US2208638A - Slicing machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1940- J. J KALLs ET AL 2,2 8,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ink/67222719.- tfoaaf JuZdzJ/faZZai L/fi/zczmffallafi,

y 1940- J. JLKALLGS irr AL 2,2 ,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

INK/92237153 k/Bsef JZZZZZJI Q1105 Jb/Zmfzllas y 1940- J. .1. KALLOS El AL 3,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f 72082250219: fisefI/aldzsjzllaa jaizczrzmfialfai Patented July 23, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Josef Julius Kallos and Johann Kalls, Budapest, Hungary, assignors to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind.

Application June 27, 1939, Serial No. 281,386 In Hungary July 26, 1937 30 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines having so-called slice-stacking mechanism, the func-- tion of which is to take each successive slice as it is being cut by the knife of the machine, convey the slice to a predetermined position and there discharge the slice upon any appropriate slicereceiver, usually a part of the machine. Thus, need for handling the slices by the operator can be more or less entirely avoided.

An object of the invention is to make improvements in slice-stacking mechanism of the type including a slice-discharging fly which is movable with the slice conveyor.

Another object is to provide a conveyor which is collapsible, or closable fanwise to give lostmotion between the conveyor and the fly.

Another object is so to operate a component of the conveyor that, despite the collapsibility thereof, the slice-engaging elements will move 20 in strict harmony with the meat or other substance on the usual reciprocating carriage of the machine throughout at least the slice-impalement action.

Another object is. to lock the conveyor and fly 5 temporarily in the slice-discharging position against sidewise displacement therefrom in order to ensure discharge of the slices in an unchanging place, so that a neat stack of uncreased slices will be built.

Another object is to lock the fly firmly for a short period at the end of its slice-discharging operation in order to avoid harmful vibration.

Yet another object of the invention is to combine stacking mechanism with a slicing machine 35 having a push-pull carriage-that is, a carriage whose stroke is variable at the will of the operator to suit the size of the substancethe combination to be such that the carriage stroke can be varied without afiecting the harmony between 40 the carriage and the slice conveyor.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan of a slicing machine equipped with the improved stacking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the slice conveyor and section of the discharge fiy, the view being to a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of a fork-like carrier of the slice-discharging fly, and of associated working parts, this view being also to a larger scale than .Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and plan respectively and an automatic device for locking the discharge fly when in its lowermost position.

Fig. '7 is a view in isometric projection of a component of the conveyor.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the slicing machine, known in itself, comprises a vertical circular knife 2 which is rotated about a stationary axis by an electric motor 1 and a substance-supporting carriage 5 which can be manually pushed and 10 pulled to-and-fro past the knife by means of a'hand grip 3, a clamp 4 being provided to hold the "substance on the carriage. The length of the stroke of the carriage is variable at the Will of the operator. Springs 6 serve to press the clamped substance towards a vertical slice-thickness-determining abutment plate I, the plane of which is parallel to the general slicing plane of the knife. The plate I by means of a hand lever B and mechanism not shown, is adjustable with a parallel motion to vary the size of the gap between the slice-cutting edge of the knife 2 and the adjacent edge of the plate I and the space between the vertical planes of the knife and plate, so that the thickness of the slices to 5 be cut from the substance can be regulated at will.

The slice-stacking mechanism is located by a vertical axle -l I, which is stationarily secured to the sole-plate 9 of the frame of the slicing machine and to a bracket ID on the housing of the motor. On this axle is journalled an assembly of upright supports I21 I29 (there being nine of these supports in the example). These supports are arranged side-by-side and are collapsible fanwise towards one another about the axle ll. Slice-impaling needles I31 139 are secured by screwing to the respective supports, a vertical side of each of the supports having a rowof these needles (see Figs. 2, 3 and 7). These supports are the main components of the slice conveyor of the stacking mechanism. On up per and lower horizontal limbs of the supports I21 I29 there are provided elongated slots 14 and on the respective neighbouring supports H22 I29 there are pins l5 which engage said slots so that the supports are coupled to one another with lost-motion, or play; and it isby virtue of such lost-motion that the supports can be laterally collapsed and opened in 'a fanlike manner .to an extent limited by the series of connections l4, IS.

