US2398383A - Cutter - Google Patents

Description

p 16. 9 6. ,HQ MARTIN. 2,398,383

CUTTER Filed March 2, 1942 h; e. MAer/N Patented Apr. 16, 1946 *CUTTEI} y Harry R. Martin; Po lklcolintyflowa V Application March 2, 1942, Serial o. 433,074 n Claims. (o1.1'46-1c9).-; Y

This invention relates to mechanical cutting devices, and is more specifically concerned with devices of this type which are adapted to simultaneously produce a plurality of cut articles'of predetermined shape.

One of the major tasks in the kitchen of ,pub I lie eating houses is the cutting of potatoesfor French frying. Especially is this truein the higher class hotels and restaurants where a substantial degree of uniformity in the pieces of potatoes served is desirable. While devices have been provided which have as their purpose the reduction of the manual labor required in connection with this task, they have not been highly successful and the normal procedure in eating establishments is to cut the potatoes into the desired elongated chunks by means. of a long chef knife. Obviously this method of cutting requires a very substantial amount of time, often necessitating, in the larger sized cafes and hetels, the employment of one or more persons'to perform this task exclusively. 1

It is'an object of this invention to provide a device for satisfactorily cutting substantial quantitles of fruits,.vegetables and other materials.

a relatively into predetermined shapes within brief period of time.

. Another object of this invention is to provide in such a device, means whereby the cutting knife is automatically maintained in a relatively unobstructed condition. r

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device which isadaptable to cut pieces of various shapes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cutter in which the object .being cut is held comparatively securely against undesired movement during the cutting.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the type referred to an automatic feed structure. a

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a cutting device a novel feed control.

An additional object is to provide a cutter of the type contemplated with a cutting structure which does not become dull from usage and which is readily replaceable. r

In general in its preferred form my invention includes a frame at least partially inclosed by a housing adapted to protect the operator and/or bystanders from the working parts. At one end of the frame a vertically disposed'knife comprising a plurality of spaced apart, interwoven strands of high tensile strength wire is supported.

Supported uponthe frame and slidable alongits Fig. 2.

ployedthe reference characters It] and frame.

plane of the main frame. In said knife-22 maybe readily it becomes broken. The

of the Castirig 25 are length is .a reciprocating'fplung'er. or pusher adapted to force through the vertical knife the article to be cut. vA laterally disposed downward- 1y inclined ramp'servesas a hopper and feed to supply uncut material. j z I In order. that aclear and concise, understanding offmy invention may be hadgreference is made to the. accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. v

Figflis a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention. J i

Fig. 2'is'a plan View 'of the feed stop and its associated control arm employed in the preferred formof my invention, together with a fragment of the'preferred type of theslotted member or strap which engages said controlarm, said parts being, at the moment, in positions such that the said stop is substantiallyinoperative to halt the flow of feed. .The'dot-dash line C designates the axis of rotation ofthe assembly.

Fig. 3is a frontelevation of the assembly of {4 is anend elevation of the assembly'of Fig. 2,ithe point of intersection of dot-dash lines A. an dQ B designating the axis of rotation'of the assembly; and

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 except that the feed stop' has moved into approximately its most operative position with corresponding changes inthe positions ofthe associated parts. Beferring to the drawing in detail I have em- Y H to designate the side beams or members of the main The end members are designated by the numerals and [3. The said main frame is shown as supported at its rear end by legs l4 and 15 and at its forward endby legs I6 and IT. The legs l6 and I! are provided with portions l8 and I9 1 respectively extending upwardly above the p rtions l8 and 19 are provided opposed channels 20 and 2|. The knife 22 comprising preferably a plurality ofinterwoven spaced apart strands of high tensile strength wirehaving relatively small diameter is mounted between the two halves 23 and 24 of a meral'2 5. Fasteners 26 are provided for securing .the half; castings 23and 24 togetherand for causing them to snugly press and hold the marginal edges of the knife 22. By this constructionthe replaced if, for example, adjacent faces of these half castings 23 and24 may be roughened to increase their grippingiability. The vertical edges provided with tongues such an arrangement is highly desirable for it permits the use of various knife structures in my device as will appear more clearly hereafter thus";;--

enabling the successful production of articles of varied shapes.

