US2669269A

US2669269A - Rotary disk slicer for slicing a plurality of rows of buns

Info

Publication number: US2669269A
Application number: US64073A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert S Schmidt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-12-08
Filing date: 1948-12-08
Publication date: 1954-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-16

Description

Feb. 16, 1954 A s. SCHMIDT 2,669,269

ROTARY Dr'sx SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY oF Rows 0F BUNs Filed Dec.'8. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l Figi @106 @gat 6 1- t 26 26 JZbe'n SSC/imdb.

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1948 Fel 15, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT 2,669,269

ROTARY DISK sLIcER FoR sLIcING A PLURALITY oF Rows 0F BUNs Filed Dec. e, 194e e sheets-sheet :s

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF BUNS Flled Dec 8 l9-g8 6 Sheef.s-Sheel'I 44 117cm' Schmidt ATTORN EY .I .11.1%.1' Tl... il?

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. scHMlD-r- Y ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1948 ATTORNEY l :d @mw C n www Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY OF' ROWS vOF' BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 8. 1948 Patented Feb. 16, `1954 UNITED S'ATS PATENT OFFICE ROTARY DIsjK sLIoER FOR sLrcING A. PLURALITY or Rows oF UNs Albert kS. Schmidt, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application December 8, 1948, Serial No. 64,073

(Cl. 14S- 73) 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to slicing machines and has particular reference vto a machine for slicing bakery products, such as buns, rolls, etc.

Frequently it is desirable 'to hslice wide nat rolls and long thin rolls, which are sometimes desig hated hamburger rolls and franlrfurter rolls, respectively, in such manner that the slice does not extend entirely through the roll, leaving a solid portion at one edge which functions as a hinge for the separated portions of the roll. At the same time it is often advantageous to slice the rolls entirely through their body portion, forming two separate land independent sections.

An object of this invention is to so arrange a slicing machine that it is adapted for use in conjunction with standard traveling conveyors customarily used in bake shops and may be used to sever or slice the rolls completely into separate and independent sections or to sever them but partially, leaving a hinge portion at one edge as described above.

Still another object Vof the invention is to speed up the process of slicing rolls in the manner aforesaid and improve the efciency with which that operation is performed. To that end ,the invention embodies means for slicing 'a plurality of rolls simultaneously and readily a'.:ljustable mechanism for adapting the machine to slice rolls of different dimensions, such as the two types referred to above.

Still another object of the invention is to eliminate spoilage resulting from faulty `slicing and tearing of the baked product, thus insuring uniformity of sliced product.

Imporatnt'features of the invention reside in the simplicity and lightness of the parts utilized, rendering adjustability for various purposes a simple and rapid operation and permitting easy cleansing of the machine and ready access to the various parts for repair purposes.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the'several gures, and where- Fig. l is a top plan chine;

Fig.

view of my improved ma- 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section through 'i-ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section through 5-5 of Fig. 2; l Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through 13H-t of Fig. i; j

Fig. 7 is an enlarged .detail section of one of the moun'nes for the cutter discs v;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through '8--8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of one important element of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a modified ararangement especially suited for handling roll clusters;

Fig. 10a is an enlarged section through one of its frame supporting legs;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section along l2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a schematic View in perspective yof the slicing mechanism Aand actuating means therefor;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the mechanism as set for handling large rolls, and

Fig. 15 illustrates the mechanism as set for handling small rolls.

The machine is adapted to be superimposed over a traveling conveyor I0 on which rolls or other baked goods are fed to the slicing machine and subsequently withdrawn for paolo. aging after the slicing operation has been performed. The machine itself embodies a frame including duplicate oppositely disposed side walls I2 and I4. These walls are made of light metal and are preferably apertured as shown to reduce the weight of the elements as much as possible without sacrificing strength Where necessary. The two side walls are Secured together in spaced-apart relation by a central tie rod l5 having reduced portions Iat vopposite ends seated in openings in the walls and held therein by means of nuts 2c. Each side Wall is provided at spaced points along its length and at the top margin with inwardly extending support ing

flanges

22 and 24 which are adapted to support cross pieces to be described more particularly hereinafter.