The first support 121 of the assembly has a %bent extension IE to which one end of a flexible metal band I! is attached. This band is 'movable in an S-form guide groove I8 provided in the sole-plate 9. In one or each vertical wall of the guide groove I8 serrations or corrugations are provided (Fig. 1) to reduce friction between the groove and the band. It will be seen that the serrations present contact surfaces extending parallel to the line of motion of the band. The other end ofthe band I! is attached to a lower part of the carriage 5 so that the usual to-and-fro motion of the carriage results in a corresponding motion of the conveyor component I21.

The impalement action of the conveyor needles I31 I39 is assisted by a stationary guide I9 behind the knife edge and a guide which is secured to the abutment plate I and therefore is adjustable therewith, these guides being formed combwise or with horizontal slots in known manner. to permit passage of the needles through the respective guides.

The coupling between the conveyor component I21 and the substance-carrying carriage 5 of the machine need not take the form of a flexible metal band, as in the construction illustrated, but may instead take the form of levers, linkages, toothed gearing or other appropriate means of transmission adapted to ensure that 'themotion of the component I 21 agrees exactly .one arm of a two-armed lever 22. Parallel arcuatesuperposed slice-engaging ribs 24 extend horizohtally from each of said side members to the other at levels midway between the needles of each vertical row. The lever 22 is mounted on a fulcrum-shaft 26 which is journalled in the ends of the side-members of the fork-like flycarrier which is journalled on the axle II.

The fly-carrier 25 is positively connected by a rigid vertical motion-transmitting bar IGI to an arm I60 which is journalled on the axle II and which is secured to the last conveyor-needle support I29 of the assembly. Thus it will be clear that, whilst the first support I21'is positively driven by the carriage 5 in .exact harmony therewith, the fly, its carrier 25 and the last support I29 ,form a single unit which is rotatable about the axle I I and which is coupled to the first support I21 with the lost-motion provided by the serie's'of pin-and-slot connections I4, I5.

One of the arms of the lever 22 extends inwardly, and this arm is pivotally connected to ,a vertical operating pin 29 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) which is guided in a-boss 28 on a cross-member 21 of the fly-carrier 25. A cam secured to the extension I6 of the first support I21 has an active lower edge whichpresents an inclined profile and which is adapted to act upon the top of the pin 29 whenever sufiicient relative rotational motion between the fly-carrier and the first-support I21- occurs. The arrangement is such that, in rotation of the support I21 and cam 30 in counter-clockwise direction (as seen from above) while the fly and its carrier are temporarily at rest, the pin 29 is depressed by said cam and forces the lever 22 to pivot with the discharge fly into the upright position thereof. This pivotal action is performed against theresistance of two torsion springs M which are arranged at opposite sides of the lever 22 and-which .thus become. stressed andstore up sufficient energy for subsequent performance of the slice-discharging operation.

The lever 22, in the upright position of the discharge fly, is detachably locked by a pin 33 which is guided in a bearing 32 and which is spring-urged to snap into a hole in one flank of the lever 22.

The slice-discharging operation of the fly re- Sults from the action of unlocking the lever 22. This action is effected by a double-armed lever 34 (Fig. 4.) One arm of this lever 34 extends inwardly, and this arm, when the cam carrier 25 moves into the position in which the discharging operation is performed (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) abuts against a permanently stationary arm 36 which is rigidly secured to the vertical axle II by a screw 35. The inwardly extending arm of lever 34, when engaged and displaced by arm 36, withdraws the end of the pin 33 from the hole in lever 22. of the stressed torsion springs 3I, the requisite sudden downward slice-discharging swing of the discharge fly 23, 24 takes place, the lowermost position of the fly being indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 2.