Adjustment screws orsuitable" substitutes 21, 28 and 29, and 3|), are preferably in; H

stalled respectively in the members l8, |3, and

I9, in order to provide means for adjusting both the lateral and vertical position of the knife structure within its supporting rack. If desired, tongue and groove structure may be provided at the inner face of the member I3 and the lower rail of the'casting 25. Adjacent the knife structure and extendingrearwardly therefrom for a substantial distance is the platform 3| supported upon the main frame structure and preferably raised slightly in order that its top surface is at least as high as the top face of the lower rail of the casting 25. The auxiliary frame 32 is 'slidably supported upon the main frame by means of double sleeves 33, 34, 35, and 36, or by other suitable structure. As shown in the drawing, vertically disposed posts 31 and 38 extend upwardly from the forward end of the auxiliary frame 32 and engage plunger or pusher member 39. The pusher 39 is preferably detachable from the posts 31 and 38 as, for example, bybeing verticall slidable thereon. The forwardly extended portion of the pusher 39 is of a size such that it is capable of being received within the inner periphery of the casting and on the forward face of said pusher 39 is provided a multiplicity of small grooves 40 some of which extend in a. generally horizontal direction and others of which extend in a generally vertical direction. By this construction the extreme forward portion of the forward face of the pusher 39 extends at least through the knife 22 and may extend slightly forward thereof when the said pusher is in its forwardmost position for the arrangement is such that the wires of the knife '22 register with and are capable of being received in some of the grooves 49. The result is that substantially all of the material being cut i forced from the knife 22 at least by the completion of the forward advance of the pusher 39. I have found that a desirable spacement for parallel grooves 40 is approximately one-eighth inch. The wires of the knife 22 are then spaced at intervals of one-eighth inch or multiples thereof so that meshing of all of the wires of the knife 22 and the grooves 40 is insured provided any of the said wires mesh with grooves. Meshing is secured by adjustment of the screws 21, 28 and 29, and 30. When it is desired, for example, to cut potatoes into American fries a knife may be inserted in the channels 29 and 2| which has parallel wires spaced apart, for instance one-eighthinch and which has interwoven cross wires spaced apart an inch or some other substantial distance which is a multiple of one-eighth inch. If French fried potatoes are desired, a knife structure may be mounted in the device which has the wires in both the horizontal and vertical groups spaced from one another, for instance, three-eighth of an inch. The knives being in their proper and aligned positions in their rack in the device, it is obvious that in each of the foregoing illustrations the wires of the knives will mesh in some of the grooves 49 when the pusher 39 is in its forward position. For the purpose of imparting reciprocating motion to the auxiliary frame 32 I have provided a crank shaft 5| mounted on the main frame by means of bearing 42 and 43. The connecting rod 44 joins thesaid auxiliar frame 32 with-the crank shaftAL, A crank handle 44a adapted to manual operation has been shown in the drawing; obviously, however, a sheave or other "suitable member may be attached to the end of 1 the crank shaft 4| and the said crank shaft driven from a power source such as an electric motor.

' Opti nally the connecting rod 45 may be provided with means foradjusting its length, a for example, the turn buckle 45 shown in the drawing. Adjustment of the length of the connecting rod 44 permits regulation of the forwardmost point in the stroke of the pusher 39' and hence the depth to which the Wires of the knife 22 mesh into the grooves 49. Th feed which I have illustrated for supplying uncut material to my device includes the chute or ramp 43 supported at its extended end by the'legs 41 and 53 and at its end which is adjacent the knife upon the main frame "structure of the device. Obviously it may be supported in any suitable manner. I have shown the chute 46 as of the extendable type including the sections 49 and 50 telescoped together. Turnbuckles 5| and 52 are optionally provided in the legs 41 and 48 for regulating the height of the extended end of the chute 46 and hence the rate at which the uncut material is fed into the device. The construction I have shown for halting the flow of uncut articles into the device while preceding articles are being cut include the stop 53 rotatably mounted at 54 and 55 in suitable bearings in the side walls of the chute section 59. A

