Food Processor Sequential Cutting to Reduce Dicing Torque and Energy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 two sequential cuts and a single-action dicing tool with parallel blades, reducing the resistance and energy required for dicing by allowing the food substrate to be cut into strips and then cubes with 50% less resistance compared to traditional grid-style dicing tools.
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 food substrates, then the power output is improved, but energy consumption increases and noise and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing operation is segmented into two distinct stages: first, a slicing blade cuts the food substrate into slices; second, the slices are forced through a grid of vertically facing cutting elements to create cubes. This segmentation allows each cutting element to be smaller and require less force, reducing the overall power and energy consumption of the motor while maintaining effective dicing capability.
2Power
If the size or speed of the electric drive motor is increased to provide sufficient power and torque for dicing food substrates, then the power output is improved, but noise and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the dicing function into slicing and grid-cutting stages with smaller, specialized cutting elements, the motor operates at lower power levels, thereby generating less noise and heat while still achieving the desired dicing effect.
3Productivity
If a traditional grid-style dicing tool is used to dice food substrates, then the dicing function is achieved, but high torque and resistance are required
Solution Approach 1:
The dicing tool is segmented into a slicing blade that first creates thin slices, which are then passed through a grid of vertically facing cutting elements. This pre-slicing reduces the resistance encountered by the grid elements, requiring significantly less torque from the motor compared to forcing whole food substrates directly through a traditional grid.
Solution Approach 2:
The slicing blade performs a preliminary cutting action that prepares the food substrate by creating thin slices before they enter the grid. This preliminary action reduces the force required by the grid elements, as they only need to cut through already-thin slices rather than thick food substrates, thereby reducing the torque requirement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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.