US2038864A

US2038864A - Slicing and packing machine

Info

Publication number: US2038864A
Application number: US635489A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles T Walter
Original assignee: Ind Patents Corp
Current assignee: Industrial Patents Corp
Priority date: 1932-09-30
Filing date: 1932-09-30
Publication date: 1936-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-04-28

Description

A 28, was. c, WA 2338,8644

SLICING AND PACKING MACHINE Filed Se pt. so, 1932 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Charles T Wa [fer INVENTOR wl-rriess' Aprfii 28, 1936.

c. T. WALTER 2,038,864

snows AND PACKING MACHINE Fi led Sept. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 8 M) 10 f I o 20 a 1 9 17 v Q 14 13 I 11 1 v 15 o 16 5 1 if L15 \mllllll;

my 2 v Charles 2." Walter INVENTOR' W l T E- s A'ITORQIEYY Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,038,864 H SLICING AND PACKING MACHINE Charles '1. Walter, Chicago, 'IlL, as'signor to'Indnstrial Patents Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1932, Serial No..635,489

25 Claims.

The invention relates to a slicing machine particularly adapted for the cutting of slabs of bacon into slices. The present invention is adapted for and in fact is particularly intended for employ- .3 ment in or as part of a slicing machine such as is the basis of a main application heretofore filed by me, to -wit, on the 25th day of July 1932, hearing Serial No. 524,415, which became Patent No. 2,098,090 on July 16, 1935 and entitled Slicing 1:) 1 machines.

The slicing machine to which the main application relates and also to which the present invention relates has a continuously operating outter as for example a reciprocating cutter which is operated from and by a continuously rotating driving shaft and which shaft is in turn for example driven by a continuously operating motor that also continuously supplies the operating power for the rest of the mechanisms or me- 9" chanical elements that constitute a part of or which may be considered as an associated part of the slicing machine.

In said main application above identified there is shown, described and claimed a slicing ma chine such as just mentioned, to-wit, a slicing machine having a continuously operated knife or cutter. The slicing machine of said main application has in association therewith or as a part thereof an intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism that is positioned and operated so as to receive slices of bacon or other meats dropped thereupon from the slicing machine in a manner whereby the slices are arranged in overlapping relation in respect to each other, so as to provide a group or batch of slices thus arranged.

This intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism of the mam application is also constructed, arranged and operated so as to deliver the groups of slices, one group at a time to and upon a suitable table, receptacle or conveyor which may be in the form of an endless traveling conveyor mechanism and this endless traveling conveyor mechanism may be considered as operatively associated with respect to the slicing machine or as a part thereof dependent upon the manner in which one may desire to view it.

Furthermore in a machine which is the basis of said above identified main application the main functioning parts of the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism are arranged in multiple, preferably in duplicate, whereby the cutting operation can be continuously carried out and whereby the main functioning parts of the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism can have in the main relatively gradual and easy movements and thus avoid long quick return movements which would otherwise be experienced "if the functioning parts were not in multiple .or in duplicate. Also according tothe disclosure of said'main application each of the main functioning parts of the intermediate receiving and deliveringmechanism comprises a receiving and delivering member preferably in the form of a fork or fork shapedmember and the arrangement is in efiectsuch'that when one of the forks is being moved progressively forward so as to receive a slice of bacon or other meat dropped thereupon from the slicing machine, the other of the fork shaped membersif the sets are in duplicate-is being moved progressively re'arwardlyl In fact'the arrangement as shown is such that when one of the forks or fork shaped members is being moved downwardly to a position for dis-" charging the group of, slices upon the endless conveyor, and even below the position of discharge, the other or fork shaped member is being moved upwardly and .rearwardly and ultimately slightly forwardly to its initialposition ready for receiving the next slice when and as it drops from the machine. This last slightly forward movement may berelatively quickas it is important to have the forward end of the receiving and delivering member in position to receive the slice then being severed when the slice drops.

