Pivoting Blade Assembly to Prevent Food Slicing Shrapnel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicing systems produce unwanted shrapnel and scrap due to food bulging or flowing during dwell times, leading to hygiene issues, mechanical clogging, and material loss, and require complex and expensive linear mechanisms to address this.
Innovation Solution
A pivoted blade assembly that reciprocally moves relative to the food product, creating a gap during non-cutting times to prevent contact and using a servomotor and linkage system for controlled pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blade continues to rotate during dwell time, then the blade remains ready for immediate cutting, but food product contacts the spinning blade and produces shrapnel and scrap
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is made dynamically movable relative to the food product through a pivoting mechanism. During dwell time, the blade pivots away from the food product to prevent contact, while during cutting operations it pivots back into position. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt between readiness and contact prevention modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly pivots away from the food product during dwell time before the next cutting operation begins. This preliminary repositioning action prevents food contact and shrapnel production in advance, preparing the system for the next cut without contamination.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If linear mechanisms are used to retract the blade away from the food product, then contact during dwell time is prevented, but the structural arrangement becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex linear retraction mechanisms that move the blade parallel to its rotation axis, this invention inverts the approach by pivoting the entire blade assembly on a transverse axis. This perpendicular pivoting motion achieves the same separation function with a simpler mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting mechanism serves multiple functions: it retracts the blade during dwell time to prevent shrapnel, and simultaneously positions the blade for cutting operations. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate linear retraction mechanisms.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the blade is moved away from the food product during dwell time, then shrapnel production is prevented, but additional mechanical components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is merged with a pivoting mechanism that combines the retraction function with the existing blade support structure. The pivot shaft integrates the movement function into the blade mounting system, eliminating the need for separate complex linkages and rails.
Data Source
AI summary
A food slicing system having a main frame includes a blade reciprocating assembly, which further includes a support frame, a rotating cutting blade mounted to the support frame, a motor mounted on the support frame, and a support shaft operatively coupled to the main frame at opposite ends thereof. The support shaft is coupled to an upper portion of the support frame and is configured to support the support frame and permit pivotal movement of the support frame. A drive shaft is operatively coupled to the main frame and is rotationally driven by an actuator. A plurality of linkage elements are configured to operatively couple the drive shaft to a lower portion of the support frame, where the linkage elements reciprocally move the blade reciprocating assembly between a slicing position and a clearance position, and where the support frame pivots about the support shaft during the reciprocal movement.