US1995096A

US1995096A - Slicing machine

Info

Publication number: US1995096A
Application number: US553282A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Henry Fritz
Original assignee: ADAM HARDT
Current assignee: ADAM HARDT
Priority date: 1931-07-27
Filing date: 1931-07-27
Publication date: 1935-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1952-03-19

Description

March 19, 1935. H, n-z 5R 1,995,096

ISLICING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1931- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE/V TOR I I E2727 E72 2, 52". 9 er.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1935 1 995,096,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Henry Fritz, Sr., Sheboygan, Wis., assignor of one-half to Adam Hardt, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 27, 1931, Serial No. 553,282

21 Claims. (Cl. 146-153) This invention relates to improvements in slic- Figure 2 is a detail perspective view illustrating machines, and refers more particularly to the ing the manner of mounting the blades in sets; mounting of the blades or knives in bread slicing Figure 3-is a cross sectional view taken through machines. Fig. 1 on the plane of the line 3-3;

In slicing machines of the class to which this Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken 5 invention belongs the loaves are conveyed past through Fig. 3 on the plane of the line 4-4;

sets of moving blades or knives spaced apart a Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view distance equal to the thickness of the desired taken through Fig. 3 on the plane of the line 5-5 slice. Inmany bakeries a single slicing machine Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view taken takes care of the entire sliced loaf output, and through Fig. 3 on the plane of the line 66; and 10 hence any break-down in the machine delays the Figure 7 is a detail perspective view illustratentire output. The knives or blades are most ing the manner of detachably mounting the insusceptible to breakage, and in machines heretodividual blades. fore employed, the mounting of the knives or Referring now more particularly to the accomblades has been such that even the replacement panying drawings, in which like numerals indi- 15 of a single broken blade necessitated a considercate like parts throughout the several views, the able delay. numeral 5 represents a conveyer table along It is, therefore, an object of this invention to which loaves of bread B are conveyed in any provide a novel and improved manner of mountsuitable manner, guid being p vid ho 2:) ing the blades of a slicing machine whereby any the loaves on the conveyer table. The loaves single blade may be detached and. replaced Withare conveyed toward an inclined portion 6 in the out necessitating a delay of more than a few table near the bottom of which is the slicing minutes. mechanism indicated generally by the numeral It is also desirable to provide means for adapt- '7. The conveyer table may be supported in any ingasingle machine to different slice thicknesses, suitable manner, not shown, and the slicing 25 and heretofore changing of the slice thickness mechanism is preferably supported from side has required practically dismantling the entire rails 8 which may form p Of the supporting knife mounting structure. It is, therefore, anstructure of the conveyer. Extending across the other object of this invention to provide means bottom of the side rails 8 is a transverse support whereby the knives are readily removable and 9 p Which the slicing c a s is di e0t1y30 insertable in sets so that any one set of blades mounted. or knives may be quickly withdrawn and another The slicing mechanism comprises two transset inserted. versely adjacent parallel sets of knives or blades Afurther object of this invention is to generally 10 and 11 Wh ch are mounte pp improve the design and construction of the blade tical reciprocation by guide rods 12 and 12' re- 35 mounting structure of slicing machines. spe tiv ly, having eir lower ends secured to With the above and other objects in view which the transverse support 9 and their upper ends will appear as the description proceeds, my inreceived in openings formed in a top cross piece vention resides in the novel construction, com- 13, the outer ends of the cross piec 13 being bination and arrangement of parts substantially attached to vertical side supports 14 extended 40 as hereinafter described and more particularly upwardly from the side rails 8. defined by the appended claims, it being under- Slidably mounted on the sets of guide'rods 12 stood that such changes in the precise embodiand 12' are substantially U shaped frames 15 ment of the hereindisclosed invention may be comp s O B tra vers ils 16 and side rails made as come within the scope of the claims. 17. These U shaped frames are preferably cast In the accompanying drawings, is illustrated and have

bored lugs

18 and 19 extended from one complete example of the physical embodithe top and bottom respectively, of their side ment of this invention constructed according to rails 17 to slidably receivethe

rods

12 and 12. the best mode so far devised for the practical Opposite vertical reciprocation is imparted to application of the principles thereof, and in the frames 15 by rocker arms 20 connected which: through pitmans 21 with the upper ends of the Figure 1 is a transverse section through a slicames as at 2 The rocker arms 20 are fixed ing machine embodying this invention and illust0 the Portions of a Cross shaft 23 a d at a trating the manner in which the loaves are conmedial point the shaft has secured thereto, a

ducted past the knives; lever 24' with which an actuating member 25 is connected to oscillate the shaft 23 back and forth.