The frame of the machine is pivotall-y secured at one end to a bed support 25 by hinge members 2r and the other end is supported by legmembers 39 which rest upon the bed support. rlhe hingel members and leg members are oppositeli dspsed at each end of the frame and are boltedto the, lower corners of the side Walls through slots 32 and 34, respectively, in the hinge and leg mem.- bers. Securement to these corner supports through the slots 32 and 3&1 permits vertical 'adjustment of the frame with reference to the bed support. The entire machine may be pivoted about hinge members 2B. This facilitates ready removal and substitution of parts in a manner and for a purpose to be described more in detail.

Cross braces te and 4s. are secured; respectively, to oppostely disposed danses .22 and 24 of the side walls as by means of bolts d2.. Centrally disposed on cross brace 38 is a bearing assembly (see Fig. 7) in which shaft 4t is vertically journaled. The assembly consists of a depending cup 45 formed integrally with cross brace 38 and eX- ternally threaded at its lower end, the bottom of the cup being provided with an opening 48 to receive the shaft 134. Upper and lower bearings t and 52 are seated inside the cup with the aid of a spacing collar 54, the central portion of which is enlarged and provided at one point in its, circumference with a threaded opening 54 adapted to receive a set screw, thereby permitting vertical adjustment of shaft ltd in the bearing assembly. iAn opening 56 in an enlarged portion of the cup wall is adapted to receive a standard pipe plug 58 which may be removed to provide access to the set screw when vertical adjustment of shaft 44 is desired. Bearing cap 53 is bolted as indicated at 6| to the cross brace 3S at the upper end of the bearing assembly. Packing material 63 surrounds shaft 44 below the cup d6 and is held securely in position by packing nut 55. This prevents lubricant from falling upon articles passing through the machine.

Integral with shaft 44 adjacent its upper end is a pulley 6@ and the lower end of the shaft is enlarged as indicated at 62 and provided with a cylindrical opening to receive the spindle G4 of a cutting disc 65. The spindle may be secured in its seat at the loWer end of the shaft by means of a set screw 68, thus permitting substitution of cutting discs varying in diameter or other characteristics.

Cross brace 40 is provided with two bearing assemblies designated broadly by the numerals 1U and 12, which may be identical in every respect with the assembly heretofore described in detail, for journaling vertical shafts 14 and l. These shafts are provided at their upper ends with pulleys 18 and 8B. An endless belt 82 eX- tending around the three pulleys permits all shafts to be driven simultaneously from a single drive connection 84 which may be associated with one of the shafts, here the shaft 44. Each of the shafts 'M and 16 is provided with means heretofore described in conjunction with shaft 44 for detachably securing the spindle of a cutting disc to its lower end.

Pulley supporting shafts

86 and 88 arejournaled in the side frames adjacent opposite ends thereof in a manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the end of pulley shaft 8E is supported in a bearing member 90 which is positioned in bearing plate 92. The bearing plate is provided adjacent the opening in which the bearing 90 is received with an elongated slot 94 through which it is secured by bolt Sii to the side wall Ill. By virtue of the elongated slot 94 in the bearing plate and an elongated opening 93 in side wall Hl through which pulley shaft 86 passes, the bearing plate may be moved horizontally to adjust the pulley shaft longitudinally of the frame for purposes more clearly to be described hereinafter.

A series of four pulleys l are fixedly secured in spaced relation to one another upon shaft 86 by means of laterally extending hubs l 02 with which set screws are associated. A similar nurnber of pulleys 104 are secured to pulley shaft 8S in the same manner and the pulleys of each series are longitudinally aligned with one another for the reception of endless belts H36.

