US1961959A

US1961959A - Slicing machine

Info

Publication number: US1961959A
Application number: US598131A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Campbell
Original assignee: AMERICAN SLICING MACHINE CO
Current assignee: AMERICAN SLICING MACHINE CO
Priority date: 1932-03-11
Filing date: 1932-03-11
Publication date: 1934-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1951-06-05

Description

June 5, 1934. w. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed March ll, 1932 5 .Sheets-Sheet l fnyen 02 wf/ffm J5@ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2,

i. L ILI l June 5, 1934. Wl J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed March ll, 1952 June 5, 1934. w. J, CAMPBELL 1,961,959

SLICING MACHINE Filed March l1. 1,232 5 SheetSSheet 3 fnl/enfer June 5, 1934.

W. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed March 1l, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE June 5, 1934.

Filed March ll 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 50 radially spaced screws C111.

Patented June 5, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Application March 11, 1932, Serial No. 598,131

17 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines and has for one purpose the provision of a slicing machine which shall be light, small, and easy to handle but which shall p have the efficiency, speed and capacity of considerably larger machines. Another purpose is the provision of an improvement in gauge plate adjustment and operation for a slicing machine. 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, where- 1n- Figure l is a plan View with parts in horizontal section, taken along the line l--l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a partial planview similar to Figure l, illustrating the gauge plate adjusting V2() mechanism in a diiierent position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates any suitable base having anti-vibrational pads or supports A1 which rest upon any suitable supporting surface A2 for example a counter or the like.

B indicates a motor housing mounted on the base A. B1 is the motor shaft and B2 a pulley on the shaft about which passes a belt B3.

C indicates a housing extension projecting upwardly from the base A. Formed integrally with it is a flared sleeve C1 terminating rearwardly in a generally cylindrical portion C2. Positioned within the portion C2, the details of which form no part of the present invention and are not indicated herein, is any suitable bearing means for 40 the knife shaft C3 on which is mounted a pulley C4 and the knife C5. As will be seen for example in Figure 1 the pulley is positioned within and is housed by the member C1 but the cutting edge of the knife C5 extends outwardly beyond it as at C5, the rear face of the knife being notched or recessed as at C7 to receive and overlap the outer edge of the member C1. Any suitable means may be employed to hold knife and pulley in place, for example the axial screw C9 and the The knife may be removed from the knife shaft, while leaving the pulley in place, by removing the screw C9. The pulley may be removed by loosening the screws C10. C12 indicates an end wall of the upward housing projection C and C13 the rear wall. As is (Cl. 14S-102) shown in Figure 1, the rear wall is apertured as at C14 to permit the passage therethrough of the motor shaft B1 and of a portion of the motor housing B.

The forward face of the upstanding housing member C is closed as by the guard plate generally indicated as E. As is shown in Figure 1 the axis of the knife is slightly tilted to permit the arcuate edge El of the guard plate to penetrate a forward hollow E2 of the knife and to lie substantially flush with the very slightly bowed cutting plane defined by the cutting edge of the knife. The guard plate carries a scraper E3 secured thereon in any suitable manner, for example by the adjusting screw E1. The details of the scraper do not of themselves form part of the present invention. The lower edge of the guard plate is notched as at E5 E5 to seat upon supporting pins E5 which may be screwthreaded for adjustment into the portion of the base or frame to which they are secured. The plate E is outwardly offset at top and bottom as at E13 E11 in order to permit the arcuate edge E1 to penetrate the forward hollow of the knife C5.

Positioned on the base, and forwardly of the knife, are the tracks H H1, the outer tracks H1 being for example mounted on outwardly extending arms H2. Movable along said tracks is a carriage member generally indicated as H3 which includes track engaging members HA1 H5. Mounted on the carriage H3 is the work receiving member which includes a main portion H5 downwardly inclined forwardly toward the knife when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2. At the lower edge is an angle H7 at right angles thereto, and with the rounded upper edge portion H3. The portion of the member H6 adjacent the cutting plane extends outwardly as a't H9 to terminate in the roller edge H10. The outer portion terminates as at H11. H12 indicates a guide pin mounted on the carriage and terminating in a tapered portion H13, a rounded enlargement H11 and avnal taper H15. The maximum diameter of the portion H1l1 is substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the body of the pin or shaft H12.

