US2879817A

US2879817A - Automatic slicing machines

Info

Publication number: US2879817A
Application number: US526486A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bonnet Francois
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-08-24
Filing date: 1955-08-04
Publication date: 1959-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-31
Also published as: DE1001148B; FR1110377A; CH328024A

Description

March 3l, 1959 F. BONNET AUTOMATIC sLIcING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1955 INVENTOR. www

Arrone/rey March 31, 1959 F, BQNNET 2,879,817

AUTOMATIC SLICING MACHINES Filed Aug. 4, 1955 v v s sheets-sheet '2 INVENTOR. AAM

MRW" MMM;

F. BONNET AUTOMATIC SLICING MACHINES Marchal, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1955l lllrlllllllllllllll E INVENTOR.

United y Sgt-Yates Patent AUTMATIC SLICINGMACHINES p lllrafnos Bonnet, Villefranche-susanne, France Application August 4, 1955, Serial No. 526,486 Claims priority, application France August 24, v1954 l 7 Claims. (ci. 14e-1oz) `My invention relates to slicing machines of the kind comprising a reciprocatable carriage and a revolving knife disc. The carriage generally supports the meat or other article to be sliced while the' revolving knife disc is supported by the iiXed frame, but in some constructions the arrangement is reversed. In automatic machines there is provided an electric motor which actuates the carriage andthe revolving'knife disc, and this motor is automatically stopped at the end of each operative cycle of the carriage, but the automatic stop `device may be rendered ineffective when continuous operation 'is` desired, for instance vfor cutting a` number of vsuccessive slices. When the required number is obtained the operator re-sets the automatic lstop device. i

,Thismanual `actuation of the automatic Vstop device requires care from the operator and itl frequentlyoccurs that-y this device is actuatedsomewhat too late and that therefore the machine effects `an additional operative cycle. l

=A first/object of, my invention is to provide an automatic slicing machine whichwill cut any number of slices desired and which will automatically stop as soon as thisnumber is reached.

Another` object-of. my invention is to provide such an automatic slicing machinewhich may be set for continuous operationwheneverfdesired v Stilli a further object of my invention is. a slicing machine cornprisinga counting memberadapted to` be manually advanced by the operator through a numberof units equal to the Vnumber ofslices desired, the saidcounting member causing .the machine to start at the end 'of its advance movement, whereuponthe counting memberis returned backwarduthrough one unit at each return stroke of the carriage. and causes stoppage of the machine as soon as it reaches the zero position. .f

The counting member preferably comprises` a perforate dial wheel` ofthe kind used inzconnection with telephone apparatus, and this dialwheel cooperates with a movable abutment adapted to controloperation of the machine, in such amanner thatwhen the4 operator advances the dial wheel his finger engaged y-in 'a hole thereof actuates'the said abutment and starts the machine, while at. the endv ofthe return movement of the dial wheel a gudgeon or the like carried by thelatter returns thexabutment to its position of rest, thereby vstopping the machine.

The movable abutment may directly actuate -an electric switch `in the circuit of the driving motor, or it mayl The counting member is preferably driven by a pawl"` andratchet mechanism, the 4ratchet wheel being mechanically connected. withthe-aforesaid dial .wheel and the pawl being carried bythe carriageof the machine.` Meansl arprovi'de'dtodisengage the pawl from the wheel as soon as it has actuated the latter, in orderthatadvancej of the dial wheel should not be prevented by-the saidl pawl being engaged with the teeth of the ratchetlwheel;

In the annexed drawings: f

Fig. 12is a fragmental longitudinal sectionl ofta .tirstf embodiment of a slicing machine according to my inven-` Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection thereof taken along line- II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken along'lint III-III of Fig. 2. In this figure line I--I indicatesftheplane of section corresponding to Fig. 1. s Af f Fig. 4 is a large scale view with parts in section, show@ ing a portion of the dial wheel and of the associated parts, at the position of rest of the machine.v v

Fig.5 `is a vewsimilar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts at theposition corresponding to operation of the machine. t f

Fig. 6` is an enlarged view of the pawl adapted to actuatethe ratchet wheel of the counter.

Figs. 7 to 9 are diagrammatical views illustrating theoperation of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts at the position of continuous operation of the.

machine.

Fig. l1 is a horizontal section of another embodimentof my invention. v Y v Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section thereof taken along'l line XII-XII of Fig. 11.

Fig.- 13 is a transverse `section taken along line XIII of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatical perspective view ofthegearing which controls -the clutch interposed between th electric motor and the carriage driving gear.

