The Design of a Combination Food Cutter for Home and Restaurant Use

A combination food cutting machine has been developed for use in homes and small restaurants. Preliminary examination of the consumer market suggested the need for an improved small size combination food cutting machine. Subsequent consumer surveys were made which verified this demand. Consumer, manufacturer, and distributor surveys were made to determine the specific features that a cutting machine should embody in order to meet the widest consumer acceptance in the market. The development of a design that would best meet the market requirements included research into the principles of cutting food, examination of competitive products, and a study of materials and processes. The final design evolved from detailed consideration of all of these factors. Meat chopping, vegetable slicing, and ice chipping operations are incorporated into this design. The unit is assembled with a crank for hand operation or with a motor for power driven operation. The body of the machine is made of aluminum. This material reduces the weight of the unit and in addition provides a model that may be sold at a lower price - as a protective surface coating is not a functional requirement. For a slightly higher price a surface coating of baked white enamel with chromium trim may be provided.