In order to avoid with surety vibration of the discharge fly after its downward swinging motion, there is fulcrumed on the cross member 21 of the fly-carrier 25 a bent lever 38 forming a locking device. This lever is acted upon by a spring 31. In the path of movement of the inner edge 39 of lever 38, the boss 28 has a crosscut recess and the pin 29 also has a cross-cut recess which is adapted to register with the recess in the boss 28 when the pin occupies the position corresponding to the lowermost position of the discharge fly. Thus, when the slice-discharge action is completed, the inner edge 39 snaps like a latch into the then registering recesses and accordingly locks the pin 29 and fiy connected thereto against further movement. Thus, vibratory movement of the fly is positively prevented.

Unlocking of the pin 29 and discharge fly from the latch lever 38 is effected by a sleeve-form catch 42 (see Figs. 5 and 6) turnable on a pin 4| against the resistance of a torsion spring 40. The pin 4I extends from an arcuate rod 43 projectingfrom the extension I6 of the first support I21 (see also Fig. 2.) The rod 43 is adapted to force the catch 42 to abut against the free end of the bent lever 38 at a timed instant in the cycle of operations and force the locking edge 39 from the recess in the pin 29, thus freeing the pin 29 and fly. The spring serves to maintain the requisite operative positional relationship between the catch 42 and the lever 38 during a short extent of relative movement between the support I21 and the fly-carrier 25.

In order to prevent sidewise movement of the entire conveyor and of the discharge fly when both occupy the slice-discharging position (Figs. 1, 2 and 1) during the short period required for the slice-discharge operation, there is provided on the fly-carrier 25 a latch 45 which is guided for vertical movement on the carrier 25 and which .is urged upwardly by springs 44. The latch 45 is formed somewhat like a U with two limbs between which is left a vertical locking recess adapted to receive the stationary arm 36 and thereby lock thecarrier 25 against sidewise movement about the axle II, the conveyor then being fully extended fanwise and being in efiect temporarily rigid with the fly carrier. The latch 45 Thereupon, under the action III) has an inclined tongue 45 projecting from one of its limbs. This tongue is adapted to be brought by the fly-carrier into engagement with arm 3 5, which thus depresses the latch and finally enters the vertical locking recess between the limbs of the latch, which therefore locks itself to the arm 36 and holds the fly-carrier fast. Unlocking of the fly-carrier from the latch is effected by the lower inclined edge 4'! of a cam 48 which is secured to the extension I6 of the first su port I21, this edge acting to depress the longer limb 49 of the latch and thus unlatch the carrier 25 from the arm 36 whenever the support I21 moves counterclockwise with the carrier still locked at rest.

The operation of the stacking mechanism is as follows:

Assume that the carriage 5 is at the end of its slicing stroke, as in Fig. 1, and that the discharge fly 22, 23, 24 is locked in its lowermost position. The conveyer components I21 I29 are then fully extended fanwise and locked with the fly against lateral movement by the latch Q5, 49.

The operator pulls the carriage which thus performs its return stroke. The first support I21 therefore is pulled by the band I? to return, in harmony with the carriage, in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed from above). The fly and its carrier are permitted to remain stationary at the commencement of the return of the carriage because of the lost motion given by the series of pin-and-slot connections (M, I5). Accordingly, the conveyor starts to collapse or close fanwise. Moreover, the catch 42 and the earns 30 and t8 come into action. As regards the catch 42, the rod 43 moving with the support I21 causes said catch to force the lever 38 into unlocking position, so that the pin 29 is freed. The inclined edge of cam 30 then engages and depresses the pin 29, so that the discharge fly is forced upwardly into its upright position in which the slice-engaging ribs 24 are disposed inwardly of the pointed ends of needles I31 I39 (Figs. 3 and 4). The fly-operating springs 3I are thus stressed. When the fly reaches its fully raised position, the locking pin 33 snaps into engagement with the lever 22 and so locks the fly against pivotal movement about the fulcrum 26. As regards the cam 48, the limb 48 of the latch meantime looking the fly-carrier 25 to the stationary arm 3% is depressed by said cam, and after a short extent of movement the nose 46 comes below the arm 36, so that the cam-carrier is released and therefore becomes free to turn around the axle II. As soon as the conveyor has completely collapsed, the first and last support I21 and I29 then being as close together as permitted by the pinand slot connections l4, E5, or by inter-engagement between the adjacent vertical needle-carrying limbs of the supports I22 I29, the flycarrier and the fly and other parts on said carrier all move in unison with the conveyor as a single unit under the pull of band I! to the end of the return stroke. The conveyor is then beyond the guides 2t! and I9, which are located in the slicing position.

