US2242181A

US2242181A - Feed mechanism for slicing machines

Info

Publication number: US2242181A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur A Kottmann
Original assignee: MICRO WESTCO Inc
Current assignee: MICRO WESTCO Inc; MICRO-WESTCO Inc
Priority date: 1937-12-16
Filing date: 1937-12-16
Publication date: 1941-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1958-05-13

Description

May 13, 1941. A. A. KOTTMANN M FOR SLICING MACHINES FEED MECHANIS Filed Dec 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Arthur A-Kottmann y 941. A. A. YKOTTMANN 2,242,181

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I\ INVENTOR Arthur A-Kottmann ATTORNEYS y 1941- A. A. KOTTMANN 2,242,181

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flrthurfl Kattmann ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Arthur A. Kottmann, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Micro-Westco, Incorporated, Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,150

19 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines and more particularly to a mechanism for feeding articles to be sliced into and through the cutters.

It is an object of the invention to provide a feeding mechanism adapted for advancing articles having relatively broad front and rear surface areas and which are relatively unstable.

Another object is to provide a slicing machine feed in which pairs of elements engage different portions of the rear sides of articles and cooperatively advance the articles through the machine.

Another object is to provide a pair of cooperating flight conveyors arranged to simultaneously engage articles and advance them to and through the cutters, the separate conveyors each having flights which engage dilferent portions of g the rear sides of articles.

Another object is to provide an improved guide rail arranged in combination with a pair of cooperative flight feed conveyors which simultaneously advance a series of articles through a cutter mechanism.

A further object is to provide a feed mechanism for slicing machines which is simple in design and construction and inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away showing a slicing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the manner of mounting the article guide rails;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, in section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an article such as is commonly known as Scotch bun bread in position to be advanced to the cutting mechanism by cooperating flights on the feed conveyors;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to a longitudinal vertical section through the machine shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the movement of the articles to be sliced through the slicing machineunder the influence of the cooperating infeed flight conveyors;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts removed, showing a modified construction of article hold-down and blade guide mounting;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken substantially on the line 8-43 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation view, partly in section and with parts removed, showing the construction of the modified mounting;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail taken substantially on the line I0l0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified construction for mounting the side guides on the supporting rods.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is a bread slicing machine which is particularly fitted for slicing relatively high loaves of bread which normally are relatively unstable and subject to excessive deformation if sliced in a machine such as employed for ordinary loaves of bread. Reference to the drawings is by means of numerals and letters which indicate like parts throughout the several views. The machine comprises a supporting frame I of conventional construction which houses cutter blades 2 mounted in the usual manner for vertical reciprocation. Two sets of the blades, mounted in frames and actuated by a motor (not shown), are arranged in the usual interleaved fashion for alternate reciprocation in opposite directions.

A pair of cooperating top and bottom flight feed conveyors A and B advance articles C to and through the blades 2 and onto a discharge conveyor D. The feed conveyors A and B are actuated by driving chain 3 which in turn is preferably driven in timed relation with spaced parallel endless side belts or chains 4 of discharge conveyor D from a common drive shaft (not shown) so that flights 5 of the discharge conveyor move to individually advance the sliced articles as they emerge from the slicing mechanism under the influence of the feed conveyors A and B. One end of the discharge conveyor D is supported by brackets 6 secured to opposite sides of the slicing machine frame I, the brackets servingas journals for conveyor shaft 1 which carries the rotatable sprockets supporting the chains 4. The opposite end of the discharge conveyor D may be supported in any suitable manner, such as by a wrapping machine (not shown) to which the sliced articles are delivered.

Pivoted at 8 to the brackets 6 are members 9 which carry plate l3 extending across the ma- I chine and normally arranged to support articles moving from the cutters to the conveyor D. Along the edge of the ,plate l3 adjacent the cutting mechanism is bottom blade guide I 0 of fibre or other nonmetallic material which hasfinger portions extending between the cutters 2 and which also serves to support the articles C during slicing. Cross member I! extending between opposite side portions of the frame I supports the members 9 and plate I3 to limit downward pivotal movement thereof and maintain the guides ID in substantially horizontal position in alignment with article-supporting apron I2 of the discharge conveyor.

At the infeed end of the slicing machine a pair of supplementary side framing members I4 and I5 rest upon and are secured to opposite side portions of the frame I by studs I5, Fig. 5. Main shaft II for the conveyors A and B is journaled in the framing members I4 and i5, and on the outside of framing member [4 the shaft has splined thereon, for longitudinal sliding movement, a hand wheel I8 having a hub I9 forming one element of a jaw clutch. The

driven chain 3 actuates a sprocket Zll, loosely carried on the shaft II between the framing member I l and the clutch hub I9. Hub 2| of the sprocket is in the form of a jaw clutch element for establishing a driving connection with the clutch element 19 of the hand wheel I8. the shaft I! thus engages or disengages the driven connection from the main drive shaft to the feed conveyors A and B so that the latter may be connected to run with the discharge conveyor D or to remain idle, as desired.

Rotation of the clutch element H) with respect to the clutch element 2| adjusts the relative position of the flights of the conveyors A and B with respect to the relative position of the flights 5 of the discharge conveyor D so that the latter move in proper timed relation to pick up the sliced articles discharged from the slicing mechanism.

