Mandoline Slicer Guide Surface Fluid Applicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen slicers lack an effective method for simultaneously cutting food and applying a fluid, often resulting in fluid misflows during the cutting process.

Innovation Solution

A kitchen slicer design featuring a base body with a blade and a guide surface, where an applicator is integrated to directly or indirectly supply a fluid to the blade through the guide surface, ensuring efficient fluid application and cutting, with the applicator being a movable element that supplements or replaces part of the guide surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an applicator is added to supply fluid to the blade, then fluid application capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid application capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is integrated with the guide surface to form a unified structure. The guide surface serves dual functions: guiding the food material and facilitating fluid application through the applicator. This merging eliminates the need for separate, independent components while achieving both food guidance and fluid coating functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a food guidance surface, a fluid distribution channel, and a structural support for the applicator. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the slicing device while maintaining effective fluid application capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the applicator is integrated into the guide surface, then fluid application precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid application precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface is designed as a removable insert that can be separated from the base body. This segmentation allows the guide surface with integrated applicator to be manufactured independently using appropriate techniques, then assembled into the complete device. The modular design simplifies the manufacturing of each individual component while achieving precise fluid application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surface acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the applicator and the base body. By integrating the applicator into this intermediate component rather than directly into the base body, the design allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining precise fluid application capability through the guided structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the guide surface is made height-adjustable, then adaptability to different cutting needs is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface is designed with height-adjustability, allowing it to be positioned at different levels relative to the blade. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same device to accommodate various cutting depths and food types without requiring multiple specialized components, achieving versatility through a single adjustable element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution effectively transports fluid to the blade, preventing misflows and enhancing the cutting process by ensuring consistent fluid application, thereby improving the cutting efficiency and pattern on the food surface.

Implementation Method 1

the applicator acts through the guide surface... the guide surface is partially fluid-permeable and a movable element acting underneath it, acting as an applicator, at least partially causes the fluid supply

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid transport through permeable surface: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3297798B1Mandoline slicer and applicator
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 BORNER DISTRIBUTION INT
  • EP3297798B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3297798B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3297798B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a mandoline slicer for slicing food which is to be sliced, such as fruit, vegetables or the like. In the claimed mandoline slicer, the applicator is operatively maintained by the guide surface. The invention also relates to an applicator for a mandoline slicer, which is a designed as an attachment or as an exchangeable component.