US2060540A - Slicing machine attachment - Google Patents

Description

Filed April 3, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l CZarZes fiozzz's ftraetezz I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov- 10, 1936- c. L. STRAETEN SLICING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1933 \ww .QN www mum kww um NN NNN NN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1936. Q STRAETEN 2,060,540

SLICING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 3, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fzarles 101121; ,Yzfrzzetzz INVENTOR WITNESS $62 91 r A r \p ATTORN EY Nov. 10, 1936. Q STRAETEN 2,060,540

SLI C ING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April I), 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (lustrial Patents Corporation,

Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 3, 1933, Serial No. 664,071

16 Claims.

The invention relates to meat slicing machines and particularly to slicing machines of the continuous type employed for the cutting of slabs of bacon into strips. Heretofore there has been employed a slicing machine having a knife or cutter movable in a vertically and transversely extending cutting plane for severing the several slices I of bacon one after the other from a slab of bacon fed longitudinally thereto and while the slabs of bacon are supported on a horizontally, transversely and longitudinally extending supporting table with which the cutter is functionally associated.

It has also been old in machines of this type to have a supporting table constructed so that it is provided by or with .a suitable moving conveying element or other suitable means for effecting longitudinal forward movement of the slabs of bacon to the knife or cutter. It has also been old to have associated with such supporting table a spring pressed holding down means for maintaining the slabs of bacon in contact with the supporting table while the slabs are being conveyed along the same in a longitudinal forward direction.

Frequently in the holding down mechanism as heretofore employed there has been used a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rollers located above the supporting table and mounted so that they are normally pressed towards the table but so that they can individually yield in a direction away from the table. In such constructions there has been left a considerable gap between the foremost of these pressing down rollers and the rear face of the knife or cutter of the machine.

In an earlier filed application, to-wit, application Serial Number 635,333 filed September 29, 1932, there is shown a spring pressed holding down finger construction which is incorporated in the space between the forward transversely extending pressing down roller on the one hand and the rear face of the knife or cutter on the other. But in said application these fingers, the spring pressing means therefor, and the other movable parts associated therewith are all mounted upon transversely extending shafts or bars which are mounted in vertical upstanding side portions of the main frame but in such a manner that said transversely extending shafts or bars do not have any vertical movement in respect to the table. According to the construction of said application however should one desire to effect an adjustment of the pressing effect of these fingers the same is accomplished by successively adjusting a spring mechanism associated with each finger.

In said application the knife or cutter thereof effects the successive severing of the slices from the bacon slabs by a cutting operation which comprehends a shearing action and also a transverse or lateral drawing action with the result that the cutter to a certain extent tends to distort in a lateral or transverse direction the bacon being sliced and these fingers just referred to serve to guide the slabs of bacon as they move under and in engagement with the fingers in a forward longitudinal direction and to hold the slabs of bacon against lateral distortion during the cutting operation.

These fingers are mounted so that they can yield in a vertical direction according to the uneven service condition or varying thickness of the slabs as they are moved towards the cutter but they are mounted so that they do not yield laterally.

The present invention contemplates the employment of transversely spaced guiding fingers or members that are arranged in the immediate vicinity behind the cutting knife and the mounting of said fingers or guides upon a transversely extending supporting bar or frame that is vertically movable and positionable as a unit towards and from the supporting table. The fingers or guiding members of such new construction may be of the type shown in said pending application or may be of other types. In the broadest aspects of the invention applicant contemplates employing in connection with a bacon or other meat slicing machine, and more par- .35 ticularly in connection with the longitudinally extending supporting table and transversely moving cutting knife thereof, a series of transversely spaced guiding fingers or members having meat engaging portions thereof that extend in a general longitudinal direction and which guiding fingers or members are as a whole mounted upon a common frame or supporting bar which is positionable as a unit towards and from the supporting table, whereby a ready adjustment of the fingers or guide members can be readily accomplished according to the general thickness of the bacon slabs or other meat material to be sliced in and by the machine.