Furthenlaccording to the disclosure of said main application the intermediate and delivering mechanism (which according to one aspect may be viewed as located between the slicing ma chine and the endless conveyor associated with the slicing machine) maybe considered as provided with a plurality of sets,-in effect duplicate sets-f receiving and delivering mechanisms each of which has a tined forkmember arranged to receiveslices of bacon dropped thereuponas the result of thecutting operation. These forks are operated so that when one of the forks is in position for receiving slices of bacon, the other is out of position and the arrangement is also such that these forks are brought successively into operation to receive the slices in overlapping relationship and to thereafter deliver the resulting groups of slices then upon the fork to and upon the conveyor. The arrangement preferably is such that one fork member is always in posi- 50 tion to receive a slice as and when the slice is severed and drops from the slicing machine.

In said main application the functioning of the forksor fork shaped members of the intermediate and delivering mechanism is dependent upon the 5 functioning of a cam carrying shaft that is in effect gear driven in relation to the knife carrying or knife operating shaft of the slicing machine so that through the medium of cam members on the cam carrying shaft the proper positioning and movement of the intermediate and delivering mechanismand more particularly of the fork or fork'shaped members thereof--in respect to the cutter are under the control of said cam shaft and are operated in harmony or in unison with respect 'to a determined number of operative movements-to-wit, N number of movements-of the cutter.

In said main application when filed I pointed out that the gear ratio between the knife shaft and the cam shaft must be changed to suit any value of N and that the means for quickly bringing about such adjustment furnishes the subject matter for further inventions as to which applicant then contemplated filing applications in the then near future.

' The presentapplication is directed to the introduction and inclusion in the structure of the general disclosure and arrangement of the main application of the change gear mechanism for readily accomplishing the quick change features referred to in said main application and which are clearly shown in the'present application.

As illustrating aspecific form of apparatus in which the invention may be realized, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a p'art'of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation or vertical, longitudinal view of a slicing machine and associated parts wherein the invention is employed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinally extending sectional view on a somewhat larger scale than shown in Figure 1 of the delivery end of the slicing machine and showing in association therewith the portion nal and transverse sectional views of a change gear mechanism, clearly indicated as to position and arrangement in Figure 1.

Reference will now be made to the drawings in detail. The slicing machine as a whole is designated by S. It has associated therewith at the delivery end thereof an endless conveyor EC which is frequently referred to as the continuously moving endless receiving and delivery conveyor, and an intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism designated as IM, whichis constructed so as to receive a selected or determined number of slices of, bacon as delivered to it as the result of the cutting operation and to deliver said selected number of slices to and upon the endless conveyor EC. As a matter of fact the slicing machine is constructed so as to deliver the slices at a relatively uniform rate to and upon the intermediate receiving mechanism and the intermediate receiving mechanism is moved in such a manner as to cause the slices thus delivered to it to become arranged in group formation with the slices in each group arranged in a relatively uniform manner in respect to each other.

Thefintermediate receiving mechanism functions to'receive the slices in the group arrangement just described, and to deliver the groups of 7 slices in spaced relationship to and upon the endless conveying mechanism. The main application referred to describes in considerable detail the manner in which this is accomplished. There is incorporated herein sufficient description to show in a general way how the several parts function and as previously pointed out, the main feature of the present invention revolves about the employment of a change speed gearing CS that is incorporated in the associated mechanism which exists between the cutter on the one hand and the intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism on the other.

The slicing machine and the several parts associated therewith has any suitable framework and the frame of the slicing machine is broadly designated by I. The slicing machine illustrated is of the inclined type although it will be understood that the invention is applicable to machines which are not necessarily inclined and it is provided with a suitable longitudinally and transversely extending supporting table 2 upon and along which slabs of bacon as B are fed in a longitudinally forward direction to a cutting knife 3, sometimes referred to as the knife or cutter. This cutting knife is located at the forward end of the slicing machine and is carried at the forward end of a longitudinally extending main shaft 4 and is driven by the shaft which is continuously driven from and by motor M as through the medium ofspur gears 5 and 6 with the result that the cutter or knife 3 rotates as the shaft rotates. 7

The cutting edge of the cutter moves in a cutting plane that extends transversely and at right angles to the line of bacon slab feed and in its normal functioning cooperates with the structure that supports the bacon slabs to effect the desired slicing and uniform delivery of bacon The slicing rnaslices as the machine functions. chine is provided with any suitable means for insuring a holding down of the slabs of bacon against the supporting table and, of course, the supporting table is provided with any suitable means for insuring the proper forward feed of the slabs of bacon.

The intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism in the construction shown, comprises a plurality of intermediate receiving and delivering members or forks. In the construction shown there are two of such forks, and there is in effect, a set of operating mechanism provided for each fork. One of these forks is longer than the other. The short fork is designated as SF and the long fork is designated as LF. The mechanism which includes and operates the short fork may be referred to as the short fork assembly and the mechanism which operates and includes the long fork may be referred to as the long fork assembly. Each of the fork operating mechanisms comprises transversely extending shaft 1 which carries operating camst and 9. Cam 8 controls the operation of the long fork while cam 9 controls the operation of the short fork (Figure 2). The frame of the machine carries a bracket or brackets it which in turn support transversely spaced, longitudinally extending horizontal guideways ll upon which there is mounted sliders or sliding members is and M. The short fork is pivotally mounted on the slider construction l3 while the long fork is pivotally mounted on the slider construction I l. The forward or receiving end of each of these forks is controlled as to vertical position by suitable controlling .means such as is indicated in Figure 2 for the short fork. This controlling means for the short fork comprehends an arm 15, the free end of which cooperates with the guideway construction indicated by it, and it is sufficient to state that this guideway construction [6 can be relied upon to insure the proper vertical positioning of the fork controlled thereby according to the longitudinal position of the fork as imparted thereto through the medium of the cam co trolling the same as for example, through the medium of the cam 9 which functions through the lever I! and the link 18 to control the short fork.

The long fork control is practically the same as that for the short fork and it will be noted that the cam 8 controls the positioning of lever 19 and link 29. Tension springs are provided as at 2| and 22 for holding the levers to which they are conected in operative engagement with the particular cam that controls the movement of the lever. the long and short forks of the intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism is described in more complete detail in the main application herein identified, and further description in relation thereto is not considered necessary herein. The shaft 1 which operates the long and short fork assemblies through the medium of the cam mechanism that comprises cams 8 and 9 is driven from the main shaft 4 through suitable gearing. In the construction shown this gearing comprises a worm 23 that is on and continuously turns with the main shaft or cutter carrying shaft 4. This worm 23 turns worm wheel 24 and sprocket or pulley 25 associated with the worm wheel 24, endless chain 26, pulley or sprocket 21, shaft 28, and

spur gears

2Q, 35, 35 and 32 which are fixedly secured to said shaft 28 and which constitutes the driving member or members of the change speed gearing CS. One of the

gears

29, 3s, 31 or 32 depending upon whichever gear is selected, drives the idler gear 33 which in turn meshes and drives the gear 34 that is splined on shaft 35. Shaft 35 in turn carries and drives the pulley or sprocket wheel 36 that drives the endless belt or chain 3'! and therethrough the pulley or sprocket wheel 38 that is carried on and secured to shaft 7 in such a manner as to turn the latter.

The gears 23 to 34 collectively constitute the gears of the change speed gearing and from an inspection of Figures 3 and 4 it will be observed that the idler gear 33 and the gear 34 with which the idler is always in mesh are maintained together as a set through the medium of the hand controlled yoke construction 39 having the handle 46 for selectively positioning the same. The gear 3A is splined on the shaft 35 so that it can be moved longitudinally along the same, but so that said gear 34 will always serve to drive the shaft 35 no matter where positioned and when the gear 33 is placed in operative engagement with any one of the

gears

29, 30, 3| or 32. The gear ratio between the driven gear 34 on the one hand and the

driving gears

29, 38, 3! and 32 on the other, is such that according to the position of the ,gear 33 in driven engagement with the

gears

29, 30, 3| or 32, there is controlled the number of slices which the intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism will receive at any one time. For example, if 33 is in operative engagement with 29, ten slices may be received. If in position with 36, nine slices; if in position with 3|, eight slices or if in position with 35, seven slices. Of course,

The functioning and positioning ofv any desired number of gear ratios can be procured through the medium of the change gear mechanism that is provided in the train of gearing or driving mechanism which is associated with the constantly turning cutter carrying shaft on the one hand and the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism on the other, and it will be apparent that according to the selected gear ratio as controlled by the change speed gearing one is enabled to selectively determine the number of slices to be received by the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism and to be delivered thereby to the continuously moving receiving and delivery conveyor.

