U-Shaped Feeding Device for Cutting Machine Carriage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting machines, especially those for domestic use, lack a safe and efficient mechanism for feeding vegetables like cucumbers or tomatoes to the cutting plane, making the process cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped feed device that attaches to the cutting machine's carriage, featuring a tubular feed channel with a non-circular cross-section and a recess for visibility, allowing angled feeding and stable attachment, enabling easy and safe feeding of vegetables to the cutting plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional residue holder is used on the cutting machine, then the structure is simple, but the feeding function is missing and vegetables cannot be safely fed to the cutting plane

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding device integrates multiple functions into a single attachment: it provides a feed channel for guiding vegetables, a U-shaped holding section for secure attachment to the carriage, and a support wall for stability. This multi-functional design enables the cutting machine to safely feed vegetables without requiring separate feeding tools or complex modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the feed device is made wide for stable attachment, then the mounting stability is improved, but the storage space requirement increases and it cannot fit in standard kitchen drawers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoiddevice width
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding device achieves stable mounting not by increasing width, but by utilizing the vertical dimension through a U-shaped holding section that embraces the carriage. The support wall extends downward to rest on the carriage surface, creating stability through vertical engagement rather than horizontal expansion. This allows the device to remain compact in width while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the feed channel has a circular cross-section, then the manufacturing is simple, but the material guidance and rotation prevention is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed channel manufacturingVSAvoidmaterial guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The feed channel cross-section is designed with non-uniform geometry: the lower region features two limbs converging at an angle less than 180° to guide material and prevent rotation, while the upper region maintains a simpler shape for ease of manufacture. This local variation in cross-sectional geometry provides enhanced material control where needed without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3342566B2Feeding device for a cutting machine
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 GEBR GRAEF GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3342566B2 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3342566B2 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3342566B2 patent drawingFigure 9~10

AI summary

Feeding device (5) for a cutting machine, comprising means for feeding material to be cut to a cutting plane of a cutting machine, means for attaching the feeding device (5) to the cutting machine.