V-Shaped Cutting Element Arrangement for Citrus Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for cutting citrus fruits into smooth slices are overly complex and expensive due to intricate lever mechanisms and complicated cleaning assemblies, making them difficult for users to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A device with a pressure part and V-shaped cutting element arrangement in a knife block, featuring straight and elongated cutting elements with non-aligned edges, allowing for efficient chopping with a single lever movement, and a gear mechanism for up and down movement, along with a collecting tray safety device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex lever mechanism is used to cut citrus fruits into smooth slices, then the cutting quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is divided into multiple independent cutting elements (blades) arranged in a specific pattern, each performing a portion of the cutting task. This segmentation allows the complex cutting action to be distributed across multiple simple blade elements rather than requiring a single complex lever mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining cutting quality
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting elements are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration within the knife block, with blades positioned at different heights and angles. This spatial arrangement allows the cutting action to occur across multiple dimensions simultaneously, achieving smooth slice cutting through the combined action of multiple simple blades rather than a complex single-plane lever mechanism
2Ease of operation
If a complicated cleaning assembly is provided for parts contacting citrus fruits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation and assembly simplicity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element arrangement is designed to be extractable from the knife block as a separate assembly. This allows the cutting elements to be removed for cleaning or replacement without disassembling the entire device, simplifying the cleaning process while maintaining effective cleaning capability. The cutting elements can be taken out, cleaned separately, and reinserted without complex procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The knife block is designed with universal features that accommodate multiple cutting element configurations and allow for easy insertion and removal. The same knife block structure serves both as the mounting mechanism and as the cleaning facilitator, eliminating the need for separate complex cleaning assemblies while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
3Productivity
If expensive cutting element arrangements are used, then cutting performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting elements are designed as simple, replaceable blades that can be manufactured at low cost. Rather than using expensive, complex, or proprietary cutting elements, the invention employs straightforward blade designs that can be produced economically and replaced when worn, maintaining cutting performance while minimizing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting performance is optimized through careful arrangement and geometry of simple cutting elements rather than through expensive materials or complex designs. By adjusting parameters such as blade angle, spacing, and configuration in the V-shaped arrangement, high cutting performance is achieved using inexpensive blade components
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~9
AI summary
The present invention presents an arrangement of cutting elements (1) for cutting up fruit, in particular citrus fruit, with a device (15) which uses the movement of a lever to cut up a whole fruit into smooth individual slices, which are accommodated in a container provided for them in the housing of the device. The arrangement of cutting elements (1) comprises a cutter block (8), in which essentially straight, elongated cutting elements (2, 3) arranged in a V-shaped manner in relation to one another and a cutting element (5) lying transversely thereto are arranged. The fruit to be cut up is pressed by a thrust part (16, 17) onto the arrangement of cutting elements (1) by transferring the force of a lever arm (19).