Pulley shaft 88 is extended beyond side wall I4 as indicated at m8, the extended portion of the shaft being adapted -for engagement or connection with a power source which may be governed so that the linear speed of the endless belts is such as to synchronize its movement with that of the surface of the conveyor moving under the slicing machine frame and between its side walls.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the belt has associated with it means whereby the article being conveyed under the machine is positively engaged and held in position upon the conveyor surface as it is moved by the latter past the cutting discs. This insures a uniform out or slice and precludes the spoilage which occurs if the article is permitted to move or change its position from a controlled path in which it is directed past the slicing mechanism. Preferably this gripping or engaging means consists of a series of spaced spikes or prongs Il extending outwardly from the belt and normal to the plane of its surface. Such an arrangement may be in the form of a belt comprising laminations |06 and |66", the heads H2 of the spikes or prongs being held firmly between the laminations as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Guides extending linearly along the side margins of the traveling conveyor and lying in a plane above the same are adjustably positioned by the frame and serve to control the path of the articles being fed by the conveyor past the cutting discs of the slicing machine. In the form illustrated rods H4 are slidably received through openings in bosses l It positioned near the base of each side wall at each end thereof, a set screw IIB serving to fixedly position each rod within its supporting boss at any position to which it is adjusted. Knobs |20 and |22 positioned on each rod H4 on opposite sides of its bearing in the boss serve to limit the sliding movement of each rod inwardly and outwardly with reference to the frame side wall.

Secured to the inner ends of the rods H4 associated with each side wall is a guide member i24, the inner face of each of which is grooved longitudinally along its median line as indicated at 26. Thus it will be seen that inward and outward sliding movement of the rods l H on each respective side of the slicing machine serve to determine the width of the passage through which articles being conveyed under the machine by the conveyor is limited.

As has heretofore been stated, the machine is designed to slice articles of varying size and configuration, particular attention being directed to the flat hamburger type of roll and the long narrow frankfurter type of roll. The cutter disc drive shafts journaled, respectively, in the cross braces 38 and 4U are arranged in a particular configuration with reference to the belts H36 and their respective oppositely disposed pulleys i and l04. The drive shaft 44 extends between the two innermost belts |66 and shafts 'M and 'i6 pass, respectively, through the two outermost spaces between the four parallel belts. Thus the

shafts

44, 14 and It form the apices of a triangle lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the shafts. The shaft M is designed to rotate a large cutting disc 66 and the two transversely aligned shafts 74 and 'i6 are designed to simultaneously rotate two smaller cutting discs such as 56. As heretofore pointed out, all of the discs are detachably secured to the drive shafts and the shafts themselves. are vertically adjustable in their respective journals. When cutting the .largeflat type of. roll commonly known as a .hamburger roll, particular reference vbeing made to Fig. 4, the ltwo `smaller cutting discs 66' are uncoupled from their respective drive shafts 'i4 and 16 and 'the large disc 6B secured to drive shaft 4'4 is used alone. The rolls or buns |28 as they move on vthe conveyor ltoward the slicing machine are forced iriwardly by the flared end portions |30 of guides |24, which have been moved inwardly to provide the proper marginal guides, so that two columns of rolls will move under the two inner belts |08. As the rolls continue to move forward, the engaging means or prongs H on the outer face of these belts will move down into the respective rolls and, the belts |06 being driven in synchronism with the movement of the conveyor, the rolls will be held rmly upon the conveyor during their passage past the cutter disc `EJ-B. After passing through the machine the prongs move upward out of engagement with the sliced rolls, which are carried on by the conveyor to some other 'point for a subsequent operation.

In the operation illustrated by Fig. 4, vthe rolls are so positioned that the cutting disc slices only partially through each roll of each parallel column of rolls, leaving a hinge portion |30. If the roll is to be sliced entirely and no hinge portion provided, the guides |24 are set more closely together, forcing the rolls of each parallel column moving under the slicing machine inwardly so that the cutting disc 65 will slice through the entire body of each roll. The grooves |263 are in the same transverse plane as the cutting disc and the peripheral margin of the disc may enter the grooves during the cutting operation when 'the guides |2l are set for the complete slicing operation.

