Dicing Machine Outboard Support Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dicing machines, such as the Affinity@ dicer, are not adequately rigid for processing hard or frozen food products, which can lead to reduced precision and efficiency in cutting these materials.
Innovation Solution
The machine design is enhanced with an outboard support system that includes a bearing assembly to increase the rigidity of the circular cutter, cross-cutter, and stripper plate, allowing for precise positioning and adjustment of components to handle harder materials effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the dicing machine uses a standard support structure without outboard support, then the machine structure remains simple and easier to manufacture, but the rigidity is insufficient for processing hard or frozen food products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds outboard support means extending beyond the standard support structure to provide additional rigidity. This dimensional extension allows the machine to handle hard and frozen products while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure by only adding necessary support elements in specific locations rather than redesigning the entire structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the machine components are positioned with standard support, then the setup is simpler and faster, but the positioning precision is insufficient for accurate cuts when processing hard materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces standard mechanical positioning with a more precise positioning system that includes adjustable positioning means and measurement indicators. This substitution enables accurate positioning of cutter components relative to each other, ensuring precise cuts through hard materials while providing adjustment mechanisms that simplify the setup process despite the enhanced precision requirements.
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
This increased rigidity enables greater precision and control during the dicing process, particularly when processing hard or frozen food products, ensuring accurate cuts and improved machine performance.
Implementation Method 1
Product is delivered to a feed hopper (not shown) and enters a rotating impeller 10, where centrifugal forces hold the product against an inner wall of a stationary case 12
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and machines for cutting solid and semisolid materials, including food products. The machine has a dicing unit that includes a feed drum, circular cutter, and cross-cutter each individually rotatably mounted to a support structure by cantilevered shafts. The machine further includes a knife for producing slices of a solid or semisolid material, circular knives on the circular cutter to cut the slices into strips, and cross-cut knives on the cross-cutter to dice the strips. The machine also includes a stripper plate for removing the strips from the circular cutter, and an outboard support assembly for supporting and radially centering outboard ends of the shafts of the feed drum, circular cutter, and cross-cutter and for supporting and securing the stripper plate relative thereto.