Side members 23 of the bottom feed conveyor A are secured to the framing members I4- and i5 and carry between them article-supporting apron Z4 reinforced by cross members 25 secured to the side members 23. Longitudinally extending angle members 26 are secured along the outside of top marginal edges of side members 23 and have flanges directed toward one another in spaced overlying relation with respect to side marginal portions of the apron 24, to provide longitudinally extending channels ZI which house side belts or chains 28 during their travel over the upper lap of the feed conveyorA. The endless side chains 28, at the end of the conveyor A towards the slicing mechanism, are carried around sprockets secured on the shaft l1, and over relatively small guide sprockets 3| journaled on stub shafts carried by the framing members I4 and i5. At the opposite end the endless side chains are carried over idler sprockets 32 loosely journaled on shaft 33 carried in end housing 34 which is supported by standard 35 and secured to the extremities of side members 23.

The conveyor A may be of any suitable length to permit the loading thereof with articles to be sliced, it being understood that this conveyor serves to individually advance the articles toward the slicing mechanism before the conveyor B cooperates therewith to forward the articles to and through the blades 2.

Idler sprockets 3! engage the bottom laps, of the side chains 28 adjacent the sprockets 3i] and are carried adjustably by stub shafts 38 secured in elongated slots 39 formed in the supplementary framing members I4 and I5.

By means of the sprockets 30 the side chains 28 are driven in synchronous timed relation so Axial movement of the hand wheel I8 on.

that bottom flights 40 carried between the side chains at uniformly spaced intervals move forward over the apron 24 in spaced parallel relation with one another. The flights 40 present substantially planar surfaces 4I, which are substantially normal to the surface of the apron 24, to the rear sides of articles being advanced, and are maintained in this upright position by shoes 42 which ride on the side marginal portions of apron in trading relation with respect to the flights. Each flight is pivoted at 43 to the side chains 28 ahead of the article-contacting surface 4 I.

As a flight of the conveyor A approaches the end of its article-advancing movement the pivots 43 ride around the guide sprockets 3| and the shoes 12 ride past the ends of the track portions of the apron 24 by which they are supported, so that the flight drops vertically downward past the end of the apron 24, formed into a depending flange 45, and is ineffective to exert further pressure against the rear of the article being advanced.

Articles advanced beyond the flange 45 of the apron 24 are supported by a transverse plate 41 which extends across the slicing machine immediately ahead of the reciprocable cutters 2 and has an article-supporting surface substantially flush with the apron 24. This plate is carried by a supporting member 49 pivoted at 50 in the supplementary framing members l4 and I5 and actuated externally of the slicing machine frame by lever BI. 41, which is adjacent the cutters 2, normally rests upon the finger portions of the bottom blade guides Ill.

The upper feed conveyor 13 is carried by

frame members

54 and 55 adjustably supported by vertically elongated slots 56 which receive studs 51 threaded into the slicer frame I and vertically elongated slots 58 which receive studs 59 threadedly secured in uprights 60 attached to side members 23 of the bottom feed conveyor A. Cross tie bars 6i retain the

frame members

54 and 55 in parallel spaced relation with one another. A pair of endless sidebelts or chains 63 carry the flights for the upper feed conveyor. These chains are carried over upper sprockets 64 and lower sprockets 65 at the slicer end of the conveyor B. Upper guide sprockets 66 carry the chains 63 at the end of the conveyor most remote from the slicing mechanism, and lower guide sprockets 61 engage the side chains at the portion of the conveyor B substantially at the region where articles are effectively engaged by the flights of the upper feed conveyor.

Sprockets

64, 55, 65, and B! are carried on stub shafts 68, 69, I5, and II, respectively, secured in the

frames

54 and 55.

The conveyor side chains 63 are driven in synchronous relation by driven shaft I3, which extends transversely across the conveyor and is journaled in the

frames

54 and 55. This shaft has adjustably secured thereon a sprocket I4 which carries an endless drive chain I5 actuated by a sprocket 16 secured on main shaft I'I.

Idler sprocket I2 is adjustably mounted on the machine frame and engages the chain to compensate for changes in the distance between the sprockets i and I6 occasioned by raising or lowering the conveyor B. Rotation thus imparted to the shaft I3 is transmitted to the sprockets 64 by gears 11 secured on the shaft I3 and gears 18 secured on the ends of stub shafts 68 which are journaled in the

frame members

54 and 55 and have secured thereto the conveyor drive sprock- The marginal edge 52 of the blade ets 64. In this manner the conveyor Bis driven in timed relation with the conveyor A and the gears TI and I8 impart a reverse motion to the side chains 63 so that the bottom lap of the conveyor B moves in the same direction and at the I same speed as the upper lap of conveyor A.

Flights 80 of the conveyor B present a substantially planar surface 8| to the rear sides of articles being advanced, this surface normally being parallel to the surface M of the flights 40 so that the tWo flights cooperatively present a broad article-contacting surface to press against the rear sides of articles in advancing them to and through the reciprocable cutters 2. Each of the flights 80 is pivoted at 82 to the side chains 63 rearwardly of its article-contacting surface BI and during engagement with the rear side of an article is held in parallel relation with respect to the surfaces 4| of the flights 40 by rearwardly extending shoes 83 which ride on guides 84 secured to the

frames

54 and 55. The bottom laps of the chains 63 are supported by horizontal plates 85 secured along the bottom edges of the

frames

54 and 55 and disposed in underlying relation with respect to the side chains and the shoes 83.

