GB2032260A - Improvements in vegetable slicers - Google Patents

Abstract

The vegetable slicer has a table 14 across which the vegetable is reciprocated to slice it, the vegetable being held in a holder 18 which engages guide means above the table to guide the holder, and the table having a fixed part 14a which has at least one horizontal cutting edge 22 for slicing the vegetable as it moves past the edge and an adjustable part 14b whose edge adjacent the cutting edge or edges is adjustable up or down to vary the thickness of a slice. A plurality of upright knives 20 are upstanding from the adjustable part of the table to cut the vegetable into strips. In a preferred embodiment the upright knives are movable between an operative position and a non-operative position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in vegetable slicers This invention relates to improvements in vegetable slicers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vegetable slicer which is simple yet versatile in operation.

According to the invention there is provided a vegetable slicer comprising a table across which a vegetable is reciprocated to slice it, a holderforthe vegetable in which a vegetable to be sliced is accomodated and urged, in use, towards the table, guide means engaging the holder and positioned above the table to restrain the holder to move in a direction back and forth across the table, the table comprising a fixed part including at least one stationary substantially horizontal cutting edge and an adjustable part at least the end of which adjacent the horizontal cutting edge or edges is adjustable in the uprightdirection transverse to guide means so that the thickness of a slice of vegetable cut by the cutting edge or edges can be varied, and a plurality of upright knives upstanding from the adjustable part of the table.

Thus with such a slicer the thickness of a slice of vegetable can quickly and simply be varied to suit the particular vegetable and so that slicer of the invention can be used with a wide variety of vegetables.

Although the term vegetable is used herein, the slicer of the invention can be used to prepare slices or strips of items other than vegetables, e.g. of fruit such as apples or other food such as cheese or meat.

For convenience the word "vegetable" will be used herein but that word is to be construed to embrace the slicing of any item or product.

According to a preferred embodiment the upright knives are mounted so as to be movable between operative and non-operative positions. Thus in their operative position the knives will project above the surface of the adjustable part of the table and so will slit the vegetable together with the horizontal cutting edge or edges into strips, e.g. chips in the case of a potato, whilst in their non-operative position the knives will be withdrawn below the surface of the adjustable part of the table and so the vegetable will only be cut into slices by the horizontal cutting edge or edges, e.g., crisps in the case of a potato.

The horizontal cutting edge or edges are desirably in the form of one or more metal blades mounted flush with the stationary part of the table. Where only a single blade is provided this is preferably inclined at an angle to the direction of reciprocation and not mounted transversely of the direction of reciprocation.

The guide means can for example, be parallel spaced slots found in a frame for the slicer which carries the table, the vegetable holder being circular and having an outwardly directed flange which engages in these slots. Preferably, however, the slots or other guide means commence past way along the table so that the holder can be pressed against the table and thereafter enters the slots as the holder is moved to take the vegetable it carries past the various cutting surfaces.

A vegetable slicer according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the slicer; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the cutter; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2 of a detail showing the adjustment of the task to cut thicker slices and Figure 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2 of a detail showing the upright knives in their non-operative position.

The vegetable slicer 10 shown in the drawings includes two upright side members 12 between which extends a cutting table 14. A vegetable to be sliced, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, is held in a holder 18 which is manually drawn back and forth over the top of the table past upright cutting knife blades 20 and a horizontal knife blade 22to slice it.

Thetable 14 is in two parts, a fixed part 14a and an adjustable part 14b. The fixed part 1 4a is secured between the side members 12 and mounted flush with its uppersurface is the horizontal serrated knife blade 22 whose cutting edge 22a face the adjustable part 14b. The adjustable part 14b on the other hand has integrally formed downwardly directed flanges 24 and 26 which are fixed to the side member 12 whilst the remainder of that part is free to move up and down to adjust the thickness of slices cut from the vegetable 16 as it is moved past the blade 22.

The free end of the adjustable part 14b adjacent the edge 22a is movable up and down under control of a rotatable knob 30. This knob is journalled in one side member 12 and is joined to a crank whose arm is in turn fixed to a cam rod 32 which in turn is fixedto a crank 34 journalled in the other side member 12.

