Bread Cutting Machine with Angled Push to Prevent Outlet Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bread cutting machines with funnel-shaped outlets often become obstructed when cutting bread slices, preventing efficient ejection of slices.

Innovation Solution

The bread cutting machine is designed with a receiving surface and cutting device where the bread is pushed at an acute angle, allowing slices to be cut and ejected sequentially, preventing obstruction of the outlet by arranging cutting blades and a pushing device to maintain the bread's orientation and facilitate smooth ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a funnel-shaped outlet is used to transport bread slices, then the slices can be loosened and transported into the packaging bag, but the outlet becomes obstructed by simultaneous passage of multiple slices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport of bread slicesVSAvoidoutlet obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device segments the bread into individual slices that are separated in time and space. The array of cutting blades cuts the bread sequentially rather than all at once, ensuring that slices are ejected one by one through the outlet, preventing obstruction while maintaining efficient transport capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pushing device operates periodically to advance the bread through the cutting device in controlled intervals. This periodic action ensures that slices are separated and ejected at regular time intervals, preventing simultaneous passage that would cause outlet obstruction while maintaining continuous production flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Device complexity

If the bread is pushed perpendicular to the cutting blades, then the cutting process is simple, but multiple slices are cut simultaneously causing outlet obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting mechanismVSAvoidoutlet obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry in the orientation between the pushing direction and the cutting blades. Instead of pushing perpendicular to the blades, the bread is pushed at an acute angle, creating a staggered cutting sequence where blades engage the bread at different times, ensuring sequential slice ejection and preventing outlet obstruction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from a two-dimensional perpendicular cutting arrangement to a three-dimensional angled arrangement. By introducing an acute angle between the pushing direction and cutting blades, the system creates a temporal sequence in the cutting process, transforming simultaneous cutting into sequential cutting without significantly increasing mechanical complexity

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

Data Source

PatentEP3466622B1Bread cutting machine
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 HERMAN FREEK ARIE
  • EP3466622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3466622B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3466622B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a bread cutting machine for bread. The cutting machine (1) comprises: a receiving surface (10) for receiving the bread to be cut, wherein said receiving surface (10) has a first edge (11) and an opposite second edge (12), and defines a receiving plane; a cutting device (20) with an array of cutting blades (24) placed at the second edge (12) of the receiving surface (10), wherein said array of cutting blades (24) defines a first plane; and a pushing device (30, 3) configured for pushing the bread to be cut along the receiving surface (10) in a pushing direction extending between the first and second edges (11, 12) of the receiving surface (10), towards and/or beyond the cutting device (20). The pushing device (30, 3) comprises a push surface for contacting the bread to be cut during pushing thereof. The push surface and/or the first plane are at an acute angle with respect to the pushing direction.