Adjustable thickness sheeting device for a food processing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing devices lack an efficient mechanism for securely holding and processing food items of varying thickness and types, leading to issues such as slipping, shredding, and uneven cutting.
Innovation Solution
A food processing attachment with a rotational adapter, radial flanges, and a biased blade carriage that securely holds food items through a central spear and radial flanges, allowing for adjustable cutting and processing, including sheeting, slicing, and shredding, with a user interface for manual positioning and tension adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed blade position is used in existing food processing devices, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate food items of varying thickness leading to uneven cutting and slipping
Solution Approach 1:
The blade carriage is made movable along the central spear axis, transitioning from a fixed blade position to an adjustable one. The biasing mechanism dynamically positions the blade at different depths based on food item thickness, allowing the device to adapt to varying food dimensions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade cutting depth parameter is made variable through the operable carriage system. By changing the blade's position along the central spear axis, the device can accommodate different food thicknesses. The biasing mechanism allows this parameter to be adjusted while the food holder rotates, creating a flexible system that adapts to different processing requirements.
2Reliability
If existing food holders are used without radial flanges, then the device structure is simpler, but food items slip and shred during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The food holder is segmented into multiple functional components: a central spear for axial support and multiple radial flanges for lateral securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the central spear prevents upward movement while the radial flanges prevent lateral slipping and rotation, collectively providing stable food item securing without requiring a completely complex structure.
3Productivity
If the blade engages deeply into the food item, then more food is processed per cycle, but the risk of shredding and uneven cutting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade cutting depth is made a variable parameter controlled by the biasing mechanism. The carriage can be positioned at different depths along the central spear axis, allowing optimization between processing efficiency and cutting quality. This parameter control enables the system to achieve both high productivity and uniform cutting by adjusting the blade engagement depth based on specific processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism provides a controlled feedback system that regulates blade engagement. The spring biasing force can be adjusted to provide appropriate pressure, ensuring the blade engages sufficiently for efficient processing while preventing excessive depth that would cause shredding. This creates a self-regulating system that maintains cutting precision while maximizing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A food processing attachment for a food processing device includes a rotational adapter configured to be selectively coupled with a drive system of the food processing device. A food holder is coupled to the rotational adapter and having a base, wherein the food holder is selectively rotated by the rotational adapter. A central spear extends perpendicularly from a center of the base. A plurality of radial flanges extend perpendicularly from the base, wherein each radial flange of the plurality of flanges is discontinuous with the other radial flanges, wherein the central spear and the plurality of radial flanges are adapted to secure a food item in a processing space and in communication with the rotational adapter. A blade is coupled to an operable carriage and is adapted to selectively engage the food item within the processing space to remove at least a portion of the food item.