US2010944A - Slicing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1935- w..1. CAMPBELL 2,010,944

SLICING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1934 3 Sheets-me?I l Aug 13, 1935. w. J, CAMPBELL 2,010,944

SLICING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i z'f/ E@ E9 WWE/3 Apg. 13, 1935. w, J. CAMPBELL 2,010,944

' sLIcING MACHINE Filed Maron 2. 1954 :5 sheets-sheet 3 c cf @Mvmb Patented Aug. 13,1 1935l ors-ICE .s LIcINo. MACHINE- A William J.C'ampbell Indianapolis, -I nd.,- assignor to American Slicing Machine Company cago,fIll.`, a corporation ofNewXork Application March 2, 1934, seriarNoxvrz-igcsi l eciams'. (ci. 14e-102)`v My invention relates to an improvement in `slicin'gmachines and has for one purpose the provisionof improved `means for protecting the cutting edge of thefknifewhen the deviceV is not in use. 1 Another' purpose is the provision of means eiective tosupportthe work, duringthe cutting foperation,lat a point closely adjacent thelcutting plane.lr VOther objectswill appear from time t'o i urezl; v

\ structure shown in Figure 7; `Figure 9 is a section on the line \9f-9 of:Fig

rFigure 5 is a similar sectionwith the partsin a.' `different position; i Y

i Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 ofFig- .i Figure 7 is a partial plan-view similar to Figure l'2 of Va variant form of the' device;`

Figure 8 is a view similarto Figure l -offthe ure f7;r Y 1 yFigure 10 is a partial sectiorrthrough `a variant Like parts are indicated by 'like symbols throughout the specification 'and drawings.

.1- Referring to the drawings; A indicates any suitable base upon which maybe mounted a motoreAl which is adapted' to' drive, through a driv'- ing connection not hereinslhown,` any suitable rotaryknifeA2.

'B' indicates a guard plate forltheforward face ofthe knife',` fherein shown as penetrating a for-i ward hollow in the knife', the. knife" axis being `somewhat ,tilted in order to permit" penetration. .v

i"c is any suitable gauge plate, `inflounird 10H11- ample, on a support C1 `ass'ociatedfvvith guidesC2 what away'f'romthecutung plane brthekrnfe-J It willbefobserved thatthe forward edgeof the member vE3 lis kprovided with an undercut portion or recess'E. Slidable said recess is th`e`fm`a`rginal work supporting"memberfE6,which may be provided fwithfa plurality of inclined edgd 4upwardly extending work engaging Yblades E75 Es indicates a guiding-'bracket mounted on 'the bote tom ofthe member Exf'ia'nd effective to guidea `pin `E9`secured to thegme'mberES. Theapertfufre in the member E8` adjacent the work supporting' member Efor guiding the pin E9 is preferably o f corresponding diameter,- whereas the opposite aperture-may be elongated, as illustrated in Figiure '6; topermit free-lateral movement ftlie pins "and to prevent binding' due to `irregular movement of the Vpins and associated parts, many of these brackets and guidesas -areinecesis'aryV may be employed lutdnjFigures 1 an'dl2f1 i illustrate two. `Emisa coilspring; V'aboutleacli such `pin E9 and E11` isjan abutment"fr fsaid spring'. E12 is a movement` 'limiting washer yand E13fare a lock nut or nuts. It will'be understood, as from'Fi'gures 4 and 5, that the spring E10 tends normally to thrustthe member E6 into thefforwardypositioniinwhich it is'shown in Figure, its movement being limited by 'the washer' 'E12, which may be adjusted by rotation ofthe nuts E13. Wherithe gaugeplateC is`moved into align-v ment'with` the` cutting planein order to mask the cutting edge of the knife A2, itmay thrust the member Eslagainst the compression spring E19 into the position in-whichit is shown in Fig` ure "4. Thus the userjwhen "the gaugepla'te is in 'slic`e gauging position, has `a work support Which-niay" be 'adjusted closely to the' cutting plane -off the knife. Therefore the work is sup-'- portedfat its'extr'eme forward edge and any tendency to -'sag down'is prevented. 'This 'isfi`m'` portant-fV as it-.preventsfthe formation of f tailsf or''the 'fringing out of -theV work where the user is cutting' abody of relatively soft material, such as ham, roast beef, or the like. It also limitsthe frictional contact' between the Work andthe gauge plate and knife which is caused `bythe dragging i of.` an `unsupport'ed body of meatagairiist gauge platep orV knife. ":Thisfreduction of the frictional contact reducesgreatly any tendency to .lard theknife or gauge .plate. In cutting fat meat, such as ham or bacon,'ar'1y increasein the fric'tional drag of the material tendsvery quickly to cause 'a fringing out or flowingout of the fats. :Hence-Lan adequate support f of thework Vas'close as' possibleftotheaplaneis of great importance; I ,1 obtain i this l support- .while l at the same .i time permitting the gauge plate to be moved into neutral or edge masking position when the device is not in use. This is of great importance, in as much as the cutting edge is exceedingly sharp.

