US2315724A

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Publication number: US2315724A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold H Mohl
Original assignee: Bettendorf Co
Current assignee: Bettendorf Co
Priority date: 1941-09-19
Filing date: 1941-09-19
Publication date: 1943-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-06

Description

H.H.MOHL

BLADE S PAC ER April 6, 1943.

'Filed Sept. 19, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T N E V m arolol H.M0lvl W r- 1x67 ATTORNEYS H. H. MOHL BLADE SPACER April 6, 1943.

Filed Sept. 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 6, 1943. H. H. MOHL BLADE SPACER Filed Sept. 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO'R BYHaroZol H. Moll/l I 1 D266 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED ST BLADE SPACER Harold H. Mohl, Davenport, Iowa, assignor, by mesne assignments,- to The Bettendorf Company, a corporation of Maryland Application Septel'rrlber 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,518

11 Claims.

This invention relates to spacing devices, and more particularly to adjustable mechanisms for guiding and spacing the cutters of bread slicing machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spacer of the character mentioned in which a plurality of elongated guide elements are disposed in substantially parallel side by side relation and are so supported and actuated as to minimize the accumulation of bread crumbs and the like between adjacent guide elements and so that the spacing between guide elements can be varied with a minimum of efiort. More specifically, the invention aims to provide a spacing mechanism in which the guide elements are mounted on a lazy tongs and are wholly supported thereby in such a manner that when the lazy tongs is expanded and contracted the guide elements move uniformly and simultaneously toward and away from one another.

The improved spacing mechanism of the present invention contemplates an arrangement wherein the elongated guide elements are disposed in sliding engagement against the underside of a transverse backing member, but are supported on a lazy tongs which is suspended from blocks mounted for sliding movement along the backing member. The backing member prevents turning of both the guide elements and the lazy tongs, and means is also provided for engaging the ends of the guide elements to resist frictional .thrusts of the cutters. V

The invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement of parts. Numerous advantages and improvements will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds, such description being made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view, with parts broken away and with parts removed, of a slicing machine of the endless band type wherein the lower or adjustable blade spacing mechanism is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the spacing mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with parts removed and taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, showing the central guide element that is secured against lateral movement;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the beveled edge corners of the guide elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section and with parts broken away, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away showing a modification of the invention wherein the guide elements are held against longitudinal movement by the lazy tongs;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a. sectional detail showing another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the slicing machine comprises a supporting structure having side frames I and 2 between which are rotatably mounted top and

bottom membersor drums

3 and 4, respectively. These drums are parallel. to one another, and trained therearound in twisted and crossed relation are a multiplicity of endless cutters or bands 5. The articles to be sliced, which in this case are bread loaves, one such being indicated at A, are fed into the cutters 5 by me'ans'of a'conveyor 6 which may be of the well known flight feed type. During the cutting of the loaves A, the latter are confined between a top blade spacing'and guiding mechanism, indicated at I, and between fingers 8 of the adjustable spacing mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention.

The top spacer I may be raised and lowered by means of racks 9 and pinions In to adjust the machine for loaves A of different height. When the spacing between the cutters is to be altered, the top spacer l is remov d from the machine so that the cutters or bands 5 can be moved along the

drums

3 and 4 in accordance with well known practice and by means of the adjustable spacing mechanism to be described. After the adjustment of the cutters to the desired spacing has been effected, a difierent top spacer and guide having the required spacing between the individual fingers or slots thereof is mounted in place of the guide I shown.