Where relatively longr and narrow rolls, such as frankfurter rolls |29, are to be sliced, the cutting disc S6 is removed and the two smaller discs et' are secured to drive shafts 'M and '15. This operation is illustrated in Fig. and the guides 526i are so set that, as the conveyor moves the rolls under the slicing machine, each oi the four pulley belts constituting the gripping or positioning means independently engages the rolls to form four columns. As explained with reference to Fig. 4, the guides |24 may be moved inwardly to compress the rolls of the four columns somewhat more when a full-slice operation is to be performed and the peripheral margins of the cutter discs 56' may penetrate into the grooves |20 of the oppositely disposed guides.

By virtue of the hinge mounting of the entire machine at one end on hinges 2t, the machine may be lifted at the other end for ready detachment and attachment of the desired cutting discs for each individual operation. The vertical adjustability of the frame with reference to the hinge supports 28 and the legs 30 permits bodily vertical adjustment of the entire machine and, of course, the vertical adjustability of each oi the drive shafts for the cutter discs all combine to provide a wide range of adjustability for operating on articles of diierent sizes and contours. This range is greatly facilitated for lateral or transverse adjustments by the readily adjustable manner in which the guides IZ` are mounted.

From the foregoing it will be seen also that all parts are readily accessible for replacement and repair and easy access is provided for cleaning purposes. The weight of the machine is kept to a minimum by virtue of the apertured side frames and the skeleton-like formation obtained by the two cross braces which provide the journals for the cutter disc drive shafts. The ready ad.A

6 instability of the pulleyshaft's 86 and 88 in fa longitudinal direction .for tightening or loosening the belt |05 permits conforming the gripping surfaces of the belts in the most feasible'manner with the articles being passed under and along with it by the conveyor belt.

Frequently rolls are baked in groups or Vclusters as distinguished from 'separate units. A cluster may'comprise a double row of the larger or harnburger rolls or a quadruple row of the smaller or frankfurter rolls. Under 'such circumstances it is desirable to provide means in conjunction with the vslicing niec'hanisrn heretofore vdescribed for severing or separating, partially or wholly,

the units of these clusters prior to passing them through the horizontal slicing discs. The spindle oi' the horizontal slicing disc to which adjacent rolls of the cluster are next subjected passes through this line of severance.

In this embodiment improved means are also provided for quickly and easily elevating the entire slicing head by manipulation of a single adjusting element which raises or lowers the four corner supports of the frame. ln addition I have disclosed in conjunction with the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 10-15 means whereby the linear speedof the conveyor belt on which the rolls are carried through the slicing machine is conformed exactly to the linear speed of the endless belts which engage the top of the rolls to hold them rmly upon the conveyor support during such passage.

Referring now particularly to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 10-15, rollers |40 and |42 are journaled at opposite ends of a bed support IM and serve to carry an endless conveyor lll@ upon which the roll clusters are moved through the slicing machine as heretofore described. The conveyor is driven by motor |43 through a roller chain |5 which passes over sprocket wheel |52 of the motor, an idler sprocket |515, and sprocket |55 secured to the end of the shaft upon which roller |40 is mounted.

The slicing head broadly indicated by the numeral |58 comprises a frame in all material respects like that heretofore described in conjunction with the structure illustrated in Figs. 'l.-l0. The head is 'supported by forward leg members |00 and rear leg members |62 which are secured in suitable fashion to the side walls of the frame of the slicing head. The upper ends of legs are pivotally secured to the side walls of the frame as indicated at |64 and the lower end of said leg is pivoted at |56 between the ends of a pair of levers |66.. These levers it are pivoted at their midpoints to a hanger l'lll secured to the bed frame |44 and depending therebelow, the opposite ends of said levers being pivoted by means of a pin as indicated at |12 to the lower extremity of a link |14.

Concaved seats |63 are formed at the upper ends of rear legs |62 for receiving enlarged heads |55 on the lower ends oi posts |51 which are threaded through ilanges on the side walls of the frame. Posts |67 are held in adjusted position by nuts ilo and the lower ends oi legs im are pivoted as indicated at |18 between a pair of levers it. Levers |80 are pivoted at their midpoints to the lower extremity of hangers |82 as indicated at Ulli and the opposite ends of said levers are pivoted by means of pin |12 to the lower extremity of link |14.

