US2004602A - Combined work holder and clamp - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1935. J. FOLK COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet l June 11, J F K 2,004,602

COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND'CLAMP Filed July 5, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 11, 1935.

J. FOLK COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 11, 1935. J FOLK COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 J z 17 M m Q\ WV A07 w 0 00 JM mu I 7 I \M. w 8% Q0 5 m N0 Q. N? m v w MP m h I 0 WI. \\|I| //|I| Qv I IH L I IIIW- I I fi R w n IHII I III 0 F IIII II I m 1 fifiefibhr 0 0 00 0 0 w 0 /M Q Q% Q0 Mn 0% N% H m %fi g June 11, 1935. 7 J, FO K 2,004,002

' COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 TSheets-Sheet 5 4144 .36 c5 49 45 42 49 J: M 745/30 June 11, 1935. J. FOLK COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Julrlell,1935. V

. FCLK COMBINED WORK HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINED woRK HOLDER CLAMP Joseph Folk,-La. Porte, Ind., assignor to Slicing Machine Com corporation of Indian pany, La Portle, Ind., a

Application July 3, .1930, Serial No.-465,59 2

19 Claims. (01. 146-4217) The present invention relates to slicing machines and particularly to that class of slicing machine in which the substance is mounted on a reciprocating carriage and carried past the slicing knife when the carriage is moved. Howaddition I have shown in this application a modification of that work holder. One object of this invention is to provide a novel form of work holder for clamping a substance on th bottom thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a work holder which may clamp any oneof a plurality of sides of a substance with'equal' effectiveness. H

Another object ofthis invention resides in the provision of a single operating means for moving the substance holder past the knife and simultaneously moving the substance towards the cutting plane of the knife.

Another object of this invention is to provide a substance clamp which acts also as a substance support.

More specifically an object of this invention is to provide a work clamp embodied in a work holder in such a manner that the same acts as a part of the supporting surface of the work holder as well as a clamping means for the substance to be sliced, preferably this substance clamp is adapted to occupy a plurality of positions in each of which the substance may be clamped firmly thereby. I

A- still further object of this inventionis to provide a work clamp for the substance being sliced and provide means for moving said clamp to position the substance in various angular positions on the Work holder in each of which the substance is in operative position to be sliced by the slicing knife. h V

Other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a slicing machine embodying my invention; 1 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 and looking from the left in that figurej Fig.3 is a 'view looking-in the direction 33 ofFig; 1; 1 V r Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig.3; v k

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken substantially alongthe line 55 of Fig. 3;"

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. '1 is a View looking's'ubstantially in the direction'll of Fig. 6 showing the work'hol'der in cross-section V in Fig. 8; a v

' Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially" along the line 8'8 of Fig. '7; and J 7 j Fig. 9 is a section'taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig.8. 4

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 10" substantially along line AB 7 4 inclusive, it-will be noted that the slicing machine comprises a base member lsupported 'by the rubber pads or feet 2. bracket 3 has the upstanding members 4 secured to the base. in' any suitable mannerand is-adapted to carry a guide ma 5, the upper surface of which is shielded by the cover portion 6 of the bracket 3. 4

LA guide bar 1 is secured by means of the screws 8 to the base I and is substantially square in cross section" as best illustrated in Fig. '2. A

bracket 8 has a bearing portion l0 surrounding the guide rod 5 and has another portion engaging the upper surface of the guide bar 'l. The bracket 9=also-has a plate ll secured thereto by means-of a screw I2 to form with the portion of the bracket 9 which engages the upper sur-- face of the guide bar 1, ,a'second guiding means for the bracket 9 and 'ameans whereby the turning'movement of the bracket '9 about the guide rod 'fi is prevented. This arrangement permits the'bracket 9 to be reciprocated along the guide rod 5 and the guide bar I ma rectilinear path.

