US1829428A - Slicing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1931.

W. B. WOLFF SLICING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 27,1'931. W, B WOLF..- 1,829,428

" SLIGING MACHINE Filed May 4, 192s s Smets-sheet 2 Y Y nl* [Wye/@Zar MM/ xfa/ff @y ,L @om oct. 27, 1931. w. B. WOLFF I SLICING MACHINE Filed May 4. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Get. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES F WALLACE B. WOLFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR y'TO AMERICAN SLICING MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK vii PATENT OFFICEl SLICING MACHINE Application led May 4,

My invention relates to a slicing machine yof a type wherein a circular knife is employed, herein shown as motor driven. One object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the fingers of the operator from the cutting edge of the knife and, specifically, to provide means for substantially entirely shielding the cutting edge of the knife, from front and rear, when the device is not actually in use. Anotherobject is the provision of an adjustable or movable means for shielding the cutting edge of the knife from the front, when the work supporting carriage is not in use. Another object is the provision of an extension for the work supporting Vmember of said cutting carriage, which extension may be associated with or may be made tomove unitarily with a guard or shield member for the cutting edge of the knife. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of my device;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the linev 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective plate;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure l;

l Figure 6 is a plan view of a guard plate illustrated in the position in which it is shown in dotted line in Figure l;

Figure 7 is a partial rear elevation; and

Figure 8 is a front elevation with the parts in a different position.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

A indicates any suitable base member upon which is mounted the motor A1 with the motor shaft A2 and the pulley A3 about which passes the belt A4.

B generally indicates a rotary knife on the knife shaft B1, associated with which is a pulley B2 Aabout which passes the belt A4.

The or portion of the front of the knife view of a guard 1929. Serial No. 360,401.

is covered or protected by a normally fixed guard plate C, which includes arcuate edged portion C1 adapted to be positioned within the forward recesses B3 of the knife. It will be observed that the axis of the knife is shown in horizontal plane and is tilted slightly from perpendicularity in relation to the guard plate C, in order to bring the cutting arc of the knife into or beyond the plane of the guard plate. While I prefer to have the axis of the knife horizontal my invention is not to be limited to the use of a knife having a horizontal axis.

D generally indicates a rear guard member associated with the hub D1 in which rotates the knife shaft B1. In some circumstances it may be preferable to recess the rear of the knife, as at B4 in order to receive the edge or periphery D2 of the guard D.

E generally indicates a gauge plate with the arcuate edge E1 generally concentric with and opposed to the cutting arc of the knife. Any means may be employed to move the gauge plate E toward and away from the plane of the knife, and, preferably, at the same time laterally toward and away from the edge of the knife. Referring to the dotted line position of the gauge plate in Figure 6 I illustrate the preferred movement of the gauge plate, which is along a path inclined to the cutting plane of the knife, in such fashion that the recess of the gauge plate widens the throat between gauge plate and knife in two directions. However the invention herein shown is operable with gauge plates which are drawn directly back from the cutting plane.

Mounted on the gauge plate E I indicate a guard member G, which may be formed integrally with the gauge plate or may be secured thereto as by the screws G1. It is arcuate in form and includes a portion G2 extending laterally toward the knife from the gauge plate and preferably forming generally to the contour of the knife. It will be observed from Figure 6 that the guard member overlies or overlaps the rear of the errposed arc of the knife as to make itimpossible for the finger of the operator accidentally to engage the knife edge along the cutting arc. 'The size of the guarding member Gf is such that it eiiciently exercises `its guarding function, even when the gauge plate is withdrawn to its maximum depth.

When the gauge plate is closely set, the

' guard portion G2 A,may extend to .or almost to the edge D? oftheguard D. A Howeverthere is suflicientspace between knife and guard member for the slices to escape after they aref-Leut. tray. generally indicated' as H2 servesto receivethe slices;

In order further to protect the fingers of the operator about theY lowerz arc of thelknife, whether from frontrorvrear, provide an. additional guard member herein shown as adjflllstably mounted on. the. gauge plate.l It

lincludes. the basefpcrtinn J: slotted asat J1 to receigve thev securing.' screwsV J2. vProjecting fromV it isfthe,arcuate` guard portion. proper.

