Multifunctional Work Unit for Food Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicers face challenges in efficiently handling products of varying lengths and consistencies, leading to unwanted deformations, reduced throughput, and increased construction and control efforts, particularly when multiple products are sliced simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional work unit that can be adjusted into a contact position to stabilize and guide products and a blocking position to prevent movement towards the cutting blade, thereby replacing the need for separate downholders and pushers, allowing for flexible handling and high throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common conveying device is used for all tracks, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to individually control product holders
Solution Approach 1:
The common conveying device is segmented into multiple independent product holders that can be individually controlled. Each product holder can be adjusted independently to accommodate products of different lengths and positions, maintaining manufacturing precision while using a shared conveying structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The product holders are designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing them to change position and configuration during operation. This enables the common conveying device to adapt to different product dimensions and maintain precise positioning without requiring separate conveying devices for each track.
2Manufacturing precision
If product holders are controlled individually per track, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement for servo technology
Solution Approach 1:
A single control system is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling different product holders. The control system can selectively activate and position specific product holders based on product requirements, achieving individual track control without requiring separate servo systems for each track.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses parameter changes to adjust product holder positions and configurations. By varying control parameters such as position, speed, and activation state, the system achieves precise individual control of product holders while maintaining a unified control architecture that reduces overall complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the product feed is set at a slant for discarding end pieces, then ease of operation is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to risk of end piece falling into cutting plane
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary barrier or guide structure is introduced between the slanted product feed and the cutting plane. This intermediary element prevents end pieces from falling into the cutting plane while allowing the slanted feed configuration to remain in place, maintaining ease of operation without the harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of the slanted feed causing end pieces to fall into the cutting plane is converted into a beneficial guiding function. The slope is designed to direct end pieces along a controlled path toward a designated disposal area, transforming the risk into a reliable automatic ejection mechanism.
4Reliability
If a pusher is provided to prevent end piece from reaching cutting plane, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher function is merged with existing components of the conveying device. The product holders or conveying belts are designed to perform both transportation and pushing functions, eliminating the need for separate pusher mechanisms while maintaining reliable protection of the cutting plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying device is designed to automatically perform the pushing function as part of its normal operation. The slanted feed configuration combined with the conveying motion creates a self-service mechanism that naturally prevents end pieces from reaching the cutting plane without requiring additional active pusher components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the slicing of food products, wherein at least one product is fed to a cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade moves, in particular in a rotating and/or revolving manner, by a product feed which comprises at least one conveying device. At least one multifunctional work unit is adjusted in dependence on the operating situation into a contact position, in which the work unit presses the product moving in the conveying direction toward a lower product support and/or toward a lateral product contact, or into a blocking position in which the work unit counteracts a movement of the product in the conveying direction.