curved arm member 56 rigidly connected with the stop 53 engages an inclined slot 51 in the strap 58 which is mounted upon and carried by the {longitudinally slidable auxiliary frame 32. .As the auxiliary frame 32 moves forward beyond a predetermined point which is determined by ad- ;justment of the strap 58, slot 51 and arm 55, the strap 58 engages the arm 55 and moves it in wardly and upwardly, thus causing the stop 53 to rotate to a generally or at least partiall vertical position. After the pusher 39 has traveled rearwardly from the knife 22 to a predetermined point which may also be controlled by regulation of the strap 58, slot 51, and arm 56, the strap 58 engages the arm 56 and forces the same downwardly and outwardly, thus rotatin the stop 53 into a generally horizontal position whereby uncut articles are permitted to flow from the chute 56 onto the platform 3| where they are supported between the pusher 39 and knife 22. In dotted lines I have shown the outline of a housing 59 adapted to inclose at least partially the working parts of my device. This housing 59 serves not only as a safety measure, but also improves the appearance of my device and may be streamlined. The construction may be such that the pusher 39 moves rearwardly of the chute 46 to a substantial extent or it may be such that it does not. If the device is being driven from a power source rather than manually it is normally desirable that the pusher have a substantial portion of its stroke occur sufficiently rearwardly of the knife 22 that uncut articles have ample time inwhich to take positions on the platform 3| before being engaged by the pusher. Of course, the degree of incline of the chute may be increased to enhance the speed of feeding. The timing may be such that one or more uncut articles are permitted to flowonto the platform 3! during each complete stroke of the pusher. a

Inoperating my novel cutter the procedure is to choose the knife structure having, Wiresso arranged as to adapt it to produce out articles shaped as desired. This knife is then inserted in the channels l9 and 20, as heretofore described and the screws 21, 28, 29 and 30 adjusted, if necessary, so that the wires of the knife mesh in grooves 40 of the pusher 39. Assuming that the trough. 46. has the properdegree. ofincline, the articles to be cut,.,for.exampl potatoes, are then placed in said trough; If desired some may be placeddirectly upon the platform 3]. The crank handle 44a is then rotated whereupon the pusher 39, moves forwardly pushing ahead of it the article or articles upon the platform 3| and forcing them into and through the knife 22; At the end of .the pushers forward stroke, the forward faces of the protuberances provided thereon by reason of the grooves 40, are, sufficiently far forward to force the article or articles being cut entirel clear of the cutting wires. Self-cleaning of the cutting structure is also facilitated by reason of the fact that my device moves the article being cut so that said article or the, cut pieces have a certain amount of momentum which carries them forward even after force has ceased to be applied to them, During the forward stroke of the pusher,

'the stop 53 is rotated into operative position as heretofore described preventing the further flow of articles to be out onto the platform 3|. As rotation of the crank handle 44a is continued the pusher 39 is movedrearwardly and the stop 53 is moved into inoperative position permittin another uncut article or other uncut articles to flow onto the platform 31 in front of the pusher. The side wall of the housing 59 may serve as a stop "forpreventing uncut articles from rolling off from the platform 3| or other stop means may be provided. A stop located centrally of the transverse of the platform 3| may be provided to regulate the position of articles to be cut when it is intended that two articles be cut simultaneously. When such a stop is provided it is of a minimum height so that the first article to leave the chute 46 is able' to .pass over said stop. In some instances a stopfto prevent overflow of articles from the platform 3| is unnecessary. The protuberances on the face of the pusher 39 present a roughened surface for engagement with the article or articles to be cut, thus insuring that said articles will be held in proper position during the cutting operation. The extendible feature of the chute 46 permits the placing of a few or several articles to be ;cut in the said trough at the same time. If the said chute is extended a substantial number of potatoes, for example, may be placed therein and the motor turned on, if the device be power driven. The operator may then perform other duties while the potatoes are being cut. By the use of a wire cutting knife I provide cutting edges which are continually becoming more sharp rather than becoming dull.