' Figs.15 tof18 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the switch associated to the clutch gearing of Fig;v '14.' Figs. v19 and 20 are enlarged detail views illustratingthe ratchet wheel and associated parts in the construction of Figs.. l1 and 12.

vThe machine partially illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 isofl thetyp'e comprising a revolving knife disc 201 (Fig-13) and a reciprocatingcarriage 2 supporting the meatVor otherfood article from which the lslices are to be cu't.' This type of machine being well knownin the art neither ing-of base 1, its inner end being in one with a movable` transverse member 3 slidable on two longitudinal guide rods 4 liXed to base 1. Member 3 carries the vertical pivot 5 of a connecting rod 6 the other end vof which is pivoted at 7 on one of the linksof an endless chain8 supported by two

sprockets

9 and 10 loose on xed

vertical gudgeons

11 and 12. Sprocket 10 is in one with a gear wheel 13 which meshes with another gear wheel 14 keyed on the shaft 15 of a pulley 16 connected by means of a belt 17 with another pulley 18 loose'- on a vertical driving shaft 19 rotated by an appropriate electric motor, not illustrated, which also drives the revolving knife disc not shown. A clutch member 20 is slidably keyed on shaft 19, the said member being formed with lateral teeth adapted to engage corresponding teeth provided on the upper end of the hub of pulley 18.

ating knob 23. It will be appreciated that when member 20 is at its lower oroperative position, sprocket 10 is rotated and transverse member 3 is reciprocated along. rods 4* togethe11with arm 2 and with the carriage supportedn thereby. The normal position of stoppage is the Patented Mar. 31, 195g' XIIIT- position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the carriage being at the end of its rearward stroke with respect to the revolving knife disc.

On the side of member 3, supposed at the position of rest illustrated, and well below the said member, there is disposed a casing 24 which rotatably supports a horizontal transverse shaft 25 carrying a ratchet wheel 26 at its outer end adjacent to member 3. Wheel 26 has twelve teeth plus a blank space having the length of one tooth. In other words wheel 26 may be considered as a thirteen tooth wheel wherein one tooth has been suppressed. Shaft 25 is connected by a pair of equal bevel gears 27 with a small longitudinal shaft 28 which protrudes from casing 24 towards the adjacent end side of base 1. Shaft 28 is in turn connected by a universal joint 29 with an oblique shaft 30 which is passed through the wall of base 1, and on the outer end of this shaft there is keyed a wheel or disc 31 having a row of thirteen holes disposed along its periphery as the dial wheel of an automatic telephone apparatus. The outer surface of base 1 under wheel 31 is formed as a lixed dial and bears twelve successive numbers followed by letter C, as shown in Figs. 4, Sand 10. Shaft 28 is rotatable in a tubular shaft 32 which is itself supported by a bearing 1a fixed to base 1. The outer end of shaft 32 is in one with a liat arm 33 which is bent twice at 90 to form in front of wheel 31 an abutment 33a (Figs. l and 4) having a lateral semicircular notch 33b. The inner end of shaft 32 carries a cam 34 adapted to actuate a pusher switch 35 inserted on the circuit of the driving motor of the machine. The arrangement is such that this circuit is closed when switch 35 is pushed (position of Fig. and that it is open when switch 35 is free (position of Fig. 4). Wheel 31 carries a small pin 36 (Figs. 4, 5 and 10) which may act on the extension 33a of arm 33 for actuating the said arm at the end of the return movement of wheel 41, as explained below.

The movable transverse member 3 has a lateral downwardly directed arm 37 which carries a pawl 38 adapted to cooperate with ratchet wheel 26. As shown in Fig. 6 pawl 38 is in the form of a small two-armed lever pivoted at 39 and carrying at one of its ends a horizontal lateral iinger 40 adapted to engage the successive teeth of wheel` 26. The other end of pawl 38 is loaded by a spring indicated at 41 in Fig. 6 and it also carries a horizontal lateral linger 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted to cooperate with a gudgeon 43 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) provided on the upper side of casing 24. An abutment 33 is provided on the side of -arm 37 to limit the angular movement of pawl 38 under the action of spring 41.

The operation is as follows:

At the position of rest transverse member 3 is stopped at the left end of the machine in Figs. l and 2. Cam 34 (Fig. 4) is spaced from the pusher 35a of switch 35 and the driving motor is therefore at standstill. Pin 36 is in contact with the right-hand edge of extension 33a and one of the holes of wheel 31 is exactly co-axial to the notch 33b provided on the left edge of extension 33a. Behind this hole the fixed dial bears the number 1 and numbers 2 to 12 are behind the successive holes in an anticlockwise direction, the thirteenth hole corresponding to letter C (for continuous operation).