- supportedv upcnfthe, ,member K?. In Ithe speciliclform off; .invention.hereinY illustrated K4 isl shown at rightzanglestoK, the

ytwo members lying in .planesgenerally perpendicular.to,.thecutting,plane.y Ki is .any

'suitablemanualhandl whereby: the meat' carriagejinay. be moved along, the tracks K1 K2, i 1

'f to.. shield' cutting edge of the knife froinrthe; ffrldnt when they device, isfnot in, operationI' p'royidea supplemental guard member.A generallylindicated, as ,13,'gwhich `may he of, Vany desiredfnrmbut, is 'hereinjshown asbounded` at., one'jsid'eA by ther arcuate edge L1.. Hereinzshownlas.fbmiedgintegrallyfwith -Y 1, themember Land" ati-ight angles to itv isl the member.L?fwhch, may. behin'ged. as at L3 to thelppe'r4 'edge ofi'the. member K3, in such fashion @that the lnemherL closely approaches the. 'face of they gaugeplateEiand. the.Y cutting f plane nf`theknife,1but. not .Sufficient-ly closel'v to interferelwithlfthepassage,o f1`thej carriage.. 3 When itis desired to move the member Liinto parallelism. with; theni'emberY K?, injorder thatj-itgmay serve as., an extension thereoths adjustment ,may vbe obtainedas follows., rllhe. thumb nutlLshownin Figure 3,l normally isl inQs'uch, position as to exert tensionup'onfthe rodlL whichfinturn draws upongltheclainping member L6 which isfapertured-.asg at L? topermit the pas- Figure l, at which time the thumb nut L,

can again be drawn V'Note that the pin L5 is positioned in a sleeve L10 which is rotatably mounted in the carriage K in order to compensatey forfthe-.fchanges in angle ,oflthe rod' L?. They sleeve.isapertured as -`at L11 to permit the passage 'of the rod therethrough, and tliedrawing in upon the pin L clamps the rodagainstthe edges of the apertures. The ledgeL12v of the Asleeve `L10 bears against the carriage K, to complete. the .clamping action and to properly position or space the Vadjusting mechanism.,

Referring fory .example to li`igureslY Va-nd c,V whenV the carriage is in the positionin which it is'shown in Figure l, the carriage being atthe end'of thel cutting excursion., the member L Amasks thevcutting edger of the knife. lIn order to mask the cutting .edge ofl the knife whenthe carriage is atl theopposite end of its excursion, before the cutting` stroke, I provide a shield MA which lmay be secured to or associated with the carriage K'orv to the work-supporting member K4: in any suitable manner. I have indicated it, however, as a separate element secured to the carriage K asatrM1'.. The device includes a bodyportionV Me which protectsV the lower portionof 'he 'cutting edge [and the upward crescent shapedfextension M3 which is herein illustrated as extending 'almostlto t-he top of-v the gauge plate E or the guard plate C. It will berealized of coursethat I- do not wish to be limited'v precisely to anyA particular form 0r securing means, the essential being; that I providea guardwhich Voverlies orprotects the cutting edge of the knife when the carriagey is withdrawn to, itsinitial positionp prior to the cutting stroke;

It will be Vrealized that whereas I; have'deW scribed and shown a practical and operative device, neverthelessmany changes might be made in theV size, shape, number and disposition of lvparts without 'departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wishmy description and drawings to be taken as in abroad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to specific showing. V,i f j The use-'and operation of'my invention are as follows: l

In the employment of an electrically operated'rotary knife slicing'- machine, theknife edgerotates'at a very high'rateV of speed and would'ztherefore be dangerous to a careless operator'if not properly protected. The slicing machine herein describedand shownJ reduces the 'hazards to a minimum'. The opere ator is protected, on the rear side ofthe knife, tothe degree that it is practically impossible for involuntarily engaging the cutting edge of the knife, the cutting4 edge being protected from contact as by the guardsv G2 and J 3. Such portion of the knife edge asis not protected by the said two guards is housed Within the frame or housingof the slicing machine and cannot be touched.