The operator now pushes the carriage which thus performs its slicing stroke. The first support I21 is forced by the band I! to advance towards and past the guides I9, 20 in the slicing position, but the remaining supports I22 I29 remain initially at rest on account of the lostmotiondue to the pin-and-slot' connections I4, I5.

The needles I31 on the support I21 move throughout the entire slicing stroke in exact harmony with-that is, at the. same linear speed asthe carriage; As the needles I31 pass the guides 39, 29, the guide I9 turns the newly cut portion of the slice into engagement with'the needles and the guide '20 presses the slice into impalement by them.

When the lost motion of the pin-and-slot connection Hi, I5 between the first and second supports I21 and I22 is ended, the second support is entrained by the first and therefore its needles I32, now passing the guides I9, 2!) at a speed in harmony with that of the carriage, impale the slice. The same procedure occurs with the remaining supports E23 to I29 in succession, so that finally the completely opened conveyor advances with the fully impaled slice to the slice-discharge position which it reaches at the end of the slicing stroke. The said position is defined by the stationary arm 36, which is engaged first by the nose 4% of the latch 45, 49 and next by the longer limbAQ. The action of the latch, at this point in the cycle of operations, is to lock the entire structure which has been rotating about axle ll, namely the opened conveyor, the fiy-carrier 25 and the fly and other parts on said carrier, against further lateral movement. Simultaneo-usly, the arm 38 is engaged by the lever 34, which thus is displaced and caused to withdraw the locking pin 33 from the lever 22, so that instantaneously the already stressed springs 3! force the fly structure 22, 23, 24 to perform the slice-discharging action, the efiect of which is that the ribs 24 strip the slice from the needles I31 I39 and deposit it upon a slice-receiving table (not shown).

The fly in its lowermost position is locked there by the lever 38, whose edge 39 snaps into engagement with the operating pin 28.

It will be manifest that the end of the slicing stroke (Fig. 1) is definite, being fixed by the point of full engagement between the arm 36 and the latch 45, 49 (Fig. 4). On the other hand, the end of the return stroke can be varied at the will of the operator to suit the size of the substance. So long as the stroke is long enough for the needles i521 to be returned beyond the guides i9, 28 in the slicing position, it is immaterial to what further extent the conveyor and carriage are forced, because harmony between the conveyor needles and carriage during the impalement oi the slices is ensured.

We claim:

1. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly in association with said components, a lost-motion connection between said components permitting said components to close towards and open from one another to a limited extent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-taking position and a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, and means operable by relative motion between said one of said components and said carrier due to said lostmotion connection to actuate said fly in said slicedischarging position. I

2. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components co-axially mounted adjacent one another for rotational movement, said components constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly,

a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted co-axially with respect to said components to move rotationally with said fly in association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection be- 101 mitting connection between another of said com- I motion connection to actuate said fly in said slicedischarging position. I

3. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, a plurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly in association with said components, a lost-motion connection between said components permitting said components to close towards one another and to open from one another to a limited extent, an operative connection between one of said components and said carriage for moving said one of the components past a slice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage to a slice-discharging position, a motion transmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, and means operable by relative motion between said one of the components and said carrier due to said lostmotion connection to actuate said fly in said slicedischarging position.

4. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another and constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly in association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between said components permitting said conveyor to close and open to a! limited extent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-taking position and a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, means for actuating said fly in said slice-discharging position, a locking device engageable with said carrier in said slice-discharging position to lock said carrier and conveyor therein, and means for retracting said device by relative motion between 'said one of said components and said carrier.

, 5. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, a plurality of slice-engaging components co-axially mounted adjacent one another for rotational movement, said components constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted co-axially with respect to said components to move rotationally with said fly in association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between adjacent ones of said components permitting said conveyor to close and open fanwise to a limited extent, an operative connection between one of said components and said carriage for moving said one of the components past a slice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage to a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, means for actuating said fly in said slicedischarging position, a locking device engageable with said carrier in said slice-discharging position to lock said carrier, conveyor and carriage for the performance of a slice-discharging operation, and means for retracting said device by relative rotational motion between said one of said components and said carrier after such performance.

6. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the said lost-motion connection comprises pins on a member of the said components and slots in the respective adjacent components, said pins engaging in said slots.

7. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another and constituting a slice conveyor, 2. slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly in association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between said components permitting said conveyor to close and open to a limited extent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-taking position and a slice-discharging position, a, motion-transmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, means actuating said fly in said slice-discharging position to perform a downward slice-discharging operation, a latch device for locking said fly on completion of said operation, means operable by relative motion between said one of said components and said fly carrier to retract said latch into unlocking position, and means also operable by said relative motion to return the fly upwards.

8. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife,

a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable past said knife, a plurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another and constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly in association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between adjacent ones of said components permitting said conveyor to close and open to a limited extent, a flexible metal band connecting said carriage to said one of said components to move it to-and-fro at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage, a curved guide constraining said band to a determinate path of movement, a

motionstransmitting connection between another of said components and said carrier, and means for actuating said fly in a slice-discharging position.

9. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which the said curved guide is formed with serrations in contact with which the said band moves.

10. In slicing-machine slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism, a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging comcomprising a plurality of slice-engaging compoa nents which are co-axially mounted for rotational movement and which are closable towards and openable from one another fanwise, means for rotationally moving one of said components, and lost-motion connecting means between said components limiting the extent of their opening from one another.

12. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substancesupporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, and slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism including a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components which are movably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from one another, an operative connection between one of said components and said carriage for moving said one of the components past a slice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage to a slice-discharging position, and lostmotion connecting means between said components limiting the extent of their opening from one another.

13. In slicing-machine slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism, a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components which are movably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from one another, means for moving one of said components, lostmotion connecting means between said components limiting the extent of their opening from one another, a locking device for locking said conveyor while said components in opened condition are in a slice-discharging position, and means for retracting said device during closure of said components following a slice-discharging operation in said position.

14. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, and slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism including a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components which are movably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from one another, an operative connection between one of said'components and said carriage for moving said one of the compo-nents past a slice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage to a slice-discharging position, lost-motion connecting means between said components limiting the extent of their opening from one another, a locking device for locking said conveyor and carriage while said components in opened condition are in said slice-discharging position, and means for retracting said device during closure of said components following a slice-discharging operation in said position.

15. Slicing-machine slice-conveying and slicedischarging mechanism as claimed in claim 14, in which the said lost-motion connecting means consist of pins on a number of the said components and slots in the respective adjacent components, said pins engaging in said slots.

16. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable past said knife, and slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism including a slice conveyor comprisinga plurality of slice-engaging components which are movably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from one another, a flexible metal band connecting said carriage to said one of said components to move it to-and-fro at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage, a curved guide constraining said band to a determinate path of movement, and lost-motion connecting means between said components limiting the extent of their opening from one another.

17. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 16 in which the said curved u de is formed with serrations in contact with which the said band moves.

18. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocal past said knife, a slice conveyor rotatable past slice-taking position adjacent said knife to and from a slice-discharging position, said conveyor comprising a plurality of foldable members, a slice-discharging fly operable in said slice-discharging position, a flexible metal band connecting said carriage to said conveyor, and a guide constraining said band to a determinate path of movement so that said band moves said foldable members one at a time progressively past the slice-taking position at a linear speed in harmony with that of said carriage.

19. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable past said knife, a slice conveyor rotatable past a slice-taking position adjacent said knife to and from a slice-discharging position, said conveyor comprising a plurality of foldable members, a fly-carrier rotatable in association with said conveyor, a slice-discharging fly pivotallymounted on said carrier for performance of a slice-discharging operation in said slice-discharging. position, a flexible metal band connecting said carriage to said foldable members, a guide constraining said band to a determinate path of movement so that said band drives said foldable members in harmony with said carriage, and means for temporarily locking said foldable members, fly-carrier and carriage during performance of said operation. i

20. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife with variable stroke, and slice-stacking mechanism comprising a slice-conveyor whichis rotatably mounted beside said carriage, saidslice conveyor including a plurality of foldable members, means operatively connecting saidmembers together, an operative connection between said carriage and all of said foldable mem-' bers for rotating said foldable members progressively from a variable extent beyond a slice-tak ing position adjacent said knife to and from a' fixed slice-discharging position, and a slice-discharging fly operable in said slice-discharging position.

21. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, 2, substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, and slice-stacking mechanism comprising a slice-conveyor which is rotatably mounted beside said carriage'and which is adapted to close and open fanwise to a limited extent, an operative connection between said carriage and said conveyor for rotating said conveyor from beyond a slice-taking position adjacent said knife to and from a fixed slice-discharging position, a flycarrier rotatable by said conveyor with lost-motion due to the adaptability thereof to close and open, a slice-discharging fly pivotally mounted on said carrier, means forcing said fly to pivot upwardly into a slice-engaging position during closing of said conveyor, and means forcing said fly to perform a downward slice-discharging operation in said slice-discharging position.

22. A slicing machine comprising a rotary circular slicing knife, a substance-carrying carriage movable past said knife, and slice-stacking mechanism including a slice'conveyor consisting of a plurality of foldable components all arranged upright side-by-side and each presenting a row of slice-impaling needles, an upright axle on which said conveyor is rotatablymounted, coupling means between the respective components permitting a limited freedom of movement so that the foldable components can open fanwise, and a positive connection between said carriage and said foldable components so that said components are moved progressively past a slice-impaling position towards a slice-discharging position at a speed equal to that of the carriage.

23. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said coupling means comprise slots in certain of the said components and pins on the respective adjacent components, said pins and slots engaging one another with predetermined play.

24. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positive connection is between the said carriage and one of said components, and in which the said slice-stacking mechanism includes also a slice-discharging fly, a fly carrier on which said fly is pivotally mounted and a connection between another of said components and said carrier, so that said carrier is coupled to said one of said conveyor components with intervening lost-motion due to the said coupling means.

25. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the slice stacking mechanism includes also a slice-discharging fly, a fly carrier on which said fly is pivotally mounted, a connection between the said slice conveyor and said carrier so that said carrier rotates with said conveyor about the said'axle into the slice-discharging positionf'and detachable locking means for locking said conveyor and fly carrier in said position for a pivotal slice-discharging operation by said fly.

26. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the slice-stacking mechanism includes also a slice-discharging fly, a'fly carrier on which said fly is pivotally mounted, a connection between the said slice conveyor and said carrier so that said carrier rotates with said conveyor about the said axle into the slice discharging position, means operable in said position to impart a downwardly pivotal slice-discharging movement to said fly, and detachable locking means for locking said fly temporarily at the end of said movement.

27. 'A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positive connection between the carriage and the conveyor consists of a flexible metal band attached to said carriage and conveyor, and a groove form guide defining a deter minate path of movement for said band.

28. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positive connection between the carriage and the conveyor consists of a flexible metal band attached to said carriage and conveyor, a groove form guide defining a determinate path of movement for said band, and serrations in said guide forming surfaces of contact for said band, said surfaces extending parallel to said path of movement.

29. A slicing machine comprising a base, a substance support movable across said base in a rectilinear path, a slicing knife for cutting slices from substance on the support, a slice receiving conveyor for conveying slices cut from the substance and comprising a plurality of vertically disposed prong carrying members arranged in nested relationship, means operatively connecting said members, and means for moving said members progressively during movement of the substance support.

30. A slicing machine comprising a base, a substance support movable across said base in a rectilinear path, a slicing knife for cutting slices from substance on the support, a slice receiving conveyor for conveying slices cut from the substance and comprising a plurality of vertically disposed prong carrying members arranged in nested relationship, means operatively connecting said members, and means controlled by the movement of the substance support for moving said members progressively one at a time to slice impaling position and then to discharging position, and means controlled by the substance support for returning said members from discharge position to nested position.

JOSEF JULIUS KALLC'JS. J HANN KALLos.

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