To the upper end of link llc is pivoted one end of a link |85, the other end of this link being se" cured to a shaft |88 in such mannerthat the link and the shaft rotate as a unit. The linkage arrangement at the opposite end of shaft |88, which lies outside the opposite side wall of the frame of the slicing head, is precisely the same as has been described above, this construction being clearly illustrated in the schematic View afforded by Fig. 13.

Secured to shaft |88 at one end for rotation therewith is an actuating link |90 and the end of a threaded adjusting screw |92 is adapted to bear upon the upper edge of this link. The adjusting screw is threaded through a collar |94 secured to the bed frame |44 and may be actuated by a knurled hand wheel |96.

From the foregoing description the means for elevating and dropping the slicing head will be apparent, Upon rotation of the hand wheel |96, the end of threaded member |92 will move downwardly forcing with it the actuating link |90 and thus rotating the shaft |88. Rotation of Shaft |88 on downward movement of actuating link |90 rocks levers |68 and |80 about their fulcrums at the lower ends of hangers and |82, forcing the outer ends of said levers upwardly and with them the legs |60 and |62 which support the head.

On rotation of the hand wheel |96 in the opposite direction the weight of the head will force the outer ends of levers |68 and |80 downwardly as the head drops, actuating link |90 being held in engagement with the end of adjusting screw |92 as the same moves upwardly during rotation of hand wheel |96.

To compensate for the slight arc traveled by the outer and inner ends of levers |68 and |80 I during their pivotal movement about hangers |70 and |82, these levers may be slotted to provide lost motion at their pivotal engagements with pins Hit` and |18 and at their pivotal engagement with pin |12 through which they are connested to link |14. This elevation adjustment enables the head to be positioned so that the discs are correctly located for properly slicing rolls of varying height or thickness. Threaded posts |61 provide for fine adjustment of elevation at the rear of the slicing head and, by virtue of the gravity support thereof on legs |82, the entire head may be moved upwardly about pivots |54 to provide ready access to the slicing discs and the driving mechanism therefor which lie inside the walls of the slicing head frame.

As described in conjunction with the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1-9, the spindle of a large horizontal cutting disc |98 is journaled in a bearing 200 positioned centrally of the head in a transverse direction and the spindles of two smaller horizontally positioned slicing discs 202 and 204 are journaled in bearings 20S and 208 located in transverse alignment adjacent one another rearwardly of the larger disc bearing-20ll- The spindles of discs |98, 202 and 204 are removable from their respective bearings and also adjustable as to height, as heretofore described. They are driven by a V-belt 2|0 which passes around pulleys at the uppel` end of shafts likewise journaled in b-

earings

200, 206 and 208 and which engage the spindles of the horizontal discs. The v-belt is driven from a pulley 2|2 on the shaft of motor 2 4, all in a manner heretofore described in detail.

On the shaft of motor 2 |4 is another pulley 2 6 which drives a belt 2| 8 passing over vertically offset guide pulleys 220 and 222 to drive pulley 224 which is mounted on drive shaft 226journa1ed transversely of the slicing head in the side walls of its frame.

Three drive pulleys 228, 230 and 232 are ixedly secured to shaft 226 for rotation therewith. These drive pulleys are spaced from one another in a manner to be described for a purpose which will be elaborated upon hereafter. A shaft 234 is rotatably journaled in the side walls of the frame of the slicing machine and a bifurcated arm 23t` is secured to said shaft centrally thereof for rotation therewith. Rotatably journaled between the free ends of the arms of the bifurcation is a vertical slicing disc 238 with which is integrally associated a drive pulley 240. The drive pulley of this vertical slicing disc 233 is rotated by a belt passing around the pulley 240 and the central pulley 230 on shaft 226.

