Slicing Machine Status Display via LED Knob

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Solution Overview

Problem

Slicing machines lack an effective indication of their safe or unsafe state, posing a risk to operators and cleaning staff who may not be aware of the machine's operational status, particularly after business hours when cleaning staff may assume the machine is in a safe state without verification.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a machine status display using light sources, such as dual-light emitting diodes and light guiding structures within a transparent knob, to provide intuitive visual cues about the machine's safety status, including green for safe, flashing red for caution, and red for operational modes, without modifying the machine's surface or affecting hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no machine status display is provided, then the machine structure remains simple and hygiene is maintained, but the safety indication is insufficient and operators cannot recognize hazardous situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety indicationVSAvoidmachine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using light sources that emit different colors (green for safe state, red for unsafe state) to indicate the machine's operational status. This allows operators to quickly recognize the safety state through color-coded visual cues without complex displays or modifications to the machine surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the light source and display mechanism) that mediates between the machine's internal state and the operator's perception. This intermediary provides visual information about the safety state without requiring direct interaction with or modification of the machine's critical components, thereby maintaining hygiene and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the machine surface is modified to display status, then safety indication is improved, but hygiene requirements are compromised and operational integrity is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety indicationVSAvoidhygiene compromise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary display mechanism (light sources mounted on or near the machine but not on the food contact surface) to provide safety information without modifying the machine surface that comes into contact with food. This intermediary approach maintains hygiene by keeping the food contact area uncontaminated while still providing necessary status information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical or physical modifications to the machine surface with an optical system (light sources and optical indicators). This substitution allows status indication through light emission rather than through physical changes to the machine surface, thereby preserving hygiene and operational integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If cleaning staff assume the machine is in safe state without verification, then work efficiency is maintained, but the risk of injury increases due to lack of status awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism through visual indicators that continuously display the machine's safety state. This feedback allows cleaning staff to quickly ascertain whether the machine is in a safe state before beginning cleaning operations, enabling them to make informed decisions about safety without significantly impacting cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses color-coded light indicators (green for safe, red for unsafe) to provide immediate and intuitive status information to cleaning staff. This color-change system enables rapid status recognition without requiring technical knowledge or time for verification, thereby reducing injury risk while maintaining cleaning productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

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

Enhances safety by allowing non-experts to recognize potentially hazardous situations, reducing the risk of injuries through clear and intuitive visual indicators that do not compromise the machine's hygiene or operational integrity.

Implementation Method 1

The machine status display is at least one light source which is integrated in the knob

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

light guiding structures within a transparent knob

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guiding: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS9827689B2Safety illumination for a slicing machine that monitors the state of the blade and stop plate

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 BIZERBA GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A slicing machine for cutting slices of a food product includes a machine housing including a circular blade configured to rotate in a cutting plane, a stop plate configured to be move, by an adjustment device, perpendicular to the cutting plane, a carriage mounted such that it is movable parallel to the cutting plane, and a machine status display for displaying an actual status of the slicing machine.