GB2391796A

GB2391796A - Slicing device

Info

Publication number: GB2391796A
Application number: GB0218937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian John Houghton; Zahid Iqbal
Original assignee: Imperial Machine Co Ltd; IMP MACHINE Co Ltd
Current assignee: Imperial Machine Co Ltd; IMP MACHINE Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-15
Filing date: 2002-08-15
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-15
Also published as: GB0218937D0; IES20030592A2; GB2391796B

Abstract

A slicing device (1) for slicing vegetables includes a first blade (2) and a series of second blades (3). The second blades are arranged so as to depend orthogonally from the first blade with their razor edges (5) set rearward of the razor edge (4) of the first blade. The slicing device may be used in a chipping machine.

Description

2391 796

- 1 A4 SLICING DEVICE

5 This invention relates to a slicing device. particular, but not exclusively, it relates to chipping blades for use in a potato chipping machine.

A conventional chipping machine comprises a rotating cylindrical rotor and a tangentially positioned chip cutting arrangement. Figure 7 shows an exploded view of such 10 a conventional chip cutting arrangement.

In use, the pre-peeled potatoes are fed into a hopper (not shown) and are directed into the centre of a rotor. The internal profile of the rotor feeds a potato to the edge of the rotor and the rotation of the rotor causes the potato to strike a slue surface 20 and 15 consequently be directed towards a cleaving blade 1 1 and a plurality of chipping blades 13.

The portion of the potato striking the chipping blades 13 will be first cut by these blades and will then be separated Dom the rest of the potato by the action of the cleaving blade 1 1; the potato remnant continues to rotate within the rotor until it again encounters the cutting blades and will be cut again.

The above process continues until all the potatoes and potato remnants have been completely chipped.

A conventional chipping apparatus, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, includes a 25 cleaving blade 11, removably secured to mounting arms 22 via fixing holes 17, screws 18 and screw holes 19, and a plurality of chipping blades 13 that are secured by a pin (not shown) into blade slits 16 that are positioned at an end of the chipping block 15. (It should be note that Figures 8 and 9 show only a schematic representation of a conventional chipping apparatus).

-2 The cleaving blade and the chipping blades become blunt over time and consequently need to be removed for either re-sharpening or replacement. However, a problem arises when inserting the chipping blades 13 into their respective blade slits 16.

5 As shown in Figure 9, an adjustment depth D exists between the cutting edge 12 and the top edge 12' of the cleaving blade; each chipping blade must tee individually adjusted to ensure that tip of the blade is level with top edge of the cleaving blade to ensure optimal chipping. If the tip of the chipping blade is below 12' then individual chips will not separate properly, and if the tip is above 12' score lines will be led in the potato remnant 10 producing scarred chips. Adjustment of each individual chipping blade to prevent the above from occurring is both time consuming and difficult to accurately achieve in practice.

The present invention arose in an attempt to overcome the above problems, and to provide more convenient blade replacement.

According to an aspect of the present invention Were is provided a slicing device for slicing vegetables comprising: a first blade from which depends a pluralizer of second blades that are integral with the first blade, wherein the cutting edge of the second blades are positioned rearward of the cutting edge of the first blade.

Preferably, the second blades extend orthogonally from the first blade.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a chipping machine including a chipping device which comprises a first blade from which depends a 25 plurality of second blades that are integral with the first blade, wherein the cutting edge of the second blades are positioned rearward of the cutting edge of the first blade.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

- 3 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a slicing device; Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the slicing device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear elevation view of the slicing device of Figure 1; Figure 4 show a side elevation view of the slicing device of Figure 1; 5 Figure 5 shows the orientation of a slicing device with respect to chipping block in operation; Figure 6 shows a side elevation view of the slicing device of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an exploded view of a conventional chipping apparatus; Figure 8 shows the positioning of the cutting blades in a conventional chipping 10 apparatus; and Figure 9 shows a partial side elevation view of the cutting blades of Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the slicing device 1 comprises a first blade 2 that is sharpened to a razor edge 4. Disposed on the underside of the first blade 2 is a plurality of 15 depending integral second blades 3. These blades are also sharpened to a razor edge 5.

The second blades are positioned substantially at ninety degrees with respect to the first blade, and their cutting edges 5 are set back from the cutting edge 4 of the first blade.

The profiles of the first and second blades are laser-cut, and the razor edge is ground in a 20 known fashion to provide optimum sharpness. Ibe blades may be at other angles if required in other embodiments.

Typically, the second blades are welded to the first blade although they may be joined thereto by other means. Since the second blades are laser cut there is substantially 25 no difference in the dimensions of one second blade to another. Therefore, the tip of each second blade depends from the first blade by an equal amount, which obviates the need for any adjustments or alignments by an end user. Also, since the slicing device is a unitary whole, and not six separate blades (the number of blades in other embodiments will vary depending upon the required size of the chips to be cut), as is the case with existing 30 arrangements, blade removal and replacement is a far simpler operation.

- 4 ln operation, a potato or potato remnant will initially encounter the first blade.

Consequently a slice is cleaved from the potato, and this slice will then encounter the second blades that in turn separate the slice into a plurality of chips. Since the slicing device has second blades that protrude from the underside of the first blade, there is no 5 possibility of scoring the potato remnant as the slice is cleaved; the remnant is shielded by the upper surface of the first blade. Furthermore, since the second blades are manufactured so as to all depend by the same distance from the first blade, there is equally no possibility of individual chips not separating from one another in the desired manner.

10 Unlike the conventional arrangement as shown in Figures 7 to 9, when replacement of the slicing device is required, a user is only required to unfasten two screws and remove a single element; whereas with previously available machines a user needed to remove the cleaving blade by unfastening it from the chipping block, and additionally removing five separate chipping blades. In the same way, reintroducing the slicing device to a chipping 15 machine is a far simpler operation than was the case with the conventional arrangement.

Note that the term 'integral' does not necessarily imply that the blades are formed integrally, (although this is not excluded), simply that in use an integral structure is used comprising the cleaving and chipping blades and that this structure can be removed Mom in 20 situ in a chipping machine, and replaced back into the machane, as a complete unit.

Slicing devices, according to the invention, may be used for slicing other root vegetables.

Claims

- 5 CLS 1. A slicing device for slicing vegetables comprising: a first

blade Dom which depends a plurality of second blades that are integral with the first blade, wherein the cutting edge of 5 the second blades are positioned rearward of the cutting edge of the first blade.
2. A slicing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second blades extend

substantially orthogonally Tom the first blade.

10
3. A slicing device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the slicing device includes five second blades.
4. A chipping machine including a chipping device which comprises a first blade from which depends a plurality of second blades that are integral with the first blade, wherein the 15 cutting edge of the second blades are positioned rearward of the cutting edge of the first blade.
5. A chipping machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the second blades of the chipping device extend substantially orthogonally from the first blade.
6. A chipping machine as claimed in Claim 4 or S. wherein the chipping device includes five second blades.
7. A chipping machine as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the first blade and the 25 second blades of the chipping device are removable hom the chipping machine as a complete unit.
8. A slicing device, as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying schematic drawings of Figures 1 to 6.

- 6
9. A chipping device, as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying schematic drawings of Figures I to 6.