Transversely spaced vertical slicing discs 242 and 2.44 having pulleys integrally associated therewith as heretofore described are rotatably journaled between bifurcated arms 246 and 248, the ends of these arms being secured to shaft 250 for rotation therewith. Shaft 250 is rotatably journaled in the side walls of the frame of the slicing machine and these two vertical discs are driven by belts from pulleys 228 and 232 lying on opposite sides of pulley 230 and, like it, being secured to shaft 226 for rotation therewith.

Thus it will be seen that the

vertical discs

238, 242 and 244 are all driven from the shaft of motor 2|4, as are the horizontally disposed discs |98, 202 and 204.

The vertically disposed discs may be elevated to any adjusted position or to inoperative position when not in use by means of crank arms 2&2 and 254, the former being secured to the end of shaft 234' which carries disc 238 and arm 254 being secured to the end of shaft 250 which carries the other two vertically disposed slicing discs. The free ends of crank arms 252 and 254, respectively, are provided with threaded pins 256 and 258 which are movable inwardly and outwardly from the adjacent side wall of the slicing machine frame to position the shafts 234' and 250 so that the slicing discs carried thereby may be held in any desired elevated position, usually in such position that the cluster is severed between each adjacent roll of a transverse row to a depth corresponding to the point where each roll is to be sliced subsequently by a horizontal disc. Under these circumstances rolls remain integrated in cluster form after slicing.

It will be apparent that, when large rolls are being partially severed and sliced, as illustrated in Fig. 14, only the large horizontally disposed disc |98 and the vertically disposed disc 238 will be in operation. At this time the spindles of the smaller horizontal discs 202 and 204 will have been removed from their bearings and vertical discs 242 and 244 will have been elevated by manipulating arm 254 so that they will not come in Contact with the large rolls passing along on the conveyor |46 through the slicing head. The vertical disc 238 will first partially sever each pair of the cluster as it travels through the machine and subsequently the horizontal disc |98 will slice them as desired, either fully or partially to provide a hinge at one side, all as described in detail in conjunction with the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1-9.

When operating on smaller rolls such as the frankfurter type, as illustrated in Fig. l5, the large horizontal disc |98 will have been removed from its bearing 200 and the single vertical disc on shaft -234 will have been elevated to preclude its engagement 'with the rolls passing through the machine. Vertical discs 242 and 244 are in position to sever, partially or wholly,l each of the ,pairs of rolls forming the cluster being fed through the machine, After the severing operationthe two horizontally disposed discs 2Mv and 2M will slice each roll of each .pair precisely as described in conjunction withl the embodiment of Figs. 1-9.

TheY belts by which the vertical knives are driven from

shaft

2,26 are of the cylindrical rub ber type,v thus eliminating any need for disengaglng the belts from the .pulleys on which they are mounted when moving the vertical discs to elevated or lowered position. Under suchV circtunh stances the vertical discs are' driven at all times regardless of the type of roll being severed and sliced,t although of course only the'large horizontal` discs |94 or the pair of small horizontaly discs 202 and 201i are mounted in operative position at one time.

As. illustrated in conjunction with the earlier described embodiment, studded endless belts 26), of which there are four, are mounted on rollers 262 and 26d at yeacnend of the frame, the forward set'of rollers 262 being'secured to driveshaft 266 which is rotatably journaled on the shaft and a sprocket Wheel 2li) secured for rotation-therewith. The arm 268 may be spaced from the side wall of the-frame by spacer 212 and separated from the sprocket wheelby a spacing. member 2li. Rotatably journaled in the outer or free end of arm 268 is a hub 21B integral with which are two sprocket wheels 21.18 andZii. Sprocket Wheel-28u engages that portion offroller chainitil lying between the idler sprocket 454 and the conveyor drive sprocket 156, being tensioned thereagainst byy spring 281 with sulieient force to engage the chain and insure rotationl of sprocket 2te with movement of chain ISB and'consduent rotation of sprocket 28 which in turn actuates sprocket .Zf'lto drive shaft 2% and-the endless belt roller supports-.- Inasmuch asthe dianieters of` conveyor sprocket (56 and-sprockets 25d; 213 and'zlare identical, as-are the diametersof conveyor-'rolls Mii and Ill-2'vv andthe endless` 'belt-"supporting rollers 262 and 2&4, the speed ofrtation'ofall'the sprocket'sandthe driven-rollers' vwill bathe same and consequentlythelinear speed of tl'fleeridless (5()-1Vey0l 145' will be icllitiifi'alL with th linear Speeder'` the studdedendless belts 2t@ wliicliengage andipenetrate the upper' surface of' rolls supported by the endless conveyor as it nieves through the slicing machine.