Supposing it is desired to cut live slices, the operator engages his foreinger in the hole situated in front of number 5 on the iixed dial and he rotates the dial wheel 31 clockwise until his forefnger has met extension 33a and has moved arm 33. This angular displacement of arm 33 causes cam 34 to push pusher 35a and to actuate switch 35 whereby the electric driving motor is started. At the same time pusher 35a limits the angular movement of arm 33 and stops the rotation of dial wheel 31. The operator then removes his linger from the latter.

The machine being now in operation, the carriage is reciprocated and at each forward stroke thereof a slice is cut from the meat or other article supported by the said carriage. At each return stroke of the carriage the lower linger 40 of pawl 38 meets a tooth of wheel 26 (Fig. 7) and rotates the said wheel anticlockwise. Then the upper finger 42 meets gudgeon 43 (Fig. 8) which causes pawl 38 to rotate about its pivot 39 against the action of spring 41 and to become disengaged from wheel 26 (position of Fig. 9). The carriage is just at the end of its rearward or return stroke when this disengagement is effected and the arrangement is such that the angular movement of wheel 26 under the action of pawl 38 corresponds to one tooth of the said wheel.

The ratchet wheel 26, which had been advanced through ve teeth during rotation of the dial wheel 31 by the operator, is thus returned step by step to its initial or zero position and of course dial wheel 31 itself is also returned to the position of Fig. 4. When the ifth slice has been cut (position of Fig. 5) pin 36 is close to the right edge of extension 33a and at the end of the return stroke of the carriage the said pin returns extension 33a together with arm 33 to the initial position of Fig. 4, whereby switch 35 opens and causes the electric motor to stop.

Of course proper operation requires that arm 33 should not be returned from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. `4 by the sole reaction of pusher member 35a. This may be obtained by a number of means.

Proper operation also requires that advance of the dial wheel should not be prevented by pawl 38 being in engagement with ratchet wheel 26. This is obtained by *gudgeon 43 which disengages pawl 38 at the end of the return stroke of the carriage (position of Fig. 9).

, Still another condition for proper operation of the device described is that the lower finger 40 of pawl 38 should not meet the mutilated portion 26a of ratchet wheel 26, i.e. the zone corresponding to the suppressed thirteenth tooth of this wheel. This is obtained by so timing ratchet wheel 26 with respect to dial wheel 31 that the said zone 26a is exactly in front of the last tooth actuated by finger 40 during the return or zeroizing movement of the counter device, i.e. the tooth which determines stoppage of the machine. l

When the operator engages his forelinger into the thirteenth hole of dial wheel 31 (i.e. into the hole which at the position of rest of Fig. 4 is in front of letter C on the xed dial of the machine) he rotates wheel 31 through a full turn, the gudgeon 36 of the said wheel coming on the left side of extension 33a, as it will be appreciated by comparing Figs. 4 and l0. The angular displacement of arm 33 under the action of the operators linger causes actuation of switch 35 whereby the machine is starated. But since ratchet wheel 26 has effected a full turn together with dial wheel 31, it is now at the position of Fig. 1 and therefore the lower linger 40 of pawl 38 only meets the mutilated portion 26a of the said ratchet wheel 26 and leaves the latter at standstill. The machine thus operates continuously.

When the operator desires to stop the machine, he only has to re-engage his foreiinger into the hole corresponding to letter C on the fixed dial (Fig. 10) and to turn the dial wheel anticlockwise through one full turn. Gudgeon 36 returns arm 33 to the position of Fig. 4 whereby switch 35 opens.

In the modification of Figs. l1, 12 and 13 the counter comprises a graduated knob 45 adapted to play the same role as the dial wheel 31 of Figs. l to 3. Knob 45 is carried by a longitudinal shaft 46 which projects into the above-described casing 24 and which is connected by the bevel gears 27 with the transverse shaft 25 of the ratchet wheel 26. The general arrangement of the carriage and of its driving gearing is quite the same as in Figs. 1 to 3, but the control mechanism of the clutch is quite dilerent.