In moving to the initial article-advancing position indicated by the flight 80a of Fig. 6, the flights 80 move in a path 86 which is oblique with respect to the path of the articles C. Flight 800 (Fig. 6) which has just rounded upper guide sprockets I58 is shown at the beginning of the oblique flight path. During the movement of flights 20 over this path they are gradually lowered into position behind the articles C which meanwhile are being advanced by flights 40 of the conveyor A. This gradual movement of the flights 80 into position behind the articles, while they are freely suspended from the pivots 82 enables them to become adjusted to the rear of the articles so that when they are brought into vertical position by the guides 84 there is a minimum of relative movement between the flights and articles. The linear movement of the side chains 53 of the upper conveyor B is the same as that of the side chain 28 of the conveyor A. Since the chains 53 move in a direction at an angle with respect to the direction of article movement while the flights 80 move over the oblique path 86, the rate of travel of the flights 80 parallel to the direction of article movement is less than that of the flights 40 and the articles advanced thereby. In this manner a retarding of the flights 80 is eifected to aiTord an opportunity for them to fall behind the articles C before reaching the position 883a. This novel arrangement of flight approach is particularly advantageous where one conveyor of a cooperating pair, in this instance the conveyor B, is materially shorter than the other, in this instance the conveyor A. A closer spacing of the flights is permitted, thus decreasing the intervals between articles.

During movement of the articles C over the plate 4'! their upper surfaces are contacted by a hold-down plate 81 carried by supporting member 88 jo'urnaled at 89 in the

frames

54 and 55. The plate Bl may be pivoted by means of a lever 90 disposed on the outside of the frame 54 and extending from the journal 89. Upper blade guides 9| preferably formed of non-metallic material such as fibre are secured between the plate 81 and holding member 88 and have finger portions which extend between the reciprocable cut parts are more fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 203,864 filed April 23, 1938.

Articles advancing to the slicing mechanism are engaged on opposite sides by

guide rails

92 and 93. These rails are in the form of longitudinally extending channel members carried by brackets 94 which are secured to side members 23 of the conveyor A. Holes in the brackets receive horizontally adjustable rods 95 clamped in any desired position by hand knobs 96 which have pressure studs threadedly received in the brackets 94 and engageable with the rods 95.

Guides

92 and 93 have plates 97 extending between and secured to their flanges. are received in slots 98 of the plates 91 and are secured therein by rectangular holding elements 99 threadedly secured on reduced diameter end portions of the rods 95 and tightening nuts I00 threaded on the rods 95. In each instance, the element 99 and nut I00 are disposed on opposite sides of the plate 98 and clamp the plate between them upon tightening of the nut I00.

Paddle guides I02 are attached to the ends of the

guides

92 and 93 adjacent the cutters 2, and afiord a wide surface for contacting and guiding the ends of the articles as the latter engage and pass through the cutters. the paddle guides I02, disposed toward the blades 2, may be adjusted longitudinally so as to vary the space between the cutters and the guides by changing the position of the supporting rods 95 in the slots 98. Preferably vertical marginal edges I04 of the paddle guides I02 are curved outwardly to avoid catching or snagging overhanging portions of articles.

Referring to Fig. 5 the construction of the flights 40 and of the conveyors A and B respectively is shown to advantage. Each of these flights has relatively wide central portions I05; the portions I05 of the flights 40 being directed toward the portions I05 of the flights 80 sothat the flights move along together with but a relatively slight clearance I06 therebetween, thus presenting a broad article-engaging surface extending substantially from the top'to the bottom of each article along the rear side thereof. The marginal portions I01 of the

flights

40 and 80 are relatively narrow so that even when the conveyors A and B are adjusted so that the clearance I06 is relatively small there is a relatively large space I08 at each side of the central portions I05 to permit the passage of the flights past the

guides

92 and 93 when the latter are relatively close together for short articles.

Bottom marginal edges I09 of the flights 40 pass closely adjacent the top surface of the conveyor apron 24 so as to contact the articles as near the bottom edge thereof as possible, thus increasing the effectiveness of the flights to push the articles through the cutters.

Fig. 6 shows the position of the conveyors substantially at the instant one of the flights (indicated at 80a) of the upper conveyor B becomes eifective to bear evenly against the rear side of article CI to advance the latter and push it toward the cutters 2. The shoes 83 of the flights have moved down inclined portions IIO of the guides 84 and are about to move onto horizontal. track portions H2. During the travel of the flights 80 over the article-advancing portion of their path the shoes 83 move between the guides 84 and plates which hold the flights with the article-contacting surfaces 8I substantially vertical. The portion of the path of the flights 80 during which they are efiective to forward ar- The ends of the rods 95,

Marginal edge I03 of ticles to the cutters is during their travel from bottom guide sprockets 61 to lower sprockets 65. As the flights commence moving around sprocket 65 the shoes 83 are released by corners N4 of guides 8G. The position of the flights 80 at the instant of release by the guides 84 is illustrated at 8% (Fig. 1). From the time of release and while the flights are moving from the lower sprockets 65 to the upper sprockets 64 they hang freely suspended from the pivots 82 with the article-engaging faces 8| substantially vertical. Accordingly, the flights 8!! are withdrawn from the path of the article C in a direction substantially at right angles with respect thereto and without rotation, thus enabling the

sprockets

64 and 55 to be located relatively close to the cutters 2, if desired.