Furthermore; by'reason ofvv this arrangement the slicing head I5S maybe elevated about pivots EGG without-in any way interfering with the driving arrange'mentV ofV either' the conveyor iii-t' or the endless belts 260, thus facilitating rapid and facile mounting 'and 'disrnounti'r'ig of thehorizontallysdisposed knivesfor iandlrigrolls f different tynes.-

While Th'ave describe'da'preferred erbdiinnt ofthearrangement for" obtaining the". proved resnlts'her'ein outlined, variousinodicat'ions may be apparent to those-skilled the art and for that reason I wish to limit myself only within the scope of.' Ythe appended,claims.` f

1. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to be sliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie said conveyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis normal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between opposite longitudinal margins thereof, a cutting discsecured to said shaft and lying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surfacev and spaced therefrom, said disc lying wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins 'of the conveyor, gripping means carried by the frame movable en Aopposite sides of said cutting disc shaft insynchronisnr with the conveyor in a plane parallel to its surface and `on the opposite side of the cutting discJ- 4for holding an article rmly on the conveyor as the disc passes through it, and guides lyingin the plane of the disc and extend-ing parallel to the edges of the conveyor surface on opposite sides thereof.

2, In a slicing machine the combination of a frame, parallelI pulley shaftsv rotatably journaled in opposite sidewalls of the frame adjacentits ends, respectively, spaced pullyscarried by said shafts in longitudinal alignment, respectively,

with one another, an endless belt having gripping elements on its o ut'er surface carried by each alignedpair of pulleys, parallel drive shafts journaled in said frame for rotation" about` axes par:- allel to the plane of said pulleys, saiddrive shafts extending between said belts and forming the apies of a triangle lying a plal transverse to the axes 0f Said shafts and" between the pulley Shafts adjacent resptiv ds the fain, and means for detachably securing a cutting disc to @aan dni/estan testine disques outside the confines of the' belts' and in' underlying' relation thereto. j

v3, I slilg Iafchin th -lbatolfl 0f a ie, parallel pulley' shaftsfotvtably' jolld in opposite Side' Walls f the `flfal'rli adjacent its l'ds, lSpv'l'j, sifid plly Ga'llld by Said shafts in longitudinal alignment, respectively, with one another, an ndl'ss belt having gripping elements on its iite'i" surface carried by each augned pair of pulleys, 'pavauel drive shafts journaledin saidfraine for rotation about axes parallel t th'p'lan f Said p iillyS, Said drive Shafts eit'dng bttv'eii Said belts and forming' the apic'es of a triangle lying iii a plane transvers'eto the' axes of said" shafts'and between' the pulley shafts adjacentgrespecnve ends of the frame, two of saidd'rive shafts'lyg in a plane parallel to Said pllley Shafts" and. the third extending' betvveenthe two innermost seits, and means for de;- t'a'chably securing' a' cutting disc to each drive shaft niet the dise lies outside the conne-es of the belts and 'in underlying relation thereto.

4. In a slicing machine the combination of a. frame, parallel pulley Shafts rotatably juraled in Opposite s'ide` w`a311s' Of the' frame' adjacenty its ends, respectively, spaced prillejfsV carried by said shafts' in longitudinal alignment, respectively, with one another, an endless belt having gripping elements on its outer surface carried by each aligned pail" f pll'yS, parallel drive Shaft .llf-

.ald i'r'ilsa'id frame for rotation about axesl para11`e1 to the planeY fsaid pulleys, sais drive shafts eitendingbetwen said belts' and forming the apices'v of ai triangle lying in a plane transverse?v to the' aies of said shafts and between the pulley shafts adjacent respective ends ofthe frame, means for detachably-securinga cuttingdiseto each drive shaft sc that the disc lies outside the confines olf-the belts and in underlying relation thereto,- andmeansforl rotating they pulley and drive shafts.

