Food Cutting Accessory Drive Coupling for Safe High-Power Slicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food cutting accessories are limited in cutting large quantities of food and lack sufficient power to cut hard foods, with a design that is not adaptable to different motorized boxes and poses safety risks due to complex construction.

Innovation Solution

A food cutting accessory with a platen and lid design that includes a primary cutting tool with a drive hub and sleeve system, a secondary cutting tool, and a conduit for discharging cut food, allowing for efficient cutting of large quantities and hard foods, while ensuring safety through a compact and adaptable design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a bowl is used to receive cut food, then food can be contained, but the cutting capacity is limited and cannot handle large quantities of food

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of foodVSAvoidbowl capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the bowl component from the food cutting accessory design. Instead of containing cut food in a bowl, the system allows food to be cut and discharged directly into external containers placed on the working surface, thereby eliminating the volume limitation of the bowl while maintaining food containment through external means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a three-dimensional enclosed bowl structure to a two-dimensional working surface approach. The platen provides a flat working surface where cut food can be dispersed and collected in external containers arranged around the cutting area, effectively increasing capacity by utilizing external space rather than internal containment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Power

If a removable motor unit designed for hand-held use is used, then the device is portable, but it lacks sufficient power to cut hard foods such as carrots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting powerVSAvoidadaptability to motorized boxes
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention designs the platen with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate different motorized boxes. The drive means includes a drive head and drive sleeve system that can interface with various motor units, allowing the same cutting accessory to be used with multiple types of motorized boxes, thereby achieving both high power and adaptability

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a dynamic drive connection system where the drive sleeve can engage and disengage from the drive head. This allows the accessory to be easily mounted on and removed from different motorized boxes, providing adaptability while maintaining the capability to harness high power when connected to suitable motor units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a locking element is used to prevent disassembly of the cover, then safety is improved, but the construction becomes sophisticated and less adaptable to different motorized boxes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a pusher as an intermediary component between the user and the cutting tool. The pusher applies downward force on the food to keep it pressed against the cutting surface during operation, providing safety by preventing direct hand contact with the rotating cutting tool while avoiding the need for complex locking mechanisms on the cover

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2859823B1Accessory for cutting food products including secured means for rotating a cutting tool
Publication Date: 2016.09.07 SEB SA
  • EP2859823B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2859823B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2859823B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an accessory (A) for cutting foodstuffs, comprising: - a mounting plate (1) which contains a rotary primary cutting tool (2), - a cover (6), - means (100) for rotating the primary cutting tool (2). According to the invention: - the primary cutting tool (2) comprises a driving hub (21) comprising a driving window which has a smallest dimension (D) in cross section, - and driving means (100) comprising: - a drive shaft (101) secured to the mounting plate (1), having a driving head (102) that has, in cross section, a largest dimension (E) that is strictly smaller than the smallest dimension (d), - a drive socket (103) that is free to rotate with respect to the cover (6), comprising an axial driving bore designed to be fitted onto said driving head (102) in axial translation and having an external shape designed to be fitted into the driving window in axial translation.