At substantially the time of release of a flight 80 by the guides 88, as described above, the coacting flight 4D rides over the sprockets 3! and is released by the shoes 42 riding over the ends of the track portion of the conveyor apron 24 and dropping below depending lip H5. The position of the flights as they are released in this manher is indicated at 48b (Fig. 1). During the travel of the flights 40 from the guide sprockets 3| to the drive sprockets 30 they are withdrawn from the path of the articles in a direction substantial- 1y at right angles with respect thereto, this direction being parallel to the direction of withdrawal of the flights 88. Thus the flights 4B and 80 are simultaneously withdrawn from the article path in parallel opposite directions so that the next succeeding article, indicated at C2, has a clear course and is unobstructed by preceding flights in its movement to position behind previous loaves. As the flights 49 move vertically downward the article-engaging faces 4! thereof remain in a substantially vertical position until the upper marginal edges of the central portions I05 move past the bottom edges of depending flange of the apron 24 after which they swing downwardly and hang suspended from the pivots 43. The flight 180 of Fig. 6 shows the position of the flights just prior to release by the flange 45.

In the embodiment illustrated the

flights

40 and 88 are not in contact with an article being sliced. An article C3 moving through the blades is separated from the article Cl, being advanced by the flights, by an intermediate article Ct to effect a cushioning action and promote a more efllcient slicing operation. At the instant of re-. lease of the

flights

43 and 80 by the track portion of apron 2t and guides at the article Cl has been moved onto the plate 41 and the article C4 has moved into the blades or cutters 2 so that it is partially sliced. The article C dwells in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 until the flights of the conveyors A and B advance the next article C2 against the rear side of article CI to push the article Cd completely through the cutters. It is desirable that the dwell of each article in the cutters while waiting for the next article to be brought up by the flights of the feed conveyors be reduced to a minimum. According to the present invention this is accomplished by having the flights of both the conveyor A and conveyor B relatively close together so that the space intervening between successive loaves is minimized. Such a construction is possible on account of the use of two cooperative conveyors each having flights which engage the rear sides of the articles. For the same effective article-contacting surface the individual flights of a pair of cooperative conveyors can be relatively lower and extend a shorter distance into the path of the articles than the flights of a single conveyor. Accordingly, for the same conveyor speed, the time required to withdraw the pair of cooperating flights 4D and from the path of articles moving to the cutters is about half the time required to withdraw single flights having the same effective article-contacting surface.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated the relative positions of

flights

40 and 80 as they engage the rear side of a tall article E, such as a loaf of Scotch bun bread. This bread is made by simultaneously baking a multiplicity of dough blobs in a large pan. When the baked loaves are separated from one another those from the center of the pan have heavy crusts l I! and H8 on top and bottom respectively, but none on the sides. Accordingly, it is essential for eflicient and uniform slicing that the flights 40 and 8D bear against the edges of the top and bottom crusts of the leaves as they move to the cutters so that the crusts of preceding loaves are properly forced through the blades. Accordingly, the conveyor B is adjusted vertically by means of

slots

56 and 58 and studs 51 and 59 so that the marginal edges H9 of the flights 80 which correspond to the marginal edges E09 of the flights 40 are above the top crust ll! of the loaves E to insure that both crusts are engaged by the flights. In the event of extremely tall loaves, the space or clearance I06 between the central portions I05 of the flights is increased. This is not undesirable, however, since the central portions of the loaves are relatively soft and do not offer great resistance when pushed through the cutters 2. When the conveyor B is raised or lowered with respect to the conveyor A, the difference in the distance between the

sprockets

14 and 15 effects a tightening or slackening of the chain 15, which must be compensated by adjustment of the position of the idler sprocket 12. If desired, the idler sprocket may be resiliently mounted or spring-pressed, as wellknown, to automatically adjust itself to maintain the chain 15 taut.

Some loaves have an overproof 20 about the top, such as shown on a few of the articles C, which is caused by the dough extending beyond the top marginal edges of the bake pans while being baked. If the flights 80 of the upper conveyor B have their article-engaging surfaces 8[ flush with the article-engaging surfaces 4| of the flights 40, each loaf would be slightly tilted while being advanced under the cooperative influence of the conveyors A and B. To compensate for such overproof, the flights 80 of the upper conveyor B may be adjusted so that their articlecontacting surfaces 8| are in a plane parallel with the plane of surfaces 4! of bottom conveyor flights 4!], but slightly to the rear thereof. This is shown by the relative positions of the flights 40b and 88b of Fig. 1. Adjustment of this nature is accomplished by slightly rotating the shaft 13 with respect to the shaft H in any well-known manner, such as by changing the position of set screw [2| which secures sprocket M on shaft 13. Similarly, the conveyors A and B may be adjusted to compensate for underproof, or loaves or articles wider at the bottom than at the top. In such case the flights 80 of the conveyor B are moved ahead of the flights All of the conveyor A. An adjustment of this character is made by rotating the shaft 13 with respect to the shaft l'l so that the flights Bl) during their article-advancing movement have their contacting faces 8! disposed in planes slightly in advance of the planes of the article-contacting surfaces M of the flights 40.

