Eccentric Cam Rod Knife Clamping Assembly for Slicing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slicing machines, such as the Model CC and CCL machines, face challenges in achieving uniform clamping force and efficient knife attachment, which can lead to inconsistent product thickness and knife security during operation.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of modular units with clamping assemblies that include mounting blocks, a knife holder, a clamp, and an eccentric cam rod, allowing for quick clamping and release of knives, along with adjustable stops to control the knife's position and prevent deflection, enhances the uniformity of the clamping force and adaptability to different knife types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fasteners are used to secure knives, then the knife can be attached to the slicing machine, but the clamping force is not uniform along the knife's length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an eccentric cam rod mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear clamping motion. The eccentric geometry creates a dynamic clamping force distribution that achieves uniform pressure along the knife length while maintaining quick attachment through rotational movement of the cam rod.
Solution Approach 2:
The eccentric cam rod changes the clamping parameter distribution along the knife length. By varying the cam profile geometry, the system transforms the clamping force parameter from non-uniform (with traditional fasteners) to uniform, while the rotational parameter of the cam rod enables quick attachment and detachment operations.
2Productivity
If quick-clamping assemblies are used, then knife attachment and detachment become faster, but knife deflection occurs during clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camming portion as an intermediary element between the cam rod and the clamp. This camming portion acts as a force transmission mediator that converts the rotational motion of the cam rod into controlled linear clamping motion, preventing direct impact forces that would cause knife deflection while maintaining quick attachment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camming portion provides beforehand cushioning by gradually applying clamping force through its cam profile. This progressive force application prevents sudden impacts that would cause knife deflection, while still achieving secure clamping for quick attachment and detachment operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the clamping assembly is made more complex to achieve uniform force, then clamping uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eccentric cam rod mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates uniform clamping force along the knife length, enables quick attachment and detachment through rotational motion, and provides structural support for the entire clamping assembly. This multi-functionality achieves uniform clamping without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the clamping force generation mechanism with the attachment/detachment actuation mechanism into a single eccentric cam rod component. This consolidation achieves uniform clamping force while avoiding the need for separate complex mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 solution minimizes deflection and ensures a uniform clamping force along the knife's length, allowing for precise control of product thickness and easy knife attachment and detachment, improving the efficiency and versatility of slicing machines.
Implementation Method 1
The cam rod (100) has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks (84) and a camming portion (106) between the oppositely-disposed ends
Implementation Method 2
the clamp (28B) mounted on the radially outward-facing side of a shoe (26) to secure a knife (20) to the knife holder (28A)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Modular units with clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, and a slicing machine having a cutting head equipped with one or more modular units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. Such a clamping assembly includes a knife holder, a knife supported by the knife holder, a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife holder and the clamp, and a cam rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween. The cam rod has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends and arranged for contacting the clamp. The clamping assembly further includes complementary features for inhibiting deflection of the camming portion away from the knife holder when the cam rod is in a clamping position.