Cutting Blade Receiving Element for Clean Thin Slicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting systems for food objects, particularly primal cuts of livestock, face challenges in achieving high-capacity and high-quality thin slices with cleanly cut interfaces, especially when dealing with tough structures like tendons, and struggle to maintain blade cleanliness.

Innovation Solution

A cutting apparatus featuring a cutting blade with an actuator and an element comprising a receiving section and a supporting section that allows continuous contact between the blade and the element, enabling elastic deformation and a scissor-effect for efficient cutting, while keeping the blade clean by scraping off debris.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional cutting blade is used to cut food objects into thin slices, then cutting capacity can be increased, but cutting quality and interface cleanliness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidcutting quality and interface cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A receiving section is introduced as an intermediary component between the cutting blade and the supporting section. This receiving section receives the cutting blade during cutting operations, allowing the blade to maintain continuous contact with the element while properly supporting the food object. This intermediary structure enables both high cutting capacity and high cutting quality with clean interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the cutting blade moves quickly through the food object to achieve high capacity, then productivity improves, but cutting quality and interface cleanliness worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidinterface cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving section acts as a mediator that maintains proper blade-element contact even at high cutting speeds. By providing a dedicated receiving area for the blade, the system ensures consistent support and clean cutting interfaces regardless of cutting speed, enabling high productivity without sacrificing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the cutting blade contacts the supporting section directly, then cutting efficiency improves, but blade cleanliness deteriorates due to debris accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidblade debris accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving section serves as an intermediary between the cutting blade and the supporting section, preventing direct contact that would cause debris accumulation on the blade. This intermediate structure allows efficient cutting while keeping the blade cleaner by directing debris away from the blade surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables cutting of food objects into thin slices with thicknesses of 10 mm or less, achieving high capacity and quality with cleanly cut interfaces, and maintaining blade cleanliness, capable of 60 or more cuts per minute.

Implementation Method 1

at least one supporting section arranged for being displaced, such as displaced by elastic deformation, by the cutting blade with respect to a position of the at least one supporting section prior to cutting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3924154B1Cutting apparatus with element for receiving and abutting cutting blade
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 MAREL HF
  • EP3924154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3924154B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3924154B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is presented a cutting apparatus for cutting a food object, said apparatus comprising at least one cutting blade, an actuator arranged for moving the cutting blade before and during cutting, and an element comprising a receiving section arranged for receiving and abutting the cutting blade, such as at a point in time prior to cutting, and a supporting section arranged for supporting a food object before and during cutting, wherein during cutting the supporting section is arranged for being displaced, such as displaced by elastic deformation, by the cutting blade with respect to a position of the supporting section prior to cutting, wherein during moving of the cutting blade, the cutting blade is arranged for displacing the supporting section subsequent to the cutting blade abutting the receiving section, wherein the cutting blade and the element are arranged for being continuously in contact with each other from a point of contact is made between the cutting blade and the receiving section prior to cutting, and at least until a point in time during cutting.