AU2004237893B2

AU2004237893B2 - Slicing machine for food in slab form

Info

Publication number: AU2004237893B2
Application number: AU2004237893A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael William Agnew
Original assignee: Agnew Engineering Services 2012 Ltd
Current assignee: Agnew Engineering Services (2012) Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-24
Filing date: 2004-12-14
Publication date: 2009-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-14
Also published as: NZ530411A; AU2004237893A1

Description

TITLE: Slicing Machine for Food in Slab Form BACKGROUND 5 Food and in particular baked products such as cakes, slices, sponges and the like, when baked for commercial purposes, are generally baked in slab form; after or during cooling, the slabs are cut into appropriate smaller sizes for subsequent use. While it is known to use mechanical cutting equipment to slice a slab of a firm baked product (such as bagels, bread and the like) into the desired slices, such equipment 10 is generally not satisfactory for softer baked products, especially sponges, because of the comparatively fragile nature of the sponge. Consequently a slab of softer baked product is generally manually cut by using knives. This method of cutting has many disadvantages:- for instance, it is difficult to obtain the desired uniformity in the finished size of the cut pieces through inattention or inability of the operator. In 15 addition, the constant use of knives results in a physical strain on the operator with concomitant physical and other problems arising. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mechanical means which will 20 minimize the known difficulties and allow the slicing of baked products and in particular softer baked products such as slabs of sponge cake to be substantially automated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 Accordingly the invention comprises a baked product slicing machine which includes: a first table having a first work surface; a second table having a second work surface which is oriented at right angles to the first work surface; 30 a first product pusher associated with the first work surface and adapted to have longitudinal reciprocal movement in relation to the first work surface; a second product pusher associated with the second work surface and 35 adapted to have longitudinal reciprocal movement in relation to the second work surface, said reciprocal movement being towards and away from the second work surface; means to reciprocate the first product pusher and the second product pusher; a first set of spaced apart knives associated with the first table and a second set of spaced apart knives associated with the second table, with each knife in a set being located parallel with its contiguous knife; and 5 each product pusher has a leading edge adapted to contact a slab of baked product to be cut, the said leading edge of each product pusher including a plurality of vertical slits which will register with the knives to allow the knives to enter into the slits of the product pusher. 10 Preferably the knives are oriented such that as the slab passes through the knives, the knives exert downward pressure on the slab. Preferably each set of knives is located in a knife frame which is removably attached 15 to the machine. Preferably each knife when located within the frame is in tension. Preferably a safety lid is associated with the second table and preferably a safety 20 interlock is triggered when the lid has been opened to halt operation of the machine. Preferably the machine includes an outfeed table onto which pieces of the cut slab can be discharged from the second table. 25 Preferably the first and second product pushers and the safety lid associated with the second table are separably operable by pneumatic rams. Preferably the first table and the second table include a surface having reduced friction properties. 30 Preferably the first and the second table include longitudinal flanges defining the longitudinal edges of the tables. 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein: 5 Fig. 1 is a view of a typical slicing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of the arrow AA of Fig. 1, illustrating the first work table and the rear of the first product pusher in its retracted position. 10 Fig. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow BB of Fig. 1, illustrating the first product pusher in its extended position. Fig. 4 is a view of part of the machine illustrating the second work table with the 15 safety lid in the open position, with the second product pusher in the fully retracted position. Fig. 5 is a view of part of the machine illustrating the second work table with the safety lid in the open position, with the second product pusher part way between its 20 retracted and extended positions. Fig. 6 is a view of a knife set and a knife set frame. BEST MODE OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION 25 As illustrated in the drawings, the machine includes a frame I which can house the various components such as logic controls 2 for supplying air in controlled sequence to the various pneumatic rams. Although not illustrated in the drawings, a suitable cover may surround the frame. 30 The frame supports a first table 3 and a second table 4 which is .orientated substantially at right angles to the first table 3. As illustrated, the work surface 3a of the first table 3 is substantially co-planar with the work surface 4a of the second table 4 and preferably the work surfaces 3a and 4a are formed with or coated with a suitable friction reducing material as will be known in the art. 35 3 The first table 3 is preferably in the form of a channel, that is, it comprises a flat work surface 3a with opposing longitudinal edges being defined by edge flanges 5 which are preferably readily removable for cleaning and which are preferably fabricated from stainless steel. 