Food Chopper Insert Layout for Flexible Cutting Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food mincing devices lack flexibility in cutting patterns and surface area, as they are either limited by continuous cutting blades or require specific actuating parts that restrict the use of different cutting inserts.

Innovation Solution

A food mincing device with interchangeable actuating parts and cutting inserts, allowing for various configurations such as separate cutting areas or uninterrupted blades, and removable press rams to accommodate different cutting needs, enabling flexible selection of cutting patterns and surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a cutting insert with continuous cutting blades is used, then the cutting surface area is increased, but the flexibility of cutting patterns is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting surface areaVSAvoidflexibility of cutting patterns
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting insert is divided into multiple separate cutting blade assemblies (first cutting blade assembly in first area, second cutting blade assembly in second area) that can be independently configured. These assemblies are separated by a gutter and can have different blade spacings, alignments, patterns, and types, allowing flexible selection of cutting patterns while maintaining adequate cutting surface area through the modular arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a cutting insert with separate cutting areas is used, then the flexibility of cutting patterns is increased, but the cutting surface area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of cutting patternsVSAvoidcutting surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate cutting blade assemblies are combined within a single cutting insert structure that includes a common frame and gutter system. The first and second cutting blade assemblies are mounted in different areas of the same insert, allowing them to work simultaneously on different portions of the foodstuff, thereby increasing the effective cutting surface area while maintaining pattern flexibility through their separate configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If specific actuating parts are designed for specific cutting inserts, then the cutting precision is improved, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating part is designed with a universal press ram that can accommodate different cutting insert configurations (both continuous blade inserts and separate cutting area inserts). The press ram is sized and shaped to apply pressure across various insert types without requiring specialized actuating components for each insert configuration, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining cutting precision through proper force application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2938470B1Device for cutting foodstuff
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 GENIUS GMBH
  • EP2938470B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2938470B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a food chopping device comprising a base part which has a receiving portion for a cutting insert with at least one cutting blade and comprising an actuating part which is connected to the base part in an articulated manner and can be pivoted in order to push food products to be chopped towards the cutting insert. The food chopping device is characterized in that a cutting insert with separate, mutually spaced cutting regions, which are separated by an intermediate web, or a cutting insert with an uninterrupted cutting blade arrangement, in particular a cutting blade arrangement which is not interrupted by an intermediate web, or multiple separate cutting inserts at the same time, in particular cutting inserts with respective dedicated frames, can be selectively inserted into the receiving portion and used.