BE1028535A1 - BREAD SLICER AND PUSH FOR BREAD SLICER - Google Patents

Abstract

Bread slicer and pusher for a bread slicer with a blade assembly (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other. The invention is characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two elongated pushing zones (9,10) to push the bread (11,12) during its cutting towards the set of blades (4), the longitudinal direction of the thrust zones (9,10) being substantially parallel and these zones (9,10) extending one above the other, while an upper thrust zone (10), located at -above a lower thrust zone (9), projects with respect to this lower thrust zone (9).

Description

The invention relates to a bread slicer with a loading compartment for receiving bread to be cut. The slicer comprises a set of blades comprising oblong blades arranged substantially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in a reciprocating movement along their longitudinal direction. This set of blades is intended for cutting a bread into slices and cooperates with a pusher which makes it possible to push the bread in a direction of travel from the loading compartment through the set of blades towards an exit table. The set of blades extends along a plane which is arranged between the loading compartment and the exit table in order to cut the bread into slices.

Such a slicer normally includes a bread press which allows a pushing force to be exerted on the top side of the bread to be cut as it passes through the blade assembly. Due to the back and forth movement of the blades, the bread tends to follow this movement which generates poor quality slices of bread, which are, for example, jagged or torn, and/or irregularly cut slices of bread . By the presence of the bread press, the bread is pressed against the bottom of the loading compartment when it crosses the set of blades by the action of the pusher. So the bread press ensures that the bread moves only in said direction of movement.

Indeed, the quality of a loaf cut depends on the ratio between the height of the loaf and the height of the pusher. When a rather small loaf is cut whose height is less than the height of the pusher, the bread press rests on the pusher instead of pressing on the top side of the loaf as the loaf passes through the blade assembly. Consequently, the quality of the cut of this bread is not good since the bread is not held against the bottom of the loading compartment by the bread press.

The invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a pusher and a bread slicer which make it possible to cut loaves of different sizes. Thus, the bread slicer can cut large loaves and rolls into slices with a good quality cut.

To this end, the pusher has at least two thrust zones to push the bread, during its cutting, towards the set of blades. These thrust zones extend one above the other and facing the blade assembly. The distance between the set of blades and a lower thrust zone is greater than the distance between this set of blades and a thrust zone located above this lower thrust zone. Advantageously, the aforementioned thrust zones extend substantially vertically. According to an interesting embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the pushing zones of the pusher have successive slots extending substantially vertically to allow the blades to pass through these slots when the pusher is moved towards the exit table. and to allow the thrust areas of the pusher to be moved through the blade assembly.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the pusher comprises a clamping surface which extends between said thrust zones and which makes it possible to clamp a loaf to be cut, the height of which is less than the height of the pusher, against the bottom of the loading compartment when this bread passes through the set of blades by the action of the pusher.

The invention also relates to a pusher for a bread slicer with a loading compartment for receiving a bread to be cut and with a set of blades comprising oblong blades arranged substantially parallel to each other and able to be driven according to a movement of back and forth in their longitudinal direction. This pusher is characterized in that it has at least two elongated pushing zones to push the bread during its cutting towards the set of blades. The longitudinal directions of the thrust zones are substantially parallel to each other and these zones extend one above the other. An upper push zone, which is located above a lower push zone, projects in relation to this lower push zone.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of non-limiting example, of some particular embodiments of the slicer and the pusher, according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings. .

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bread slicer according to an interesting embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a schematic view of a pusher according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a cross section of the pusher of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a set of blades and an outlet table of a slicer, according to one embodiment of the invention, after a large loaf to be cut has been introduced into the loading compartment.

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, when the bread is advanced towards the set of blades by the action of the pusher.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figures 4 and 5, when the bread passes through the blade assembly.

Figure 7 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a set of blades and an outlet table of a slicer, according to one embodiment of the invention, after a roll to be cut has been introduced into the loading compartment.

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, when the bread is advanced towards the set of blades by the action of the pusher.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figures 7 and 8, when the bread passes through the blade assembly.

Figure 10 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a set of blades and an exit table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when a roll is pushed towards the set of blades by a pusher comprising three push zones.

Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 10, after the thrust zones and the bread have passed through the blade assembly.

Figure 12 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a set of blades and an exit table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when a large loaf is pushed towards the set of blades by a pusher comprising three thrust zones.

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12, after the thrust zones and the bread have passed through the blade assembly.

Figure 14 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a set of blades and an exit table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when another roll is pushed towards the set of blades by a pusher comprising three thrust zones.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, after the push zones and bread have passed through the blade assembly.