The bracket 9 is adapted to support the work holder. This work holder comprises a casting [3 having the integral'bosses' l4 and bolts l5 extending through the bracket 9 and into the bosses I 4 for securing the casting I3 to the bracket 9. r p r A gage plate IB'mounted on a shaft I1 is moved longitudinally in the direction of the shaft H by means of an operatingknob H3. The shaft I l is mountedin a bracket l9 secured to the base I. The gage plate is provided with a plurality of grooves 20 on one face thereof. A rotating-knife is driven by a motor 22 in the manner shown in my aforementioned co-pending application orjin any other. suitable manner. A guard 23 protects the rear edge of the 29 on one face thereof. The mechanism so far described inla'f generalway is morespecifically described in my aforesaid copending application of these parts is necessary in this ap'plication as the claims in this application are limited to the work holder and clamp used-for holding the substance while it is being "sliced.

I will now proceed to describe the novel form of work holder used for holdingthe substance; in a position to 'be sliced. The casting J3 of.

the work holder has the upper surface-thereof substantially V shaped; vlin'cross-section as best illustrated in Fig. 1, and is covered byg rneans.

of aplate 30'securedthereto by-means ofsuitable bolts 31. As best illustrated in Fig. 3, there is a largerectangular opening 3| inethe plate 39 and also in the casting [3 for; the reception of the work clamp rdesignated generally as 32.

Thecasting l3- also supportsthe guide rods "33-and 34 which extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the guide rod 5 or in: a direction substantially perpendicular to the cutting plane of the knife. A frame 35 has a bearingportion '36 surrounding the guide rod 33 and a bearingportion-31 surrounding the guide rod-34onthree sides thereof. The guide bars 33 and 3 4' -ar e adapted to guide the frame 35=in;a rectilinear-path toand from the cutting plane of thexknife. I

' 39- has the arms 43, pivoted thereto: These The frame 35 carries the upstanding lugs,3.8,.

and thesesupport apivot rod 39. This pivot rod arms 43 are secured to the depending :flange 4! which surrounds the-plate 42 of,-thezwork clamp 32., Thedependingflange-4| extends all of'the way round the plate-42 :and rotataloly car'- riesthe shafts .43. Gears. securedqto the shafts 43 at; one end thereof mesh with each otherso that whenicnje of :the shaftsgis'rotated being rotated in oppqsite directions.

' the others will be rotated also,;.adjacent shafts Each of the shafts carry a plurality of prongs 45.:A handle 43 on a rod 41 screw threaded into one of the-shafts 43 and locked in place by a nut 48 is adapted to be usedfor the purpose of rotating the shaft to which it is secured, and as. a consequence, all of the otherwshafts by'means of the ge'ars 44. .When :theshafts 43 are rotated by moving the handle 46 in Fig. 4 in a counterclockwise direction, the prongs 45 will move through the openings 45 in the plate 42 so that if a substance is placed on the plate 42, the prongs 'willengage thesubstance and as themovement of. the shaftscontinues, the prongs-will draw the substance against the surface of the plate in the manner best described in the patent to .Luschka et al., .No. 1,356,165

patented October 19.1920. 1:

- The frame 35 is provided. with mettle 5o securedthereto by the screws! and by means of this handle the; frame may be ;moved; along the guide'ibars-33 and 34 towards the cutting; planeyof the knife, and at the-sametime ithe: workfholder maybe moved in. the direction of.

the-guide rod '5 tocarry the .work holder past the slicing knife so 'as to cut' :a.slice..from-the sub-.5

prevent buckling of the slice, and to ention, and it is believed that no further descrip' able the operator to cut more uniform slices fromgthe substance being sliced. This feature there :isstill'a considerable portion of the substance which has to be sliced. In order to do this! provide means whereby the work clamp may belmoved so that the plate 42 is inc. vertioaljposition .or in" aJ-position parallel 'to the cutting .planebf the. knife. After being moved.

to'this position; the work clamp operates substantially in they same manneras. in the aforementioned-patent to Luschka, ,et a1.

