US1958733A - Sliced bread and wrapper holder - Google Patents

Description

y 1934- R. o. WHITAKER 1,958,733

SLICED BREAD AND WRAPPER HOLDER Filed June 7. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifl; .L-

INVENTOR ATTORNEY,

y 1934- R. o. WHiTAKER 1,958,733

SLICED BREAD AND WRAPPER HOLDER Filed June 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O INVENTOR Faber? 0. 1302220116 mroaumg Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for holding sliced loaves of bread from falling apart while being wrapped in the customary sanitary sheets of paper, and one object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and manually operated machine of this character which can be manufactured and marketed at a price within reach of small bakeries that cannot afford to purchase expensive pow-er driven machines now on the market.

A further object is to provide a portable machine of this character not likely to get out of order and which can be readily operated by one person.

In carrying out the invention I employ a suitable table upon the top of which the wrappers are laid. The sliced loaf is then placed upon the uppermost wrapper and held from falling apart by the hands until gripped by clamping means thrown into engagement with the ends of the loaf through the intermediary of a treadle manually actuated by the operator. The hands are now free to fold the wrapper around the loaf during which operation the pedal is released at the proper time to allow the clamping means to move 1 out of the Way, so that the operation of folding the wrapper over the ends of the loaf may be completed without hinderance from said clamping means.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is an irregular vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an irregular section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the difierent parts, 2 designates a table comprising front and rear legs 3 and 4, respectively, supporting a top 6 and reinforced by cross members 8, 10 and 12. The cross members 8 unite the front and rear legs, while the cross members 10 unite the rear legs, the space between the front legs 3 being left open so that the operator may readily reach a treadle 14 operably connected at one end as by hinges 16 to the cross member 12 uniting the lower ends of the front legs 3.

The opposite end of the treadle 14 is connected by suitable means such as a hinge 18 to the lower end of a connecting rod 20 having a reduced upper portion 22 extending through a guide member 24 fixed to a cross member 26 secured at its ends tothe upper cross members 8. The connecting bar 20 is normally held in raised position by an expansible spring 28 interposed between the guide member 24 and a suitable stop such as a washer 30 secured to the upper portion of the extension 22 by means of a cotter-pin 32.

34 designates a pair of oscillatory arms disposed at opposite sides of the table and operably connected at their lower ends to the lower cross members 8 by suitable means such as hinges 36, and at their upper portions to the connecting bar 20 by means of a pair of links 38 extending through guide apertures 40 formed in the two adjacent sides of the downturned flange 42 of the table top 6. The links 38 are operable connected at their lower ends to the bar 20 by suitable means such as pivots 44, and at their upper ends to the arms 34 by suitable means such as nuts 46. 7 Outward movement of the links 38 is limited by suitable stops 48 and the adjacent sides of the flange 42 against which said stops are adapted to impinge. The stops 48 are secured to the links 38 and may be provided with rubber or other suitable cushions (not shown) for silencing the noise which would otherwise occur if the stops 48 contacted directly with the adjacent sides of the flange 42.

The upper ends of the oscillatory arms 34 are equipped with suitable clamping means for gripping the ends of the sliced loaf A to hold the slices together. Each clamp comprises a rod 52 and a plate 54, which latter is secured to the end of the former nearest the loaf A. The rods 52 extend freely through apertures in the upper end of the respective arms 34, so that said rods may be adjusted toward or away from each other to accommodate loaves of different lengths. Suitable means such as set screws 56, 90. threaded in the arms 34, are provided for securing the rods 52 at any point of their adjustment. In order that the clamping means may be readily set for loaves of different lengths the rods 52 are graduated as indicated at 58.

In practice the operator places a supply of wrappers B upon the top 6 of the table and then places a loaf A upon the topmost wrapper. The loaf is held by the hands to keep the slices together until the ends of the loaf are gripped by the clamping means 52-54 which are adjusted to active position through the intermediary of the intervening mechanism when the treadle 14 is depressed. The hands are now free to fold the uppermost wrapper B upwardly against the longitudinal sides and over the top of the loaf, after which the operator starts to fold the wrapper over the ends of the loaf. Before completing the latter operation suficient downward pressure is removed from treadle 14 to permit spring 0 28 to move the clamping means to inactive position through the intermediary of the intervening parts, so that the plates 14 will not be in the way of the operator when completing the fold at the ends of the loaf. Usually the loaf is placed in an inverted position upon the wrapper so that when the latter is folded longitudinally around the loaf the overlapping ends of the wrapper will be at the bottom of the loaf.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a machine which is well adapted for the purpose intended, and while I have shown and described one form of said machine I reserve all rights to such other forms and modifications thereof as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a table having a top adapted to support a sliced loaf of bread and a wrapper therefor, clamp members arranged above the table top and adapted to engage the ends of the loaf to hold the slices together while the loaf is being wrapped, a pair of oscillatory arms exteriorly arranged at opposite sides of the table and to the upper ends of which said clamp members are firmly secured, means operably connecting the lower ends of said arms to the table, a pair of links connected at their upper ends to the upper portions of the arms and extending inwardly and downwardly towards each other, guide means at opposite sides of the table through which said links extend, and means connected to said links for actuating the same.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a table having a top adapted to support a sliced loaf of bread and a wrapper therefor, clamp members arranged above the table top and adapted to engage the ends of the load to hold the slices together while the loaf is being wrapped, a pair of oscillatory arms exteriorly arranged at opposite sides of the table and to the upper ends of which said clamp members are firmly secured, means operably connecting the lower ends of said arms to the table, a pair of links connected at their upper ends to the upper portions of the arms and extending inwardly and downwardly towards each other, guide means at opposite sides of the table through which said links extend, a connecting bar for actuating said links, a guide through which said connecting bar extends, spring means embracing said connecting bar for moving the same in one direction, and manually operable means for moving said connecting bar in the opposite direction.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a table having a top adapted to support a sliced loaf of bread and a wrapper therefor, clamp members arranged above the table top and adapted to engage the ends of the loaf to hold the slices together while the loaf is being wrapped, a pair of oscillatory arms exteriorly arranged at opposite sides of the table and to the upper ends of which said clamp members are firmly secured, means operably connecting the lower ends of said arms to the table, a pair of links connected at their upper ends to the upper portions of the arms and extending inwardly and downwardly towards each other, an upwardly extending connecting bar operably secured to the lower ends of the links, guide means for the upper portion of said connecting bar, a coil spring embracing the upper portion of said connecting bar to move the same in one direction, and a treadle operably connected to the lower portion of said connecting bar to move the same in the opposite direction.

ROBERT O. WHITAKER.

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