Lid-Mounted Thickness Adjustment for Food Processor Cutting Disks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processors lack a convenient and efficient mechanism for adjusting the cutting thickness of food items during processing, limiting user control over the thickness of cut products.
Innovation Solution
A food processor with a rotating disk and cutting blade assembly that includes a spring biasing system and an actuator mechanism, allowing for adjustable cutting thickness through a user-operated control device, enabling the rotating disk to move relative to the cutting blade to change the thickness of cut food items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lid-mounted actuator mechanism is added to enable cutting thickness adjustment, then user control over cutting thickness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is merged with the lid structure, integrating the actuator body into the lid housing. This combination allows the adjustment functionality to be incorporated without adding separate external adjustment devices, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism serves multiple functions: it adjusts the cutting thickness by moving the rotating disk, maintains the disk position through spring biasing, and engages/disengages from the drive stem to enable or disable adjustment during operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the actuator is engaged with the rotating disk during motor operation, then cutting thickness can be adjusted without interrupting processing, but the mechanism must withstand dynamic forces increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transitions from a static fixed-position design to a dynamic adjustable design. The rotating disk can move axially relative to the cutting blade during operation, and the actuator can engage and disengage from the drive stem dynamically. This allows continuous adjustment of cutting thickness without interrupting the motor operation, as the mechanism adapts to the dynamic operating conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If spring biasing is used to maintain cutting position, then consistent cutting thickness is achieved, but additional components are added to the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The spring biasing system acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that applies a consistent force to maintain the rotating disk in a predetermined cutting position. The spring counteracts variations in force during operation, ensuring that the disk returns to or remains at the desired position, thereby achieving consistent cutting thickness. The spring is integrated into the actuator body, minimizing the increase in overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise adjustment of cutting thickness without interrupting the processing operation, allowing users to produce both thinner and thicker food slices based on user preference, enhancing versatility and user control.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned between the cutting blade and the rotating disk. The spring may bias the rotating disk in a first cutting position to produce a food item having a first thickness
Implementation Method 2
The body of the actuator may be externally-threaded and may be received in the internally-threaded body of the sleeve. When the actuator is rotatively coupled to the rotating disk, rotation of the body in a first direction may cause the rotating disk to advance downward relative to the cutting blade
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. The food processor includes an adjustment assembly that is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.