Slicing Machine Rear Wall Gap and Transparency Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slicing machines lack optimal occupational safety, hygiene, and ease of cleaning due to inadequate rear wall designs that obstruct visibility, are mechanically unstable, and require manual intervention into the danger zone, compromising both safety and hygiene.

Innovation Solution

A slicing machine design featuring a partially transparent rear wall with a gap height of 2-15 mm, secured by multiple screws or studs, and hollow tapered spacers for improved cleaning, along with an ergonomic handle system that eliminates the need for manual reach into the cutting area, enhancing visibility and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the carriage rear wall is made opaque for safety, then operator protection is improved, but visibility of the material to be cut deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoccupational safetyVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The carriage rear wall is made transparent instead of opaque, allowing optical transmission. This enables the operator to see through the rear wall to monitor the material being cut while maintaining safety protection, directly resolving the contradiction between safety and visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the carriage rear wall is rigidly connected to the support plate for stability, then mechanical stability is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the carriage rear wall and support plate is segmented into discrete fastening points using screws or studs, rather than a continuous rigid connection. This segmentation creates accessible gaps for cleaning while maintaining sufficient mechanical stability through the distributed fastening points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fastening elements (screws or studs) are introduced as intermediary components between the carriage rear wall and support plate. These intermediaries provide mechanical connection while allowing access for cleaning tools to reach the interface area, resolving the contradiction between stability and cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the gap between carriage rear wall and support plate is reduced for compactness, then device compactness is improved, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gap between the carriage rear wall and support plate is optimized to a specific size range (2-15 mm) that provides different qualities in different aspects: small enough to maintain compactness but large enough to allow cleaning tools to access and effectively clean the interface area, preventing dirt accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If manual intervention is allowed for operation, then ease of operation is improved, but occupational safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidoccupational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent carriage rear wall acts as an intermediary barrier that separates the operator from the cutting danger zone while allowing visual monitoring. This enables the operator to maintain a safe distance while still observing the cutting process, resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2380714B1Disc cutting machine with gap between rear carriage wall and base plate
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 BIZERBA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2380714B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2380714B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2380714B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The electrical operating disk cutter (10) has a cutter mounted in a machine housing (11), and has a circular knife (12) rotating in a cutting level. An even wall section (14a) is provided with a light distance from a bearing surface (13a) of a supporting plate (13) and is fixed at the supporting plate at by a mounting device.