The means which I employ to produce the last mentionedresult is as follows: The clamp 32 as previouslysetforth is pivoted by means of the, arms 4!) to the pivot rod 39. This enables the clamp 42 to be quickly moved f-rom'a position in the-plane ofthe plate 30 to a position at substantially right angles thereto. Along one side of the clamp Iyarrange the, extension links 52 and 53 pivoted; to each other at 54'and to the frame 35 and depending flange 4 l respectively at 55:andf5.6. A stop 51 on the link52 isadapted to engage Within the notch 58in the link 53 to limit themovernent of the links relatively to? each-other whenlthe work clamp 32 is moved to .thefdotted .line position shown in. Fig. 4.- Preferably the ,linkswhen in their. extended pothe slice being, supported by means of the sup-' portingedge '59 of theyplate, 30. With this arrangement :practicallyall of the substance may beslicedasjismor'e clearly, set forth in the patent to .Luschka referred to above. Obviously the workholderidoes not "have to be V-shaped in cross-section becauserthe clamp will work equally as'wellwithja work holder having a horizontal supporting surface, or a supportingsurface which extends downwardly towards the cutting plane of the knife. Nor does the cutting plane ofthe knifehave to be vertical as illustrated in the drawings. a r

The frame 35 is provided with an adjustable stop 60 screw threaded in a boss 5! and locked in place by. meansgof a look nut 62. This stop BI] is adapted to engage one of the shafts 43 when the clamp 32 isin the positionshown in Fig. 4. By regulatingthe height of the stop 60, the-position 'of the plate 42 With respect to the plane of the plate .30 may beregulated withincertain limits. to thereby position the plate 42- in the best position for clamping the substance. It may be found that the clamp will operate better, with the plate 42 either slightly above or slightly below the supporting surface of the plate 30, and the stop 60 is the means for regulating the amount of this adjustment.

With some substances satisfactory slices may be obtained by slicing the substance without regard to the direction in which the fibers of the substance extend and in other substances which do not have any fibers the direction in which the slice is taken is practically immaterial. Therefore, I desire to provide a clamp which may be used to clamp such substancesasit is moved towards the cutting plane of the knife and while the clamp is in the plane .of the supporting surface of the work holder and may be so moved as to enable one to position the clamp in a position parallel to the cutting plane of the knife without the necessity of re-clamping the substance after the substance has been moved forwardly as far as possible while the clamp is in the plane of the. supporting surface of the work holder. In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, I have shown such a work holder and this work holder necessitates only the modification of the connection between the work holder and the frame which slides on the guide bars33 and 34. -In this modification the same reference. numerals refer to the correspondingv partsin Figs. .1 to' inclusive.

The work clamp is substantially the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, but is attached to the pivot rod in a diiferent manner.:. To the depending flange 4|, I secure an angle'bracket 63 by means of screws 64. On'the pivot rod 39 are pivoted the arms 65 which carry the ine tegral plate 66 having the elongated .slots 6T arranged therein in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 7. Thumb screws68 extend through slots 61 and are threaded into the angle brackets 63 as best illustrated in Fig. 8. Flanges 69 integral with the thumb screws 38 are adapted to abut against the plate 66 adjacent-the edges of the slots 6! so that when the thumb screws are tightened, the plate 66 is held firmly in engagement with the angle bracket 63 and consequently the clamp 32 must move with the plate '66 as it moves about the pivot 39 or with the frame 35. By loosening the thumb screws 68 the clamp 32 may be moved closer to or farther away from the pivot rod 39 as may be desired, the slots 6'! limiting the amountof permitted movement.