The actuating fork 21 of the movable clutch member 20 is in one with an arm 47 (Figs. l2 and 14) connected by a link 48 with an arm 49 keyed on a transverse shaft 50 rotatably carried by bearings such as 51 secured to base 1. On the end of shaft 50 opposed to arm 49 there is slidably keyed a sleeve 52 on the periphery of which? asva'srfi thenais provided ia longitudinally elagated 199th .5.24 which is bevelled, as indicated at 52b, at itsendreniote from the adjacent end of shaft 50. Tooth 52 is adapted for cooperation with a small lever 53a associated lwith a micro-switch 53 inserted on the electric circuit of the driving motor of the machine. Sleeve 52 extends beyond the end of shaft 50 in the form of a forkedfmember 54 substantially disposed in the vertical plane of shaft 50. Member 54 embraces a cam 55 carried by a longitudinal shaft 56. Shaft 56l also carries a second cam 57v which cooperates with a lateral lug 54a in onewith forked member 54. -Lug 54a is provided with an vupperxtoot-h 54b adapted to be actuated by the carriage driving chain 8, as it will be explained below. Shaft -56 is rotatably carried bybase 1 and its outer end has an actuating lknob 58 (Figs. 1 1vand 12). Y i Y' For a given angular position of knob 58 cam 57 leaves lug 54a free to sink under the action of the driving chain, which causes `cle-clutchingof clutch member`20 and stoppage of the carriage. Cam 57 is then at such a position that Sleeve 5.2,A istat :its .foremost nesitieafgashatt 50, the end roller of lever 53a then being on the bevelled end 52b of tooth 52a; Switch 53 is thus open and the driving motor is at standstill. This relative position of tooth 52a and Yofswitch 53 has been illustrated in Fig. 15.,v k

. `'Ifn'owknob w58 is rotated through1 90 in a clockwise direction'from the position of Fig.1 15`,1scam 55- moves sleeve 52 on shaft 50 through about one'half of its full permissible stroke thereon, while cam 57 leaves lug 54a at the lowered position. Owing to the axial displacement of sleeve 52 the bevelled end 52b of tooth 52a actuates switch 53 (position of Fig. 16) and the electric motor is started. But since fork 21 remains at the de-clutched position, the carriage of the machine remains at rest and the knife disc revolves ineffectively.

d For a further rotation of knob 58 through 90 cam 57 raises lug 54a, thus causing rotation of shaft 50 whereby fork 21 is lowered and engages clutch member 20 with pulley 18. Cam 55 pushes sleeve 52 somewhat further towards the rear of the machine (position of Fig. 17), switch 53 remaining at the closed position. The carriage is thus reciprocated and normal operation of the machine takes place.

When knob 58 is rotated through a third angle of 90, cam 55 returns sleeve 52 to its foremost position, and cam 57 leaves lug 54a free to sink. But the arrangement is such that shaft 50 is frictionally retained in position whereby lug 54a is prevented to rotate under action of its own weight. The parts thus assume the position illustrated in Fig. 18. The end roller of the actuating lever 53a of switch 53 is on the bevelled end 52b of tooth 52a, but switch 53 nevertheless remains at the closed position. Operation of the machine thus continues as if knob 58 had not been actuated.

But at this position of the parts tooth 54h is now on the path of a gudgeon 59 (Fig. 13) carried by one of the links of chain 8. When gudgeon 59 meets tooth 54a it positively rotates lug 54 together with shaft 50. This rotation of shaft 50 causes an upward movement of clutch member 20, whereby the carriage driving gearing is de-clutched from the electric motor. Tooth 52a is besides returned to the position of Fig. 15 whereby switch 53 opens and stops the electric motor. Gudgeon 59 is so disposed on chain 8 that the carriage stops at its rearmost position (corresponding to Figs. 11 and 12) and this position of stoppage of the carriage cannot be inuenced by the momentum of the drivingmotor which is now disconnected from the carriage driving mechanism. This may be of interest with high speed motors.

summarizing it may be said that the first quarter of a turn of knob 58 starts the electric motor without starting the carriage, that the second quarter of a turn starts the carriage and that the third quarter of a turn causes automatic stoppage of the machine by action of gudgeon 59 on tooth 54b. The fourth quarter of a turn is ineffective.

On the longitudinal shaft 56Hof knob S8 (Figs. 19 and 20) there is keyed a small pinion 60 which meshes with a conical sector 61 loose on the outer end of shaft 25 in front of ratchet wheel 26. Sector 61 carries on its rear face a radially elongatedrib 61a adapted to be actuated by a lateral gudgeon 62 fixed to wheel 26. The arrangement is such that when the ratchet wheel 26 comes to its position of rest or zero position under the action of the lower finger 40 of pawl 38 in the manner already explained with reference 'to the construction of Figs. 1 to 3, gudgeon 62 strikes rib 61a and rotates sector 61which in turn rotates shaft 56 to return the above-described device to the position'of Fig. 18, ire. to such a position that the machine'is immediately stopped by gudgeon 59 actuating tooth 54b.

