US2589911A - Device for cutting a slab from a block of soft material such as butter or cheese - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1952 M. J. WEINBERG 2,589,911

DEVICE FOR CUTTING A SLAB FROM A BLOCK OF' SOFT MATERIAL SUH KS BUTTER OR CHEESE Filed sept. 1s, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 'ATTORNEY March 18, 1952 M J WEINBERG 2,589,911

DEVICE FOR CU'TIG A SLAB FROM A BLOCK OF SOFT MATERIAL SUCH AS BUTTER OR CHEESE Filed Sept. l5, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR Maurice J /lin b erg BY gfflm ATTORNEY wires.

'less steel 4and the wires are located somewhat V`below the shelf and in alignmentwith the round- Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED sr-Aras TEN T OFFICE (Cl. Sii- 1117) 7 Claims. 1

Thisinvention relates to device for cutting a slab from a block of soft material, such as butter or cheese. It `is particularly directed to a wire butter cutter or reiiover frame for cutting a top portion of .pre-determined thickness from a block of butter or the like material projecting above a receptacle such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 773,817 led September 13, 1947.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an .improved wire cutter of the `character described, in which the spacebetween the leading wire and the wire adja'centtc it is less than the spaces between adjacent pairs of the remaining wires, so that the wire next to the leading wire enters the bulk or block v.of butter more quickly andv holds theA bulk or Yblcckdown against its tendency to lift.

Yet another object of this inventionis toprovide an improved device of the character described, 'so constructed -that `the wires may ybe tensioned without turning and hence without torsion being applied to the wires which .often results in breakage.

Another object of this invention lis to provide a device ofthe character described, Vincluding 'a frame having 'parallel shelf portions adapted to ride over' thetop ofthe flanges on "the butter chamber, vsaid sh'elfbeing provided with contact pins 'having half rounded portions projecting beneath thefshelf to contact the top lsurface of the flanges. The advantages ofsuch construction are as follows: y

The cutting -wires are prevented lfrom`-1c` tat ing, hence preventing breakage of the cutting The contact pins may-be made of'stained bottoms ofthe pins, thereby keeping the metal 'of the remover frame from contacting the'ange -the bottom -and vact as anti-friction lmembers 2 therebypreventing friction between'the remover device and the butterchamber.

Yet a further object ofthis inventionistoi'provide a device of the character-described 'formed with a hollow handle, thereby 'reducing Weight. The cutter is furthermoreso constructedthatfif a wire breaks, Yit caneasilybeireplaced Still another object of this inventionfisf-to vprovide a strong, rugged and durable Vdevice/of the character described, which 'shall'be easy UYto imanpulate, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and yet practical'andeflicient'to a high degree in use.

Other 'objects of this invention'will "inpartb'e obvious and'in part'hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists l:in the'fea'- tures of construction, combinations -fo'f `lements, land arrangement of parts vwhich willfbe-exem'- `plifled in the construction hereinafterfdescribd, and of which the scope' of 'applicationwill'beindicated inthe following claims.

In the "accompanying drawing, in v-which'fis 'shown 'one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of the invention Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device vembodying 'the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side'elevational lView thereof;

Fig. `3 is a cross-sectional vview-taken 'on 'line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front Ye'nd'view f'thedevice-sliown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a 'cross-sectional Aviewltakenjon li'ne '5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figy is an enlarged cross-sectionalfviewfcorsponding to 'one side of thelst'ructuref-s'hownn Fig. 7 is an end View of .oneof'ithe 'i-wireanclnorin'g devices; and

Fig. 8 is a top planvie'w'of'-onefofthewirefanchoring devices. Y

Referring now in detailfto V'tl-ie'drawing,'l'Vdr-:s ignates a device embodying the invention. The same comprises a frame VI'I which ina'yfib'e made of magnesium alloy or any other suitableimafterial. Said frame l I comprises a handle vI'Zfwhich may be hollow or tubular inconstruction. At the front end of the handle vlil fis a transverse member I3 extending toy both vsidesgof thefhandle. At the juncture of the-handle l2 v'-with'th'e cross bar I3 isa downwardlyextending-substantially semi-circular projection I4 serving as an abutment against which the index nger of the hand grasping the handle may press when using the device.

