Vacuum Support Mechanism for Stable Food Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slicing methods struggle to produce the maximum number of uniform slices from food items with irregular shapes or those lacking a tapered end, leading to waste and reduced yield due to instability and inefficient cutting processes.
Innovation Solution
A slicing system that uses a vacuum support mechanism with a rotating blade and a pressing device, where the food item is initially cut into two portions with flat faces, and one portion is then sliced by an automated slicer using a vacuum-assisted pressing device to ensure uniform thickness and maximize the number of slices generated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional gripper systems are used to hold and advance food items during slicing, then the slicing process can be automated, but the end piece of the food item is not sliced or is sliced to unpredictable thickness, reducing product slice yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical gripper system with a vacuum field-based holding system. The vacuum field is created between the pressing device surface and the food item, eliminating the need for mechanical appendages that physically grip the food. This substitution allows the entire food item including the end piece to be held stable and sliced uniformly, resolving the contradiction between automation and slice yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vacuum pressure (a pneumatic principle) to hold the food item against the pressing device surface during slicing. The vacuum field is generated by a vacuum source connected to the pressing device, creating a pressure differential that secures the food item without mechanical contact. This enables automated slicing while maximizing the number of usable slices from each food item.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional pushing plate systems are used to advance food items toward the rotating blade, then slicing can be performed, but instability occurs with irregularly shaped food items, preventing generation of desired number of uniform slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pushing plate system with a vacuum field-based pressing system. Instead of using a physical plate to push irregularly shaped food items, the vacuum field creates a holding force that stabilizes the food item on the pressing device surface. This eliminates instability issues and enables consistent slice thickness and uniformity throughout the slicing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of how the food item is held and advanced - from mechanical contact forces to vacuum pressure differential. By controlling the vacuum level and pressing force parameters, the system maintains stable positioning of irregularly shaped food items, achieving precise and uniform slicing that was not possible with conventional mechanical systems.
3Productivity
If gripper appendages are positioned close to the end of the food item to maximize slicing length, then more slices can be generated, but the irregular shape of the food item prevents stable positioning, reducing slice quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical gripper appendages with a vacuum field system that distributes holding force across the entire contact surface between the pressing device and food item. This substitution allows the food item to be held stably at any position along its length, including positions that maximize the number of slices, without compromising stability due to irregular shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum field pressing device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it holds the food item stable, advances it through the slicing mechanism, and maintains consistent pressure during slicing. This multi-functionality replaces the separate gripper and pushing mechanisms, enabling maximum slice production while maintaining food item stability throughout the process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the yield of uniform slices by stabilizing the food item during cutting, allowing for the production of the maximum possible number of slices with consistent thickness, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum field is generated between a surface of the pressing device and the food item
Data Source
AI summary
A method of processing a food item that includes moving a food item along a direction towards an automated slicer, wherein prior to the food item being sliced by the automated slicer the food item that is being moved has a length, L, as measured along the direction. The method further includes determining a thickness, T, of a slice of the food item to be generated by the automated slicer and slicing the food item that has the length, L, by the automated slicer so that a maximum possible number, Nmax, of slices of the food item are generated that have the thickness, T.