When using this modified form of clamp the parts are normally arranged in the position shown in Fig. 8 and during the slicing operation the plate 32 is in a position substantially flush with the supporting plate 30, the substance being moved towards the cutting plane of the knife the same as with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. However, when the frame 35 has reached its extreme left hand position in Fig. 8 one may merely release the thumb screws 68 and move the clamp 32 to the right While at the same time holding the frame 35 stationary. The position of the clamp 32 will then be as shown in dotted lines at C in Fig. 8 and the substance clamped thereon will occupy the position shown in dotted lines at E in Fig. 8. After tightening the thumb screws 68 the Work holder can be swung upwardly about the pivot rod 39 to position the clamp in a vertical plane such as at Dshown in Fig. 8 only at a more remote position through the link 10.

than shown in Fig. -8 in order that the substance willbe 'clearof the knife.

With the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, it is obvious as with the first form of the invention that the clamp cannot be with the substance clamped thereon, the clamp would prevent the'pivot II) can then be pivoted to the vertical dotted line position shown in that figure without reclampingv the substance. Of course,it will be understood that in addition to moving the clamp into the verticalposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the frame which carries the clamp is movedtoward the rear of Ithemachine in order thatthe substance will be moved far enough away from the slicing knife so as not to abutthereagainst.

In order tohold the clamp in desired position other than a position within the plate 30, I provide a plurality of links 10 and H pivoted to each I other at 12 and to the frame and clamp respectively at 13 and M. The pivot 12.is a thumb screw having an operating head 15. The stem portion of the thumb screw is screw threaded into a boss 16 on the link II and passes freely Since the links in and H may be held. rigidly in any angular adjustment relativelyto eachother, it is obvious that the clamp 32 may be held in any position of adjustment within the permitted movement thereof- Thus if desired slices may be cut from a substance while the same is heldat anangle to the cutting plane as well as at an angle to the work holder. 7 V

.It is obvious that the device shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive may be used in the same manner as the device, shown in Fgs. 1 to 5 inclusive, by merely clamping the parts together in the position shownin Fig. 8 and permitting them to remain in that position. If desired the'links 52 and. 53 shown with the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, may be provided with athumb screw in place of the pivot 54. 7 Obviously those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may ,make other changes in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: a v 1. In a work support for slicing machines, the combination with a plate having an opening therein, of a frame slidably mounted in said opening for movement substantially parallel to the supporting surface of said plate, and a supporting member mounted on said frame and adapted to occupy a position in substantially the same plane as said plate, said member being combination with a plate having an opening therein; of I a frame islidably .imounted. in said opening for movement'substantially parallel 'to' the supportingsurfaceof said (plate, and a supporting. member .mounted ;onI-1 said frame and adapted to occupy a'position in: substantially the same plane assaid plate,i'said member being also movably mounted on saidxframe for'movee ment to a position at an angle to said plate, and meansizfor clampinga. substance against said member while said member is in either of said positions, said mounting for said member being such that: the substance" may remain clamped thereon while-the member is being moved from .one position to the other.

3; A substance clamp for slicing machines comprising a trough having two flat angularly disposedsupporting r'nemberaone of said members having an opening therein,--guides'arranged insaid opening, a frame 'slidableon saidguides, a plate pivoted to said'frame so' as to be m'ovable fro'ma position substantially parallel with said last mentioned member and to a position at anangle thereto, andlclamping means cooperating withsaid platefor holding a substance thereon; E w

4. A work holder for slicing machines cornprising a plate having an opening therein, a frame guided for movement in" said opening, a clamp extensibly' and pivotally mounted on said frame, and means for holding said clamp-in various angular positions about'its pivot so astopresent a different portion of a substance being sliced in a position 'to'be sliced .without "reclamping the substance.

5. A work holder for opening therein, a frame guidedfor-.,movement in said elongated opening,"abr'acket pivoted to said frame, a clamp adjustably mounted on said lar movementwith respect to said worksupport,

' the substance means for holding 'saidclamp in various angu-.

lar positions relative to the supporting surface of said work"suppo'rt including a-position in which the substance engaging portion thereof is parallel with the'surface of said support and substantially coincidental therewith, and means for guiding said work support while the sub-' stance is being sliced, said meansfor moving said clamp being operable independently of the direction of feed of saidj-wor'ksupport so-that the portion of the substance which is clamped may be varied without changing-the direction of feed of said-work support, and saidclamp cooperating solely with the "adjacent to hold the same firmly against the clamp.