According to one embodiment of the invention these fingers or guide members are preferably spring pressed in a forward downward direction so that they can yield in an upward direction according to the inequalities of the bacon slabs or other meat material passing through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which a series of transversely spaced guiding members are carried by but yieldably associated with a vertically positionable frame or supporting member so that by a single vertical adjustment of the supporting bar or frame a desired positioning of the spring pressed fingers as a set can be readily accomplished.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings these spring pressed fingers thus carried by and from the vertically positionable supporting bar or frame are preferably individually mounted and controlled by individual springs so that any one finger or guide member can be individually adjusted as to its pressing effect.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

As illustrating one manner in which the invention may be realized reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of a slicing machine having a longitudinally extending supporting table along which bacon slabs are fed in a forward longitudinal direction to a cutter that revolves about a longitudinally extending shaft, and which cut ter or knife has the cutting edge thereof arranged so that it operates in a transversely extending cutting plane and effects the cutting operation by the combined effect of shearing and drawing cutting actions. In said figure there is shown a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending spring pressed holding down rollers and also a finger and guide construction which is located between the spring pressed holding down rollers on the one hand and the cutter on the other, and which spring pressed fingers or guides are carried upon and by a vertically positionable, transversely extending supporting bar or frame.

In said figure there is also indicated means operatively associated with the vertically positionable supporting bar or frame on the one hand and the main frame of the machine on the other, whereby the supporting bar or frame is readily moved to any desired vertical position for adjustment and whereby it is held in said adjusted position.

Figure 2 is a vertical front view of the machine shown in Figure 1, a part of which is broken away, the knife being omitted to permit a clear showing of details.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse view partially in section, showing the construction of the mechanism that includes the spring pressed fingers, the transversely extending supporting bar or frame by and from which the fingers are carried, the mode of mounting the supporting bar or frame in respect to upright portions of the main frame of the machine and operating mechanism comprising gears and screws, whereby the supporting bar or frame can be vertically adjusted and held in adjusted position in respect to the main frame.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken as on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3. The parts shown in Figures 3 and 4 are on a larger scale than they are in the other views.

Figure 5 is a general side elevation at a much smaller scale than that of Figures 1 and 2 and in Figure 5 there is shown practically the entire cutting machine construction and in respect thereto a portion of an endless delivering conveyor usually employed in connection with the machine.

Reference will now be made to the drawings in detail. In Figure 5 the slicing machine as a whole is designated by I. It comprises any suitable framework or main frame as 2 that supports at the rear or feeding in end thereof a portion 3 of a receiving and supporting table 4 which also comprehends an endless table member 5 which may be considered, as part of the feeding mechanism whereby slabs of bacon or other meat products are fed in a longitudinal forward direction to the cutter or knife 6 of the machine. This endless table member 5 may be considered as part of an endless conveyor that is relied upon for feeding the material or meat products to be sliced, such as slabs of bacon, forwardly to the cutter or knife 6. At the front end of the machine there is provided an anvil as 'i constituting the forward end of the table structure and which serves to support the forward end of the slab of bacon while being cut.

The cutter or knife 6 of the machine is secured to and carried at the forward end of the cutter carrying shaft 3. The frame of the machine supports any suitable type of motor 9 which operates the shaft 8 through any suitable gearing as H] and I l.

The endless conveying mechanism 5 is operated from the cutter carrying shaft through the medium of chain and gear mechanismin effect through gear mechanism comprehending such parts as l2, l3, l4, l5, l6 and I? all of which parts are suitably supported but as to which detailed description thereof is not considered necessary, and which function to drive through the medium of the cutter carrying shaft 8 the endless feed conveyor 5.

The fixed rear portion 3, the endless conveying member 5, and the anvil 1 and the parts associated therewith collectively constitute a longitudinally, horizontally and transversely extending supporting table upon, along and by which slabs of bacon to be sliced are fed in a general forward longitudinal direction to the cutter. The machine is provided with any suitable means as the longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rollers I8 which are spring pressed as by springs l9 so as to normally force the slabs of bacon towards the table during the period they are being conveyed forwardly towards the cutter. These rollers are sometimes referred to as yielding or spring pressed holding down members b cause they function to press the slabs of bacon downwardly towards the supporting table and hold them against the same.

The machine is also preferably provided with any suitable endless discharge mechanism as 2!] which is relied upon to convey the sliced material from the machine as and when produced. This endless conveying mechanism 20 is generally of the continuously moving type. An inspection of Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 will make it clear that a relatively long space exists between the foremost spring pressed roller l8 and the rear face 2| of the cutter or knife 6. The knife is constructed so that it functions not merely by a downward shearing action but by the combined downward shearing and lateral drawing actions. The drawing effect is produced because the knife has a cutting component in a transverse or lateral direction. The cutting effect by the knife tends to cause certain distortion of the material being cut or sliced unless that material is supported against the forces tending to distort it and particularly against the forces tending to distort it in a lateral transverse direction.