The cam rod passes through a slot 35 in a frame 36 attached to the underside of the part 14b. In this way, when the knob 30 is rotated, the cranks rotate and in turn orbit the rod 32 around and the rod slides within the slot 35 and cams the free end of the adjustable part up and down between the extreme positions shown in Figure 2 where very thin slices are cut and the position shown in Figure 3 where thick slices are cut. The free end can of course be adjusted to any intermediate position between these extreme positions.

The holder 18 includes an outer hollow domed container 40 to the lower end of which is attached a circular outwardly projecting flange 42. Within the container 40 is a plunger 44 which is urged downwardly by a spring 46. When a vegetable 16 to be sliced is placed on the table, the holder is placed over the top and pressed down so that the plunger 44 is forced up by contact with the vegetable whilst the spring 46 continues to push the vegetable against the table.

Adjacent the top edge of each side member 12 is a horozontal slot 48. This slot has a width such that it can accommodate the flange 42 on the holder 18.

The flange 42 fits in the two spaced slots 48 is thus guided for movement back and forth across the table, the slots 48 and flange 42 keeping the holder spaced a constant distance above the surface of the table 14. Adjacent the right hand and (as viewed in Figure 1) of the slots 48, are provided stops 50 which prevent the holder moving beyond the end of the fixed part of 14a. At the left hand end (as viewed in Figure 1) the slots 48 terminate short of the end of the adjustable part 14b so that the holder can be pressed down to enclose a vegetable and then drawn and guided to the right in the region of the blades 20 and 22.

There will be occasions when slices as opposed to strips of vegetables are required. In such cases blades 20 need to be withdrawn so that they do not project above the surface of the table 14. Accordingly the blades 20 are mounted on a movable platform 60 and the blades extend up through slits in the adjustable part 14b. The platform 60 is guided for movement up and down by two spaced projecting flanges 62 on each side member 12. It is moved up and down by a cam rod 64 which is mounted on the arms of two cranks 66, each of which isjournalled in one of the side members. One of the cranks 66 is fixed to an operating lever 68.The cam rod 64 passes through a slot 70 in the platform and so when the lever is turned through 1800, the platform is brought from the position shown in Figure 2 where the blades project through the table 14to a position just below the lower edge of the flange 42, to the position shown in Figure 4 where the blades do not extend through the table 14 and so are inoperative.

To use the vegetable slicer, the operator first has to set the blades to give the required cuts. If strips are required, the blades 20 should be placed in their operative position, whilst if slices are required the blades 20 should be retracted to their inoperative positions. Next the depth of the cut of the blade 22 is set by rotating the knob 30.

A vegetable such as a potato is placed on the left hand end of the table (as viewed in Figure 1) and the holder 18 is placed over it and pressed down until the potato is accommodated within the container 40.

The holder is then pushed to the right (as viewed in Figure 1) and reciprocated past the blade 22 and the blades 20 if in their operative position to produce slices or strips of potatoes. The spring 46 continues to press the potato against the blades until it is all cut away and the engagement of the flange 42 in the slots 48 guides the holder and maintains a substantially constant depth of cut by the blade 22.

For simplicity of manufacture the various parts of the slicer, apart from the blades, are preferably made from plastics material. The blades are desirably made from stainless steel.

As will be appreciated the slicer of the invention is simple to operate and keep clean yet is very versatile since it can give strips or slices of the vegetable as desired of the thickness required.

Claims (5)

1. A vegetable slicer comprising a table across which a vegetable is receiprocated to slice it, a holder for the vegetable in which a vegetable to be sliced is accomodated and urged, in use, towards the table, guide means engaging the holder and positioned above the table to restrain the holder to move in a direction back and forth across the table, the table comprising a fixed part including at least one stationary substantially horizontal cutting edge and an adjustable part at least the end of which adjacent the horizontal cutting edge or edges is adjustable in the upright direction transverse to the guide means so that the thickness of a slice of vegetable cut by the cutting edge or edges can be varied, and a plurality of upright knives upstanding from the adjustable part of the table.

2. A vegetable slicer as claimed in Claim 1 in which the upright knives are mounted so as to be movable between operative and non-operative positions.

3. A vegetable slicer as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the horizontal cutting edge or edges are in the form of one or more metal blade mounted flush with the stationary part of the table.

4. Avegetable slicer as claimed in any preceding claim which has a frame carrying the table, parallel spaced slots are formed in the frame above the table, and the vegetable holder is circular and has an outwardly directed flange which engages in those slots.

5. A vegetable slicer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.