Removable Cutting Tool Housing With Auxiliary Mounting Guide

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting apparatuses face challenges in easily and safely installing or removing cutting tools, and achieving accurate positioning of these tools for cutting food products into slices, strips, or dices.

Innovation Solution

A cutting apparatus with a removable cutting tool housing and an auxiliary mounting system that facilitates easy installation and removal of cutting tools, featuring guide means for guiding the housing between use and predefined positions, and a fixing mechanism for precise adjustment of the slice guide with respect to the slicing knife.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cutting tools are permanently fixed to the cutting apparatus, then structural stability is improved, but ease of installation and removal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of installation and removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool housing is segmented from the main cutting apparatus body, allowing it to be removed as a separate unit. The housing contains all cutting tools (slicing knife, circular cutter, cross cutter) mounted on a common structure that can be detached from the feed drum assembly, enabling easy installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting tools are pre-mounted and secured within the cutting tool housing before the housing is attached to the cutting apparatus. This preliminary assembly allows the entire tool set to be installed as a single unit, simplifying the installation process and ensuring proper positioning before operation begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If cutting tools are made removable for easy maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool housing is segmented from the main cutting apparatus body, allowing it to be removed as a separate unit. The housing contains all cutting tools (slicing knife, circular cutter, cross cutter) mounted on a common structure that can be detached from the feed drum assembly, enabling easy installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a mechanical mounting system with standardized interfaces between the cutting tool housing and the cutting apparatus. The housing includes mounting features that align with corresponding features on the apparatus, providing repeatable positioning accuracy upon reinstallation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If multiple cutting tools are integrated into a single housing, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of individual tool replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidindividual tool replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool housing is segmented from the main cutting apparatus body, allowing it to be removed as a separate unit. The housing contains all cutting tools (slicing knife, circular cutter, cross cutter) mounted on a common structure that can be detached from the feed drum assembly, enabling easy installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing provides localized support and positioning features for each cutting tool, with each tool having its own mounting interface and adjustment mechanism within the housing. This allows individual tools to be replaced or adjusted independently while maintaining the integrated structure of the housing assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250091241A1Cutting apparatus with auxiliary mounting system for cutting tool housing

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 PALM

AI summary

A cutting apparatus for cutting product into slices, strips or dices. The cutting apparatus comprises a feed drum wherein the product is moved towards a peripheral opening and a set of cutting tools mounted at the peripheral opening. The set of cutting tools comprises a slicing knife, a slice guide, and optionally a circular cutter and/or a cross cutter. At least a subset of the cutting tools is mounted on a removable cutting tool housing. The cutting apparatus further comprises an auxiliary mounting system for supporting the removable cutting tool housing upon installation on and removal from the cutting apparatus. The auxiliary mounting system comprises guide means which are provided for guiding the removable cutting tool housing between a first position and a second position, the first position being a use position wherein the housing is mounted adjacent the peripheral opening in the drum and the second position being a predefined position on the guide means wherein the housing is spaced from the drum and can be removed from the guide means.