"'L-In a holder for slicing machines and the like, the combination with-a member having an opening, therein, surrounded by a substantially flat supporting surface for supporting the substance to be sliced, a clamp arranged Within said opening and movable'ftherein to feed a'substance along said supporting surface, said'clamp slicing machines some, prising a supporting plate having an elQngated said clamp having surface of having asurface-sagainst which the substance to be slicediis clamped," and retractable means movable .intoliand out of a position above said surface onsaid clamp for holding the substance against .saidxsurface' of' said clamp when desired, said retractable. meansbeing movable to an inoperative-position so as not to obstruct said surface of said clamp whereby said surface on said clamp and; said supporting surfaceform a combined substance supporting surface on which the substance may be supported independently of the same being clamped and for'manual feedingiof the substance along said surfaces. 8. A work holder .for slicing machines comprising a substance supporting member, a pivotally mounted substance supporting member having the surface thereof in a plane substantially flush with thesupporting surface of said first member and formi'ng a combinedsurface upon which the substance may be supported and fedimanually relatively-toward a slicing position, said members being also movable relative to each other duringthe feeding movement while maintaining said surfaces thereof substantially; flush. with-each other, and-retractable substance.engagingprongs on the pivotallyimounted memberfor engaging the adjacent portion -of the substance" and arranged when in operative position to hold the same positively against said last mentioned member and thus maintain a fixed relation. between said last mentioned member andthe substance while said membersare moved relative to each other or when I the pivotally 'mounted member is shiftedonitspivot. j- I 9; Aworkholde'r for slicing machines comprising" a I substance supporting. member, a

second substance supporting memberhaving the surface. thereof .in 'a plane substantially flush with the. supporting surface of said first mem-. ber and forming a combined surface upon which the substance maybesupportedand fed manually relatively toward a slicing position, said members being; also movable relative to each other during thefeeding movement while maintaining said surfacesthereof substantially'flush with each othenj.andretractable substance engaging prO igS- on said secondsubstance supporting member for engaging the adjacent portion of the substance and arranged when .in operative position to hold the same positively against said last, mentioned member and thus maintain a. fixed relation between said last mentioned memberand the substance whilesaid members are moved relative to eachother, said retractableisubstance engaging prongs being constructed to engage andv hold the substance againstjlateral shifting movement relative to said memberand also prevent movement of the substance away fromsaid member;

'10; A work holder for slicing machines .comprising a substance supporting member, a second substance supporting 'member having the surface thereof in the same plane as'the supporting surface of said first member and forming abombined' surface, uponjwhic'h the substance 'm'ay beisupported and fed manually relatively toward a slicing position, said members beingalso movable relative to' each other during the feeding movement while 'maintaining said surfaces thereof in the same plane, and substanc'e engaging prongs on one of saidmembers for'-engaging=the adjacent portion of the substance and arranged when in-operative position to hold the same positively against said last mentioned member and thus'maintain a fixed relation between said lastmentioned member and the substance while said members are moved relative to each other, said second sub stance member being -pivotally mounted and adapted toswingthrough various vertical angular positions.

11. In a slicing machine, a work holder for supporting and holding a substance while the same is being sliced, comprising a substance supporting plate having an opening therein with supporting surfaces thereon surrounding said opening on more than one side thereof, a second supporting plate arranged within said opening and having the supporting surface thereof substantially flush with the surface of said first plate, clamping means on said second plate for holding a substance positively against said second plate by engagement with the adjacent portion only of said substance, and means for moving said second plate in said opening in a direction toward the cutting plane of said knife while the surfaces are maintained flush with each other, said second supporting plate being pivoted about axes parallel to the plane of the first plate and being arranged and mounted so that it may be swung from said plane to assume various angles with respect thereto toward the cutting plane of the slicing machine.

