Food processing cutting device and methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stand mixers lack built-in pasta forming functionality and require separate accessories for pasta making, limiting their versatility and compatibility with other recipes, and existing pasta makers do not offer adjustable cutting options for extruded food products.
Innovation Solution
A food processing device that integrates mixing and extruding capabilities with a door assembly allowing for seamless transition between functions, along with a cutting device that can be coupled to an extruder outlet, featuring a blade operatively coupled to a biasing member for adjustable cutting and a safety guard for user protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stand mixers are used for pasta making, then mixing function is provided, but pasta forming functionality is lacking and requires separate accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mixing bowl and extruder into a single integrated device, allowing both mixing and pasta forming functions to be performed in one unit. The mixing bowl includes a door assembly that opens to reveal a feed chute leading directly to the extruder, eliminating the need for separate pasta-making accessories.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand mixer is designed to perform multiple functions: it can mix ingredients using the gear assembly with various attachments (beater, dough hook, scraper), and then extrude the mixed dough through the integrated extruder to form pasta. This multi-functional design allows one device to replace multiple separate tools.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate accessories are used for pasta making, then pasta forming is possible, but compatibility with other recipes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gear assembly is designed to accommodate multiple accessory attachments including a beater, dough hook, and scraper, allowing the same base unit to handle various mixing tasks for different recipes. The integrated extruder then processes the output from any of these attachments, providing universal compatibility across multiple recipe types.
3Productivity
If manual dough transfer is required, then dough can be moved to pasta former, but process efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing bowl and extruder are physically integrated with a door assembly that opens to reveal a feed chute. This design allows dough to flow directly from the mixing bowl into the extruder without manual transfer, streamlining the pasta-making process and improving efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fixed cutting devices are used for extruders, then cutting function is provided, but adjustability for different product lengths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device incorporates a biasing member that allows the blade to be positioned at different locations along the extruder outlet. The biasing member provides mechanical force to hold the blade at selected positions, enabling adjustable cutting lengths while maintaining operational simplicity.
5Manufacturing precision
If non-adjustable cutting devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but cutting precision for different product lengths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device incorporates a biasing member that allows the blade to be positioned at different locations along the extruder outlet. The biasing member provides mechanical force to hold the blade at selected positions, enabling adjustable cutting lengths while maintaining operational simplicity.
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
Enables efficient mixing and extruding of pasta and other food products with a single device, providing high-quality cuts and improved user safety through adjustable cutting settings and integrated safety features.
Implementation Method 1
The blade is operatively coupled to a biasing member. The charging member is arranged to be rotated by the motor. The motor drives forward movement of the charging member within the charging chamber until the release feature reaches a release point within the charging chamber. At the release point the biasing member is mechanically released to drive movement of the blade.
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting device configured to couple to an extruder outlet is described herein. The cutting device includes a blade operatively coupled to a biasing member, a motor, and a charging chamber. The charging chamber has a charging member and a release feature. The charging member is arranged to be rotated by the motor. The motor drives forward movement of the charging member within the charging chamber until the release feature reaches a release point within the charging chamber. At the release point the biasing member is mechanically released to drive movement of the blade. The blade is arranged to move in at least a first direction in response to the mechanical release of the biasing member.