J indicates a pusher plate having the handle J1 and forward work engaging pins or points J2. Extending rearwardly from the handle is the arm J3 which terminates in a sleeve J4 adapted to ride on the pin or guide H12. It will be understood that the arm J3 is of sufficient length to clear the portion H9 of the work receiving member H6. The taper H13 and the outer tapered member H15 permit the sleeve J1 readily to be applied to or withdrawn from the pin H12, with no initial cramping or jamming. This is an advantage in permitting the ready and quick application of or removal of the pusher plate assembly. The handle J1 is provided with an upwardly extending rib J5, as illustrated in Figures l and 2. J6 indicates a fiber washer secured to the lower edge of the pusher plate J, and in slidable relationship with the work receiving member H5.

Positioned to the rear of the cutting plane is any suitable slice receiving tray, normally fixed in position, indicated as K. It is upwardly extended at one end as at K1 and is also upwardly extended forwardly as at K2. It may be removed, but is normally locked in position in relation to the slicing machine assembly. The forward edge K2 is herein indicated as terminating along a rectilinear horizontal plane as at K2.

L indicates a gauge plate support or bracket which extends rearwardly as at L1 and has a gauge plate L2 secured thereto as by the screws L9. It will be seen, as in Figure 3, that the extreme lower edge of the gauge plate L2 engages and is secured to the rearward horizontal extension L1 of the support L. L1 is an inclined guide rod for the gauge plate assembly which may be mounted as in the securing sleeves L5 L5. L6 is a similar but shorter guiding rod. The two rods L1 L6 are parallel and the bearing sleeves L7, L5 are so located that the rods L1 L6 may move in unison and in parallel. They are connected by the cross member L11 to which the gauge plate supporting member L may be secured as by the screws L9. It will be understood that in order to permit adjustment of the gauge plate support or bracket L in relation to the cross member L8 the screws L9 are made to pass through apertures in the member L9, indicated as L1o in Figure 3, which are of suiiicient diameter to permit L to be adjusted in relation to L2. Thus L may be adjusted endwise or transversely in relation to L2 or may be somewhat rotated or tilted in relation to L2.

In order to move the gauge plate assembly toward and away from the cutting plane I provide a control lever M pivoted as at M1 and having an outer manual control handle M2, and a pointer M3 movable along the arcuate indicating table M4 which is calibrated as at M5 or provided with a plurality of numbered or indicated marks to determine the desired setting of the gauge plate referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 5. This movement tends to thrust a wedge M9 into or against a segmental wedge receiving trough M19, which trough is secured to the frame as by screws M11. The wedge M9 is secured to the lever M6 by a plurality of links M12. Therefore, when the device is in the full line position of Figure 5 the spring Ms holds the handle M2 and the associated lever structure against rotation, whereby unintended changes of adjustment of the gauge plate are prevented. In using the device the operator has merely to thrust down slightly on the handle M2, moving it into the dotted line position of Figure 5, compressing the spring M8 and releasing the wedge M9 from the locking segment M19. M19 is any suitable abutment herein shown as an adjusting screw whereby the limit of the permitted manual movement of the handle M2 and the lever MG is controlled.

j M11 is any suitable plate positioned on the bottom of the frame which may have for effect to limit the downward movement of the lever structure as a whole in case there is any play or loosening oi the lever in relation to its pivot M1. M15 are limit members adapted to engage bosses M1G on the frame or on depending webs M17 of the frame, whereby the are of movement of the lever M and the handle M2 may be limited and adjusted.

