Cutting Roller Gas Spray for Edible Product Particle Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting apparatuses for edible food products, such as seaweed snacks, face issues with particle accumulation during the cutting process, leading to defects and reduced productivity due to the nature of the food material.

Innovation Solution

A cutting apparatus with a cylindrical cutting roller and radial cutting blades that rotates to cut the food product, accompanied by a gas spray system to remove particles from the cutting area, ensuring smooth operation and minimizing defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a cutting apparatus is used to cut edible food products into small pieces, then productivity is improved, but particles are produced and accumulated on the cutting apparatus during repeated processing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidparticle accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of converting harm into benefit by utilizing the harmful particles generated during cutting as the basis for a cleaning mechanism. Gas spray nozzles are positioned to direct gas flow at the cutting blades, creating a force that removes accumulated particles. This transforms the problematic particle accumulation into a manageable condition where the particles are actively removed by gas flow, preventing defects while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using gas spray nozzles to remove particles from the cutting apparatus. Compressed gas is directed through nozzles positioned near the cutting blades, creating a pneumatic force that blows particles away from the cutting surface. This pneumatic cleaning mechanism effectively addresses particle accumulation without requiring mechanical intervention, maintaining continuous operation and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If particles are not removed during cutting, then the cutting apparatus operates continuously, but defects occur and productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddefect occurrence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous particle removal during the cutting operation by positioning gas spray nozzles to operate simultaneously with the cutting process. The gas flow continuously clears particles from the cutting blades as cutting occurs, ensuring that the useful action of cutting continues without interruption while particles are removed in real-time. This maintains both high productivity and product quality without stopping for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the presence of particles during cutting triggers the gas spray cleaning action. The system monitors the cutting process and activates particle removal when particles are detected or anticipated to accumulate, creating a closed-loop control that maintains cutting quality and prevents defects while preserving continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The solution effectively removes particles during the cutting process, reducing defects and improving productivity by maintaining the cutting apparatus's efficiency and preventing particle accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

spraying gas through a spray hole provided in the cutting body and disposed adjacent to the cutting blade to remove particles at the periphery of the cutting blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS20240083059A1Cutting apparatus and cutting method for edible products
Publication Date: 2024.03.14 CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP
  • US20240083059A1 patent drawing
  • US20240083059A1 patent drawing
  • US20240083059A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A cutting apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a cutting roller including a cutting body having a cylindrical shape and configured to rotate about an axis defined in a leftward/rightward direction, and cutting blades protruding outward in a radial direction of the cutting body further than a surface of the cutting body to cut an edible food product provided in a forward/rearward direction, and a cutting base part disposed at a position facing the cutting roller based on the edible food product to support the edible food product to be cut by the cutting roller.