The endless receiving and delivering conveyor may be considered as a receiving table to and upon which the intermediate receiving and delivery mechanism periodically delivers slices in group arrangement with the selected number of slices in each group.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slicing machine, a uniformly operating cutting element, a longitudinally extending supporting means by or along which slabs of bacon are forwardly fed to the cutting element operating in a cutting plane that extends transversely and at right angles to said line of feed for the bacon slabs, a continuously moving receiving and delivering conveyor arranged to receive slices of bacon as delivered thereto in group arrangement and to deliver the groups to some place distant, intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism arranged to receive a selected number of slices of bacon delivered from the cutting element in group arrangement and for periodically transferring the slices of bacon thus received and While in group arrangement to the continuously moving receiving and delivering conveyor, and means for operating said cutting element shaft and said intermediate receiving and conveying mechanism so as to receive the selected number of slices and so as to deliver the same in accordance with the selected number of cutting operations, said last mentioned means comprising a change-speed gearing including a plurality of gears of different ratios and a shiftable gear for selective engagement with said gears of different ratio whereby a selected number of cutting operations relative to the receiving and delivering movement of the intermediate receiving and delivery mechanisms can be obtained by shifting said shiftable gear for selective mesh with said difierent ratio gears of the change speed gearing.

2. In a slicing machine, in combination, a knife, a longitudinally extending supporting means by which slabs of bacon are fed forwardly along .a longitudinally extending path to the knife, which knife is arranged so as to effect a cutting or slicing operation at the forward end of the supporting means, operating means for continuously op: erating said knife, a plurality of intermediate receiving and delivering members successively positioned one at a time in respect to the knife for receiving bacon slices as delivered by said knife, cam means for effecting movement of one ofthe intermediate receiving and delivering members into slice receiving position in respect to the knife while effecting movement of another intermediate receiving and delivering member from receiving position in respect to the knife, and mechanism continuously driven in association with the operating means between said cutter and said cam means for effecting a continuous a change speed gearing comprising a line of ro-' tatable gears of different ratios and a cooperating shiftable gear for interchangeable mesh with said line of gears of different ratios whereby the eifective turning of the cam means relative to the operating movement of the knife can be changed as desired by shifting said shiftable gear of the change speed gearing into mesh with said other gears interchangeably.

3. A slicing machine having a main frame, a continuously operating motor mounted on the main frame, a main drive shaft driven from said motor and rotatably mounted in said main frame, a knife driven from said shaft, a longitudinally extending supporting means provided on said main frame and along which slabs of bacon are fed forwardly to the knife, which knife is arranged so as to effect a slicing operation at the forward end of the supporting means, two sets of intermediate receiving and delivering members which are successively positioned'one set at a time in respect to the knife for receiving slices as severed from a slab of bacon by said knife, cam means for effecting movement of one set of the intermediate receiving and delivering members into slice receiving position in respect to the knife while effecting movement of the other, set of intermediate receiving and delivering means from receiving position in respect to the knife,

and operating mechanism between the main drive shaft and the cam means for operating the latter comprising a change speed gearing embodying gears of different ratio and a shiftable gear for cooperation therewith, whereby the effective functioning movement of the cam means relative to the operating movement of the knife can be changed as desired by shifting the shiftable gear interchangeably into mesh with said different ratio gears of the change speed gearing.-

4. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a cutting element fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft journaled in the frame, a cam fixed onthe second shaft, a conveyor mounted on the frame, an intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism slidably mounted on the frame to receive cut slices as they fall one by one from the cutting element and deliver same periodically in groups to said conveyor, said cam operating to actuate said intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism, and operating means between said shafts and including change speed gear mechanism to control the ratio between the cutting element shaft and the cam operating shaft to selectively vary and control the number of slices in each group delivered to the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism.

5. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft jourmai ed in the frame, a cutting element fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft journaled in the frame, a cam fixed on the second shaft, a conveyor mounted on the frame, an intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism slidably mounted on the frame to receive groups of cut slices from the cutting element and deliver. same in groups to said conveyor, said cam operating to slidably actuate said intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism, and operating means between said shafts including change speed gear mechanism to control the ratio between the cutting element shaft and the cam shaft to vary and control the number of slices in each group delivered to the intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism.

6. In a meat slicing machine, a frame, a drive tive connecting means between said shaft and said cam device to actuate the latter, including a selective change speed gearing mechanism embodying a shaft, speed change gears of different ratios mounted on the latter shaft and means slidably mounted adjacent the last named shaft including a gear for mesh selectively with the aforesaid speed change gears to control the operative movements of said cam device with relation to said drive shaft and to govern the movement of said receiving and delivering mechanism and to time said element so as to control and vary the number of slices cut per group for delivery to said receiving and delivering mechanism.

'7. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a cutting element fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft journaled in the frame, a cam fixed on the second shaft, a conveyor in the frame, an intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism slidably mounted on the frame to receive groups of cut slices from the cutting element and deliver same in groups to said conveyor, said cam operating to slidably actuate said intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism, and means operatively connected with the cutting element shaft and with the cam shaft to periodically operate said intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism through said cam shaft including a speed change gear mechanism operable to change the ratio of the revolutions of the cam shaft to correspond with revolutions of the cutting element shaft according to the number of slices for a group and to interrupt temporarily the continuous cutting operation incident to change of driving speed so as to supply groups of different predetermined number of slices per group to said intermediate receiving and delivering mechanism.

8. In a meat slicing machine, a frame, a cutting means, means to receive cut slices of meat from the cutting means, and means between the cutting means and said receiving means and operatively connected therewith to .control the receiving means to periodically receive groups of slices of different number of slices per group for group delivery to said receiving means, including a change speed gear mechanism comprising a shaft, change speed gears secured on said shaft and having different ratios and a gear shiftable selectively into mesh with said change speed gears to control the speed of operation of the receiving means according to the number of slices desired for different denominational groups of slices to be delivered to said receiving means.

9. In a meat slicing machine, a frame, a cutting means, means to receive cut slices of meat from the cutting means, means between the cutting means and said receiving means and operatively connected therewith to control the receiving means to periodically receive groups of slices of different number of slices per group for delivery to said receiving means, including a change speed gear mechanism comprising a shaft, change speed gears secured on said shaft and having different ratios, a gear shiftable selectively into mesh with said change speed gears to control the speed of operation of the receiving means according to the number of slices desired for different groups of slices to be delivered to said receiving means, and means whereby to manually operate said shiftable gear.

10. In a meat slicing machine, a frame, a shaft, a cutting element secured to said shaft, a second shaft, a cam secured to the second shaft, movable means to receive cut slices from the cutting element, operative connections between said cam; and said movable receiving means, operative connections between the cutting element shaft and the cam shaft, means to drive the cutting element shaft and through said operative connections between the latter and the cam shaft and the said operative connections between the cam-and said movable receiving means whereby to continuously cut slices of meat for delivery to said movable means, and means to periodically in- 'terrupt the continuous slicing operation to provide for groups of slices of different numbers of slices,inc1uding a change speed gear device located within said operative connections between the cutting element shaft and the cam shaft and includinga series of change speed gears of different ratios and a gear shiftable selectively into mesh with said change speed gears;

11. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft journaledin the-frame, a cutting element. fixed on said shaft, means for driving: saidshaft, a conveyor mounted in the frame, a second shaftmounted in the frame, a cam fixed onthe second shaft, an intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism slid'ably mounted on the frame to: receive cut slices of meat from the cutting element. and deliver the cut slices to said conveyor, operative connections between the cam and the receiving and delivering mechanism and means to change the ratio of revolutions of the cam shaft to corresponding revolutions of said cutting element shaft in accordance with different groups of different predetermined number of slices to-be cut and grouped together on the intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism, comprising a change speed gear mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a plurality of change speed gears fixed on the gear mechanism rotatable shaft, operative driving connecting means between the cutting element shaft and the change speed gearing shaft, a fourth shaft, operative driving connecting means between said fourth shaft and said cam shaft, a gear slidable on the fourth shaft and rotatable therewith, a shifting device slidable on said fourth shaft and coacting with said last mentioned gear to shift the latter, and an idler gear carrier by said shifting device in mesh with said gear on said fourth shaft for mesh selectively with any one of said change speed gears of the third shaft so as to thereby change the ratio of revolutions of the cam shaft to correspond with the revolutions of said cutting element shaft in accordance with the number of slices required per group and according to the consequent different speeds of movement of said cutting element and cam shafts and thereby divide the continuous series of slices into groups having a predetermined selected number of slices per group delivered to said intermediate receiving device according to the selective control of said change speed gear mechanism.

12. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a cutting element fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, asecond shaft journaled in the frame, a cam fixed. on the'second shaft, a conveyor in the frame, an intermediate slice receiving and delivering mechanism slidably mounted on the frame to receive groups; of cut slices from the cutting element and deliver same in groups to said conveyor, said cam operatingto slidably actuate said intermediate receivingand delivering mechanism, and means operatively connected with the cutting element shaft and with the camshaft to periodically operate said intermediate receiving and deliverig mechanism through said cam shaft including a speed change gear mechanism operable to change the ratio of. the revolutions of the cam shaft tocorrespond withrevolutions of thecutting element shaft according to the number of slicesfor: a group and to-interrupt temporarily the continuous cutting operation incident to change of driving speed so as: to: supply groups of different predetermined number of slices: per group to said intermediate receiving: anddclivering mechanism.

13. Ina meat slicing; machine-,a frame; a motor drive shaft mounted on the frame; a cutting means carried by thesaid shaft, a conveyor, two independently operable; receiving and delivering devices: to. receive meat, slices from the cutting means and deliver same to said'conveyor, cam

devices mounted on the frame to operate said receiving and: delivering devices, foperative connections between thedrive'shaft. and the cam devices to operate the latter in accordance with the slicing operations by said cutting means, and means includedin the aforesaid'operative connections between the driveshaft and cam de'vicesto change the speed of" the cam devices and operation of the receiving and delivering devices in re'lation to the speed of the shaft and cutting means and tomaintain the receiving and delivering devices and cut ting means intimed relation with one another irrespective of different speeds comprising a changing speed gear device including a set of gears of different ratios and a shiftable gear'for selective engagement with said set of gears for said speed changing purposes. i

14. In a slicing machine, a rotatable shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a cutting element fixed on the shaft, means for feeding slabs to the cutting element, areceiving and delivering coria veyor arranged to receive a predetermined number of slices, an intermediate receiving and delivering fork arranged to receive the predetermined number of slices from the cutting element" and for periodically transferring the same in grouped arrangement to the continuous receiving and delivering conveyor, and in spaced relation, one group with relation to another, means'operatively connected with said cutting element shaft and with the intermediate fork for operating, it in synchronism, with the cutting element and speed change gearing to alter the timing of said fork operating means relative to the operation of said cutting element. I

15. In a slicing machine, a. cutting element,

means for operating the cutting element, means for feeding slabs of bacon to the cutting element, an endless conveyor located below the cutting element and having spaced strands, a pair of fork-shaped members operating between the cutting element and the strands of the conveyor, means for actuating said fork-shaped members for successively elevating each of the forkshaped membersabove the conveyor and for moving each fork-shaped member forwardly bemeans for operating the cutting element, means for feeding slabs of bacon to the cutting element,

an endless conveyor located below the cutting element, fork-shaped members movable forwardly and backwardlybetween the cutting ele- 'ment and the conveyor to alternately receive slices from the cutting element and alternately deliver the slices in groups to said conveyor, means for operating the fork-shaped members as stated, and means for selectively delivering 'predetermined numbers of slicesto each forkshaped member for delivery to said'conveyor.