As to the front of the machine, hovvever, it is inevitable that a certain portion or are of the knife edge must be exposed during the cutting portion since otherwise the Work to be cut cannot engage the cutting edge. The lower arc of the knife is protected from the front, as Well as the rear, as for example by the guard J3. at least When the guard plate is in neutral position] In any case, as clear from Figure l, the carriage and the tracks on which the carriage rides prevent unintended approach to the lower arc of the knife. The upper arc of the knife, Where the cutting actually takes place, is necessarily exposed during the cutting operation. The guard L, however, masks the cutting edge of the knife when the carriage is left at the end of the tracks K1 K2, in the position in which it reaches at the end of a cutting excursion. I/Vhen the gauge plate is in neutral, as shown in the full line position in Figure 6, the edges mask from front as Well as rear, regardless of the position of the carriage. However, the operator may Wish to leave the gauge plate in adjusted position. for example in the dotted line position of Figure 6, as when he interrupts temporarily the cutting opera-` tion. In such case he may protect his cutting edge by merely leaving the carriage at the end of its excursion, in the position in Which it is shown in Figures l and 6. When in such position the guard plate L on the carriage masks the cutting edge of the knife and the device may safely be left, and no opportunity is given for an unintended approach of the fingers to the cutting edge.

In the form of carriage herein shown I find it extremely desirable to provide an ex tension to the supporting member K3. Such a support is of value as providing a support-- ing surface more extended than the one normal to the member K3, as When it is desired to decrust bread or derind bacon or cut bacon or other substances in larger masses than usu al. For example, when my machine is employed in the English market, the size of the bacon is considerably larger than the size which is commonly sold in the United States and the use of the extension L2, which might not be necessary for cutting bacon in the United states, becomes important in cutting the larger pieces of bacon sold in the English market.

Note that I have so proportioned the parts that when the member L2 is in the dotted line position in Figure 1 the member L still covers substantially all of the cutting edge, or leaves uncovered only a very small arc at the top of the cutting edge. This small arc, however. is protected by the outward extension of the member L2 Which makes it dicult and in the highest degree unlikely, for t-he operator to approach his lingers to the restricted cutting edge left uncovered.

Note also that When the member L2 is in the full line position, as shown in Figure l it exerts this additional masking effect. Thus, when the carriage is at the initial posit-ion, to the left of the track shown in Figure l, the operator may freely grasp the handle KG of the carriage or the edge of the portion K3 of the carriage. If he moves his hand along the edge of the portion K3 toward the cutting edge of the knife lie engages not only the edge K2", as shown in Figure 6 but also the upstanding edge of the member L2, which serves the double function of actually limiting the movement of the operators hand to- Ward the cutting edge and of giving Warning, by touch, that the cutting edge is being approached.

Referring to the posit-ion of the carriage in Figures l and 8, note that the element L protects the cutting edge when the carriage is at one extremity of its movement and the member M protects the cutting edge when the carriage is at the other extremity of its movement, prior to the cutting excursion. The knife edge being shielded When the carriage is at either end of its stroke, the edge is exposed only intermediate the stroke. If, as in the form shown in the present drawthe member M formed separately from the V-trough K3, its face lies preferably in a plane identical ivi-th or slightly to the rear of and closely adjacent to the plane of the edges of the V-trough K3 which must closely approach the cutting plane of the knife. It is also important that when the device is in the position shown in Figure l the lower or body portion M3 of the guard M shall not project sufliciently to the right to strike an operator or passerby. I may form the guard of any suitable material and may for example use thin sheet metal.

