FR2596683A1 - Multipurpose cutter of the type with a cutting wire or strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device consisting of two parallel spools 2 connected by a tensioned steel wire 1 in which purely the rotation of the spools 2 ensures both its translation and its displacement in a plane following its helical winding onto one of the spools 2 of the pair and its simultaneous unwinding from the other. Each spool 2 is endowed with a wire guide 4 to which it is mechanically linked so as synchronously to follow the effective lateral displacement of the wire 1. Its function is twofold: keeping the wire 1 on its envisaged path and possibly transmitting a low-voltage current to it so as to heat it over its active section. This heated wire 1 is suitable for cutting frozen matter and also for cutting blocks of expanded polystyrene. In order to slice meat and ham it is replaced by a steel strip 16 sharpened on one or both edges. In the case of the latter use, the spools 14 comprise grooves serving as housings and protection for the steel strip. Another application is cutting wood (thin sticks) and plastic which necessitates toothed strips. With special teeth, frozen foodstuff can be cut when cold.

Description

Meat or ham slicers known on the market use a steel disc as the cutting element.

This disc, rotated by an electric motor, attacks the meat, the thickness of the slice of which is determined by the relative positioning of a side plate.

The main drawback of using this disc, apart from its cost price, lies in the size of the machine which carries it because it is necessarily of large diameter.

 On the contrary Aé prscvdé darts subject of this patent the slicer is much more compact in shape while rendering the same services.

On the other hand, the generalization of frozen products also poses cutting problems. This is particularly the case for pastry cooks who use frozen butter bars.

The term versatile applied to the slicer which is the subject of this patent is not usurped because it suffices to change the cutting tools so that it is suitable for slicing frozen food.

In this case, the conventional steel or tungsten wire is used.

This wire (1) in Fig 1 is wound in a helix on two parallel hollow cylinders (2). The simple simultaneous rotation of the cylinders (2) causes the wire (1) to move along two rectangular axes materialized by arrows in one of the two exemplary cases of complementary movements.

The peculiarity of the system is that the translation as well as the thrust of the wire (1) are obtained by a simple rotational movement, We observe that these movements are precisely those carried out by most cutting tools and more simply by a hand knife in the act of deciding.

When one of the cylinders (2) is fully wound, on a single layer, and the other empty, the movement is reversed. We then have the choice between a quick return to the 8Gpaxt of the cycle or even use this return for cutting.

in elevation
Fig 2 shows a general view of the device / with details of the mechanism. The rotation of the cylinders (2) produces the displacement of the wire (1) which "saws" the bread of frozen butter (3)
Of course this wire (1) is used with a certain tension necessary for cutting but also to avoid the risks of accidental overlapping of the turns on the cylinders (2).

In the usual case where it is desired to accelerate the cutting speed, it is advantageous to be able to electrically heat this wire (1) in its active part. This action having the effect of expanding the wire guides (4) is then necessary.

Before moving parallel and at the same speed as the cylinders (2), they are moved by endless screws (5) rotating in synchronism with the cylinder (2) and whose pitch corresponds to the diameter of the wire (1).

The mechanism is driven by a gear motor (6) preferably in two directions of travel by means of chains (7) or toothed drive belts and gears (8) between cylinders (2) and worm ( 5).

The collector ring (9) transmits to the wire guides (4) Ae low voltage current supplied by the transformer (10).

 It goes without saying that insulating materials (Celoron, Nylon, etc.) are used so that one of the cylinders (2) is electrically isolated from the rest of the machine.

Stopping or reversing is obtained by switches (11) actuated by the thread guides (4) at the end of the stroke.

The advancement of the frozen butter bread (3) after each cut could be done automatically. For the purpose of simplification, it is assumed here that it is pushed into contact with the roller (12: which serves as a stop and whose positioning determines the thickness of the slices.

These then fall by their weight from the fixed plate (13) into a collecting container, not shown.

Fig, 3 is a horizontal section where we find all the elements already mentioned.

The extrapolation of the frozen butter cut to that of the ham and in general to everything that needs to be sliced, goes through the appropriate tool. Also for meat or ham the wire (1) is no longer suitable, use a sharp steel tape on at least one side.

Spiral winding of a thin, narrow steel strip over a cylinder is problem-free when taking into account the yield stress. However, in the present case, it is necessary to avoid that the neighboring turns may slip one on the other
The solution is, Fig. 4 has formed on the periphery of the cylinder (14) a helical housing (15) in which the tape (16) will be maintained and protected.

Of course, here too, the ribbon (16) will be used in tension so that the cut is possible. However, it may sometimes be necessary (long length) to guide it between the two cylinders (14).
This is easily obtained by replacing the previous wire guides (4) with a single blade guide (17) mounted on the two worm screws (5). See Fig. 5 and 6.

The total thickness of the blade guide (17), of a few tenths of a millimeter, is not sufficient to generate the advancement of the ribbon (16) in a loose medium such as meat or ham.

When the band (16) has teeth and becomes a saw, the path of the latter, even a weak one, opens the passage in wood or plastic (profiles) to the blade guide (17).

In addition to the applications already mentioned, there is an area that still uses artisanal processes, that of cutting blocks of expanded polystyrene. Built on this scale this machine would be able to do these operations in much better condition with more speed.

Of its advantages it should also be noted the exceptional protection of the risks of cuts which it provides thanks to the shelter of the sharp parts.

One can think without risk of error that this machine will find other more specific applications over time.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS. 1) Multipurpose slicer characterized in that it comprises one or more pairs of coils (2) parallel whose synchronized rotation ensures the translation of a cutting wire (1) stretched between them and its displacement in a plane parallel to the axes of the coils (2) of a torque by the helical winding of the wire (1) sweat one of the coils (2) corresponding with its unwinding on the other, the cycle reversing at the end of the stroke. 2) Multipurpose slicer according to claim 1 characterized in that the wire (1) is held in line with its position on the coil (2) by a wire guide (4). 3) Multipurpose slicer according to claim 2 characterized in that the wire guides (4) are moved parallel and in synchronism with the coils (2) which they equip, by worms (5). 4) Multipurpose slicer according to claim 1 characterized in that the wire (1) can be replaced by a strip (16) of steel with edge (s) sharp (s) or toothed. 5) Multipurpose slicer according to claim 1 and 4 characterized in that the coils (2) are helically grooved for housing the wire (1) or steel ribbons (16). 6) Multipurpose slicer according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the wire guides (4) serve as terminals for the arrival of low voltage current. 7) Multipurpose slicer according to claims 1, 2 and 6 characterized in that the wire guides (4) have a calibrated passage where the wire (1) gets rid of its dirt by crossing it.