In the various figures, the same reference numerals relate to similar or identical elements.

The invention generally relates to a bread slicer and a pusher for such a slicer. To cut a bread into slices, it is placed on the bottom of a loading compartment of the slicer. Then the bread is pushed by the pusher through a set of blades to an outfeed table from where the cut bread is picked up by the consumer.

A first embodiment of the slicer and the pusher, according to the invention, is shown schematically in Figures 1 to 3. The slicer comprises a frame 1 having a loading compartment 2 for receiving a loaf to be cut. To cut a bread into slices, the bread is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 of the slicer. A set of 4 blades extends directly next to this 2 compartment and allows the bread to be cut into slices.

The set of blades 4 comprises a succession of oblong blades 5 arranged substantially parallel to each other and can be driven in a back and forth movement in their longitudinal direction. Preferably, the blades 5 of the set of blades 4 each extend along a vertical plane. The set of blades 4 defines a plane which extends perpendicular to the blades 5 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of these blades 5.

In the loading compartment 2 a pusher 6 is arranged which is driven to enable the bread to be cut to be pushed from the loading compartment 2 through the set of blades 4 towards an exit table 7. The set of blades 4 is therefore arranged between the loading compartment 2 and the outfeed table 7.

A bread to be sliced is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 between the pusher 6 and the set of blades 4.

The pusher 6 extends, preferably, over the entire width of the loading compartment 2 and parallel to the plane defined by the set of blades 5 Æ The pusher 6 can be driven in the direction of movement of the bread in order to push the bread through the set of blades 4. Preferably, the front side of the pusher 6 directed towards the set of blades 4 has elongated and parallel recesses or slots 8 in which the blades 5 of the set of blades 4 can be accommodated . Thus, the front side of the pusher 6 can pass beyond the blade assembly 4, as illustrated, for example, in Figures 6 and 9, to push the cut bread through the blade assembly 4.

The direction of bread movement is generally parallel to the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 and/or parallel to the side faces of the blades 5 which are part of the assembly of blades 4.

According to the invention, the pusher has at least two thrust zones 9 and 10 to push the bread during its cutting towards the set of blades 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Each thrust zone 9 and 10 defines, for example, a surface of the pusher by which the pusher can push against a loaf in order to make it pass through the assembly of blades 4. This surface can be substantially flat, but can also be curved in order to, for example, be adapted to the curvature of the bread.

The thrust zones 9 and 10 extend one above the other and facing the set of blades 4. The distance between the set of blades 4 and a lower thrust zone 9 is greater than the distance between this set of blades 4 and the thrust zone 10 located above this lower thrust zone 9. Therefore, the upper thrust zone 10 projects with respect to the lower thrust zone 9. The zones of thrust 9 and 10 are elongated and the longitudinal directions of these thrust zones 9 and 10 are substantially parallel to each other.

In the bread slicer shown in Figure 1, the thrust zones 9 and 10 extend substantially parallel to the plane defined by the set of blades 4. It is clear to those skilled in the art that it is also possible that the thrust zones 9 and 10 are inclined with respect to the plane of the set of blades. Thus, the thrust zones 9 and 10 can, in general, be inclined with respect to the vertical and/or with respect to the horizontal.

According to a simple embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the thrust zones 9 and 10 extend substantially vertically.

As already indicated above, the thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6 have successive slots 8 extending substantially vertically to allow the blades 5 to pass through these slots 8 when the pusher 6 is moved towards the exit table. 7. Thus, it is possible to move the thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6 through the set of blades 4.

The presence of several thrust zones 9 and 10 on a single pusher 6 makes it possible to cut loaves of different sizes with this same pusher 6 in the same slicer. FIG. 3 schematically shows, in broken line, a large loaf 11 and a small loaf 12. The large loaf 11 has a height which is greater than or equal to the height of the pusher 6, in particular greater than the level of the upper thrust zone 10. The height of the bun 12 is lower than the height of the pusher

6.

As illustrated by FIG. 3, when a large loaf 11 is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2, this loaf 11 is pushed by the upper thrust zone 10 of the pusher 6 towards the set of blades 4 in order to cut this bread 11 in slices. When a roll 12 is placed in the loading compartment 2 to be cut into slices, when the pusher 6 moves, this loaf 12 is driven by the lower thrust zone 9 of the pusher 6.