Extending between the side frames I and 2 is a cross member II secured to the sideframes by bolts I2. To the underside of the cross member II adjacent the ends thereof and inside the frames I and 2 are depending brackets I5 which hold an elongated backing member or plate I6 disposed transversely across and in confronting relation to the cutters 5. Beneath the downwardly directed relatively broad surface of the backing member l6 are disposed a plurality of relatively thin elongated guide elements I1. These guide elements are arranged in parallel side by side relation to one another and each mounts one of the bifurcated fingers 8 that individually receive the runs of the cutters or hands to space and guide the latter. Each of the guide elements I! is formed with an elongated transverse opening of rectangular shape indicated at [8. These openings in the guide elements are aligned with one another and receive a lazy tongs if] to which each of the guide elements is operatively connected by a pair of pins 20. Although other forms of lazy tongs may be employed, the type shown in the co-pending application, Serial No. 411,546, filed Sept. 19, 1941, of Arthur A. Kottmann has been found satisfactory and is to be preferred. The pins are each secured in one of the cross bars of the lazy tongs as by a press fit to prevent endwise movement of the pins. Elongated slots 21 are formed in the guide elements H to receive the pin Journaled at 24 in the brackets 15 is a rotatable rod or shaft 25 which parallels the backing member'l 8 andhas oppositely threaded ends which threadedly receive slide blocks 26. These blocks extend through and are guided in elongated openings 21 in the backing member IS. The centrally disposed ends of extended'bars of the lazy tongs are received in depending clevis portions 28 of the blocks 26 and are pivotally connected to the blocks by means of pins 29. The ends of the rotatabl rod '25 are provided with elements 39 having square sockets '31 to receive the end of a crank (not shown) for rotating the rod to move the blocks 26 toward and away from one another in the guide slots 21. In this manner the lazy tongs 19 may be expanded and contracted to move the guide elements I! simultaneously and uniformly toward and away from one another, thereby changing thespa'cing between the runs of the cutter bands "5. The movable blocks 26 guided in the slots '2! of the backing member l6 and resting on the latter to be supported thereby, not only serve to actuate the lazy tongs 19 but also supportthe lazy tongs-and the guide elements I! carried by the lazy tongs.

A thrust member 32, which'maybe-in the form of an elongated bar, is disposed'across the ends of the guide elements I! opposit the fingers -8 and is secured to the backing member by screws 33. This thrust member '32 retains the guide elements in alignment with one another and withstands the frictional thrusts imposed upon the guide elements by the moving cutters. A loaf supporting plate 34 is disposed across the ends of the guide elements 11 opposite the thrust member 32 and in overlying relation to the base ends of the bifurcated fingers '8. The plate 34 is attached to an angularly disposed portion 35 of the cross member II and serves to support the loaves A being fed to the cutter and also to resist endwise thrusts imposed on the guide elements H by the movement of the cutter 5.

At the center of the lazy tongs l9, one of the guide elements, indicated at l'la, is rigidly secured to the backing member [6 and the thrust member 32 by means of screws 36. In changing the spacing between the guide elements to alter the spacing between the runs of the cutters 5, the element Ha and the finger 8 associated therewith do not move laterally but the guide elements I! adjacent the central guide element Ila move toward and away from the latter as do all of the other guide elements in the group. Since the central guide element Ha is rigidly secured to the backing member l6 and the thrust member 32, it serves as a center support for the lazy tongs l9. Thus, the lazy tongs is supported at three points: the end supports or blocks 26 and the center guide element l'la. constituting the sole supports for the lazy tongs and themovable guide elements carried thereby.

The rotatable rod or shaft 25 for actuating the lazy tongs is disposed approximately midway between the longitudinal edges of the backing member or plate l6 so that the tendency for the frictional drag of the cutters 5 on th fingers 8 to rotate the'guide element ll around the shaft 25 is resisted by engagement between spaced surfaces .3! of the backing member I6 I "that extend along the ends of the guide elements i1. These edge portions 31 of the backing member l6 extend beyond the side edges of the lazy tongs 19 even when the latter are fully contracted. Intermediate portions of the "backing member l6 are removed to provide elongated slots 38 which receive heads 22 of the 'gui-deactuating pins 20. Short pins 23 may besecured as by press fitting in the joints of the lazy'tongs which do not have the longer guide actuating pins'2ll.

As an additional feature of the invention, the edge corners of the guide elements H are removed or-beveled as indicated at 39 sothat bread crumbs and the like will be expressed therefrom when the spacing mechanism is contracted. The beveled edges "39 along the tops of the guide elements I! force-crumbs and the like outthrough the openings 38 in the backing member or plate l6 while the beveled edges 39 along the bottom of the guide elements force crumbs from between the guide elements to drop freely out of the bottom of the spacer, it being an important feature of the present invention that no supporting elements or devices are utilized for the guide elements H that engage the bottom edges thereof, the elements beingwholly supported by the lazy tongs l9.

In Figs. '7 and '8 is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein a guide rod 42 extends through and has a running or sliding fit in aligned openings 43 in-the ends of the guide elements 1-? to retain the latter in alignment with one another. A the lazytongs'is expanded and contracted to vary the spacing betw'eenthe guide elements, the latter 'move along the guide bar E2, the latter being unsupported except for its engagement with the guide elements and being connected by a pin 44 to one of the center guide elements. The pin 44 prevents endwise shifting of the guide bar or-rod.

