Adjustable Orbiter Device for Knife Receiver Blade Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slicing devices cannot efficiently switch between circular and sickle blades due to different drive principles, leading to lengthy conversion times when changing between blade types.

Innovation Solution

A blade holder with an adjustable orbiter device that allows for independent control of planetary orbital movement and self-rotation, enabling easy switching between circular and sickle blades without significant changeover times, and featuring a variable radius for accommodating different blade sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the knife holder is designed for planetary circulation to accommodate circular blades, then circular blades can be mounted, but sickle blades cannot be fitted without further ado

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade type compatibilityVSAvoidknife holder configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The orbiter device is made adjustable between a working position for planetary circulation with circular blades and a rest position for stationary operation with sickle blades. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same knife holder to accommodate different blade types by changing the operational state of the orbiter device, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The knife holder is designed with universal capability to accept both circular blades and sickle blades through the adjustable orbiter device. The receiving head and drive mechanism can accommodate different blade types by switching the orbiter device between working and rest positions, eliminating the need for separate knife holders for each blade type.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the knife holder is designed without planetary circulation for sickle blades, then sickle blades can be mounted, but circular blades cannot be easily mounted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade type compatibilityVSAvoidknife holder configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The orbiter device transitions from a fixed design to a dynamic one that can be positioned in either a rest position for sickle blades or a working position for circular blades. This allows the knife holder to adapt its configuration based on the required blade type, maintaining simplicity for each specific blade type while achieving versatility overall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the orbiter device is fixed in working position for continuous planetary movement, then circular blades achieve required orbital motion, but conversion to sickle blade operation requires significant changeover time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidconversion time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The orbiter device is designed with quick-adjust capability between working and rest positions, allowing rapid conversion between circular and sickle blade operations. This dynamic adjustment mechanism minimizes conversion time while maintaining the required planetary orbital motion for circular blades during cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The knife holder is pre-configured with the orbiter device in a position that allows quick transition to the required state. The receiving head and associated mechanisms are designed to accommodate both blade types, so when blade replacement is needed, the orbiter device can be quickly repositioned without requiring significant reconfiguration or changeover time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the orbiter device is fixed in rest position for stationary operation, then sickle blade rotation is sufficient, but circular blades cannot achieve the required planetary orbital movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade operation simplicityVSAvoidblade type functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The orbiter device provides a rest position for simple stationary operation with sickle blades, maintaining ease of operation. When circular blades are required, the same orbiter device can be adjusted to the working position to provide the necessary planetary orbital movement, thus achieving both operational simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3762194B1Knife receiver for an apparatus for slicing food products
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 GEA FOOD SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3762194B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3762194B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4c
  • EP3762194B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6b

AI summary

The invention relates to a knife receiver (1) for an apparatus (26) for slicing food products (37), in particular a high-performance slicer, having a receiving head (3) for receiving a cutting knife (34; 35), a rotation device (2) for rotating the receiving head (3) about a knife axis, and an orbiter device (16) which is provided to move the receiving head (3) on a circular path, wherein the orbiter device (16) is displaceable between a working position, in which the orbiter device (16) moves the receiving head (3) on the circular path, and a rest position, in which the orbiter device (16) fixes the receiving head (3) on a fixed point of the circular path. The invention further relates to an apparatus (36) for slicing food products (37) having said knife receiver (1), and to a method for operating the apparatus.