5 The first table 3 includes a first product pusher 7 which is arranged so it can have reciprocal longitudinal sliding movement on the work surface 3a between the edge flanges 5. The first product pusher will generally be at least the height of a typical product (not shown in the drawings) to be sliced and is associated with and connected 10 to a pusher mechanism which typically is a reciprocating air ram (not shown in the drawings) which is suitably connected through valve mechanism (not shown in the drawings) to the air controls 2. The first product pusher 7 is arranged to move between the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 2 to an extended position shown in Fig. 3 by appropriate operation of the valve controlling air admission to the pneumatic is ram which operates the first product pusher. The first product pusher 7 has a leading edge 8 which includes a number of slots 9 having spaced apart walls which are substantially perpendicular to the work surface. The slots are preferably of a constant width, but the slots may also be tapered so the 20 throat of the slots is of a greater width than the root of the slots. The second table 4 is essentially the same construction as the first table but is oriented at right angles to the first table 3. The second table 4 includes edge flanges 10 defining its longitudinal edges similar to those of the first table except that a gap 11 25 is formed in the flange 10 at the junction of the first table with the second table. The second table 4 is provided with a second product pusher 21 which is also operated by the air ram through a suitable valve in a manner that the second product pusher can be moved in relation to the work surface 4a with a reciprocal sliding motion 3o between a retracted position and an extended position but in a direction that is at right angles to the direction of travel of the first product pusher. As can be seen from the drawings, the second table communicates with an outfeed table 14 onto which the cut pieces of the product can be discharged as will be hereinafter explained. 4 The machine also includes two sets of cutter knives 12 and 24. Each set of cutter knives includes a plurality of parallel fixed knives 15 and 25 which in use are orientated perpendicularly to the surface of the appropriate table. The knives are preferably manufactured from stainless steel and are held in tension in knife frames 16 5 and 26 respectively. The knife frame 16 consists of a hollow rectangular frame 30 with each blade 15 extending perpendicularly from one longer side 31 of the hollow rectangular frame 30 to the other longer side 32 of the hollow rectangular frame 30, and knife frame 26 has a similar layout. Means may be provided to enable the tension of each individual knife to be adjusted. The knife frame 16 is located at the exit end of 1o the first table 3 adjacent the opening to the second table and is constructed so it can be readily removed from the table for cleaning and adjustment. Preferably the knife frames 16 and 26 support the cutter knives 15 and 25 in the frames in a spaced apart position. Each knife 15 and 25 preferably includes a number of scallops (not shown) formed on the edge which in use will be the leading edge of the knife. 15 The knife frames16 and 26 are removably attached to the table in a manner that the knives will preferably be oriented with a slanting angle to the surface of the table so the knives will tend to exert a downward force on the slab of the product while it is being cut. Means can be provided to enable the angle of the knives to be adjusted in 20 unison. Preferably the machine includes a lid 19 which can be formed, for instance, from clear polycarbonate and is suitably hinged to the frame so in one position it can prevent access to the second table except through the gap 11 in the flange on the edge of the 25 second table 4. As illustrated the lid 19 also includes a prop 20 which preferably is in the form of or attached to an air ram which is operatable through a valve connected to the air controls with safety interlocks so that when the valve is operated to pivot the lid to an open position, operation of the machine is halted. 3o The second product pusher 21 (see Fig. 4) is associated with the lid 19 and with an air ram (not shown in the drawings) in a manner that when the lid 19 is in its lowered position, the second product pusher 21 can move along the second work surface 4a of the second table 4. The second product pusher 21 has a leading edge 22 with slots 23 similar to the slots 9. 35 5 The second set 24 of knives 25 is supported in a second frame 26 located at the exit end of the second table 4. The second frame 26 is preferably of the same construction as the frame 16 for the first set of cutter knives 15. Generally each knife frame 16 and 26 will support the same number of knives and preferably but not s necessarily the knives are spaced apart equally. In operation, a slab of product to be sliced is removed from a cooling tray (not shown in the drawings) and placed on the work surface 3a. If the product is a sponge cake, then preferably the cake is frozen before being placed on the work surface 3a. The 10 cooling tray can then be placed on the outfeed table 14 in an appropriate position so the sliced product can be discharged onto the tray. The air valve is then operated to commence movement of the first product pusher 7 so the leading edge 8 of the pusher will contact the rear of the slab and will move the slab 15 towards the first set 12 of cutter knives 15. When the slab contacts the first set 12 of cutter knives 15, the slab will pass through the set of knives and because of the orientation of the knives, as the slab passes the knives, it will tend to be pushed downwards onto the work surface 3a of the first table and thereby maintain the slab in the optimum position for slicing. 20 The product pusher will continue to advance the slab through the knives and when the trailing edge of the slab has passed through the knives, the knives will enter into the slots 9 in the product pusher. This will enable the product pusher to push the sliced slab completely onto the work surface 4a of the second work table 4. Once in this 25 position, the second product pusher 13 is automatically operated to move from its retracted position to contact the slab now resting on the work surface 4a. Continued forward movement of the second product pusher will move the slab to contact and then to pass through the second set 24 of knives. This movement of the second product pusher will continue until the slab has passed completely through the knives 3o and have entered the slots 23 of the product pusher and when in this position, all the cut pieces of the slab will discharge onto the outfeed table 14. It will be understood that the operation of the first and second product pushers can be automated in a manner that once the slab to be sliced has been correctly orientated on 35 the first work surface 4a, an appropriate valve or switch can be moved to start the 6 cycle which will be completed when the sliced slab has been deposited on the outfeed table. Various interlocks and other safety features can also be incorporated to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the machine. 5 Preferably also the machine, or at least those parts of the machine that may come into contact with the product to be sliced, are formed of a non-corrosive material such as stainless steel and the various parts are so manufactured that the component parts of the machine can be readily dismantled for cleaning. 10 Having described preferred methods of putting the invention into effect, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, that modifications and amendments to various features and items can be effected and yet still come within the general concept of the invention. It is to be understood that all such modifications and amendments are intended to be included within the scope of the 15 present invention. 7