In this modification of the invention anumber of the guide elements H are centrally connected by pins 45 to center joints of the lazy tongs 59. An elongated groove or channel 45 is formed in the underside of the backing member or plate iii to receive heads '4"! of the pins 45. The pins 45 prevent endwise movement of the guide elements I! with respect to the lazy tongs l9 and keep the lazy tongs centered in the slots or openings l8. Since the lazy tongs thus serve to constrain the guide elements against longitudinal movement, the thrust member 32 -pre viously described may be omitted.

A further modification of the invention is 'illustrated in Fi 9 and shows an elongated guide bar secured to the underside -of th .backing member I6 adjacent one edge of the Iatterand receivable in notches formed in the upper edges of the guide elements l1. This guide bar 50 by engagement with the walls of the notches 5| prevents endwise movement of the guide elements l'l, thereby retaining the latter in alignment with one another. In this modification, as in that illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the thrust member 32 previously described may be omitted. Accordingly, the structure, being open at the ends of the guide elements 11, readily frees itself of crumbs and the like so that it is less apt to become clogged and therefore remains clear of foreign material for easy adjustment.

Thus, the present invention provides a unique spacing device or apparatus in which a multiplicity of narrow elongated guide elements are disposed in side by side relation and are wholly supported by an expansible lazy tong that extends through aligned apertures in the elements. The lazy tongs itself is supported only at its ends and in the center so that frictional forces developed in the operation of the mechanism are minimized and the device may be readily operated with very little effort. Furthermore, by beveling the edges of the individual guide elements and also providing apertures or openings inthe backing member, bread crumbs and other foreign materials are ejected or expressed from between adjacent guide elements when the spacing mechanism is contracted, thereby avoiding clogging of the parts and reducing friction, which results in smooth operation of the spacer.

' The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired,'it being'unders'tood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claim to the specific details disclosed.

' What I claim is:

1. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guide elements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation and formed with aligned apertures, a lazy tongs extending horizontally through the apertures and connected to the guide elements, a member extending across the guides in confronting relation to the upp r edges of the latter and in parallelism to the lazy tongs, means extending through said member at a plurality of spaced points and having sup-v porting connection with the lazy tongs, the latter being wholly supported thereby, said guide elements being wholly supported by the lazy tongs whereby the bottom edges of the guide elements are unobstructed to permit bread crumbs to fall freely from between adjacent guide elements, and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand and contract the same. i i

2. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a member extending transverselyacross the cutters, a pair of blocks slidingly mounted on said member for movement toward and away from one another, a lazy tongs disposed beneath said member and connected adjacent its ends to said blocks whereby movement of the blocks operates to expand and contract the lazy tongs, a plurality of elongated guide elements disposed in side by side parallel relation and each having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, said guide elements separating thetranse verse member from the lazy tongs and having in dividual connection with the latter to be actuated thereby, the lazy tongs constituting the sole support for the guide elements-whereby bread crumbs and the like fall freely from between adjacent guide elements, and means for actuating the blocks. x

, 3. Ina bread slicing machine having a plural: ity of cutters and actuating means therefor, a

mechanismfpr spacing and guiding the. cuttersv comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guide elements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation and each having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, a lazy tongs extending across the guideelements and means for actuating the lazy tongs to ex' pand and contract the same, said guide elements beingindividually connected to the lazy tongs so as to be wholly supported thereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously and uni.- formly toward and away from one another upon contraction and expansion of the lazy tongs; and stationary means slidingly engaging the ends of the guide elements to prevent endwise movement of the same under the frictional thrusts of the cutters.

v 4. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a member extending transversely across the cutters, a pair of blocks slidingly mounted on said member for movement toward and away from one another, a lazy tongs disposed beneath said member and connected adjacent its ends to said blocks whereby movement of the blocksoperates to expand and contract the lazy tongs, a plurality of elongated guide elements disposed in side by side parallel relation and each having finger means for engaging one oi the cutters, said guide elements separating the transverse member from the lazy tongs and having individual connection with the latter to be actuated thereby, the lazy tongs constituting the sole support for the guide elements whereby bread crumbs and the like fallfreely frombetween adjacent guide elements, and the bottom edges of the-guide elements being beveled to express bread crumbs from between such guide elements as the latter are moved together.

5. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guide elements disposed in approximately paral; lel side by side relation and each having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, a lazy tongs extending and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand and contract the same, said guide elements being individually connected to the lazy tongs so as to be wholly supported thereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously and uniformly toward and away from one another upon contraction and expansion of the lazy tongs, and a member extending transversely across the upper edges of the guide elements, said member having engagement with each guide element adjacent the ends of the latter to prevent turning of the guide elements under frictional thrusts of the cutters.

6. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a

across the guide elements 4 asisyras mechanismfor spacing and guiding the cutters comprising an elongated backing member extending transversely across the cutters, a pair of threaded blocks mounted on andhaving slidmg engagement with the backing member, a rod having oppositely threaded ends engaging in said blocks and jou-rnaledfor rotation about an axis paralleling the backing member, a lazy tongs connected adjacent its ends to said blocks wherebyrotation of the rod moves the blocks toward and away from one another to contract and expand the lazy tongs, a plurality of elongated guide elements disposed in substantially parallel side by side relation and wholly supported by the lazy tongs, said guide elements being individuah lyconnected to the lazy tongs at a plurality of points whereby all of the guide elements are moved substantially uniformly and simultaneously toward and away from one another during expansion and contraction of the lazy tongs and are maintained in substantial parallelism, and eachguid'e element having a length greater than the width of the contracted lazy tongs and having bearing engagement with the backing member at a plurality of points beyond both sides of the lazy ton-gs to prevent turning of the guide ele merits and the lazy tongs.

7. In a slicing machine having a supporting structure, a spacer comprising a cross member mounted on the structure, a multiplicity of guide elements disposed along the underside of the member for sliding engagement therewith, a lazy tongs disposed for expansion and con-trac tion adjacent the guide elements, each guide element' having connection with the lazy tongs at spaced points, a rotatable rod having oppositely threaded ends mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said member and extending in the direction of expansion and contraction of the lazytongs, and threaded blocks engaging the threaded rod, said blocks being mounted on and extending through the member and having connection with the ends of the lazy tongs for actuation of thel'atter upon rotation of the rod.

8; In a slicing machine having a supporting structure, a spacer comprising a cross member mounted on the structure; a multiplicity of guide eiements disposed along the underside of the member for sliding engagement therewith, a lazy tongs disposed for expansion and contractionadjacent the guide elements each guide element having connection with the lazy tongs at spaced points; a rotatable rod having oppositely threaded ends mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said member and extending in the-direction of expansion and contractionof the lazy tongs, threaded blocks engaging the threaded rod, said blocks being mounted on and extending through the member and having con--' nection with the ends of the lazy ton-gs for actu at-ionof the latter upon rotation of the rod, and means connecting one of the guide elements to the member to prevent relative movementtherebetween. V

91 In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a plurality of elongated relativelythin guide elements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation and each having finger means for engaging oneof the cutters, a lazy till tongs extending across the guide elements and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand and contract the same, said guide elements being individually connected to the lazy tongsso as to"- bewholly supported thereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously and uniformly toward and way from one another upon contraction and expansion of the lazy tongs, a member extending transversely across the upper edges of the guide elements, said member having engagement with each guide element adjacent the ends of the latter to prevent turning of the guide elements under frictional thrusts oi the cutters, and an element disposed in parallel relation to the direction of expansion and contraction of the lazy tongs and having interfitting sliding engagement with a plurality of the guide elements to resist relative endwise movement of the latter.

10; Ina bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guide elements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation and each having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, a lazy tongs extending across the guide elements and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand and contract the same, said guide elements being individually connected to the lazy tongs so as to be wholly supported thereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously and uniforrnlytoward and away from one another upon. contraction and expansion of the lazy tongs, a, member extending transversely across the upper edges of the guide elements, said member having engagement with each guide element adjacent the ends of the latter to prevent turning of the guide elements under frictional thrusts of the cutters, said guide elements being formed with aligned apertures therethr'o'ugh, and an element extending through said apertures and slidably engaging the guide elements to resist relative endwise movement of the latter.

11. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters and actuating means therefor, mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutters comprising an elongated backing member extending transversely across the cutters, a pair of blocks mounted for movement longitudinally of said backing member adjacent opposite ends thereof, means for simultaneously moving said blocks toward one another or apart, a lazy tongs beneath the backing member and supported at opposite ends by said blocks, said lazy tongs being adapted to be contracted or expanded by movements of said blocks, and a series of elongated gulde elements disposed side by side in parallel relation transverse to the line of movement of said'lazy' tongs, each guide element being connected'to said lazy tongs on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said lazy tongs, the n'ii'cld'l'e guide element of said series being fixed to said backing member and providing a central support for said lazy" tongs and the other of said guide members being movable and supported wholly by said lazy tongs, each movable guide element having bearing engagement with said member on opposite sides of the longitudi'nal'center' line of said lazy tongs.

HAROLD H. MOHL.