12. A work holder for slicing machines comprising a supporting frame slidable in a direction toward a cutting position, a clamp mounted for movement on said frame to various angular positions with respect thereto, means for holding a substance firmly against a surface of said clamp against shifting movement in any direction relative thereto, means for holding said clamp in various angular positions to which the same may be moved comprising an extensible link operable in any desired position of adjustment of said clamp, and'means for guiding the substance clamp bodily always in the same direction independently of the angular position to which the clamp is moved.

13. In a work support for slicing machines, the combination with a plate having an opening therein, a supporting member slidably mounted within said opening without changing the angular position thereof with respect to said plate and having the supporting surface thereof in substantially the same plane as said plate, said member being also movably mounted to position the supporting surface thereof at an angle to said plate, and means for clamping a substance against said member while said member is in either of said positions.

14. A substance clamp for slicing machines comprising a trough, having two flat angularly disposed supporting members, one of said members having an opening therein, a plate selectively pivotally or slidably mounted within said opening and movable from a position substantially flush with the supporting surface of said last mentioned member to a position at an angle thereto, and clamping means cooperating with said plate for holding a substance thereon, said plate being slidable toward a slicing position in any of its angular positions of adjustment without changing its angular position of adjustment relative to its supporting surface.

15. A substance clamp for slicing machines comprising a trough having two fiat angularly disposed supporting members, one of said members having an opening therein, guides arranged,

I 5 m1 said pening" substantially parallel to said first mentionedmember, a frame slidable'on s'aid guides, a plate pivoted to said frame so as to be movable from a positionsubstantiallyparallel with said last mentionedT memberend to a po- 'sition at ananglefthereto iand means cooperating with said plate i'n'either "of said positions for holding a substance against thesame in position to be fed toward the position at which the slices are formedand for preventing relative movement of the substance andpl'ate parallel to the supporting surface of said plate.

16. In a work holder for slicing. machines,

the combination with a supporting plate, of an, auxiliary plate substantially parallel with said permit said auxiliary plate to be adjusted to various positions relative to said pivot, means for holding said auxiliary plate and pivot in adjusted position with respect to each other, and means for holding said auxiliary plate in any of its adjusted positions about said pivot.

17. In a work holder for slicing machines, the combination with a supporting plate, of an auxiliary plate substantially parallel with said first mentioned plate, said first mentioned plate having an opening therein in which said auxiliary plate is movably mounted, a pivot for said auxiliary plate about which said auxiliary plate moves, said auxiliary plate and pivot being bodily movable in unison with each other relative to said first plate, an extensible connection between said pivot and said auxiliary plate to permit said auxiliary plate to be adjusted to various positions relative to said pivot, means for holding said auxiliary plate and pivot in adjusted position with respect to each other, and means for holding said auxiliary plate in any of its adjusted positions about said pivot, com prising a pair of links pivoted to each other and pivoted respectively to said auxiliary plate and to said first mentioned plate, and means associated with the common pivot for said links for holding said links in adjusted angular position with respect to each other.

18. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a work support movable rela-, tive to said slicing knife having a substance suppotring surface with an opening therein, a hear-- ing member slidable beneath the supporting surface and slidably guided by guides on said support for movement in a direction substantially parallel with said supporting surface, a substance clamp pivotally mounted on said bearing member and having a substance engaging surface against which the substance is to be clamped adapted to lie either in a plane substantially 'coincidental with the plane of the supporting surface when said clamp is in one position, of adjustment, or in a plane at an angle thereto when the clamp is in another position of adjustment about its pivot, and means for holding a substance to be sliced firmly against said substance engaging surface of said clamp.

19. In a work support for slicing machines, the combination with a plate having an opening therein of a frame slidably mounted in said opening parallel withgsaid p1ate, and a supporte ing member mounted on; sai daframe for sliding movement therewith and: adapted to occupya position in substantially the same plane assaid plate, said.- supporting member beingalso pivotal- 1y mounted; onsaiclframe toa. position substantially perpendicular thereto; means forholding

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