Bread Slicer Slot Closure Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bread slicers face issues where the bread or slices cling to the edges of the slot during movement, causing disturbance, especially when reversing direction after cutting, due to the design of the support surface and slot configuration.
Innovation Solution
A movable closure member, such as a cylinder or strip, is used to close the free part of the slot synchronously with the cutting device's movement, allowing the bread to slide unimpeded by the slot, with the closure member extending beyond the support surface and being driven to open and close the slot as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a slot is provided in the support surface to allow the cutting device to pass through, then the cutting function is enabled, but the bread or slices catch on the slot edges during movement
Solution Approach 1:
A closing element is introduced as an intermediary component that temporarily covers the slot during bread movement. This mediator prevents direct contact between the bread and the slot edges, eliminating the catching problem while allowing the slot to remain open for cutting operations when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically open when the cutting device needs to pass through and close when the bread needs to move smoothly. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by adapting the slot's state to the current operational requirement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the support surface is positioned lower below the sliced portion to facilitate slicing, then the cutting access is improved, but the bread movement is disrupted when reversing direction
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element acts as a mediator that covers the discontinuity in the support surface during movement, including during reverse motion. This eliminates the disruption caused by the lower positioned support surface while maintaining the beneficial cutting access geometry.
3Ease of operation
If a closing device is used to partially cover the slot, then the bread movement is improved, but the slot cannot be fully closed across its entire width
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element is positioned and dimensioned to proactively cover the entire slot width before the bread reaches it during movement. This preliminary action ensures complete coverage and smooth passage, eliminating the need for complex partial closing mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~8
Figure 9~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine for automatically slicing a loaf of bread (4), including: a loading compartment (1) and a receiving compartment (2); a cutting device (6) making it possible to cut slices from the loaf of bread (4); a supporting surface (3) for the loaf of bread (4); a slot (5) provided in the supporting surface (3) between the compartments (1, 2) through which the cutting device (6) can move following a to-and-fro movement in order to cut slices from the loaf of bread (4); and at least one mobile closing member (11, 12, 18) making it possible to close the free portion of the slot (5) as the cutting device (6, 7) moves forward. The surface of the closing member (11, 12, 18) is convex in the direction of movement of the loaf of bread (4) and on the side of the aforementioned compartments (1, 2) so that the loaf of bread (4) can slide over said convex surface during the movement thereof between the compartments.