In Figs. '1 through 10 inclusive is illustrated a modified. mounting for the article hold-down and cutter guide. The hold-down assembly is carried by an adjustable bracket mounted on a cross member I24 of the frame I. The bracket has a pair of spaced parallel vertical legs I25 and I26 which are joined together adjacent their upper ends by a connector I21. Wing bolts I28 threadedly secured in the cross member I24 exten-d through vertical elongated slots I29 formed in the legs I25 and I26 of the brackets so that the latter may be held in various vertical positions with respect to the cross member I24 of the machine frame.

The supporting plate 88 for the hold-down plate 81 has secured on its upper surface a pair of journal bosses I36 and a shaft or rod I3I extends through these bosses I30 and is pivotally carried in heel portions I 32 formed at thebottom of the legs I25 and I26. In this manner the hold-down and guide unit is pivotally suspended from the bottom of the bracket so that the blade guides 9| may be swung into and out of position between the cutters 2.

To maintain the article guide plate or holddown 81 in proper article-contacting position a foot I34 is formed at the bottom of each of the legs I25 and I26 and extends toward the cutters 2 in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the path of article movement from the pivots or journals I32. Latches or-toggles I35 are slidable on the pivot bar or rod I 3I adjacent each of the journals I32 and have axially directed fingers I36 engageabl with the top surfaces of the feet I34. Threadedly secured in each of the latches I35 and adjustable to bear against the upper surface of the plate 98 is a wing bolt I31.

These wing bolts are in the ends of the latches I35 opposite the fingers I36 and on opposite sides of the pivot bar I3I therefrom. When the latches I35 are disposed closely adjacent the legs and feet I34 of the brackets, in the position indicated by the full lines of Fig. 10, fingers I36 overlie the feet I34 so that tightening of the wing bolts I31 retains the article hold-down and blade guide in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the plate 88 being disposed against the under side of the feet I34 and the wing bolts I31 preventing the guide and hold-down unit from pivoting, under the influence of gravity or otherwise, out of operative position. Loosening of the wing bolts I31 permits sliding of the latches I35 away from the legs of the brackets to positions indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 10. Thus, the fingers I36 are disengaged from the feet I34 of the brackets so that the plates 81 and 38 of the hold-down and uide assembly may be pivoted on the rod 53! to bring the blade guide 9| clear of the frame I so that the guides may be removed from the plates 81' and 88 for cleaning or replacement, as desired.

Machines which have the modified articlehold-down and blade mounting illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive may be quickly adjusted to accommodate articles of different heights. It is not always desirable or necessary to bodily adjust the upper conveyor B vertically with respect to the bottom conveyor A for every change in height of the articles being sliced. By means of the modified mounting just described the article hold-down 81 and fiber or composition blade guide 9| may be adjusted to proper position with respect to the articles being sliced without alterin the position of the flights 86 with respect to the plates 49. Accordingly, a changeover of the machine from one article size to another may be accomplished without the delay which would be necessaryif the conveyor B were to be moved or adjusted vertically.

A modified construction for mounting the article guides 92 and 93 on the adjustable rods is illustrated in Fig. 11. The holding elements 99 are threadedly secured on reduced diameter end portions I49 of the rods 95.. Pressure or friction washers I4I are urged toward the holding elements 99 by helical compression springs I42 which surround the rods 95 and bear against washers I43 retained by lock nuts I44. The lock nuts are threaded on the ends of the rods 95 and may be adjusted to different positions to vary the force exerted on the friction washers I4I by the springs I42- Preferably, a bevel I45 is provided on the face of each of the Washers I4I disposed toward the holding elements 99 so that the slots 98 in the plates 91 may be more readily slid over the rods 95 in placing the side guides in position.

The mounting of the article guides 92 and 93 in the manner shown in the drawings and described above has numerous advantages in connection with slicing machines which have removable blade frames for changing slice thickness. On account of the slots 98 in the guideholding plates 91, the

guides

92 and 93 may be bodily removed from the adjustable holding rods 95 without changing the positions of the latter with respect to the holding brackets 94. Accordingly, when the article side guides are set in the machine after changing the blade frames, the guides are in the same position which they occupied before being removed, so that no fur ther adjustment is necessary for slicing the same size of articles. Thus, when slicing articles of the same length, operation of the machine is speeded up, since it is unnecessary to adjust the side guides each time the slice thicknesses are changed.

The slicing machine of the present invention embodies numerous novel advantages which render the mechanism particularly adaptable for. the slicing of extremely tall articles, there'being a cooperative arrangement between a pair of opposed infeed conveyors so that the flights of each conveyor cooperate with one another in advancing articles to and through the cutters. The top and bottom of each article are positively and simultaneously moved together.

Other modes of applying and utilizing the principles of the invention may be resorted to without departing from its scope, numerous changes and modifications of the various parts bein contemplated, the embodiment shown being given for purposes of explanation and illustration.