In order to insure that the bacon slabs or whatever meat is being cut shall be properly guided and held in place the finger construction generally designated as FC has been incorporated in the machine between the pressing rollers 48 and the rear face 2| of the cutter or knife 3.

This finger construction generally designated by FC comprises a vertically adjustable and positionable transversely extending supporting bar 22 constituting a vertically adjustable and positionable supporting frame member upon and by means of which there is carried a series of elements as 22 22*, 22, etc. and these elements comprise a series of fingers or guide members 23.

An inspection of Figure 2 discloses that ten of such fingers are illustrated. These fingers are mounted so that the lower or forward ends thereof can yield in a vertical direction relative to the supporting bar or frame by which it is carried and it will be observed that each finger has a meat engaging portion 23 at the lower forward end thereof which extends in a general longitudinal direction and each finger is mounted so that it can move in a vertical longitudinally extending plane, and each is also so mounted that it does not have any substantial movement or play in a lateral transverse direction. Because of this mounting they are free to adjust themselves according to the varying thicknesses of the slab of bacon engaged thereby but so that they oppose any movement in a lateral transverse direction.

In the construction shown the transverse supporting vertically adjustable supporting frame includes the bar 22 and the depending side portions 22 in which there is mounted a transversely extending main shaft 24 of the finger construction and a transversely extending auxiliary shaft 25. The main shaft has mounted thereupon a series of transversely disposed long arms 26 each of which is mounted on the shaft so that it can have a limited angular movement in respect to the shaft. The extent of this angular movement being limited by a stop pin 21 carried by the shaft 24 and which extends into a slotted portion 28 of the hub that is on and constitutes a part of the long arm 26.

The outer end of this arm 26 is pivotally connected by a pin 29 to the middle portion of the finger 23 corresponding thereto. There is also mounted upon the auxiliary shaft 25 a series of short arms 30, each of which is free to have angular movement in respect to the shaft upon which it is mounted and the free end of this arm 30 is pivotally connected by a pin St to the rear or upper end of the finger corresponding thereto. Each pin 3| has a roller 32 which is continuously spring pressed in a downward direction by a plunger 33 which is normally urged in a downward direction by a spring 34 corresponding to the plunger.

The supporting bar or frame 22 previously referred .to carries the hollow bolt or bushing 35 which is locked in place by the collar or look nut 3B, which bushing 35 can be adjusted to regulate the pressing effect of the spring 34 and thereby the pressing effect of the finger controlled thereby. Each finger, corresponding arms, plunger, spring, bushing, etc. constitutes the series of elements 22 22 22, etc., previously referred to, and it will be manifest that the pressing effect of each finger or guide member can be regulated at will independently of the other fingers.

The main shaft 24 is normally held against rotation in one direction by a pin 3'! therein near one end thereof which normally engages a pin 38 which is carried in and by a side member 22 of the supporting bar near the lower end of the latter as is clearly apparent from the lower left hand portion of Figure 2.

The result of this construction is that the stops 2'! on the shaft 24 can serve to determine the lowest position of the free ends of the long arms 26 and thereby the lowest position of the ends of the fingers 23 in reference to the supporting bar or frame 22. A handle construction 39 is provided for effecting at will a turning movement of the main shaft 24 for the purpose of causing an elevating of the fingers 23 in reference to the supporting bar or member 22. It will be manifest from an inspection of the figures of the drawings and particularly Figures 3 and 4 hereof that the fingers 23 are all supported on and carried by the frame comprising the transversely extending sup porting bar 22 and the side members or brackets 22 Therefore when this frame 22-22 is raised orlowered the fingers 23 as a set are correspondingly positioned.

This transversely extending slidable supporting frame 22-- 22 more particularly the side members thereof 22 are slidably mounted in vertically extending upright bracket members or upright frame portions 40. The side portions 22 of the supporting frame 2222 are maintained in sliding position with respect to the upright brackets or frame portions 40 by means of gibs 4| which are secured in place as by means of the screw bolts 42.

This finger construction as a whole is vertically adjustable and positionable by means of a mechanism collectively designated as 43 and which has parts operatively associated with the uprights 49 of the main frame on the one hand and the vertically positionable supporting bar or frame member 22 on the other hand. This operating mechanism 43, just referred to, comprehends a shaft 44 which can be turned by hand by means of a hand wheel 45. This shaft 44 is rotatably mounted in and movable with the supporting bar 22 and it carries thereupon at or near each end thereof a gear or worm 46 which is secured thereto as by means of the pin 41. Each of these gears or Worms 46 meshes with a corresponding worm wheel 48 that provides a nut which turns upon a corresponding fixed vertically extending screw 49.

