Bread Slicer Blade Guard With Rocker-Linked Extension Slot Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bread slicers lack a structurally simple and space-saving protection mechanism to prevent users from reaching into the machine housing and risking injury from the circular blade when it is in the waiting position.
Innovation Solution
A cover plate is rigidly attached to the rocker arm, protruding vertically to cover the extension gap when the circular knife is in the waiting position, and moves away simultaneously with the rocker to open the gap when the knife is extended for cutting, ensuring the gap is always protected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the extension gap is covered by a fixed cover plate, then user safety is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is merged with the rocker arm through rigid attachment, combining the safety cover function with the existing cutting mechanism. This eliminates the need for a separate fixed cover plate and its associated locking mechanisms, thereby improving user safety without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate transitions from a static fixed cover to a dynamic component that moves with the rocker arm. It automatically covers the extension gap when the knife is retracted and opens when the knife extends, providing adaptive safety protection without requiring additional control mechanisms
2Device complexity
If the cover plate is rigidly connected to the rocker arm, then the structure is simplified, but the space required for movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By rigidly connecting the cover plate to the rocker arm, the patent merges two functions into one component: the rocker arm for knife extension/retraction and the cover plate for safety protection. This eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces overall space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker arm becomes a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs the cutting action (by extending the knife) and the safety coverage (by moving the cover plate). This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure without increasing space consumption
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A bread slicing machine (10) for cutting slices from food, in particular bread, with a cutting device comprising a circular blade (13) which is mounted in a waiting position (18a) in a machine housing (12), and with a cutting chamber (14) comprising a guide slot (20) for the circular blade, and an extension slot (21) for moving the circular blade into the cutting chamber and a rocker arm (22) for covering the guide slot, wherein the rocker arm is displaceable when the circular blade is extended, thereby opening the guide slot, is characterized in that a cover plate (23) is rigidly attached to a material-side surface (24) of the rocker arm, which projects substantially vertically away from the rocker arm and always covers the extension slot when the circular blade is in the waiting position, wherein the cover plate is movable away from the extension slot simultaneously with the movement of the rocker arm by means of a positive guide.which opens the extension gap. This provides a structurally simple and easily removable guard for the user of the bread slicer, preventing injury from the circular blade in the waiting position by reaching into the extension gap.