' What I claim is:

1. In a slicing machine, a cutter mechanism comprising a plurality of spaced blades, a table for supporting an article during slicing, a pair of fli ht conveyors. each paralleling the path of ar icl s to the blades and disposed on opposite sides. thereof, the flights of the conveyors extending into said path and cooperatively engaging the rear sides'of articles to advance the articles to the blades, the flights on both conveyors being withdrawn substantially simultaneously from engagement with the articles at the end'of each article advancing movement and having central portions and marginal end portions, the central portions extending further into the article path toward the opposite flights than the marginal portions, and article guides longer than one of the conveyors movable toward and away from one another between the marginal end portions of the cooperating flights.

2. In a slicing machine, a cutter mechanism comprising a plurality of spaced blades, a table for supporting an article during slicing, a pair of flight conveyors, each paralleling the path of articles to the blades and the conveyors disposed on opposite sides of, said path, the flights of the conveyors extending into said path in pairs and cooperatively engaging the rear sides of articles to advance the articles to the blades, and each pair of flights arranged to be withdrawn from the article path at the end of each article advancing movement in directions substantially parallel to one another and normal to the direction of article movement.

3. In a bread slicing machine. a supporting structure, spaced cutting elements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor having flights for engaging lower rear side portions of spaced articles being advanced to the elements, a pair of frame members secured to the supporting structure at an upper part of the latter and extending in generally spaced parallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor supported by said members and having flights for engaging upper rear side portions of said articles, means for adjusting the top conveyor vertically with respect to the bottom conveyor, means for driving said conveyors in synchronism, guide means disposed between said frame members and arranged to slidingly engage the tops of articles advancing to the cutting elements and having finger portions extending between and in sliding contact with the cutting elements to guide the latter and to guide the articles during slicing, and means securing the guide means to the supporting structure between the frame members, said supporting means having pivotal connection with the guide means and arranged for vertical adjustment on the supporting structure.

4. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cutting elements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor carried by the structure and having flights for engaging lower rear side portions of spaced articles advancing to the cutting elements, a pair of frame members secured to the supporting structure at an upper part of the latter and extending in generally spaced substantially parallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor carried by the frame members and having flights for engaging upper rear side portions of said spaced articles, means for adjusting the frame members vertically with respect to the supporting structure to move the top conveyor toward or away from the bottom conveyor, means for driving said conveyrs in synchronous relation in all positions of adjustment so that a flight of the top conveyor cooperates with a flight of the bottom conveyor to advance an article to the cutting elements, and guide means engageable with the tops of articles advancing to the cutting elements and having finger portions extending between the cutters to guide the latter, said guide means being carried by the frame members and adjustable simultaneously with the top conveyor to accommodate articles of different height, and said finger portions being in sliding engagement with the cutting elements on opposite sides thereof to resist twisting and lateral movement of the cutting elements.

5. In a slicing machine, a supporting structiu'e, spaced cutting elements mounted in the structure, and a conveyor for advancing articles to the cutting elements, said conveyor comprising an endless belt having spaced flights pivotally mounted thereon for engaging the rear sides of individual articles, rotatable members for supporting and actuating the belt, one of said rotatable members being disposed substantially at the end of the conveyor remote from the cutting elements and removed from the path of the articles and another of said rotatable members being disposed at said remote end of the conveyor adjacent the article path and closer to the plane of the cutting elements than said first mentioned rotatable member whereby flights carried by the belt from the first mentioned to the second mentioned rotatable members move obliquely relative to the path of articles over a substantially rectilinear course toward the article path before engaging articles to advance the latter toward the cutting elements, a third of said rotatable members being disposed toward the cutting elements from said second named rotatable member and arranged so that the path of the belt between said second named and third rotatable members substantially parallels the path of the articles being advanced to the cutting elements, said flights being arranged to pivot relative to the belt during the movement of the flights from that portion of their path between the first mentioned and second mentioned rotatable members to that portion of their path between the second mentioned and third rotatable members and means to drive one of the rotatable members.

