Integrated Stop and Transverse Pressing Unit for Slicing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slicing machines require multiple separate drive units for the stop, transverse pressing, and hold-down units, leading to high manufacturing costs and maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
The stop unit is integrated with the transverse pressing unit to function as both a stop and hold-down, eliminating the need for a separate hold-down unit and reducing the number of drive units, with the stop unit positioned away from the transverse pressing unit to allow for a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate drive units are provided for the stop unit, transverse pressing unit, and hold-down unit, then each unit can perform its function independently, but the number of components and drive units increases, leading to high manufacturing costs and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stop unit and transverse pressing unit into a single integrated unit. The stop unit is arranged on a side of the pressing device facing away from the transverse pressing unit, allowing the transverse pressing unit to extend beyond the stop unit and perform both stopping and transverse pressing functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate drive units
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated stop and transverse pressing unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a stop during longitudinal pressing, and simultaneously functions as a hold-down unit during slicing by extending beyond the stop position in the longitudinal direction. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components while maintaining operational reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If the stop unit is positioned to limit product piece movement during pressing, then pressing precision is improved, but the stop unit may interfere with the cutting unit during slicing
Solution Approach 1:
The stop unit is positioned in the transverse direction rather than extending into the cutting path in the longitudinal direction. By arranging the stop unit on the side of the pressing device facing away from the transverse pressing unit, the design separates the stopping function from the cutting path, allowing precise pressing without interfering with slicing operations
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a slicing machine (100) for slicing a product piece (P) into slices (S), comprising: a pressing device (102) defining therein a pressing space (R) designed and intended to receive the product piece (P), wherein the pressing device (102) comprises a longitudinal pressing unit (104) designed to press the product piece (P) in a longitudinal direction (L) of the product piece (P), and a transverse pressing unit (110) designed to press the product piece (P) in a transverse direction (Q) of the product piece (P) that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (L), a cutting unit (126) arranged adjacent to the pressing device (102) and designed to cut the product piece (P) into slices (S), and a stop unit (120) that can be moved between a limiting position,in which it limits a movement of the product piece (P) in the longitudinal direction (L) towards the cutting unit (126), and is adjustable to a release position in which it does not limit the movement of the product piece (P) in the longitudinal direction (L) towards the cutting unit (126), the stop unit (120) is arranged in the release position on a side of the pressing device (102) facing away from the transverse pressing unit (110), and the transverse pressing unit (110) extends at least partially beyond the stop unit (120) in the direction of the cutting unit (126) in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the product piece (P).