When it is desired to cut a given number of slices, the operator first sets knob 45 to the corresponding position. Then he starts the machine by placing knob 58 to the position of Fig'. 17. The ratchet wheel 26 is actuated at each return stroke of they carriage and when the said wheel reaches its zero position it drives sector 61 which through pinion 60 brings the parts to the position of Fig. 18. The machine is immediately stopped.

In other words gudgeon 62 of wheel 26 automatically effects the third quarter of a turn of `knob 58 as aboveexplained.

It Will be appreciated vthat in the machine of Figs. ll to 13 knob 45' could be replaced by a perforated dial wheel as in the case of Figs. 1 to 3, arm 33 actuating shaft 56 through an appropriate gearing.

I claim:

1. An automatic slicing machine comprising a frame; a revolving knife supported on said frame; Ia reciprocating carriage on said frame transversely of the axis of said revolving knife to cause the latter to slice meat or the like product supported Iby the carriage at each forward stroke of said carriage; driving means to reciprocate said carriage on said frame; a counting ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said frame and actuated by said carriage, and adapted to be angularly advanced by the operator from its zero position through a number of teeth equal to the number of slices desired, said ratchet wheel having on its periphery a blank zone void of any tooth; a pawl supported by said carriage and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel at each return stroke of said carriage to return said ratchet wheel through one tooth towards its zero position, except when said ratchet wheel has been so advanced that said pawl meets said blank zone; means carried by the frame and actuated by said ratchet wheel when same reaches its zero position to cause stoppage of said driving means; and means on the pawl to disengage said pawl from said ratchet wheel at the stopped position of said carriage to permit advance of said ratchet wheel.

2. An automatic slicing machine comprising a frame; a revolving knife supported on said frame; a reciprocating carriage on said frame transversely of the axis of said revolving knife to cause the latter to slice meat or the like product supported by the carriage at each forward stroke of said carriage; driving means to reciprocate said carriage on said frame; a perforated dial wheel rotatably supported by said frame and actuated by said carriage, and adapted to be advanced by the operators finger from its zero position through a number of units equal to the number of slices desired; a movable abutment associated with said dial wheel to be displaced from its position of rest by the operators finger at the end of the advance of said dial wheel; means actuated by said movable abutment when same has been displaced 4by the operator to start said driving means; a counter wheel adapted to rotate in unison with said dial wheel, one unit of said counter wheel corresponding to one unit of said dial wheel; means to mechanically connect said dial wheel with said counter wheel; means actuated by said carra'ge at the end of each return stroke thereof to return said counter wheel through one unit towards its zero position; and means on said dial wheel to return said movable abutment to its position of rest at the last return step of said counter wheel to cause stoppage of said driving means.

3. In an automatic slicing machine as claimed in claim 2, said movable abutment being carried by an arm coaxial with said dial wheel.

4. In an automatic slicing machine as claimed in claim 2, said movable abutment being carried by an arm supported by a tubular shaft co-axial with said dial wheel, and said tubular shaft carrying a cam member adapted to control said driving means.

5. In an automatic slicing machine as claimed in claim 2, said movable abutment being carried `by an arm coaxial with said dial wheel, and said dial wheel having a pin adapted to return said movable abutment to its position of rest.

6. An automatic slicing machine comprising a frame; a revolving knife supported on said frame; a reciprocating carriage on said frame transversely of the axis of said revolving knife to cause the latter to slice meat or the like product supported by the carriage at each forward stroke of said carriage; driving means to reciprocate said carriage on said frame, said driving means embodying a chain running between two sprockets and a connecting rod between Said carriage and one of the links of said chain, vand said chain having a lateral projection; abutment means displaceable on said frame transversely of said chain and adapted to be moved into the path of said projection to cause stoppage of said driving means; a counter member supported by the frame and actuated by the carriage and adapted to be advanced by the operator from its zero position through a number of units equal to the number of slices desired; means supported by the frame to be actuated by said carriage at the end of each return stroke thereof to return said counter member through one unit towards its zero position; and means supported by the frame to be actuated by said counter member when same reaches its zero position to bring said abutment means into the path of said projection to cause stoppage of said driving means.

7. In an automatic slicing machine as claimed in claim 6, said driving means embodying an electric motor and a clutch interposed between said motor and one of the sprockets of said chain, and said abutment means being so arranged as to declutch said clutch and at the same time to open the electric circuit of said motor.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,099 Van Berkel May 24, 1927 1,666,335 Lentz Apr. 17, 1928 2,165,047 Gualdoni July 4, 1939 2,414,152 Jackson Jan. 14, 1947