6. In a slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cutting elements mounted in the structure, and a conveyor for advancing articles to the cutting elements, said conveyor comprising an endless belt having spaced flights thereon for engaging the rear sides of individual articles, rotatable members for supporting and actuating the belt, one of said rotatable members being disposed substantially at the end of the conveyor remote from the cutting elements and removed from the path of the articles and another of. said rotatable members being disposed at said remote end of the conveyor adjacent the article path and closer to the plane of the cutting elements than said first mentioned rotatable member whereby flights carried by the belt from the first mentioned to the second mentioned rotatable members move obliquely relative to the path of articles over a substantially rectilinear course toward the article path before engaging articles to advance the latter toward the cutting elements, a third of said rotatable members being disposed toward the cutting elements from said second named rotatable member and arranged so that the path of the belt between said second named and third rotatable members substantially parallels the path of the articles being advanced to the cutting elements, said flights being pivotally connected to the belt and each flight having a positioning extension, track means for engaging the flight extensions to retain the flights in article advancing position, said track arranged to engage the flight extensions during movement of the flights over a portion of the oblique rectilinear course and to maintain substantially continuous contact therewith as the flights move over the article advancing portion of their path, said flights being arranged to pivot relative to the belt during the movement of the flights from that portion of. their path between the first mentioned and second mentioned rotatable members to that portion of their path between the second mentioned and third rotatable members, and means to drive one of the rotatable members. 7. A conveyor for individually advancing articles to the slicing mechanism of a slicing machine co-mprising a pair of spaced parallel endless belts, a plurality of flights carried between the belts at substantially equal intervals, said flights being pivotally connected to the belts, each belt being trained over a plurality of rotatable members for supporting and actuating the belt including a pair of rotatable members at the end of the conveyor remote from the slicing mechanism, one memberof each of said pairs being removed from the path of the articles and the other member of each of said pairs being adjacent the article path and closer to the plane of. the cutting mechanism than said first mentioned member of the pair whereby flights carried by the belts from the remote members of the pairs to the adjacent members of the pairs move obliquely relative to the path of the articles over a substantially rectilinear course toward the article path before engaging articles to advance the latter toward the slicing mechanism, a third rotatable member for each belt being disposed toward the cutting elements from said second named member of the pair and arranged so that the path of the belt trained thereover between said second named member and the third member, substantially parallels the path of the articles being advanced to the cutting elements, the flights being arranged to pivot relative to the belts during the movement of the flights from said rectilinear course to that portion of their path between said second named members and said third rotatable members, and means to synchronously drive the endless belts through the rotatable members.

8. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism to which a succession of articles are advanced over an infeed course, a pair of endless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantially paralleling said course, a plurality of. pivotally mounted flights on each conveyor arranged to project into the article course during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces between successive flights being substantially equal on both conveyors, a guide means extending longitudinally of the conveyors and having article contacting faces disposed closer together than the width of the flights, means for retaining the article contacting faces of the flights oi the two conveyors in parallel relation to one another during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, means driving the conveyors in synchronization so that during article advancing movement the article engaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed in substantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of the flghts on the other conveyor, and means for adjusting one of the conveyors toward or away from the other conveyor to vary the distance between the parallel inner laps of. the conveyors in accordance with the size of the articles being advanced over the infeed course.

9. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism to which a succession of articles are advanced over an infeed course, a pair of endless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantially paralleling said course, a plurality of pivotally mounted flights on each conveyor arranged to project into the article course during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces between successive flights being substantially equal on both conveyors, a guide means extending longitudinally of the conveyors and having article contacting faces disposed closer together than the width of the flights, means for retaining the article contacting faces of the flights of. the two conveyors in parallel relation to one another during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, means driving the conveyors in synchronization so that during article advancing movement the article engaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed in substantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of the flights on the other conveyor, means for adjusting the drive means to slightly advance all of the flights of one conveyor with respect to the flights of the other conveyor during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, and means for adjusting one of the conveyors toward or away from the other conveyor to vary the distance between the parallel inner laps of the conveyors in accordance with the size of the articles being advanced over the infeed course.

10. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cutting elements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor carried by the structure and having flights for engaging lower portions of articles advancing to the cutting elements, over an infeed course, a top conveyor supported above the bottom conveyor and having flights for engaging upper portions of articles moving over said course, said top conveyor flights arranged to approach the article course over a rectilinear path oblique to said course and having one component of movement paralleling the article movement, and the top conveyor overlapping the bottom conveyor for a sufficient distance so that each article is advanced by both conveyors simultaneously for a distance at least equal to one fight spacing, said top conveyor flights arranged to engage articles moving over said course subsequent to the engagement thereof by the bottom conveyor flights.

11. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism towhich a succession of articles are advanced over an infe'ed course, a pair of endless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantially paralleling said course, a plurality of flights on each conveyor arranged to project into the article course during their movement over the inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces between successive flights being substantially equal on both conveyors, means driving the conveyors in synchronization so that during article advancing movement the article engaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed in substantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of the flights on the other conveyonand pivotal connections between the fights and the conveyors, the flights of. one conveyor being pivoted in advance of the planes of their article engaging surfaces and the flights of the other conveyor being pivoted behind the planes of their article engaging surfaces.

12. In a slicing machine, an apron on which articles are supported and advanced, a plurality of flights movable in succession and in substantially parallel relation over the apron to engage portions of the apron and extending laterally thereover above the path of marginal end portions of the flights, and slide means for mounting the guide members on the inner ends of the supporting members, said slide means arranged to disconnect the guide members from the supporting members upon slight longitudinal movement of the guide members and to reestablish a connection between the supporting and guide me bcrs upon slight longitudinal movement of the guide members in the opposite direction.

13. In a slicing machine having a multiplicity of spaced cutters disposed in approximately a common cutting plane, a conveyor for advancing articles over an infeed path into the cutter comprising a plurality of rotatable members, an endless flexible member trained over the rotatable members and supported thereby, a plurality of flights connected to the flexible member, and means for actuating one of the rotatable members, there being one pair of rotatable members disposed at the end of the conveyor adjacent the cutting plane and a second pair of rotatable members disposed at the end of the conveyor remote from the cutting plane, one member of each pair being of lesser diameter than the other and disposed adjacent the article path, the lesser diameter members being arranged so that the run of the flexible member extending therebetween substantially parallels the article path, the pair of members adjacent the cutting plane being arranged so that the run of the flexible member extending therebetween substantially parallels the cutting plane, and the second pair of rotatable members being arranged so that the run of the flexible member extending therebetween is oblique to the article path with the larger diameter member of. the pair more remote from the cutting plane than the lesser diameter member.

