V-Shaped Blade Mounting Structure to Prevent Rotation in Food Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blade assemblies for cutting food, particularly those with V-shaped blades, face issues with torsional loading and rotation due to repeated impacts, leading to misalignment and inefficiency in high-speed cutting systems, making it costly to replace individual blades frequently.

Innovation Solution

A blade assembly design featuring a blade support frame with strategically positioned blade mounts that inhibit V-shaped blade rotation by overlying both edges of the blade ends, and using removable fasteners or pins to secure the blades, ensuring they remain aligned and functional.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If V-shaped blades are used for high-speed cutting, then cutting efficiency is improved, but the blades are subject to torsional loading and rotation leading to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidblade alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The blade mount adds a dimensional constraint by overlying both edges of the blade, creating a three-dimensional mounting structure that prevents rotation in multiple directions while maintaining the high-speed cutting capability

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

Solution Approach 2:

The blade mount acts as an intermediary element between the blade and the support frame, providing a stable connection that transfers cutting forces while preventing blade rotation and maintaining alignment during high-speed operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If blades are securely fastened to prevent rotation, then blade alignment is maintained, but the complexity of the blade assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade alignmentVSAvoidblade assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade assembly is segmented into modular components (blade, blade mount, support frame) that can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade mount provides localized constraint only at the critical mounting points where rotation prevention is needed, rather than requiring complex constraints throughout the entire blade structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3711912A1Blade assembly for cutting food
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 MCCAIN FOODS
  • EP3711912A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3711912A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3711912A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blade assembly includes a blade support frame, and a plurality of V-shaped blades removably fastened to the blade support frame. The blade support frame has a food flow path extending downstream, and a plurality of blade mounts distributed around the food flow path. Each V-shaped blade has a first end portion connected to one of the blade mounts, a second end portion connected to another of the blade mounts, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion into the food flow path. At the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade, a respective one of the blade mounts overlies both the upstream edge and the downstream edge of the V-shaped blade to inhibit the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food.