Single-Beveled Knife Cutting Head for Consistent Food Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slicing machines, such as the Urschel Model CC®, face challenges in producing consistent slice thickness due to compression from double-beveled knives and contamination issues, which affect the precision and quality of sliced food products.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a single-beveled knife clamped using a clamping bar that provides clearance for slices and an impeller assembly with grooved paddles and removable posts to prevent rolling and contamination, respectively, allowing for precise and consistent slicing without the need for double-beveled knives or plastic cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If double-beveled knives are used for slicing, then the slicing capacity is maintained, but product compression increases and slice thickness consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using a single-beveled knife design instead of the conventional double-beveled knives. The single bevel creates an asymmetric cutting geometry that reduces compression on the food product while maintaining slicing capacity, thereby improving slice thickness consistency without sacrificing productivity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic cartridges are used to protect knives from contaminants, then knife damage from contaminants is prevented, but manufacturing precision and slice consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the plastic cartridge component entirely from the knife assembly. By eliminating this intermediary element, the knife is exposed directly to the slicing environment, which actually improves slice consistency by removing the source of variability introduced by the plastic cartridge, while knife protection is maintained through alternative means such as proper knife material selection and maintenance protocols
3Object-affected harmful factors
If gate insert strips are used to allow debris passage, then contamination damage to knives is reduced, but slice thickness precision deteriorates due to incomplete coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gate insert strips from the cutting head design. By eliminating this component, the system achieves complete coverage and precision across the entire cutting surface, as the gate insert strips created gaps and variability in slice thickness. Knife protection from debris is maintained through the robust single-bevel design and appropriate knife material selection
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
The solution minimizes product compression, enhances precision in slice thickness, and prevents damage from contaminants, resulting in improved consistency and quality of sliced food products.
Implementation Method 1
The impeller assembly rotates about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head to deliver round food products radially outward toward the cutting head
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting apparatus having an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller assembly coaxially mounted for rotation within the cutting head to deliver food products radially outward toward the cutting head. The cutting head has at least one knife extending radially inward toward the impeller assembly. The knife has a cutting edge at a radially innermost extremity and a radially outer face that defines a trajectory plane for slices removed from the products by the cutting edge. The knife is clamped to the cutting head with a clamping feature that provides clearance for slices when traveling the trajectory plane of the knife.