Inclined Support Bread Slicer for Ergonomic Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bread slicers suffer from ergonomic issues and unsatisfactory cutting quality, particularly due to the non-ergonomic retrieval of sliced bread and instability of the bread loaf during slicing.
Innovation Solution
The bread slicer features a support surface inclined at an angle between 25° and 70°, a bagging pallet that can pivot and elevate for easy bagging, and a lateral guide surface to stabilize the bread, enhancing both cutting quality and user ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the loading compartment is positioned closer to the rear side and the receiving compartment to the front side, then the bread can be retrieved more easily by the user, but the bread loaf becomes unstable and may tip over during slicing
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is inclined at an angle between 25° and 70° relative to the horizontal, transforming the traditional horizontal bread support into an inclined plane. This dimensional change allows the bread to be pushed from rear to front while maintaining stability through the inclination, resolving the contradiction between easy retrieval and loaf stability
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined support surface merges the functions of bread stabilization and directional movement guidance into a single structural element. The inclination angle simultaneously prevents the bread from tipping backward while guiding it forward toward the user, combining stability and ease of operation in one component
2Stability of the object's composition
If a horizontal support surface is used with the loading compartment facing the user, then the bread is stable during slicing, but the user must lean forward significantly to retrieve the bread, reducing ergonomics
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the support surface from horizontal to inclined (25°-70°), the invention alters the spatial relationship between the bread and the user. The inclined plane naturally guides the bread forward and upward, allowing the user to retrieve bread with less forward leaning, thus improving ergonomics while maintaining stability through the inclination angle
3Ease of operation
If the support surface is inclined at a steep angle to improve ergonomics, then bread retrieval is easier, but the cutting quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the support surface inclination angle within a specific range (25°-70°) to balance ergonomics and cutting quality. This parameter optimization ensures that the bread remains stable during slicing while allowing easy retrieval, preventing both excessive steepness that would harm cutting quality and insufficient inclination that would poor ergonomics
Data Source
AI summary
A bread slicer comprisinga loading compartment (6) adjacent to the front side (2) which is connected to a receiving compartment (7) situated near the rear side (3) of the bread slicer,an access opening (8) for placing a loaf of bread (16) to be sliced in the loading compartment (6) by a user who is positioned in front of the front side (2),a cutting member to cut slices off the bread (16) as it is moved between said compartments (6,7),a support surface (9) for the bread (16) extending in said compartments (6,7)The support surface (9) is inclined at an angle (α) between 25° and 70° with respect to a horizontal line.