Food Slicer Tray Interlock Using a Single Tension Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicers face challenges with complex and costly interlock mechanisms that require multiple control cables and unintuitive operation, particularly when preventing tray removal during cleaning or when the gauge plate is not in the home position.
Innovation Solution
A tension-only cable system interlock mechanism that uses a single cable with differential biases to ensure the tray cannot be removed unless the gauge plate is in the closed position, and the gauge plate cannot be adjusted when the tray is removed, simplifying assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional interlock mechanism with multiple control cables is used, then the interlock function is reliable, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control cable functions into a single control cable that transmits both interlock signals and positioning information between the carriage assembly and gauge plate indexing system, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining reliable interlock functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The single control cable is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the interlock mechanism and the positioning reference for the gauge plate indexing system, allowing one component to replace what traditionally required multiple separate components
2Ease of manufacture
If the interlock mechanism requires the carriage to be in a known location, then the design difficulty is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control cable automatically references the carriage position at all times during its movement, eliminating the need for the carriage to be in a specific known location. The system self-adjusts and maintains accurate gauge plate positioning throughout the entire carriage stroke without requiring operator intervention or special positioning procedures
3Reliability
If an interlock mechanism with two sets of control cables is used, then the interlock logic is transmitted accurately, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of two separate control cable systems into a single integrated control cable that accomplishes both interlock logic transmission and gauge plate positioning reference, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity while maintaining accurate interlock functionality
Data Source
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AI summary
A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation, and a carriage assembly mounted to the base for movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife, with a tray is removably connected to a tray mount of a tray arm. A movable gauge plate is provided for varying slice thickness, and a gauge plate indexing assembly is provided for moving the gauge plate between a closed position and multiple open positions. An interlock assembly is provided between the tray mount and the gauge plate indexing assembly, wherein the interlock assembly comprises a tension only cable system that is configured to (i) prevent removal of the tray from the tray mount unless the gauge plate is in the closed position and (ii) prevent movement of the gauge plate out of the closed position when the tray is removed from the tray mount.