Tensioned Knife Cutting Head for Food Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food cutting equipment often results in surface cracking, through-slice cracking, and increased surface roughness due to the use of conventional clamping hardware, which can lead to issues like increased oil consumption and yield loss in products like potato chips.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus eliminates the need for conventional clamping hardware by tensioning knives to render them sufficiently rigid for cutting, using tensioning means such as rocker arm-type blocks and squeeze blocks to secure the knives without clamps, thereby reducing the rake-off angle and minimizing surface damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clamping hardware is used to secure knives, then the knives are firmly held in place, but surface cracking and through-slice cracking occur due to the radial profile of the clamps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional clamping hardware from the knife assembly. Instead of using clamps that create a radial profile interfering with the food product, the knife is secured through tensioning mechanisms that apply force along the knife's longitudinal axis, eliminating the harmful radial protrusions that cause surface and through-slice cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of securing the knife by clamping it from the sides (radial direction), the invention inverts the approach by securing the knife through longitudinal tensioning. The knife is held firmly by applying tension along its length rather than constraining it radially, which eliminates the harmful effect of clamp protrusions on the food product surface.
2Reliability
If conventional clamping hardware is used to secure knives, then the knives are firmly held in place, but surface roughness increases due to clamp interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional clamping hardware from the knife assembly. Instead of using clamps that create a radial profile interfering with the food product, the knife is secured through tensioning mechanisms that apply force along the knife's longitudinal axis, eliminating the harmful radial protrusions that cause surface and through-slice cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of securing the knife by clamping it from the sides (radial direction), the invention inverts the approach by securing the knife through longitudinal tensioning. The knife is held firmly by applying tension along its length rather than constraining it radially, which eliminates the harmful effect of clamp protrusions on the food product surface.
3Stability of the object's composition
If clamps are used during cutting, then knife stability is maintained, but oil consumption increases and yield is lost due to surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional clamping hardware from the knife assembly. Instead of using clamps that create a radial profile interfering with the food product, the knife is secured through tensioning mechanisms that apply force along the knife's longitudinal axis, eliminating the harmful radial protrusions that cause surface and through-slice cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of securing the knife by clamping it from the sides (radial direction), the invention inverts the approach by securing the knife through longitudinal tensioning. The knife is held firmly by applying tension along its length rather than constraining it radially, which eliminates the harmful effect of clamp protrusions on the food product surface.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus suitable for cutting food product. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller coaxially mounted within the cutting head for rotation about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head. The cutting head has lower and upper structural members, circumferentially-spaced support segments between the lower and upper structural members, and at least one knife assembly located at a perimeter of the cutting head adjacent a corresponding one of the support segments. The knife assembly includes a holder having a slot, a knife partially received within the slot, and tensioning means for inducing a longitudinal tension in the knife.