1'7; Ina slicing machine, acutting element, means for operating the cutting element, means for feeding slabs of bacon to the cutting element,

an :endless conveyor located below, the cutting element, fork-shaped members movable forwardly andbackwardly between the cutting ele- 'ment and the conveyor to alternately receive slices fromjthecuttingelement and alternately deliver the slices in groups to said conveyor, means for operating the-forkshapedmembers as stated,

and means for. selectively delivering predeter mined numbers of slices to each fork-shaped member for deliveryto said. conveyor including a change speed gear mechanism interposed in the cutting element operating means and the means for operating said fork-shaped members.

18. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft jour- 'naled in the frame, a cutting element fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft J'ournaled in the frame, cams fixed on the second shaft, a conveyor mounted on the frame below the'cutting element, a pair of fork-shaped members operatively connected with the respective cams-for movement thereby forwardly and backwardly alternately between the cutting ele- 'ment' and conveyor to alternately; receive, slices from the cutting element and deliver same to said conveyor and return to initial positions, operative connections between said shafts, and means operatively interposed in saidoperative connections between said shafts to determine the number of slicesto be received by each of said fork-shaped members for delivery to said conveyor.

19. In a slicing machine, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a cutting elementv fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft .journaled in the frame, cams fixed on the second shaft, a conveyor mounted on the frame below the cutting element, a pair of fork-shaped members operatively connected with the respective cams for movement thereby forwardly and backwardly alternately between the cutting element and conveyor to alternately receive slices from the cutting element and deliver same to said conveyor and-"return to initial positions, operative connections between said shafts, and means operatively interposed in said operative connections between said shafts to determine the number of slices to be received by each of said fork-shaped members for delivery to said conveyor, including a change speed gear mechanism to control'the ratio between the cutting element shaft and the cam operating shaft to selectively vary and control the number of slices received by the fork shaped members. r

20. In a' slicing machine, 'a cutting element, means for feeding slabs of bacon to the cutting eIement an endless conveyor located below the cutting element, means for receiving cut slices from the cutting element and periodically de- 5 livering the same to the conveyor including a member movable forwardly and backwardly be tween the cutting element and the conveyor to deliver the cut slices in groups to said conveyor,

21. In a slicing machine, a cutting element,

means for feeding slabs of bacon to the cutting element,an endless conveyor located below the cutting element, means for receiving cut slices from the cutting element and periodically delivering the same to the conveyor including a member movable forwardly and backwardly in different substantially horizontal planes between the cutting element and the conveyor to deliver the cut slices in groups to'said conveyor, means for actuating said movable member as stated, H

and means for operating said'cutting element and said actuating means to selectively deliver groups of slices 'of different denominations to said fork-shaped member for deposit on said conveyor; 7 V

22. In combination with a slicing machine which comprises a cutting element means for feeding material thereto and a receiving and delivering conveyor, a receiving fork intermediate the cutting element and the receiving and delivering conveyor, means for operating said fork to deliver sliced material to said receiving and delivering conveyor in timed relationship to the operation .of said cutting element and speed change gearing to alter the timing of said fork operating means relative to the operation of said cutting element.

23. In combination with a slicing machine which comprises a cutting element, means for feedingmaterial thereto and a receiving and delivering conveyor, a receiving fork intermediate the cutting element and the receiving and delivering conveyor, cam actuated means for operating said fork to deliver sliced material to said receiving and delivering conveyor in timed relationship to the operation of said cutting element and speed change gearing including a series of speed change gears of different ratios and a' gear, shiftable between said speed change gears to alter the timing of said cam actuatedmeans ,relative'to the operation of said cutting element.

24. In combination with a slicing machine which comprises a cutting element, means for feeding material thereto and a receiving and delivering conveyor, a receiving fork intermediate the cutting element and the receiving and delivering conveyor, cam actuated means for operating said fork to deliver sliced material to said receiving and delivering conveyor in timed. relationship to the operation of said cutting ele- 'ment, and speed change gearing to alter the timing of said cam actuated means relative to the operation of said cutting element.

25. In a slicing machine, a cutting element, means for operating the cutting element, means for feeding material to the cutting element, a conveyor in operative association with said cutting element, cam actuated means for receiving slices from said cutting element and delivering said slices in groups in a predetermined number to said conveyor in timed relation to the operation of said cutting element and speed change gearing to alter the timing of said cam actuated means relative to the operation of said cutting 5 element.

CHARLES T. WALTER.