Enmin shakes things up for meat processor

A large meat processor looking for a solution for its frozen meat handling process approached Enmin Vibratory Equipment’s engineers to design a system that would meet its particular needs. The processor wanted a system that would weigh the frozen meat pieces individually before they were transferred to the packaging process.

Bulk meat was put through a dicing machine at a rate of 1000 kg/h, then conveyed to a spiral freezer. Enmin’s engineers were challenged to design a system that would accumulate the product, then separate the frozen pieces into four lanes that would discharge at a constant rate to the special conveying process for weighing.

Several issues needed to be taken into account, including: the irregular size and shape of the meat pieces; the potential for defrosting if the process took too long; and the fact that the new vibratory handling system needed to accommodate the existing installation.

Enmin undertook trials of the product to first establish the best form of vibratory feeders to use. An electromechanical design was selected after testing. The engineering model also showed that the overall concept could be installed with a minor adjustment to the existing installation. The system selected for the project is also demountable and engineered for maximum flexibility to assist the installation.

To deliver a constant supply of individual pieces of frozen meat, the Vibratory Handling System is divided into three stages.

Stage one accepts the frozen meat from the spiral conveyor. Since the supply is not constant, this stage needs to have some accumulation. Through a specially developed gate, the accumulated product is converted to a more constant supply where the pieces are processed via a series of diverters to stage two.

Stage two further channels the meat into a specific area on the unit, which is designed to eliminate any overriding of pieces. Through an adjustable gating system, the pieces are delivered to the third and final stage of the conveying process.

The third vibratory feeding unit has a series of contoured v-sections that form the four meat streams into constant end-for-end lines before discharging to a directional chute for delivery to the special conveying process handling trays.

The three stages of vibratory feeders are positioned in a cascading arrangement and since each stage is provided with its own control station, the system can be tuned to suit the material flow. The design is also flexible in that the drive angles are adjustable, as well as having the facility to be inclined or declined should the meat parameters or upstream processes change in the future.

With the exception of the drive motors, the entire Vibratory Handling System is constructed in 304 grade stainless steel and engineered to meet HACCP requirements.

Cleaning the system is simple as all surfaces are easily accessible and, where necessary, parts can be quickly dismantled. The system does not present any noise issues as motors are totally enclosed and other moving parts have no nip points or rotating components.

Prior to shipment, full-scale tests were performed to fully satisfy the processor of the equipment’s performance and to demonstrate the ease of installing the equipment through the demountable design