A clamping surface 13 extends between the two successive thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6. This clamping surface 13 makes it possible to clamp the roll 12 against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 when this roll 12 is moved by the advancement of the pusher 6. The clamping surface 13 comes into contact with the upper side of the roll 12. Thus, the bread 12 is held between this surface 13 and the bottom 3 when it passes through the set of blades 4. This prevents the bread 12 from undergoing a repetitive vertical movement following the to-and-fro movement of the blades 5 when the bread 12 passes through the set of blades 4. Thus, it is ensured that slices are obtained with a cutting surface of good quality.

Figures 4 to 6 schematically show successive steps when slicing a bun 12 by the slicer.

Figure 4 shows that a bread 12 to be cut has been placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 between the set of blades 4 and the pusher 6. This pusher 6 comprises two thrust zones 9 and 10 which are arranged l one above the other. The distance between the set of blades 4 and the upper thrust zone 10 is less than the distance between this set of blades 4 and the lower thrust zone 9. The thrust zones 9 and 10 are interconnected via a surface of clamping 13. This clamping surface 13 is provided to clamp the roll 12 to be cut against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2. After the insertion of the bread 12 into the loading compartment 2, the pusher 6 is driven and moved towards the set of blades as indicated by the arrow

14. The slicer shown in Figures 4 to 6 includes a bread press which is provided to exert a vertical pushing force on the top side of the bread as it is pushed through the blade assembly 4 by the pusher 6. Such a bread press 15 is known to those skilled in the art and comprises, for example, a metal plate which extends through the blade assembly above the bread to be cut 12. This plate has slots at through which the blades 5 extend. Figure 5 shows that the presence of a bread press 15 is not useful when a roll 12 must be cut whose height is less than the height of the pusher 6. In such a case, the bread press 15 comes into contact with the upper side of the pusher 6 and therefore cannot exert a vertical pushing force on the upper side of the bread 12. In order to remedy this problem, which occurs when cutting a bun 12, the pusher 6, according to the invention, comprises said clamping surface 13. As illustrated by FIG. 5, this clamping surface 13 makes it possible to exert a pushing force on the upper side of the roll 12 in order to clamp it against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2. Therefore, when the pusher 6 pushes against the lateral side of the bread 12 by means of said lower pushing zone 9 in order to cause the bread 12 to pass through the set of blades 4, the surface of clamp 13 simultaneously exerts a pushing force on the upper side of the bread 12 to press it against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2. The pusher 6 is advanced until the bread 12 has completely passed through the set of blades 4 and, therefore, until the bread is sliced , as shown in Figure 6. To this end, the thrust zones 9 and 10 and the clamping surface 13 have successive slots 8 extending substantially vertically at positions corresponding to those of the blades 5 to allow the thrust zones 9 and 10 and clamping surface 13 to pass through blade assembly 4.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the clamping surface 13 extends substantially horizontally. It is clear that it is also possible that this clamping surface 13 is inclined by a few degrees with respect to the horizontal. This inclination can, for example, be between 0° and 35°.

Figures 7 to 9 schematically show successive steps when cutting a large loaf 11 into slices by the slicer which is also shown in Figures 4 to 6. The height of the large loaf 11 is greater than the height of the pusher 6. Thus, the bread press exerts a pushing force on the upper side of the large loaf 11 and the loaf is therefore held against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 when the latter moves through the set of blades 4, as the shown in Figure 8. The pusher 6, which is moved towards the blade assembly 4, pushes against the bread 11 by means of the upper pushing zone 10.

Figures 10 to 15 show a bread slicer with a pusher 6 having three thrust zones 9, 10 and 16. Between the successive thrust zones, a clamping surface is provided. Thus, the pusher 6 of Figures 10 to 15 comprises two clamping surfaces 13 and 17.

According to the invention, the distance between the upper thrust zone 16 of the pusher 6 and the set of blades 4 is less than the distance between the set of blades 4 and the two other thrust zones 9 and 10 which extend below the upper thrust zone 16. The intermediate thrust zone 10, which extends between the upper thrust zone 16 and the lower thrust zone 9, extends at a distance from the set of blades 4 which is greater than that between the lower thrust zone 9 and the set of blades 4.

Thus, the upper thrust zone 16 projects from the intermediate thrust zone 10, which itself projects from the lower thrust zone 9 which extends close to the bottom 3 of the loading compartment.

2.

The cutting of a small loaf 12 or 18, the height of which is less than the height of the pusher 6, is illustrated in figures 10 and 11, respectively figures 14 and 15. Figures 12 and 13 show the cutting of the large loaf 11.

The embodiment of the slicer shown in Figures 10 to 15 does not include a bread press, but it goes without saying that such a bread press can be provided.