In Figures '7, 8 and 9, I illustrate a variant mechanism for obtaining the same result. In this form in the place of the fixed work support E3, I provide a movable or yieldingly mounted work support G, which is provided, for example, with a plurality of securing pins G1 surrounded by springs G3, which normally tend to hold thev support G fixed in position on the carriage E. G3 are abutment washers for the pins G1 and are controlled by nuts G4, whereby compression of the springs G2 may be controlled. G5 are any suitable abutment washers which may, if desired, be of fiber or hard rubber, in order to eliminate noise or friction. mounted on bosses G3 extending upwardly from the carriage E.

H indicates a work supporting member which underlies the forward edge of the support G. lIt will be noted that the edge of the support G is outback somewhat'from the cutting plane as will be clear from Figures 7 or 9. The member H is mounted on pins H1 which are guided in any suitable guiding'bosses or sleeves H2 associated .with the carriage E.- H3 are springs tending normally to thrust the member H forwardly into the position in which lit is shown in Figure 9.

This movement maybe adjustably limited as by the nuts H4 which may be adjusted on the member H. It will be observed that the member H has an upper Yinclinedv face H5, the upper edge of which lies substantially in the plane of the top surface of the member G. It may, however, be slightly lower or slightly higher. The member H, with its upper face H5, serves the same function as the member E3 with its projections Elr as earlier'described. When the gauge plate C is in gauging position, asin Figure 9, the spring IH3 presses the member H forward into work supporting position closely adjacent the cutting edge ofthe knife; It may, of course, be adjusted closely to the cutting edge by rotation of the Ynuts H4, which correspond to the adjusting nuts E13 of Figure 5. When the gauge plate is moved into knife maskingposition, the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, then the member'H is thrust rearwardly against the compression of the springs H3. This rearward movement -lifts or-tilts the yieldingly mounted work support G into the dotted line position in which it is shown in Figure 9. In order to prevent slipping of large slabs of bacon or salt pork while being sliced, the worksupport member H may be provided with an upwardly projecting Vlug or finger H7, which may be integral withthe member H or may be a separate member secured thereon. The meat tray G, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, is cut away as at HG-to permit longitudinal movement kof the lug H7 of the work support member H.

`It will be realized that while in my drawings I have Vshown an operative device, still many changes may be made in size, shape, arrangement andy number of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention. I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a large sensei diagrammatic.

In particular, I wish it to be understood that whereas IY show the main work support E3 or G overlying av marginal work support E6 or H, it is within the' scope of my invention to have the main work support spaced somewhat away from They are herein shown as the marginal work support and, if desired, separated therefrom by a gap. I illustrate such a modification in Figure 10 wherein K indicates the marginal support, K1, the main work support, K2, the guide or plunger for the marginal support, and K3, the gap above alluded to. It will also be understood that where as I find it desirable to employ a marginal support, I do not wish to be limited in my claims to any particular width of marginal support. For example, if a support is eiective at the margin of the supporting means as a whole, namely; adjacent the cutting plane, it maybe desirable and possible to have a relatively. narrowl support as shown at H or E3, or said support may be of very substantial width underlying a substantial part of the main support E3 or G.

In the use and operation of my device, it will be understood that the marginal support may extend close to or practically up to the cutting plane, it being merely important that it does not 'contact the cutting edge of the knife when the carriage is given its cutting stroke. However, when the carriage is at initial position and when the user wishes to discontinue use of the machine, he can move the gauge plate controlling handle into inoperative position. This thrusts the gauge plate so far forwardly toward and into the cutting plane of the knife that it engages the marginal support and thrusts it back against its yielding means until the gauge plate may be in the dotted line position in which it is shown, for example, in Figure 9. In effect, the marginal work support is forced back from the cutting plane in'order to make way for the gauge plate and to permit the gauge plateto lie inthe cutting plane and thus mask the cutting edge of the knife. It is important that the movable work support, which I show as a marginal support, extend immediately adjacent the cutting plane when the gauge plate is not in neutral posif tion, but be movable away from the cutting plane to make room for the gauge plate when the gauge plate is moved by the operator into neutral position.

The abutment H7 has for one function to compressa piece of bacon or such material between the vertical iiange of the work support or carriage and the abutment. It is possible, for example, to compress pieces of bacon that are little wider than the distance from the abutment H7 to the vertical flange. As a practical example, I have employed a machine in'which the said space is 111A; inches but have successfully sliced on this machine bacon 11% inches wide. The abutment also prevents the meat from stretching in width and prevents or reduces any tendency to form fringes on the edge of the bacon as it moves across the gauge plate and knife. In other words, the abutment carries the edge of the bacon past the cutting edge of the knife and this feature, with its lreduction of fringing and with its compression of the forward part of the work, adds materially to the efficiency of the machine.