Extending forwardly from the ends of the cross bar I3 are a pair of parallel symmetrical side bars I5. Each side bar I5 is formed with an inwardly extending flange IG having an under surface I'I. The flange I5 is at the top of the side bar I5, thereby forming an -inner surface I8 for the portion of the side bar which projects below flange I5. The side bars I5 are formed with a plurality of aligned pairs of through openings I9. The undersurface I'I is preferably somewhat above the axes of the through openings IS. At the inner end of each through opening I9 is substantially a semi-cylindrical notch 2Q formed in surface Il of each flange I6.

At the forward end of the side bars I5 are upwardly extending portions 30 interconnected by a cross bar 3| which is above the top surface of the side bars I5 to pass above the butter slab which is to be severed. There may be any suitable number of aligned pairs of through openings I9. However, the rst two openings on each side bar I9 are more closely spaced than are the remaining openings I9 in said side bar.

Each side bar I5 is formed with a vertical through opening 33 registering with each opening I9, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Furthermore, each flange I6 is formed between the notches 2B with vertical openings S5. Additional openings 35 may be formed in the anges I6 in front of the leading opening I9 and in back of the rearmost opening I9.

Extending into each opening I9 is a wire tensioning sleeve or shank 49. Each sleeve 4S is formed with a longitudinal iiat 4I. It is also formed with a radial longitudinally extending slit 42 perpendicular to the fiat 4I. The sleeve 4D is furthermore formed with an axial opening 43 extending to the outer end of the sleeve, but terminating short of its inner end. Interconnecting opening 43 with the rear end of the sleeve, is an axial through opening of lesser diameter than the opening 43. The diameter of opening 44 is somewhat greater than the Width of slit 42. The sleeve 45 is formed with external screw threads 45 extending from its outer end inwardly. Each sleeve 4i] has its inner end inserted into one of the openings IQ with the threaded portion 45 protruding, Inserted in each opening 33 is a pin 45 contacting the flat to keep the sleeve 43 from turning within the opening I9. Screwed on the outer threaded portion 45 of sleeve 4'! is a nut 41 contacting the outer surface 48 of side bar Interconnecting each pair of opposite sleeves 40 is a cutting wire 53. The ends of thewire pass through slit 42. The ends of the wire are, furthermore, upset or formed into a head and engage shoulders 5I formed between substantially in the plane of the wire 5!) which are in turn substantially in the plane of the axes of sleeves 49.

It will be noted that the portions of the wire 59 beneath the iianges I6 are located below the notches Z and hence do not contact said flanges. The pins 55 may be made of stainless steel or other hard, non-corrosive metal. Extending inwardly from the undersides of the side bars I5 are a pair of aligned lugs Gil. The lugs 5B are located adjacent the front ends of the side bars I5. The upper surfaces of the lugs 68 are substantially at the level of the under surface of the side bars I5. Said lugs are aligned with one another as shown in the drawing.

The device Ii) is to be used in conjunction with a butter chip or pat making machine or device shown in my copending application Serial No. 773,817, filed September 13, 1947. In said co-pending application, there is disclosed a butter chamber open at its upper end and provided at the sides thereof and adjacent its upper end with parallel outwardly extending anges to be engaged between the lugs 6i) and the flanges I6. In said co-pending application, there is explained that a block or bulk of butter is projected above the upp'er end of the chamber. The cutter or rerifover IIl is engaged with the flanges on the chamber and moved across the open end of the butter chamber so that the wires 50 out through the butter to sever a top slabfrom the block or bulk of butter in the butter chamber.

