriorates due to inaccurate bone information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidincision accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using captured X-ray images to continuously guide the incision making process. The bone position and shape information obtained from X-ray imaging provides real-time feedback that ensures the cutter follows the accurate bone trajectory even at high processing speeds, maintaining both productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution improves yield rates by ensuring accurate incision making and reduces excessive cutter load, maintaining processing efficiency even at higher speeds by providing clear and suitable X-ray images for guiding the incision process.

Implementation Method 1

an X-ray irradiation device (122) that irradiates the bone-in meat with X-rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray transmission imaging: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentEP2827134B1X-ray image capturing device and method for bone-in meat, and bone-in meat deboning system provided with said device
Publication Date: 2017.02.15 MAYEKAWA MFG CO LTD
  • EP2827134B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2827134B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2827134B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An X-ray image capturing device of bone-in meat for capturing an X-ray image of the bone-in meat that is from an arm part or a thigh part of a livestock carcass in a state where the bone-in meat is suspended, comprises: an X-ray source 123 for irradiating the bone-in meat with an X-ray; a shielding box 124 for covering the bone-in meat while the X-ray image is captured; a sensor 125 which is disposed in the shielding box 124 and which detects the X-ray which passes through the bone-in meat; and a filter 126 which is disposed between the bone-in meat and the X-ray source 123 and which adjusts an intensity distribution of the X-ray with which the bone-in meat is irradiated.