Reciprocating Blade Grid for Adaptive Food Chopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation devices are inefficient in chopping vegetables with stiff skins or soft/hard textures, often causing the outer layers to get stuck or the vegetables to be squashed, and lack adaptability for different types of food.
Innovation Solution
The device features orthogonally configured, reciprocally moving blade sets with parallel blades supported by frames, allowing for independent motion along the x and y axes, controlled by an electric motor and pressure sensor to adjust chopping speed and pattern based on user input or pressure detected, ensuring smooth and efficient chopping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If immovable blades are used in a grid configuration, then the device structure is simple, but vegetables with stiff outer layers get stuck on the grid and cannot be chopped completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the blade sets movable rather than immovable. The blade sets are configured to move reciprocally in lateral directions, allowing them to adapt to different vegetable textures and prevent getting stuck on stiff outer layers, thereby improving chopping completeness while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If immovable blades are used in a grid configuration, then the device structure is simple, but soft vegetables get squashed during chopping
Solution Approach 1:
The movable blade sets allow dynamic adjustment during the chopping process. The blades can move laterally to accommodate soft vegetables, preventing them from being squashed while still achieving effective chopping. This resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and preventing vegetable damage.
3Productivity
If reciprocally moving blade sets are used, then chopping efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements reciprocally moving blade sets that can move independently along x and y axes. This dynamic configuration improves chopping efficiency by preventing vegetables from getting stuck and reducing damage. The complexity is managed through a systematic approach with supporting frames and linear rails that guide the motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade sets are designed to handle multiple types of vegetables with different textures (stiff, soft, hard) using the same reciprocating mechanism. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by providing a universal solution that works across various vegetable types without requiring multiple specialized devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pressure sensor and controller are added to adjust blade motion dynamically, then adaptability to different vegetables is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pressure sensor that detects the force applied during chopping and provides feedback to a controller. The controller adjusts the reciprocating motion of the blade sets based on this feedback, enabling the system to adapt to different vegetable textures. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing intelligent adaptability while managing complexity through automated control.
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 efficient chopping of various food types without damaging their integrity, adapting to different textures by dynamically adjusting blade motion and pressure, ensuring faster and more controlled processing.
Implementation Method 1
a force or pressure sensor is provided underneath the linear rail to detect the pressure exerted on the blades sets during the process of food/vegetable chopping
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor that rotates an eccentric cam to produce a linear reciprocal motion
Implementation Method 3
an electric motor that rotates an eccentric cam to produce a linear reciprocal motion
Data Source
AI summary
A smart food chopping or slicing device comprising at least two moveable blade sets arranged in a grid like configuration. In an embodiment, the blade sets are configured orthogonally such that the cutting edges of both the blade sets remain substantially in the same plane. In another embodiment, the movement of one set of blades is independent of the movement of another set of blades. Yet, in another embodiment, said moveable blade sets are configured for lateral reciprocal movement. In a preferable embodiment, the plane of the lateral reciprocal movement of the cutting edges of the blade sets and the plane of the cutting edges of the blade sets are substantially the same or parallel planes. Yet, in another preferable embodiment, the blade sets are removeably mounted on a means capable of providing lateral reciprocal movement to the blade sets.