The inner edge portion of the side and bottom rails of the U shaped frames 15 are provided with continuous grooves 26 for the reception of plates 27. These plates are formed of stiff sheet metal and are rectangular in shape with a rectangular opening 28 of such size as to enable the loaves of bread B to pass therethrough. The top and

bottom rails

29 and 30, respectively, of the plates are provided with means for readily detachably mounting sets of knives or blades 31. As seen in Fig. 3, the knives or blades carried by one plate are staggered with respect to the knives of the other, and the distance between the adjacent knives on each plate is equal to twice the thickness of the desired slice so that the distance between the adjacent knives, when assembled in the machine equals the slice thickness. The knives of both sets occupy the same transverse plane so that all of the knives engage the loaf at the same time with one set moving upwardly and the other downwardly. Hence there is no tendency for the loaf to turn or twist.

The specific manner in which the individual knives are attached to their carrying plates is best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. It is observed that the bottom rails 30 of the knife carrying plates are provided with attaching blocks 32, the blocks of the two plates facing each other. The outer end portions of the blocks 32 are slotted to receive the lower ends of the blades 31, and bayonet slots 33 extending transversely across the blocks 32 are adapted to receive pins 34 fixed to the lower ends of the blades. The manner of attaching and removing the lower blade ends from the blocks 32 is obvious.

The upper ends of the knives are attached to the top rails 29 of the plates in a somewhat similar manner. Fixed to the top rails 29 and extending across the entire length thereof are angle plates 35. These plates form part of the means for attaching the upper ends of the blades and also stiffen the top rails 29.

The top rails 29 and the vertical flanges of the angle plates 35 are provided with rectangular openings 36 in line with each knife or blade, and slidably mounted in these apertures are attaching blocks 37. grooves 38 in their opposite sides to receive the side edges 39 of the rectangular openings formed in the angle plate and thus slidably mount the blocks 37.

Like the attaching blocks 32 at the lower ends of the knives, the blocks 37 are slotted as at 40 for the reception of the upper end portions of the blades and have transverse bayonet slots 41 to receive their adjacent cross pins 34.

The blocks 37 are yieldably urged in an upward direction to maintain the blades 31 under tension, by expansive springs 42 coiled about screws 43 and confined between the heads of the screws and the horizontal flanges of the angle plates 35 through openings in which the screws extend to be threaded into tail pieces 44 on the blocks 3'7.

Each individual blade is thus readily detachably mounted from its carrying plate 30 and each plate as a whole is readily detachably mounted in its U shaped frame as best shown in Fig. 2. As hereinbefore stated, the side edge portions and the bottom edge portions of the plates are received in grooves 26 formed in the side and bottom rails respectively of the U shaped frames and to insert a plate carrying a set of knives, it

The attaching blocks 37 have is only necessary to slide the same vertically into its frame. Screws 45 threaded in suitable openings in the frames and passing through openings in the plates are provided to hold the plates assembled with the-frames. Hence to remove a plate and the knives carried thereby, it is only necessary to remove the screws 45 and lift the plate out of the frame, removal of the plates being facilitated by a handle 46 formed on the upper end of each plate. This mounting for the plates makes it possible to quickly adapt the machine to a different slice thickness, for plates may be kept on hand with the knives set at various distances apart and it is thus merely a question of inserting the proper set of plates.

Obviously, the plates must be provided in pairs inasmuch as the knives of one are staggered with respect to the other, and as the cutting edges of both sets of knives must face in the same direction.

At the point where the knives pass through the conveyer table, the table may be provided with a series of openings to accommodate the knives, but a more preferable construction is to provide a comb member 4'7 which forms a continuation of the conveyer table and provides a support for the loaves between the knives.

From the foregoing description taken in con-.

nection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that this invention affords a novel manner of mounting the knives of a slicing machine whereby the replacement of individual knives may be quickly effected, and whereby different sets of plates to accommodate different slice thicknesses may be quickly inserted and removed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, 'spaced reciprocable guides, a frame including spaced top and bottom members and side rails having a longitudinal sliding engagement with the spaced reciprocable guides, and means for connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the spaced top and bottom members of said frame.

2. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, a reciprocable frame open at its top, a second frame including spaced top and bottom members, and side members, means slidably connecting the side members of the second frame with the first frame to enable the sliding of the second frame into and out of engagement with the first frame through the open top of the first frame, and means for connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the topand bottom members of the second frame.

3. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, a substantially U shaped frame, means reciprocably mounting said frame, a second frame including spaced top and bottom members connected by side members, means providing a sliding connection between the side members of the frames whereby the second frame is slidable into and out of engagement with the first frame through the open top of the first frame, and means for connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the top and bottom members of the second frame.

4. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, a substantially U shaped frame, means reciprocably mounting said frame, a second frame including spaced too and bottom members connected by side members, means providing a sliding connection between the side members of the frames whereby the second frame is slidable into and out of engagement with the first frame through the open top of the first frame, and means readily detachably connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the top and bottom members of the second frame.

5. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, a substantially U shaped frame, means reciprocably mounting said frame, a second frame including spaced top and bottom members connected by side members, means providing a sliding connection between the side members of the frames whereby the second frame is slidable into and out of' engagement with the first frame through the open top of the first frame, and readily detachable means individually connecting the opposite ends of each blade with the top and bottom members of the second frame.

6. In a slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation, comprising, a reciprocable carrier, a flat plate having its medial portion cut away to provide spaced top and bottom members connected by side members, means connecting the fiat plate with the carrier, and means connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the top and bottom members of the fiat plate comprising, a detachable fixed connection between one of said plate members and one end of the blades, blocks slidably moimted from the other of said plate members, a detachable connection between the blocks and the opposite ends of the blades, and means for yieldably urging the blocks in a direction to impose tension on the blades.

7. In a bread slicing machine, a plurality of blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocationcomprising, a substantially U shaped framehaving spaced sides connected by a bottom member, the inner edges of the frame sides and bottom members having a continuous groove, means reciprocably mounting said frame, a plate having its side edges received in the grooves of the side members of the frame and its bottom edge received in the groove in the bottom member of the frame, said plate being slidable through the open top of the U shaped frame into and out of operative engagement therewith, means readily detachably securingthe plate in its operative engagement with the frame, and means mounting the blades from the plate whereby the blades are removable from the frame as a unit.

8. In a slicing machine, a plurality of cutting blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, spaced fixed supports, a substantially U shaped frame disposed between said supports and slidably mounted therefrom, a flat rectangular frame slidably engaged with the U shaped frame and removable therefrom through the open top of the U shaped frame, means to secure said rectangular frame in the U shaped frame, means connecting the opposite ends of the blades with the upper and lower members of the rectangular frame, and means connected with the U shaped frame to reciprocate the same.

9. In a slicing machine, a plurality of cutting blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising vertical fixed supports spaced from each other, a slotted member slidably mounted on each vertical support, means connecting said slidaby mounted members, means connected with one of said slidably mounted slotted members to reciprocate the same vertically, a substantially fiat rectangular frame having its side edges engaged in the slots of the members slidable on the spaced supports, and means to connect the opposite ends of the blades with the upper and lower members of the flat rectangular frame.

10. In a slicing machine, a. pair of spaced vertical fixed supports, grooved rails slidably mounted on each of said fixed supports with the grooves thereof in a common plane facing each other, means to connect said grooved rails at their bottoms to form a U shaped rigid frame, means connected with said rigid frame to reciprocate the same on the spaced fixed supports, a flat apertured plate slidably engaged in-the grooves of the rails, said flat plate being readily detachable from the rigid U shaped frame by withdrawing the same upwardly through its open top, means to secure said fiat apertured plate in the U shaped frame whereby the same'reciprocates with the U shaped frame, and meansto detachably mount a plurality of blades on said fiat plate to extend vertically across the aperture in said plate.

11. In a slicing machine, two sets of reciprocable cutting blades, means to mount the blades with those of one set alternately positioned between those of the other set and with substantially equal spaces between the blades and all of their cutting edges in substantially a common plane, comprising a reciprocable frame for each set of blades, said reciprocable frames each including connected side members having guideways facing each other, a rectangular blade carrying frame slidably engaged in the guideways of each reciprocable frame, means to readily detachably hold each of the rectangular frames in its respective reciprocable frame, blade supports projected from the upper and lower cross bars of the rectangular frames, said blade supports of both rectangular frames having their end portions in substantially a common plane, so that the blades attached thereto have their cutting edges in substantially a common plane, and means connected with the reciprocable frames to simultaneously and oppositely reciprocate the sets of blades.

12. In a slicing machine, two sets of reciprocable cutting blades, means to mount the' blades with those of one set alternately positioned between those of the other set and with substantially equal spaces between the blades and all of their cutting edges facing one way, comprising a reciprocable frame for each set of blades, said reciprocable frames each including connected side members having guideways facing each other, an apertured flat metal plate slidably engaged in the guideways of each reciprocable frame, means to readily detachably hold-the apertured flat metal plates in their respective reciprocable frames, said means enabling ready detachment of the plates from their frames, blade supports projected from the upper and lower cross pieces of the apertured plates with the blade supports of one plate facing those on the other and interposed alternately between those of the other, means to readily detachably connect the blades of one set to the supports of one plate and the blades of the other set to the supports of the other plate, and means connected with the reciprocable frames to simultaneously and oppositely reciprocate the sets of blades.