If desired legs may be eliminated and the main frame supported bythe hOllSing 59; Similarly the members I 8 and it! ma be supported by the housingf It is not,;of course, inherent in myinvention that the frame in which the cutting knife 22 is ,mounted be split or a casting and replaceability of the knife in the frame is solely a matter of convenience and economy. Other means may be meat ad s i he. xa t position o the knife 3 frame orsuch adjustment may be eliminated provided the device is carefully constructed so that variations in alignment do not occur. While a wire knife is preferred blades may be used; in the event that such is done, the grooves 40 should be of ample depth to receive said blades. Whether the cutting wires or blades be disposed vertically and horizontally or diagonally is of course optional. That the strands of wire comprising the knife be interwoven is not imperative. In general the smaller the diameter of the wire used, the sharper will be the knife. The platform 3| may bev of any suitable type and need not be. supported upon the main frame. On the other hand it maybe formed integrally with and as a part of the main frame if such be used. Obviously, of course, the main fram as a complete unit may be replaced by suitable substitutes. The auxiliar frame 32 need not be a single unit and it may be of any advantageous construction. The manner in which the pusher 3,9 is mounted upon the said auxiliary frame may, of course, be widely varied from that shown. It is not even essential that said pusher be detachabla Also the pusher itself may be of any suitable type. For example, it may have a substantial number of openings extending through it. If desired in certain instances, the groove on the face of the pusher 39 may be eliminated when a wire knife is being employed and if used they need not be sufliciently deep to entirely receive the strands of wire; however, the elimination of the grooves or the use of shallow grooves is not to be recommended. Any suitable means for imparting reciprocatingmotion to the auxiliary frame 32 may be employed. The feed for supplying uncut material to my device may be variously positioned relative to said device and may introduce the uncut material at any suitable point, for example, itmay feed from the top. Although the feed structure which I have shown serves very acceptably, obviously any suitable type of feed may be employedin conjunction with the remainder of my device. The extensible and height adjustable features of the feed shown may be changed or eliminated. Similarly any suitable constructionmay replace the stop 53 and/or] the means for operating the same, or these may be obviated. If employed, the stop'5'3 maybe otherwise mountedand the strap 58 may be replaced by an appropriate substitute. The device need not be housed; neither is it necessary that the device be spaced substantially from the table top or other supporting surface upon which it is positioned. The cutting members may extend in only one direction; In connection with describing my device, I have frequently used potatoes as an' exampleof the material being out. However, the utilit of my device is in no sense limited to cutting of potatoes, for it may be used in the cutting of substantially all fruits and vegetables including onions which are relatively difficult to cut by the common methods of cutting, not only due to their toughness but also due to their pungent odor. Also the device may be employed in industrial plants and elsewhere for cutting other materials as well as food. The size of the device may vary widely.

While I have described an embodiment of my invention and certain modifications thereof for illustrative purposes, one skilled in the art will be able to make other modifications, variations and eliminations and this without departing from the true spirit and scope of my inventive conception. I wish therefore to be limited herein only by the appendedclaims. fl

l. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, removable knife structure including wire cutting members detachably held in a split frame, means for adjusting the lateral and vertical position of said knife structure, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon first said frame, a pusher detachably mounted upon said auxiliary frame and adapted to have its forward portion at times received within said frame of the knife structure, grooves upon the forward face of said pusher adapted to at least partially receive said Wire cutting members, a platform mounted upon said first frame to the rearward of the knife structure and adjacent thereto having its upper surface at a level at least substantially as high as that of the upper face of the lower portion of the railing of the knife frame, means for imparting reciprocating motion to said auxiliary frame whereby material on said platform is forced through said knife structure by said pusher, an extensible chute disposed laterally of first said frame and having one end adjacent the knife structure, said chute being adapted to deliver material onto said platform to the rear of said knife structure to be forced through said knife structure by said pusher, means for adjusting the height of the extended end of said chute, stop means rotatably mounted in the path of material in said chute adapted to at times halt the flow of said material from said chute onto said platform, a member having an inclined slot operatively connected to said slidable auxiliary frame and a curve arm member slidably and partially received in said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle to the directions of travel of said slotted member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said auxiliary frame together with said slotted member.

2. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, removable knife structure including wire cutting members detachably held by frame structure, means for adjusting the position of the knife structure, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon said first frame, a pusher mounted upon said auxiliary frame and adapted to have its forward portion at times received within the frame of the knife structure, grooves upon the forward face of said pusher adapted to at least partially receive said wire cutting members, a platform mounted upon said frame to the rearward of the knife structure and adjacent thereto having its upper surface at a level at least substantially as high as that of the upper surface of the lower portion of the railing of the knife frame, means for imparting reciprocating motion to said auxiliary frame whereby material on said platform is forced through said knife structure by said pusher, an extensible chute disposed laterally of first said frame and having one end adjacent the knife structure said chute being adapted to deliver material onto said platform to the rear of said knife structure to be forced through said knife structure, by said pusher, means for adjusting the height of the extended end of said chute and means for controlling the flow of material from said chute onto said platform.

3. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, removable knife structure including wire cutting members detachably held by frame structure, means for adjusting the position of the knife structure, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon said first frame, a pusher mounted upon said auxiliary frame and adapted to have its forward portion at times received within the frame of the knife structure, grooves upon forward face of said pusher adapted to at least partially receive said wire cutting members, a platform mounted upon said frame to the rearward of the knife structure and adjacent thereto having its upper surface at a level at least substantially as high as that of the upper surface of the lower portion of the railing of the knife frame, means for imparting reciprocating motion to said auxiliary frame whereby material on said platform is forced through said knife structure by said pusher, a feed chute adapted to deliver material onto said platform to the rear of said knife structure to be forced through said knife structure by said pusher, stop means rotatably mounted in the path of material in said chute adapted to at times halt the flow of said material from said feed chute onto said platform, amember having an inclined slot operatively connected to said slidably auxiliary frame and a curved arm member slidably and partially received in said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle to the directions of travel of said slotted member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said auxiliary frame together with said slotted member.

4. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, removable knife structure including wire cutting members, a reciprocating pusher slidably mounted at least indirectly on said frame and adapted to force articles through said knife structure, grooves on the knife face of said pusher capable of at least partially receiving said wire cutting members, a platform mounted on said frame to the rear of said knife and adjacent thereto designed to support material immediately prior to its being forced through said knife structure by said pusher, an extensible chute disposed laterally of said frame and having one end adjacent the knife structure, said chute being adapted to deliver on to said platform material to be forced through said knife structure by said pusher, means for adjusting the height of the extended end of said chute, stop means rotatably mounted in the path of material in said chute adapted to at times halt the flow of said material from said chute onto said platform, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot synchronized to reciprocate in unison with said slidable pusher and a curved arm member slidably and partially received in said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

5. In a device of the type described automatic feed structure comprising an extensible reservoir, means for adjusting the height of the remote end of said reservoir in addition to any height adjustment afforded by the extensible feature, rotatable stop means disposed proximate the adjacent end of said reservoir for regulating the flow of material from said reservoir, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot and a curved arm rigidly connected to said stop and slidably and partially received in said slot at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member adapted to operatively rotate said stop upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

6. In the feed structure of a device of the type described, a rotatably mounted stop so disposed as to impede the flow of material along said feed structure at certain positions of its rotation, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot, and a curved arm rigidly connected to said stop and slidably and partially received in said slot at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member adapted to operatively rotate said stop upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

7. A cutting device of the type described comprising, a frame, knife structure, a reciprocating pusher slidably mounted at least indirectly on said frame and adapted to force articles through said knife structure, a platform mounted on said frame to the rear of said knife and adjacent thereto designed to support material immediately prior to its being forced through said knife structure by said pusher, an extensible chute disposed laterally of said frame and having one end adjacent the knife structure, said chute being adapted to deliver onto said platform material to be forced through said knife structure by said pusher, means for adjusting the height of the extended end of said chute, stop means rotatably mounted in. the path of material in said chute adapted to at times halt the flow of material.

from said chute onto said platform, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot synchronized to reciprocate in unison with said slidable pusher and a curved arm member slidably and partially received in said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle tothe directions of travel of said reciprocating member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

8. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, knif structure operatively connected to said frame, a reciprocating pusher slidably mounted at least indirectly upon said frame and adapted to force articles through said knife structure, a trough disposed generally laterally of said frame adapted to deliver material before said knife structure to be forced therethrough by said pusher, stop means rotatably mounted in the path of material in said trough adapted to at times halt the flow of said material from said trough to a position before said knife structure, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot synchronized to reciprocate in unison with said slidable pusher and a curved arm member slidably and partially receivedin said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

9. In the feed structure of a device of the type described a rotatably mounted stop so disposed as to impede the flow of material along said feed structure at certain positions of its rotation, a

reciprocating member having an inclined slot, 7

and an. arm member operatively connected to said stop in a manner such as to serve as a crank to rotate said stop, said arm being slidably and partially received in said slot at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member adapted to operatively rotate said stop upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member,

10. A cutting device of the type described comprising a frame, knife structure operatively connected to said frame, a reciprocating pusher slidably mounted at least indirectly upon said frame and adapted to force articles through said knife structure, a trough disposed generally laterally of said frame adapted to deliver material before said knife structure to beforced therethrough by said pusher, stop means rotatably mounted in the path of material in said trough adapted to at times halt the flow of said material from said trough to a position before said-knife structure, a reciprocating member having an inclined slot synchronized to reciprocate in unison with said slidable pusher, and an arm member slidably and partially received in said inclined slot, the construction being such that said arm is disposed at an angle to the directions of travel of said reciprocating member and such that said arm is rigidly connected to said stop whereby said stop is operatively rotated upon reciprocation of said reciprocating member.

HARRY R. MARTIN.

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