GB604071A - Improvements in knife spacing mechanism for bread slicing and like machines - Google Patents

Abstract

604,071. Slicing mechanisms. ROSE, A. G., and ROSE BROS. (GAINSBOROUGH), Ltd. Nov. 23, 1945, No. 31619. [Class 5(i)] For slicing-machines having parallel spaced knives to which the articles are fed, knife guides are mounted on successive coils of a compression spring so that the spacing of the guides can be varied by expanding or compressing the spring. In Fig. 1 is snown a bread slicing-machine of the endless band type in which loaves 11 are fed along a supporting platform 12 by a conveyer with pushers 13 pivotally mounted on a chain 14 to feeding devices 16, described in Specification 537,139. The flights 17 of the feeding devices 16 push the loaves through the slicing mechanism which is a series of endless saw-toothed bands 21 spaced on rotatable drums 22. The bands are crossed and partially turned adjacent the cutting position and pass through slotted projections 27 of annular knife guides 26 on cylindrical supports 28 attached to the main framework 23 and mounted above and below the loaves. To accommodate loaves of different heights the upper support 28 is slidably mounted in a slot 31 and has attached to its flange 29 a screwed rod 34 which carries a worm wheel 36 engaging with a worm 37 on the shaft of which is a handle 38 by turning which the support 28 is caused to ride in the slot. The support 28 has a central bore 41 and three parallel bores 42 equally spaced round the central bore and accommodating compression springs 43. Each bore 42 is connected to the periphery of the support 28 by a longitudinal slot 44, in each of which is arranged a series of connecting shoes 46 connected to successive coils of the corresponding springs, each shoe being free to move along its slot and provided with a projecting pin 47 passing into the adjacent guide 26 to position it. on the support 28. Thus each guide is connected to each of the three springs. Flanges 48 secured to the springs at the ends of the support 28 have three radial slots for the passage of spiders 49 in threaded engagement with opposite handed threaded end portions 51 of an adjusting- shaft 52 in the central bore 41. Thus by rotating the shaft 52 the spacing of the knives can be varied. To adjust the spacing of the two sets of guides simultaneously the shafts 52 are connected through worm and bevel gearing to a handle 64. Clamping keys between the coils of the springs may be provided to clamp the spring in any adjusted position.