In cutting the top slab of butter, the block of butter has a tendency to lift when the first wire cuts in. For this reason, the second Wire has been placed close to the first wire to hold down the bulk and preventing it from lifting.

It Will be noted that the wire may be tensioned without turning the wire and Without applying any torsion to the Wire so as to prevent breaking of the Wires. Since the lugs 6U are located only at the front end, it is only necessary to push the frame until the leading Wire has cut through the butter. The cutter device may then be tilted upwardly and the top slab removed. It is not necessary to lift the device straight up vertically, and it is not necessary to stop the cutter device at any exact point as long as the lug 5i) moves beyond the flanges of the butter chamber. The provision of the flanges I5 and the hardened pins 55 cause the cutter frame to ride horizontally on the butter chamber and thus prevents breakage.

of the wire. Furthermore, because of the provi-.- sion of the pins 55, the wires are below the lower surfaces of the shelves or flanges of the cutter frame thereby keeping the metal of the remover frame from smudging the butter. Furthermore,

the frame may be made of magnesium alloy orother metal which might corrode and yet the hardened, non-corrosive pins 55 prevent the magnesiurn frame from contacting the butter chamber and prevents corrosion. Since the pins are hard and half rounded at the bottom, they act as anti-friction members which facilitates cutting of the butter.

The hollow handle reduces weight of the device.

If a wire breaksit can easily be replaced. The Wires may be made of stainless steel or piano wire or any other suitable material. Obviously, the pins 46 impinging upon the iiat surfaces 4! prevent the turning of the sle-eves itil.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above setf'orth, it is to be understood that all matter herein setforthor shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative'and not 'in fa limiting sense.

. vIt will be noted that the forward ends of the shelves 'l5 l'act as locator portions to contact the top "ofthe butter'chamber to facilitate engagement of said device wi'th the flanges of the butter chamber or the spreader flanges.

Having thus described rny` invention, I claim as new'a'nd desire to 'secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described Comprising a hollow handle, a transverse bar at the front end of the handle extending beyond the opposite sides of the handle, parallel forwardly extending bars at opposite ends of the transverse bar, upwardly extending projections at the forward ends of said bars, a transverse bar interconnecting the upper ends of said upwardly projecting portions, the underside of said front transverse bar being above the plane of said side bars, said side bars being provided with inwardly extending longitudinal flanges having undersurfaces above the undersurfaces of said side bars, and a pair of lugs at the front ends of said side bars, projecting inwardly and spaced below said franges, and transverse wires supported on and between said side bars.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hollow handle, a transverse bar at the front end of the handle extending to opposite sides thereof, parallel forwardly extending side bars at opposite ends oi the transverse bar, upwardly extending projections at the forward ends of said bars, a transverse bar interconnecting the upper ends of said upwardly projecting portions, the underside of said front transverse bar being above the plane of said side bars, said side bars being provided with inwardly extending longitudinal flanges having undersurfaces above the undersurfaces of said side bars, and a pair of lugs at the front ends of said side bars, projecting inwardly and spaced below said flanges, said side bars being formed with a plurality of aligned pairs of through openings, sleeves having flats, within said opening, pins on said side bars engaging said flats to prevent said sleeves from rotating, the outer ends of said sleeves being screw threaded, nuts screwed to the outer screw threaded ends of said sleeves, each of said sleeves being formed with a longitudinal radial slit and an axial opening communicating with the slit and with an intermediate shoulder at the bottom of the slit and a wire interconnecting each pair of opposite sleeves and having end portions passing through the slits and engaging said shoulders.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a handle on one, end of said frame, said frame including parallel side bars, said side bars being formed with 'inwardly extending longitudinal flanges, said side bars being formed with pairs of aligned opposite through openings, sleeves slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said through openings, a wire interconnecting each pair of opposed sleeves, and means to slidably move said sleeves outwardly in opposite directions to tension the wires interconnected by said sleeves, said sleeves having longitudinal, radial slots receiving portions of said Wires.