Each worm wheel 48 is maintained in place with respect to the supporting bar or frame 22 because of a pocketed portion 53 provided at or near each end of the supporting bar and within which the worm wheel 48 corresponding thereto is located and it will be noted that each vertical screw 49 is fixedly secured at 51 to a member or portion which is a part of the gib construction that is fixedly secured to the uprights 40 of the main frame. Each vertically extending screw 49 is maintained in place and against rotation by means of a pin 52.

From an inspection of Figures 3 and 4 it will be manifest that a turning of the handle readily effects a desired vertical adjustment of the finger construction as a whole. It will also be observed that the construction is such that upon release of the handle the worm and screw construction described automatically efiects a locking and secure holding of the supporting bar 22 and fingers carried thereby in adjusted position in respect to the supporting table upon and along which the bacon slabs are fed to the cutter. By this arrangement one is enabled to set the fingers as a whole so that they have the desired guiding and pressing effect in respect to the slab of bacon or other piece of material engaged thereby.

It will also be observed that the pressing effect of any one finger can be regulated or determined by the individual adjustment therefor without altering the pressing effect of any other finger. Applicant has shown in association with the supporting bar a particular guiding and holding finger construction.

Within the broader aspects of the invention there is contemplated the employment of other forms of guiding and holding fingers from those shown and which guiding fingers may or may not be spring pressed dependent upon the particular feature in this regard that may be desired. However in the more specific aspect of the invention there is contemplated the employment with the adjustable positioning and supporting bar of guiding fingers which can be relied upon to assist in the guiding of the bacon slabs as they pass in a longitudinal path to the cutter and to the employment of such fingers to oppose any transverse or lateral distortion during a cutting operation.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination in a bacon slicing machine, main frame, a longitudinally and transversely extending supporting table constructed for feeding slabs of bacon in a forward longitudinal direction to a cutter of the machine that operates in a transversely extending cutting plane during a slicing operation carried out thereby, a holding down means provided above the table, which holding down means comprises a transversely extending supporting frame that is carried from and by the main frame and that is vertically movable in respect to the table, which said holding down means also comprises transversely arranged guide fingers having slab engaging portions that extend in a general longitudinal direction and that engage that portion of the bacon slab which is in the immediate vicinity of the cutter but at the rear thereof, which fingers are spring pressed in a downward direction but are mounted so that they can yield in an upward direction, and in which each spring pressed finger has associated therewith a screw adjusting member that engages the spring that corresponds to the finger in a manner whereby the pressing effect of the finger can be regulated.

2. In combination in a bacon slicing machine, a main frame, a cutter located at the forward end of the frame, the cutting edge of the cutter operating in a transversely extending plane and functioning with a drawing action as well as a shearing action when severing a slice of bacon from the slab of bacon, means whereby to feed the bacon to the cutter, holding down means comprising a frame slidable on the main frame and including a transverse bar and side portions connected to and depending from said bar, a plurality of holding down fingers mounted in the slidable frame between the side portions of the latter and which extend in a general longitudinal direction in inclined planes toward said cutter, means for exerting pressure on said fingers in a direction toward the means on which the bacon is fed to the cutter and which pressure exerting means permits the fingers to yield in a direction away from the bacon, said fingers being mounted against any substantial movement in a lateral transverse direction, means cooperatively related with the depending side portions of the slidable frame for effecting a vertical adjustment and positioning of the slidable frame and of the fingers mounted on the latter, and manually operable means for simultaneously moving the fingers upwardly independently of movement of the slidable frame.

3. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a longitudinally and transversely extending supporting table constructed for feeding slabs of bacon in a forward longitudinal direction through the frame, yieldable presser means to yieldably force the material into feeding engagement with said feeding means, a cutter operatively mounted on the frame to operate in a transversely extending cutting plane during slicing operations, a meat holding down means arranged above the table and including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame and a plurality of guide fingers mounted in the slidable frame and having meat engaging portions that extend in a general longitudinal direction in a downwardly inclined plane and which engage that portion of the meat which is in the immediate vicinity of the cutter but at the rear thereof, means for exerting pressure in a downward direction on said fingers so that the fingers may yield in an upward direction, and means operatively associated with the main frame and the slidable frame for vertically adjusting and holding the latter in adjusted position.

4. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means, means for the feed of material to the cutting means, yieldable presser means above the material to press the same yieldably on said feed means, and means between the cutting means and the yieldable presser means for firmly holding the material adjacent the cutter during the slicing operation including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame, a second presser means which is mounted in the slidable frame, and a plurality of fingers mounted in the slidable frame for vertical pivotal movement and which extend forwardly and downwardly towards the cutting means and terminate at their forward ends relatively close to the cutting means and which are yieldably engageable with the material adjacent the cutting means under the influence of said second mentioned presser means whereby to hold the material firmly adjacent the cutting means during the slicing operation.

5. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted on the main frame, means for the feed of the material to the cutting means, yieldable presser means above the material to press the same yieldably on said means for the feed of the material as the material is fed to the cutting means, means located between the cutting means and the said presser means and slidably mounted in the main frame to engage the material adjacent the cutting means during the slicing operation to prevent movement of the material during the slicing operation, said slidable means including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame, a plurality of meat holding down fingers mounted in the slidable frame, and means associated with each finger to exert downward pressure on the fingers to effect firm engagement of the latter with the material during the slicing operation and yet permit an upward yielding movement of the fingers during the feed of the material to the cutting means, and a movable means interposed between the fingers and the pressure exerting means associated therewith to provide a movable operative connection between the fingers and said cooperating pressure exerting means.

6. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted on the main frame, means for the support of meat adjacent the cutting means, and a combined pressure exerting means and a meat holding device including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame and downwardly and forwardly directed fingers pivotally mounted in the slidable frame having their outer ends disposed in close relation to the cutting means to yieldably but firmly hold the meat by the fingers adjacent the cutting means during the slicing operation, and spring pressure means mounted in the slidable frame and having cooperative engagement with the fingers to effect said yieldable mounting of the fingers.

'7. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted in the frame, means for the support of meat adjacent to the cutting means, a frame slidably mounted in the main frame, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted in the slidable frame and having their outer ends arranged for engagement to press upon the meat adjacent the cutting means, a spring actuated plunger arranged over each finger and having a head at its lower end, and a device movably carried by each finger and interposed between the respective fingers and the heads of the respective plungers to take the thrust of the respective plungers in forcing the fingers into said meat engaging position, and a spring mounted in the slidable frame and associated with each plunger to normally effect downward pressure of the plunger on the respective movable device.

8. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, means on the main frame for the support of meat, a cutting means mounted on the main frame including a cutting element operable adjacent one end of the frame, means cooperating with the cutting element to hold the meat firmly on said supporting means adjacent the cutting element during the slicing operation, including a frame mounted for vertical sliding movement in the main frame, a shaft mounted transversely in the slidable frame above the meat, a plurality of arms mounted for up and down movement on said shaft and projecting forwardly toward the cutting element, a second shaft mounted transversely in the slidable frame above the aforesaid shaft, a plurality of arms carried by the second shaft and arranged above the respective arms of the first mentioned shaft, fingers pivoted intermediate their ends to the arms of the first shaft and having pivotal connection .at their inner ends with the arms of the second shaft, a roller mounted on the pivotal connection between the respective fingers and the respective arms of the second shaft, and spring actuated devices mounted in the slidable frame corresponding in number with the sets of arms and fingers and each including a plunger engaging the respective rollers to exert pressure on the respective fingers to normally force the outer ends of the fingers yieldably into engagement with the meat adjacent the cutting element,

9. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, means on the main frame for the support of meat, a cutting means mounted on the main frame including a cutting element operable adjacent one end of the frame, means cooperating with the cutting element to hold the meat firmly on said supporting means adjacent the cutting element during the slicing operation, including a frame mounted for vertical sliding movement in the main frame, a shaft mounted transversely in the slidable frame above the meat, a plurality of arms mounted for up and down movement on said shaft and projecting forwardly toward the cutting element, a second shaft mounted transversely in the slidable frame above the aforesaid shaft, a plurality of arms carried by the second shaft and arranged above the respective arms of the first mentioned shaft, fingers pivoted intermediate their ends to the arms of the first shaft and having pivotal connection at their inner ends with the arms of the second shaft, a roller mounted on the pivotal connection between the respective fingers and the respective arms of the second shaft, spring actuated devices mounted in the slidable frame corresponding in number with the sets of arms and fingers and each including a plunger engaging the respective rollers to exert pressure on the respective fingers to normally force the outer ends of the fingers yieldably into engagement with the meat adjacent the cutting element, means to limit the vertical movements of the arms on the first mentioned shaft, means to adjust the slidable frame and the said elements carried thereby vertically, and means to adjust the fingers independently of adjustment of the slidable frame.

10. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted on the main frame, means for the support of meat adjacent the cutting means, and a combined pressure exerting means and a meat holding device including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame and downwardly and forwardly directed fingers pivotally mounted in the slidable frame having their outer ends disposed in close relation to the cutting means to yieldably but firmly hold the meat by the fingers adjacent the cutting means during the slicing operation, and spring pressure means mounted in the slidable frame and having cooperative engagement with the fingers to effect said yieldable mounting of the fingers, and means for sliding the slidable frame on the main frame and holding the former in adjusted position on the latter.

11. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted on the frame, means for the feed of material to the cutting means, yieldable presser means above the material to press the same yieldably on said means for the feed of the material, and a combined presser means and a fingered device arranged between the cutting means and the said presser means and coacting to yieldably apply force downwardly on the fingered device into engagement with the material adjacent the cutting means to hold the foremost end of the material yieldably but firmly during the slicing operation, said combined presser means and fingered device including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame, a finger mounted in the slidable frame, and a pressure exerting means for the finger also mounted in the slidable frame, and a gear mechanism connected to both of said frames and operative to permit of adjustment of the slidable frame on the main frame.

12. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame, a cutting means operatively mounted on the main frame, means for the support of meat adjacent the cutting means, and a combined pressure exerting means and a meat holding device including a frame slidably mounted in the main frame and downwardly and forwardly directed fingers pivotally mounted in the slidable frame having their outer ends disposed in close relation to the cutting means to yieldably but firmly hold the meat by the fingers adjacent the cutting means during the slicing operation, and spring pressure means mounted in the slidable frame and having cooperative engagement with the fingers to effect said yieldable mounting of the fingers, and a gear mechanism connected to both of said frames and operative to permit of adjustment of the slidable frame on the main frame.

13. In a slicing machine, a main frame, a meat feeding means, a cutting means including a cutting element, a frame vertically slidable in the main frame, a series of spring actuated fingers supported pivotally intermediate their ends and inclined and forced normally downwardly and forwardly towards the cutting element and towards said supporting means, means for pivotally mounting the spring actuated fingers in said vertically slidable frame, means for movably mounting the pivotal means of the fingers, the forward ends of the fingers engaging the upper face of the meat close to the cutting element to hold the meat firmly adjacent the cutting element during the slicing operation and incident to the aforesaid mountings, each finger being movable upwardly in a vertical plane independently of one another against the action of the spring actuation thereof and in a vertical plane substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the cutting element.

14. In a meat slicing machine, a frame, a meat supporting means, a cutting means including a cutting element, a supplemental frame slidably mounted in the main frame, means for sliding said frame, a series of spring actuated fingers supported pivotally intermediate their ends and inclined and forced normally downwardly and forwardly towards the cutting ele ment and towards said supporting means, means for pivotally mounting the spring actuated fingersin the supplemental frame, means for movably mounting the pivotal means of the fingers, the forward ends of the fingers engaging the upper face of the meat close to the cutting element to hold the meat firmly adjacent the cutting element during the slicing operation and incident to the aforesaid mountings, each finger being movable vertically upwardly in a vertical plane independently one of another against the action of the spring actuation thereof and in a vertical plane substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the cutting element, and means common to all of said fingers whereby to move all of said fingers from their normal operative positions upwardly to a full retracted position.

15. In combination, a slicing machine comprising a main frame, a cutter,. means for feeding material to said cutter, and yieldable presser means for forcing the material into feeding engagement with the feeding means, a holding down means arranged above said feeding means and forwardly of said presser means comprising a frame slidably mounted in said main frame, a plurality of fingers mounted in said slidable frame, means associated with said fingers for exerting a downward pressure on said fingers and means including gears on one of said frames cooperating with fixed screws on the other of said frames for vertically adjusting said slidable frame to a fixed position whereby said pressure actuated fingers are yieldably positioned with relation to the material supported on said feeding means.

16. In combination, a slicing machine comprising a main frame, a cutter, means for feeding material to said cutter, and yieldable presser means for forcing the material into feeding engagement with the feeding means, a holding down means arranged above said feeding means and forwardly of said presser means comprising a frame slidably mounted in said main frame, a plurality of fingers mounted in said slidable frame, means associated with said fingers for exerting a downward pressure on said fingers and means including gears on said slidable frame cooperating with fixed screws on said main frame for vertically adjusting said slidable frame to a fixed position whereby said pressure actuated fingers are yieldably positioned with relation to the material supported on said feeding means.

CHARLES L. STRAETEN.

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