The actual movement of the gauge plate in response to rotation of the lever M is obtained as follows. The lever M is provided with a projecting wing O to which are bolted or otherwise secured the arms O1 to the outwardly extending ends of which are pivoted links O2 which in turn are pivoted to the shoulder O4 of the bolt O3 which passes through the shaft L4 previously described. O5 is a slack take-up spring connecting the shoulder Ol1 with the members O1. It has for its function to take up the lost motion between the gauge plate guide rod L4 and the operating lever M. It will be understood that the arms O1 are adjustable in relation to the projecting wing O. For example, if the handle M2 is in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 with the pointer at Zero, the gauge plate must also be at the zero position or at its closest approach to the cutting plane. The screws or bolts O9 may be slacked oli" and the arms O1 are adjusted into the desired position, when the screws or bolts are then tightened to hold the arms permanently in their proper adjustment. It will be understood that the apertures 01 through which pass the bolts O6 are of somewhat greater diameter than the bolts, suiiiciently so to permit whatever degree of adjustment is necessary.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The structure herein described and shown forms a light, easily operated and efhcient slicing machine of the manual feed type, in which the rotary knife C5 is rotated at relatively high speed by electric motor means. The carriage H3 is guided by the tracks Il H1, but the carriage is moved manually by the hand of the operator. Mounted on the carriage for movement along a path preferably at right angles to the cutting plane is the pusher plate J, which is also manually operated. For example, the operator may grasp with his hand the sleeve J4, the arm J2 or the handle H1. By thrusting forwardly along the cutting plane and somewhat inwardly toward the cutting plane the work is thrust into effective contact with the forward face of the gauge plate L2. A continuation of the inclined thrust carries the carriage and the work, properly gauged, against the cutting edge of the knife C5. The slice is cut and falls upon the slice receiving tray K. The work meanwhile continues across the face of the guard plate E until the work has been entirely carried past the cutting edge and the slice has been severed. The operator then manually withdraws the carriage and repeats his inclined thrust for the ensuing stroke and slice.

In the gauge plate control structure herein shown the operator sets the gauge plate for any desired thickness of slice by merely moving the handle M2 and the pointer M3 along the segment M4. As closer regulation is desired for the ner slices, and the ability to cut thin slices of varying thinness, I have so disposed the lever M and its associated parts that the initial movement causes a minimum movement of the gauge plate L2. As the handle is moved downwardly, referring to the positions of Jthe parts in Figure 1 the further movement of the handle and lever M causes a constantly increasing movement of the gauge plate L2. In other words, a movement of one notch or space at the initial end of the segment M5 causes a corresponding movement of the gauge plate L2 which is quite slight. The movement of the handle M through a similar arc toward the end of the scale of the segment M5 causes a much greater movement of the gauge plate L2. This disposition is highly advantageous, as it is at the narrow end of the scale that precise regulation of the thickness of the slices in most important.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the Ygauge plate, including a thrust plunger mounted within said base, guiding means for constraining said thrust plunger and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust plunger, including a lever pivoted for rotation, in said base, about a vertical axis, said lever including a handle portion extending outwardly through one side of the base, the base being provided with a 'generally horizontal aperture to permit movement of said handle portion, and a link connection belween said lever and said thrust plunger.

2. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust plunger mounted within said base, guiding means for constraining said thrust plunger and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust plunger, including a lever pivoted for rotation, in said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust plunger, including an additional lever member rigid in relation to the rst mentioned lever and a flexible connection between said second lever member and the thrust plunger.

3. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust plunger mounted within said base, guiding means for constraining said thrust plunger and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust plunger, including a lever pivoted for rotation, in said base, and a connec-` tion between said lever and said thrust plunger, including an additional lever member rigid in relation to the first mentioned lever and a link connection between said second lever member and the thrust plunger.

4. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust plunger mounted within said base, guiding means for constraining said thrust plunger and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust plunger, including a lever' pivoted for rotation, in said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust plunger, including an additional lever member rigid in relation to the first mentioned lever and a link connection between said second lever member and the thrust plunger, and a spring interposed bef,- tween said thrust plunger and said second lever member.

5. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust plunger mounted 'within said base, guiding means for constraining said thrust plunger and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust plunger, including a lever pivoted for rotation, in said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust plunger, and frictional brake means adapted positively to hold the lever against unintended movement when released, said frictional brake means being nor mally at all times operative to hold the lever against movement, and vmeans for moving said frictional brake means into inoperative position.

6. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust member, guiding means for constraining said thrust member and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust member, including a lever pivoted for rotation, on said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust member, and brake means adapted positively to hold the lever against unintended movement when released, said brake means ine cluding a brake band mounted on the base and an opposed brake member mounted on the lever and means tending normally to hold said braking members in braking relationship.