4. A cutterof the Vch`ar`a,"c:'t'er 'dlslc' `ri'be`d comprising la cutter framehaving a'handleand'a `air of side bars, said side bars beingfformed a plurality of Vpairs'of aligned lopposite openings, a pair of coaxialsleeves slidablyfand non-rotatably vmounted within each pair of opposite openings, said sleeves" projecting beyond the outer surfaces of said side bars, wires'interconnectingeach pair of Vopposite sleeves, nuts scrwedronvtheproitruding endsjof said sleeves andcontactingjthe outer :sides of said side bars, for tensioning'said wires, each sleeve having a longitudinal radial slit, and being formed with an axial v'through opening communicating with said slit and each sleeve being provided with a shoulder in said through'opening, and means on said wires engaging said shoulders so that when said nuts are turned the wires will be tensioned.

5. A butter cutter comprising a handle, a transverse bar at the front end of the handle extending to opposite sides thereof, parallel forwardly extending side bars projecting forwardly from opposite ends of said transverse bar, upwardly extending projecting portions at the forward ends of said side bars, a front transverse bar interconnecting the upper ends of said upwardly projecting portions, the underside of said' front transverse bar being above the plane of said side bars, said side bars being formed with a plurality of pairs of aligned opposite openings, a pair of coaxial sleeves slidably and non-rotatably mounted within each pair of opposite openings, said sleeves projecting beyond the outer surfaces of said side bars, the projecting portions of said sleeves having external screw threads, wires interconnecting each pair of opposite sleeves, and nuts screwed to the protruding ends of said sleeves and contacting the outer sides of said side bars for tensioning said wires upon turning said nuts, said side bars being provided with inwardly extending longitudinal flanges having undersurfaces above the undersurfaces of said side bars, each of said sleeves being formed with a longitudina1 radial slit, and said sleeves each being formed with an intermediate shoulder at the bottom of the slit and said wires having heads at their ends to engage said shoulders so that when said nuts are turned, the sleeves will tension said wires. l

6. A butter cutter comprising a cutter frame having a handle, a transverse bar at the front end of the handle extending beyond the opposite sides of the handle, parallel forwardly extending side bars projecting forwardly from opposite ends of said transverse bar, upwardly extending portions at the forward ends of said side bars, a front transverse bar interconnecting the upper ends of said upwardly Aextending portions, the underside of said front transverse bar being spaced above the plane of said side bars, said side bars being of angular cross-section and cornprising top inwardly extending ilanges and outer downwardly extending flanges, said inwardly extending fianges having undersurfaces extending to the front ends of the side bars, and a transverse cutting wire interconnecting said side bars and located beneath said inwardly extending flanges.

7. A butter cutter comprising a cutter frame having a handle, a transverse bar at the front end of the handle extending to opposite sides thereof, parallel forwardly extending side bars projecting forwardly from opposite ends of said transverse bar, upwardly extending portions at the forward ends of said side bars, a front transverse bar interconnecting the upper ends of said upwardly extending portions, the underside of said front transverse bar being spaced above the plane of said side bars, said side bars being of angular cross section and comprising top inwardly extending flanges and outer downwardly extending flanges, said inwardly extending anges having undersurfaces extending to the front ends of the side bars, a transverse cutting Wire interconnecting said side barsand located beneath said inwardly extending flanges, and means to anchor the ends of said wire, and inwardly extending lugs spaced below said inwardly extending flanges on said side bars.

MAURICE J. WEIN'BERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 969,947 Glaus Sept. 13, 1910 998,722 Stewart July 25, 1911 1,249,513 Scanlan Dec. 11, 1917 10 1,653,578 Larsen Dec. 20, 1927 1,714,495 Case May 28, 1929 2,114,277 Bloomeld Apr. 19, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 502,596 Germany Sept. 24, 1930

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