Dual-Action Food Processor Dicing for Lower Torque Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing devices require high torque and energy to dice food substrates due to the need for increased motor power, leading to increased energy consumption, noise, and heat generation, making it difficult to design efficient machines for specific food preparation techniques.
Innovation Solution
A food processor with a dual-action cutting tool that makes perpendicular cuts and a single-action dicing tool with parallel blades, reducing the resistance and energy required to dice food substrates by allowing the cutting tool to make two cuts before the dicing tool completes the dicing process, thereby reducing the overall power and torque needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the size or speed of the electric drive motor is increased to provide sufficient power and torque for dicing, then the power output is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing operation is segmented into two distinct stages: a slicing stage that makes initial cuts to create thin slices, and a dicing stage that makes subsequent cuts to create diced pieces. This segmentation allows each cutting element to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall force required compared to a single-stage dicing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slicing blade performs preliminary cutting action to create thin slices before the dicing blades complete the dicing operation. By pre-cutting the food substrate into thinner slices, the subsequent dicing operation requires less force and torque, allowing the use of a smaller, more energy-efficient motor.
2Power
If the size or speed of the electric drive motor is increased to provide sufficient power and torque for dicing, then the power output is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing operation is segmented into two distinct stages: a slicing stage that makes initial cuts to create thin slices, and a dicing stage that makes subsequent cuts to create diced pieces. This segmentation allows each cutting element to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall force required compared to a single-stage dicing operation.
3Power
If the size or speed of the electric drive motor is increased to provide sufficient power and torque for dicing, then the power output is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing operation is segmented into two distinct stages: a slicing stage that makes initial cuts to create thin slices, and a dicing stage that makes subsequent cuts to create diced pieces. This segmentation allows each cutting element to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall force required compared to a single-stage dicing operation.
4Productivity
If a high torque motor is used to push food through the dicing grid, then the dicing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing operation is segmented into two distinct stages: a slicing stage that makes initial cuts to create thin slices, and a dicing stage that makes subsequent cuts to create diced pieces. This segmentation allows each cutting element to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall force required compared to a single-stage dicing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single high-torque motor to push food through a dense dicing grid, the invention inverts the approach by first creating thin slices with a slicing blade, then using lighter dicing blades to complete the operation. This reversal of the cutting sequence reduces the torque requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A food processing device (10) includes a drive assembly coupled to a dualaction cutting tool (20) and a single-action dicing tool (40). First and second cutting assemblies (51, 52) are disposed on the cutting tool (20) and are adapted to make first and second cuts in a food substrate as the cutting tool (20) rotates within a food processing path (26). The cutting tool (20) is further adapted to urge the cut food substrate towards and through the dicing tool (40) where generally parallel spaced-apart blades (66) further cut the food substrate to form diced food elements. The sequential cutting arrangement of the cutting tool (20) and the dicing tool (40) provides for a food processing device (10) that is capable of dicing a food substrate with lower torque and lower power requirements as compared to conventional dicing methods.