Tomato dicing assembly and method of use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cutting tomatoes into uniform cubes in a home kitchen is inefficient and often results in random configurations due to the lack of effective slicing devices suitable for domestic use.
Innovation Solution
A tomato dicing assembly comprising three tubular components - a cutting guide member, a support member, and a spike tube member - that assemble concentrically to hold a tomato, allowing for consistent slicing into cubes using a knife and a pattern of spikes and cutting slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional slicing methods are used, then the process is simple and requires no special devices, but the cutting results in random configurations and inconsistent cube shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into three concentric tubular members (outer tube, middle tube, inner tube), each with specific cutting slots positioned at different orientations. This segmentation allows independent positioning of cutting edges to achieve precise cube formation while keeping each individual tube relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The three tubular members are nested concentrically within each other, with the inner tube containing the middle tube containing the outer tube. This nesting arrangement achieves complex multi-directional cutting functionality while maintaining a compact and simple overall device structure that can be easily stored and used in home kitchens.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual slicing without guidance is used, then the operation is fast and requires no setup, but uniform cubed tomato pieces are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting slots are pre-positioned at specific angles and depths on the three tubular members before use. The spikes on the inner tube are also pre-positioned to impale the tomato at the correct location. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the user simply pushes the tomato through the device, uniform cubes are produced without requiring the user to calculate or measure cutting positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The three tubular members act as intermediaries that guide the knife blade through precise paths. Instead of the user directly controlling the knife position, the cutting slots on the tubes serve as guides that mediate between the user's simple pushing action and the complex multi-directional cutting required to produce uniform cubes.
3Manufacturing precision
If professional food service slicing machines are used, then consistent cubes can be achieved, but the devices are complicated and suitable only for professional contexts
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a simple, inexpensive tool that can be easily manufactured and disposed of or replaced if needed. The three tubular members are basic cylindrical components that can be made from simple materials, avoiding the complex mechanisms, motors, and electronics found in professional machines, making it suitable for home use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is self-contained and requires no external power source, assembly, or complex operation. The three tubular members work together automatically when the tomato is inserted and pushed through, with the cutting slots and spikes performing the cutting function without requiring the user to manually position blades or adjust settings, thus eliminating the need for complex professional-grade mechanisms.
4Productivity
If repeated manual slicing is performed, then more pieces can be obtained, but the process becomes time consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The three tubular members are positioned to create continuous cutting paths in three different orientations. As the tomato is pushed through the device, it is cut simultaneously in multiple directions by the interconnected slots, eliminating the need for repeated stopping, repositioning, and re-cutting that occurs with manual slicing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges three cutting orientations (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal) into a single integrated structure. Instead of performing three separate slicing operations that would require three separate knife movements and repositionings, all three cutting actions are combined into one continuous pushing motion through the nested tubular members, dramatically increasing slicing speed and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A tomato dicing assembly and method for making tomato cubes from a tomato includes a cutting guide member, support member, and spike tube member that each has a tubular shape configuration that fit together concentrically. The cutting guide member includes a tubular wall extending longitudinally between proximal and distal ends, the cutting guide member including a cutting member defining a plurality of first cutting slots and body section defining second cutting slots transverse to the plurality of first cutting slots. The support member includes a continuous side wall defining having a closed upper end defining a plurality of holes spaced apart in a predetermined pattern and an open lower end. The spike tube member has a closed top including a plurality of spikes extending outwardly and are received through the plurality of holes when the spike tube member is received into the support member.