Food preparation device and apparatus for making a helical cut in a fruit or vegetable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helical cutting devices are limited to a fixed stroke of the carriage, which results in wasted operating time and inefficiency when used with fruits or vegetables of varying sizes, as they cannot adapt the direction of movement to optimize the cutting process.
Innovation Solution
A food preparation device with a mechanical switch that allows for adjustable direction reversal of the carriage's movement, enabling it to adapt to different fruit or vegetable sizes by switching between forward and reverse threads of a double helix drive screw without changing the motor's rotation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional food preparation device is used to cut fruits or vegetables, then the cutting function is achieved, but the device cannot create helical cuts or spiral patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is segmented into multiple independent cutting edges arranged along a helical path, allowing the blade to create complex helical cuts through rotational motion while maintaining a relatively simple overall blade structure
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting action transitions from traditional planar cutting to three-dimensional helical cutting by arranging cutting edges along a helical path and rotating the blade, adding a rotational dimension to the cutting process
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed blade configuration is used in food preparation devices, then the device structure is simple, but the blade cannot be adjusted for different cutting patterns or food items
Solution Approach 1:
The blade configuration is made dynamic and adjustable, allowing users to modify blade position, rotation speed, and cutting parameters according to different food items and desired cutting patterns, transforming a static blade into an adaptable cutting tool
3Measurement precision
If manual rotation of cutting tools is used, then the device structure is simple, but the rotation speed and precision cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical rotation is replaced with an electric motor-driven rotation system, enabling precise control of rotation speed and eliminating the limitations of manual operation while maintaining relatively simple overall device structure
4Reliability
If traditional cutting methods are used on sliding surfaces, then the cutting function is achieved, but bacteria can contaminate the sliding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the blade slide along a surface (traditional method), the invention inverts the approach by having the food item rotate on a platform while the blade remains stationary or moves minimally, eliminating the sliding contact that creates bacterial contamination risks
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a food preparation device (12) for making a helical cut in a fruit or vegetable, the device (12) having a cutting tool (34) that is carried by a carriage (36) driven in translation in an reciprocating movement by a double-thread drive screw (38). According to the invention, the device (12) has a mechanical switch (68) which has at least an outbound state and a return state for determining the outbound direction or the return direction of the reciprocating movement of the carriage (36) for one and the same given direction of rotation of the drive screw (38). The invention also relates to a motor-driven apparatus having such a device (12).