14. In a slicing machine having a multiplicity of spaced cutters disposed in approximately a common cutting plane, a pair of conveyors arranged in approximate parallelism to one another for advancing articles over an infeed path into the cutters, each conveyor comprising a plurality of rotatable members, an endless flexible member trained over the rotatable members of each conveyor, a plurality of flights connected to each flexible member at uniform intervals, and means for actuating one of the rotatable members, each conveyor having a pair of rotatable members disposed at the end thereof adjacent the cutting plane, one rotatable member of each pair being of larger diameter than the other and the lesser diameter rotatable members of the two conveyors being adjacent the article path, and said pairs of members each being arranged so that the runs of the flexible members extending therebetween substantially parallel the cutting plane.

15. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicing mechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a bottom conveyor having upwardly directed flights thereon for engaging lower rear side portions of spaced articles being 7 advanced, a top conveyor having downwardly directed flights thereon for engaging upper rear side portions of spaced articles being advanced, said flights of the two conveyors acting cooperatively in pairs and each having a central article engaging portion and a marginal end portion, the central portion extending further into the article path than the marginal end portion, an article guide disposed longitudinally of the conveyors and having an article engaging face which extends above the normal level of the edges of the central portions of the top conveyor flights and below the normal level of the edges of the central portions of the bottom conveyor flights, and means for supporting the guide and adjusting the same laterally with respect to the conveyors between the marginal end portions of the top and bottom conveyor flights.

16. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicing mechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a pair of flight conveyors each having an inner run paralleling the path of articles being advanced, said runs being disposed in confronting relation with respect to one another and each conveyor having spaced flights which project into the article path, flights of one conveyor being paired with flights of the other conveyor during the movement thereof over said runs to cooperatively engage the rear sides of articles and advance the same toward the slicing mechanism, said flights each having a central article engaging portion and a marginal end portion, the central portion extending further into the article path than the marginal end portion and having an edge spaced from the like edge of the flight of the other conveyor paired therewith, an article guide disposed longitudinally of the conveyors and having an article engaging face which is wider than the normal space between the edges of the central portions of each pail of cooperating flights, and means for supporting the guide and adjusting the same laterally with respect to the conveyors between the marginal end portions of the cooperating conveyor flights.

1'7. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicing mechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a pair of flight conveyors each having an inner run paralleling the path of articles being advanced, said runs being disposed in confronting relation with respect to one another and each conveyor having spaced flights which project into the article path, flights of one conveyor being paired with flights of the other conveyor during the movement thereof over said runs to cooperatively engage the rear sides of articles and advance the same toward the slicing mechanism, the flights on one of said conveyors each having a central article engaging portion and a marginal end portion, the central portion extending further into the article path than the marginal end portion and having an edge spaced from an edge of the flight of the other conveyor paired therewith, an article guide disposed longitudinally of the conveyors and having an article engaging face which extends beyond said edges of the central portions of the flights and into the space between the flights, and means for supporting the guide and adjusting the same laterally with respect to the conveyors and over said marginal end portions of the flights.

18. In a slicing machine, a frame structure, spaced cutters and means for actuating the same, a bottom conveyor comprising means for supporting articles advancing to the cutters, and a plurality of spaced flights and means for advancing the same in upright position over the supporting means, a pair of spaced frame members secured to the structure and extending in generally parallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor comprising spaced parallel endless members and means mounting the same on the frame members for synchronous movement, and a plurality of spaced flights carried between and depending from the endless members toward the flights of the bottom conveyor, upright flights of the bottom conveyor being paired with depending flights of the top conveyor to cooperatively engage the rear sides of articles and to individually advance the engaged articles over the supporting means, means providing for shifting the frame members vertically on the structure for adjusting the top conveyor toward and away from the bottom conveyor to provide for articles having relatively large differences in height, means engageable with the tops of articles advancing to the cutters to hold the articles down, and means supporting the hold-down means on the frame structure for vertical adjustment independent of said vertical adjustment of the top conveyor whereby the hold-down can be shifted to provide adjustment for articles having relatively small differences in height without moving the top conveyor.

19. In a slicing machine, a frame structure, spaced cutters and means for actuating the same, a bottom conveyor comprising means for slidingly supporting articles advancing to the cutters, a plurality of spaced flights and means for moving the same over the article supporting means,

and means for holding the moving flights in upright position to engage'the rear sides of supported articles, a pair of spaced frame members secured to the structure and extending therefrom in generally parallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor comprising spaced parallel endless members and means mounting the same on the frame members for synchronous movement, a plurality of spaced flights carried between the endless members and pivoted thereto, and means guiding said last named flights over a predetermined path and dependent from the endless members as they move toward the cutters, each of the flights of the top conveyor being paired as it moves toward the cutters with one of the flights of the bottom conveyor so that each pair of flights engages the rear side of an article to individually advance the engaged article into the cutters, and means for shifting the frame members vertically on the supporting frame to move the top conveyor toward and away from the bottom conveyor and the individual flights of each pair toward and away from one another.

ARTHUR A. KO'I'IMANN.