Each thrust zone is elongated and has a longitudinal direction which preferably extends horizontally and preferably parallel to the plane defined by the set of blades 4.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the different embodiments described above, but that still other variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention, in particular as regards, for example , the inclination of the clamping surfaces 13 or the thrust zones 9 and 10.

Thus, the clamping surface 13 can extend substantially horizontally, but it can also be inclined with respect to the horizontal.

The longitudinal direction of the clamping surface 13 and the thrust zones 9 and 10 extends generally parallel to the bottom 3 of the load compartment 2.

The invention is characterized, in particular, by the presence of a pusher 6 which can exert a pushing force on a loaf to be cut in the direction of movement 14 and which can, in addition, exert a vertical pushing force on the upper side of buns with a height lower than the height of the pusher.

In the figures, the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 and the exit table 7 extend along a horizontal plane. It is also possible that the bottom 3 and the exit table 7 are inclined with respect to the horizontal so that a loaf which is moved along said direction of movement 14 goes up or down. This direction of movement 14 extends parallel to the bottom 3 and is therefore also inclined with respect to the horizontal. In such a case, the bread is moved up or down when being cut.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the bottom 3 and/or the exit table 7 to be inclined with respect to a direction extending perpendicular to the direction of movement 14.

Claims (10)

1. Bread slicer with a loading compartment (2) for receiving a loaf (11,12) to be cut and with a set of blades (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other and which can be driven in a to-and-fro movement along their longitudinal direction, this set of blades (4) being intended to cut a bread (11,12) into slices and cooperating with a pusher (6) allowing the bread to be pushed (11,12) in a direction of movement (14) from the loading compartment (2) through the set of blades (4) towards an exit table (7), the set of blades (4) defining a plane and being arranged between the loading compartment (2) and the exit table (7) in order to cut the bread (11,12) into slices, characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two pushing zones (9,10) to push the bread (11,12) during its cutting towards the set of blades (4), these pushing zones (9,10 ) extending one above the other and facing the set of blades (4), the distance between the set of blades (4) and a lower thrust zone (9) being greater than the distance between this set of blades (4) and a thrust zone (10) located above this lower thrust zone (9). 2. Bread slicer according to claim 1, in which the aforesaid thrust zones (9,10) extend substantially parallel to the plane defined by the blades (5) of the set of blades (4). 3. Bread slicer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said thrust zones (9,10) extend substantially vertically. 4. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blades (5) of the set of blades (4) each extend along a vertical plane. 5. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the thrust zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) have successive slots (8) extending substantially vertically to allow the blades (5 ) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher is moved towards the exit table (7) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) to be moved through the set of blades ( 4). 6. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a bread press (15) for exerting a vertical pushing force on the upper side of the bread (11) when the latter is pushed through the set of blades (4) by the pusher (6). 7. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pusher (6) comprises a clamping surface (13) extending between said thrust zones (9,10) to clamp a loaf (12) to cut, the height of which is less than the height of the pusher (6), against the bottom (3) of the loading compartment (2) when this bread (12) passes through the set of blades (4) by the action of the pusher (6). 8. Bread slicer according to claim 7, wherein the clamping surface (13) of the pusher (6) has successive slots (8) extending substantially transversely relative to the plane of the set of blades (4) to to allow the blades (5) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher (6) is moved towards the outfeed table (7) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher to be moved through the set of blades (4). 9. Pusher for a bread slicer with a loading compartment (2) for receiving a loaf (11,12) to be cut and with a set of blades (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other to the others and which can be driven in a to-and-fro movement along their longitudinal direction, this set of blades (4) being intended to cut a loaf (11,12) into slices and cooperating with the pusher (6) making it possible to pushing the bread (11,12) in a moving direction (14) from the loading compartment (2) through the blade assembly (4) to an outfeed table (7), the blade assembly ( 4) being arranged between the loading compartment (2) and the exit table (7) in order to cut the bread (11,12) into slices, characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two thrust zones ( 9,10) elongated to push the bread (11,12) during its cutting towards the set of blades (4), the longitud direction end of the thrust zones (9,10) being substantially parallel and these zones (9,10) extending one above the other, while an upper thrust zone (10), located above above a lower thrust zone (9), projects with respect to this lower thrust zone (9). 10. Pusher according to claim 9, the thrust zones (9,10) of which have successive slots (8) extending substantially vertically to allow the blades (5) of the set of blades (4) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher (6) is moved towards the exit table (7) from the loading compartment (2) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) to be moved to through the blade assembly (4).