' `I claim:

l. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it across said gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, and a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the cutting plane, yielding means tending normally to urge it toward the cutting plane, said marginal work support extending closely adjacent the cutting plane, the gauge plate being movable into position beyond ratsam fpatandnenslfsfsctuatmgaga carriage and means for guiding it acrosffs'jidfgauge" plate and pastnutting ,wedgexofvtlieknifa and a marginal wcrlrcsnpportwmovablmounted on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the cutting plane, and guiding means therefor, adapted to constrain it to generally horizontal movement, yielding means tending normally to urge it toward the cutting plane, said marginal Work support extending closely adjacent the cutting plane, the gauge plate being movable into position beyond the cutting `plane in the direction of the carriage, the yielding means being of such strength as to permit the marginal work support to recede from the cutting plane in response to contact of the gauge plate.

3. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriageand means for guiding it across said gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, and a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the cutting plane, and yielding means tending normally to urge it toward the cutting plane, and an extended work support overlying the marginal Work support,

yieldingly mounted on the carriage, said marginal sition beyond the cutting plane in the direction of the carriage, the yielding means being of such strength as to permit the marginal work support to recede from the cutting plane in response to contact of the gauge plate, the marginal work support being adapted to slide beneath the extended work support, the marginal work support including a portion adapted, when the marginal work support is at the limit of its movement toward the cutting plane, to lie substantially in the plane of the upper face of the extended work support.

4. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on s aid base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it across said gauge plate and past `the cutting edge of the knife, and a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the cutting plane, and yielding means tending normally to urge it toward the cutting plane, and an extended work support overlying the marginal work support, and yieldingly mounted on the carriage, said marginal `worksupport being provided with an abutment member upwardly extending toa level above that of the normal work engaging surface of the extended work support, said extended work support being cut away to permit the projection of said abutment member.

5. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for moving it toward and away from the cutting edge of the knife, the forward face of the gauge plate, when moved into forward position extending forwardly of the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across said gauge plate and past thecutting edge of the knife, and a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the gauge plate, said work Asupport extending normally closely adjacent the 'cutting of" thefknife and? being rearwardly movable,"i n responsel'to adjustment ftheggau'ge plateinto-itsmost forward "position, by contact Witlitthelgauge"platel4 `f 6. Ina slicingmachinefa base; a'knife mounted "L on said base'and means 'for actuating it,-a gauge plate Yandmeans for' vmoving it toward and away frornthe cutting edge' of" thefknife, the forward faceo'f thegauge plate,`when vrnovedinto forward 'position extending forwardly of the cutting plane of Vthe knife; a-carriage and means forV guiding it across said gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, and a marginal work support mov-V` ably mounted. on the carriage adjacent the edge nearest the gauge plate, said work support extending normally closely adjacent the cutting edge of the knife and being rearwardly movable, in response to adjustment of the gauge plate into its most forward position, by contact with the gauge plate, and yielding means tending normally to hold it in its forward position adjacent the cutting plane.

'7. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it across the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge next the cutting plane, limit means for limiting the movement of said work support to a point closely adjacent but short of the cutting plane of the knife, yielding means tending normally to urge said work support toward the said limit, the gauge plate actuating means being adapted to move the gauge plate across the cutting plane and into contact with the marginal work support, said yielding means for the marginal Work support being of such strength as to permit said marginal work support to recede from the cuttingplane in response to movement of the gauge plate.

8. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it across the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge next to the cutting plane, limit means for limiting the movement of said work support to a point closely adjacent but short of the cutting plane of the knife, yielding means tending normally to urge said work support toward the vsaid'limit, the gauge plate actuating means being adapted to move the gauge plate across theV cutting plane and into contact with the marginal work support, said yielding means for the marginal work support being of such strength as to permit said marginal work support .to recede from the cutting plane in response to movement ofthe gauge plate, and an extended work support the forward edge of which overlies the marginal work support, a forward portion of the marginal work support lying in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the extended work support, when the marginal work support is at its closest approach to the cutting plane.

` 9. In aslicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a gauge plate and means for actuating it, a carriage and means .for guiding it across the gauge plate and past the cutting edgeof the knife, a marginal work support movably mounted on the carriage adjacent the edge next the cutting plane, limit means for limiting the movement of said work support to a point closely adjacent but short of the,

vWork support, a forward portion of 'the marginal Work support lying in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the extended Work supjport, when the marginal work support is at its closest approach to the cutting'plane, the extended Work support being provided vwith yielding means tending normally to draw its forward edge downwardly againstthe opposed portion of the marginal work support.l t

WILLIAM J. oAlviPBELL.-

Images