'l'. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the` gauge plate, including a thrust member, guiding means for constraining said thrust member and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust member, including a lever pivoted for rotation, on said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust member, said lever being provided with a handle portion movable in relation to the lever, a brake member on the base, an opposed brake member on the handle portion and means tending normally to hold said opposed mem,- bers in braking relationship.

8. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust member, guiding means for constraining said thrust member and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust member, including a lever pivoted for rotation, on said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust member, said lever being provided with a handle portion movable in relation to the lever, a brake member on the base, an opposed brake member on the handle portion and means tending normally to hold said opposed members in braking relationship, including yielding means tending to rotate the handle portion in relation to the lever.

9. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust member, guiding means for constraining said thrust member and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust member, including a lever pivoted for rotation, on said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust member, said lever being provided with a handle portion movable in relation to the lever, an arcuate brake member on the base, an opposed brake member on the handle portion and means tending normally to hold said opposed members in braking relationship.

10. In a slicing machine including a base, a knife mounted thereon and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate, means for actuating the gauge plate, including a thrust member, guiding means for constraining said thrust member and gauge plate to movement along a predetermined path and means for moving said thrust member, including a lever pivoted for rotation, on said base, and a connection between said lever and said thrust member, said lever being provided with a handle portion movable in relation to the lever, an arcuate brake trough on the base, an opposed brake member on the handle portion, and means tending normally to move said brake member into wedging contact with the brake trough.

11. A slicing machine including a base, a knife thereon and means for actuating it, and a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, including a lever rotatably mounted within the base about a generally perpendicular axis, and an actuating connection between said lever and the gauge plate including a link pivoted to said lever, a member pivoted to said link and a connection between said member and the gauge plate and yielding wear take-up means interposed between said lever and said member.

12. A slicing machine including a base, a knife thereon and means for actuating it, and a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, including a lever rotatably mounted within the base, and an actuating connection between said lever and the gauge plate, said lever being mounted for movement about a generally vertical axis, and means spaced from said axis for restricting movement of said lever to its normal plane of rotation, and a handle member, extending exteriorly of the base, said handle member being pivoted to said lever for rotation in relation to the lever about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said lever.

13. In a slicing machine including a base, and a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, and a gauge plate and means for actuating the gauge plate including a compound lever structure said compound lever structure being mounted for rotation as a whole about a generally vertical axis and including a main lever member rotatable about said axis and a supplemental member, and a connection between the main member of said lever structure and the gauge plate, the supplemental member of said lever structure being rotatable about a horizontal axis in relation to the main member and means for limiting relative rotation of said two lever elements.

14. In a slicing machine including a base, and a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, and a gauge plate and means for actuating the gauge plate including a compound lever structure said compound lever structure being mounted for rotation as a whole about a generally vertical axis and including a main lever member rotatable about said axis and a supplemental member, and a connection between the main member of said lever structure and the gauge plate, the supplemental member of said lever structure being rotatable about a horizontal axis in relation to the main member, and adjustable means for limiting relative rotation of said two lever elements.

15. A slicing machine including a base, a knife thereon and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a slice receiving member on the base, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, including a lever mounted beneath the slice receiving member for rotation about a perpendicular axis, a wing normally fixed on the lever, and offset from the handle portion thereof, a connection member adjustable on said wing, a gauge plate actuating plunger associated with the gauge plate, and a link pivoted to said connecting member and to said plunger.

16. A slicing machine including a base, a knife thereon and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a slice receiving member on the base, a gauge plate and means for actuating it including a lever pivoted beneath the slice receiving member for rotation about a generally vertical axis, a plunger member and a connection between said plunger member and the gauge plate and an adjustment member intermediate said plunger member and lever, adapted to adjust the position of the gauge plate in relation to any predetermined position of the lever, and a link connection between the plunger member and the lever, the link connection and the adjustment member being operatively connected.

17. In a slicing machine including a base, and a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, and a gauge plate and means for actuating the gauge plate including a compound lever structure, said compound lever structure being mounted for rotation as a whole about a generally vertical axis and including a main lever member rotatable about said axis and a supplemental member, and a connection between the main member of said lever structure and the gauge plate, the supplemental member of said lever structure being rotatable about a horizontal axis in relation to the main member and means for limiting relative rotation of said two lever elements, and a brake member associated with the supplemental lever member and an additional brake member, fixed on the base, to which it is opposed.

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.