High Speed Slicer Product Feed Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed slicing methods face challenges in maintaining cut quality due to idle cut phases, where the product feed is repeatedly stopped and started, leading to irregularities and static friction issues that result in reduced cutting quality.

Innovation Solution

Conveying the product at a reduced speed during idle cut phases to eliminate the need for repeated acceleration and deceleration, thereby minimizing static friction and maintaining a stable cutting operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the product feed is stopped during idle cut phases to prevent slices from being separated, then the formation of shreds is avoided, but irregularities in product movement occur due to repeated acceleration and deceleration phases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut qualityVSAvoidproduct movement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The product feed continues to convey the product through the cutting plane during idle cut phases, maintaining continuous movement without stopping. This eliminates the repeated acceleration and deceleration phases that cause irregularities in product movement while still allowing the cutting blade to perform blank cuts for portion separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting blade is dynamically positioned at different distances from the product during idle cut phases. By adjusting the blade position rather than stopping the feed, the system maintains product movement stability while achieving the purpose of blank cuts for portion separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the product feed is restarted after idle cut phases, then slicing continues, but static friction resistance temporarily opposes the driving components causing irregularities in product feed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidcut quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The product feed operates continuously without stopping during idle cut phases, eliminating the static friction problem that arises when the feed is restarted. The continuous conveyance maintains stable product movement and consistent cut quality throughout the slicing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If the cutting blade is pulled back from the front end of the product during blank cuts to prevent shreds, then the formation of shreds is avoided, but the distance between the blade and product must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut qualityVSAvoidblade position control
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blade is dynamically adjusted to different positions relative to the product during idle cut phases. The blade can be positioned at a distance from the product front end during blank cuts and then returned to the cutting position, with the continuous product feed maintaining stable operation throughout the position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2335888B1method for cutting food products
Publication Date: 2015.09.23 WEBER FOOD TECHNOLOGY SE & CO KG
  • EP2335888B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2335888B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2335888B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device comprises a product supply unit (11), which is formed to supply a product (17) to be cut along a feed direction (R) to a cutting plane (S), in which a cutting knife (19) moves, particularly in a rotating or revolving motion. The product supply unit is formed to supply the product along the feed direction during the air cut phase. An independent claim is also included for a method for cutting open of food products, particularly high speed slicer.