13. In a bread slicing machine, two opposed reciprocable guides, a plurality of spaced cutting blades, means to mount the cutting blades from the two opposed reciprocable guides for ready detachment from the guides as a unit comprising, a flat relatively thin metal plate having its medial portion cut away to afford a substantially rectangular opening and providing upper and lower cross pieces connected by side members, the side members being readily detachably connectible with the reciprocable guides, blade supports carried by the upper and lower members, and means to readily detachably connect the ends of the blades to said supports.

14. In a bread slicing machine, a reciprocable frame having an open top, a plurality of cutting blades, means to mount the cutting blades from the reciprocable frame so as to be readily detachable therefrom by withdrawal through the open top of the frame as a unit, said means comprising an apertured fiat metal plate, the aperture in said flat metal plate providing horizontally spaced members, fixed blade supports projecting from the face of one of said horizontally spaced members, movable blade supports projected from the face of the other horizontally spaced member, means to connect the ends of the blades with said blade supports, and yieldable means to urge the movable blade supports in a direction maintaining the blades taut.

15. In a bread slicing machine, a pair of spaced reciprocable units, means to simultaneously and oppositely reciprocate said units, a set of cutting blades for each reciprocable unit, and means to mount the sets of cutting blades one from each reciprocable unit so as to enable ready removal of the sets of cutting blades from the units without dismantling any portion of the reciprocable units whereby the substitution of one set of cutting blades for another is readily accomplished, said means comprising flat plate members apertured to afford horizontal spaced supporting rails, blade supports carried by said horizontally spaced supporting rails of each plate member, the blade supports of one plate member being disposed alternately between the blade supports of the other, and means to readily detachably connect the individual blades with the blade supports with all of the blades having, their cutting edges facing one way.

16. In a slicing machine, a plurality of cutting blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising vertical fixed supports spaced from each other, a slotted member slidably carried by each vertical support, means connected with said slidably mounted slotted members to reciprocate the same vertically, a substantially flat rectangular frame having its side edges engaged in the slots of said slidably mounted members, and means to connect the opposite ends of the blades with the upper and lower portions of the fiat rectangular frame.

1'7. In a slicing machine, a plurality of cutting blades, means mounting the blades for reciprocation comprising, vertical fixed supports spaced from each other, a slotted member slidably carried by each vertical support, means connecting said slidably mounted members, means connected with the structure formed by the slidably mounted slotted members and their connection to reciprocate the same vertically, a substantially flat rectangular'frame having its side edges engaged in the slots of said slidably mounted members, and means to connect the opposite ends of the blades with the upper and lower members of the flat rectangular frame.

18. In a slicing machine, two sets of reciprocable blades, means to mount the blades with those of one set alternately positioned between those of the other set and with substantially equal spaces between the blades and with all their cutting edges facing one way comprising, a reciprocable frame for each set of blades, said reciprocable frames each including connected side members having guideways facing each other, a rectangular blade carrying frame slidably engaged in the guideways of each reciprocable frame, means to readily detachably hold each of the rectangular frames in its respective reciprocable frame, blade supports projecting from upper and lower cross bars of the rectangular frames, and means connected with the reciprocable frames to simultaneously and oppositely reciprocate the sets of blades.

19. In a slicing machine, two sets of cutting blades arranged with the blades of one set interposed between the blades of the other set and with the cutting edges of all of the blades facing one way, means to mount said sets of blades for simultaneous and opposite reciprocation and for bodily removal from the machine as complete units comprising, rigid side supports, a blade supporting frame for each set of blades having top and bottom members connected by side rails, blade supports projecting from the top and bottom members of said frames and to which the ends of the individual blades are attached, said blade supports being arranged so that those of one frame pass those of the other, and guide means to slidably connect the side rails of the blade supporting frames with said rigid side supports, said blade supporting frames being slidably disengageable from the guide means to enable withdrawal of either blade supporting frame from the machine with all of the blades thereon.

20. In a slicing machine, a pair of spaced side frame members having upstanding portions, a pair of reciprocable blade frames, each having spaced cutting blades disposed between those of the other, means carried by said upstanding portions for guiding said blade frames during reciprocation, said blade frames being interchangeable with each other, means for reciprocating each of said blade frames in a direction opposite to the other, and detachable means connecting said blade frames with said reciprocating means, the space above said guiding means and blade frames being open and unobstructed wherebyupon disengagement of said detachable means said blade frames may be bodily lifted from between said upstanding portions without disassembling the necting said blade frames with said reciprocating means, the space above said guiding means and blade frames being open and unobstructed whereby upon disengagement of said detachable means said blade frames may be bodily lifted from between said side frame members without disassembling the remainder of said machine.

HENRY FRITZ, SR.