5. A slicing machine for use in conjunction with a traveling conveyor comprising a frame superimposing the conveyor, guides adjacent the frame extending, respectively, along each margin of the conveyor and adjustable transversely thereof to control the width of the passage beneath the frame, a cutter disc parallel to and superposing the conveyor surface carried by the frame and wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins of the conveyor, spaced parallel means carried by the frame and overlying, respectively, opposed semi-circular portions of said disc for fixing the position of articles on the conveyor during its passage beneath the frame, and means for rotating said disc.

6. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to be sliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie said conveyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis normal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between opposite longitudinal margins thereof, a cutting disc secured to said shaft and lying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surface and spaced therefrom, said disc lying Wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins of the conveyor, and gripping means carried by the frame movable on opposite sides of said cutting disc shaft in synchronism with the conveyor in a plane parallel to its surface and on the opposite side of the cutting disc for holding an article ilrmly on the conveyor as the disc passes through it.

7. A machine for splitting buns comprising, an endless conveyor having a horizontal upper flight, a pair of parallel spaced endless presser conveyors each having a lower horizontal flight aligned with and spaced from the upper flight of the first-mentioned endless conveyor a distance equal to the average height of the buns, a splitting disc located between the upper flight of the rstmentioned conveyor and the lower flight of the presser conveyor and parallel thereto, a drive shaft for carrying the splitting disc and extending from above the lower flight of the presser conveyors between the same, the lower flights of the presser conveyors overlying chordial portions of the splitting disc on opposing sides of its axis to press the buns against the first-mentioned endless conveyor while being cut, and a drive means for the conveyors and cutting disc.

8. A machine for splitting buns comprising, an endless conveyor having a horizontal upper ight, parallel pairs of spaced endless presser conveyors extending longitudinally of and having lower horizontal flights aligned with and spaced from the upper flight of the first-mentioned endless conveyor a distance equal to the average height of the buns, splitting discs located between the upper ight of the first-mentioned conveyor and the lower flights of the presser conveyors and parallel thereto, there being one splitting disc for each pair of presser conveyors, drive shafts for carrying the splitting discs and extending from above the lower flights of the pairs of presser conveyors between the two conveyors of each pair of presser conveyors, the lower flights of the presser conveyors overlying chordial portions of the splitting discs on yopposing sides of their axes to press the buns against the first-mentioned endless con- `veyor while being cut, and a drive means for the conveyors and cutting disc.

9. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to be sliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie said con- 12 veyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis normal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between opposite longitudinal margins thereof, a cutting disc secured to said shaft and lying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surface and spaced therefrom, said disc lying wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins of the conveyor, means carried by the frame movable on opposite sides of said cutting disc shaft in synchronism with the conveyor in a plane parallel to its surface and on the opposite side of the cutting disc for holding an article rmly on the conveyor as the disc passes through it, power means coupled with said conveyor for operating the same, and means coupling said power means with said article holding means for operating the latter.

10. A machine for splitting buns comprising a traveling conveyor, a pair of parallel spaced endless presser conveyors each having a lower horizontal flight aligned with and spaced from the traveling conveyor a distance equal to the average height of the buns, a splitting disc located between the traveling conveyor and the lower flight of the presser conveyor and parallel thereto, a drive shaft for carrying the splitting disc and extending from above the lower flight of the presser conveyors between the same, means for adjusting said drive shaft vertically with reference to said traveling conveyor, the lower flights of the presser conveyors overlying chordial portions of the splitting disc on opposing sides of its axis to press the buns against the traveling conveyor while being cut, and a drive means for the conveyors and cutting disc.

ALBERT Si. SCHMIDT.

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