Bread Cutter Blade Guard Cover for Extension Gap Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bread cutting machines lack structural protection against users reaching into the machine housing, where the circular cutting blade is located, posing a risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A cover plate is rigidly fastened to the rocker, projecting vertically and covering the extension gap when the circular blade is in the waiting position, and moves away with the rocker to open the gap as the blade extends into the cutting space, ensuring user safety and compliance with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the circular blade is moved out of the machine housing into the cutting space, then the cutting function is enabled, but the extension gap becomes open and exposes the blade to users
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is preliminarily positioned to cover the extension gap when the blade is in the waiting position. Before the blade moves into the cutting space, the cover plate is already in place to prevent user access to the blade area, and it is designed to automatically move away with the rocker when the blade extends, enabling the cutting function without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate acts as an intermediary element between the user and the circular blade. It physically blocks the extension gap to prevent direct contact with the blade, while being mechanically linked to the rocker system that controls blade movement. This intermediary component enables safe operation by mediating between the need for blade accessibility and user safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover plate is added to cover the extension gap, then user safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is merged with the rocker mechanism through rigid fastening. Instead of being a separate independently controlled component, the cover plate is combined with the existing rocker that controls blade movement. This merging allows the cover plate to automatically follow the rocker's motion, enabling the cover to open when the blade extends without requiring additional actuators or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls the movement of the circular blade into and out of the cutting space, and simultaneously controls the movement of the cover plate to cover and uncover the extension gap. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining safety functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the cover plate is rigidly fastened to the rocker, then the cover plate moves away with the rocker to open the gap, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid fastening between the cover plate and the rocker creates a dynamic system where the cover plate's position is automatically determined by the rocker's position. As the rocker moves to extend or retract the blade, the rigid connection ensures the cover plate follows the same motion path without requiring separate control mechanisms. This dynamic coupling simplifies operation while the precision requirements are managed through proper mechanical design of the fastening interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A bread cutting machine has a circular blade that is moveable in a guide gap through an extension gap of a machine housing from a waiting position into a cutting space. When the blade is in the waiting position, the guide gap is coverable by a rocker displaceable away from the guide gap simultaneously with the extension of the blade from the waiting position, whereby the guide gap is opened. A cover plate is rigidly fastened to a side surface of the rocker, projects vertically away from the rocker, and covers the extension gap whenever the blade is in the waiting position. By a positive guide, the cover plate is moveable away from the extension gap simultaneously with the movement of the rocker, whereby the extension gap is opened.