Claims

1. A baked product slicing machine which includes: 5 a first table having a first work surface; a second table having a second work surface which is oriented at right angles to the first work surface 10 a first product pusher associated with the first work surface and adapted to have longitudinal reciprocal movement in relation to the first work surface, said reciprocal movement being towards and away from said second work surface; 15 a second product pusher associated with the second work surface and adapted to have longitudinal reciprocal movement in relation to the second work surface; means to reciprocate the first product pusher and the second product pusher; 20 a first set of spaced apart knives associated with the first table and a second set of spaced apart knives associated with the second table with each knife in a set being located parallel with its contiguous knife 25 and each product pusher has a leading edge adapted to contact a slab of baked product to be cut, the said leading edge of each product pusher including a plurality of vertical slits which will register with the knives to allow the knives to enter into the slits of the product pusher; wherein said knives are oriented such that as the slab passes through the knives, the knives exert downward 30 pressure on the slab.

2. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set of knives is located in a knife frame which is removably attached to the machine. 8

3. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein each knife when located within the frame is in tension.

4. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 which includes an outfeed table onto which pieces of the cut slab can be discharged from the second table.

5. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a safety lid is associated with the second table. 10

6. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the safety lid includes a safety interlock triggered when the lid has been opened to halt operation of the machine. 15

7. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the first and second product pushers and the safety lid associated with the second table are separably operable by pneumatic rams.

8. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, 20 wherein the first table and the second table include a surface having reduced friction properties.

9. The baked product slicing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first and the second table include longitudinal flanges defining 25 the longitudinal edges of the tables.

10. The baked product slicing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings. 9