In the use of the device, if the gauge plate is in neutral position, of course the cutting edge of the knife is protected. If the gauge plate is Withdrawn from the cutting edge of the knife. the cutting edge is protected When the carriage is left at either limit of its excursion. The cutting edge is also substantially protected by the carriage structure itself at some intermediate point on its excursion. In such case the cutting edge is to a degree exposed, but it is so far masked by the intervening position of the carriage that accident and Contact therewith is unlikely. In other Words the combination of guards I disclose ierein provides a very substantial protection for the cutting edge, as complete and continuous protection it is possible to give the cuttingedge and stillleave it free'to perform; its cutting lfunction.`

l?, .claim i Y l Inzassociationwith a slicing machine in cludmg a.; rotary knife and means forrotat-A4 ing'lt, ai Workgsupporting member. andnieansf for-guiding infor-movement pastthefcutinl lthe general: plane ci' said elemen-t, and in aplane inclined thereto.

. Infassociation: With a slicingmachine including arotary kniffe and means forrotating; it,ia Work supporting means and means for guidingity past the cutting; edge ofvr the knife and an extension pivoted toone edge ofy saidwvork' supportingy member for rotation about any aX-isgenerally perpendicular tothe path 'of the Work supporting means. 4av In association with a slicing machine including ay rotary knife and means for rotating it, a Work supporting means. and? meansorfguidingfit past the cutting' edge of the knifeand.an-^extensionpivoted to one edge ofsaid Work supporting member, land a guard member, associated with said extension and adapted to move 'unitarily` therewith, said guard,memberfbeingl adapted toy overliethe cuttingjedgeofthe knife when the Work supporting memberzis at' aV predetermined positionadjacentthe limit of its movement past the`l cuttingf'edge of the knife.

5; In' yassociation With al slicing machine including aa rotary knife and'means for rotating it, a Work supporting means and means *for guiding it past the cutting edgeofy the knife and anextension pivoted-toone-edge of said. work supporting member, and a guard member, associated Withsaid extension and adapted to move unitarily therewith, said guard member being adapted .to overlie the numana tension: being adaptedywhenfini one position-,"1

to'v extend thezzavailable. supporting; area.. of

the work supporting means, and beingadapted; when in: another positionytof serve as a. guard tot prevent'the approach-y ofithez linger.

knife.

7. In. association=With`a"slicing machine including -ay rotary 'knife' andmeans forzrotatextension for they work` supporting-member when in: one.- position and 'adapted to. serve, When lin another position, as'laf guard to pre? ventthefapproach ofthe hand. of the'opera'- tor, andi an additional' guardfmember adapt-V ed to "mask thecuttinglarc of the knife WhenV the .Work supporting memberis moved ypast the cutting arc of the-knife. y

- 8'. In association Witha'slicing' machine including a rotagryknife andfmeanslor rotating it, a` Worksupporting member and@ means for guiding'it past the cutting-edge oftlie knife; said Work supporting memberiincluding'a plurality of Worksupporting'elements lying in planes generally' perpendicular. to: the cutting planeof the knife', said: elements being atan angle .in relationv toeach other,y

- andan extension pivoted tothe outenedgeof Vone of said elementsA forV rotation about an' 'axis1 generally perpendicular` to.- the; path of.

movement. .of :the Work' supporting member..

Signed at' Chicago;countyV oCo'ok andi- State of Illinois, tliislQth'- dayof April', 1929;.

f v WALLACE B.WOLFF`.

cutting. edge of the knife when the Work supporting member is at a predetermined position adjacent the limit of its movement :ast the cutting edge-0f the knife, and means for securing the extension and guard 'member l. inVV adjusted' position.v

6. In association with a slicing machine including. a rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, a Work supporting meansy and means for guiding itv past the cutting edge of the knife and an extension pivoted to one edge oflv said.work supporting membensa-id exofv the operatorL to the cutting edge of. the'

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