WO1994015513A1

WO1994015513A1 - Slicing machine for cartridge-packaged food products and relevant cartridges

Info

Publication number: WO1994015513A1
Application number: PCT/EP1993/003579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Di Biagio
Original assignee: Melderick Corporation N.V.
Priority date: 1992-12-30
Filing date: 1993-12-16
Publication date: 1994-07-21
Also published as: ITRM920938A0; AU5812694A; ITRM920938A1; IT1256589B

Abstract

Slicing machine (1) for sliceable solid food products, provided with a cutting unit with motor, blade, driving and transmission devices, and devices for controlling the thickness of the slice (8), comprising a housing for a cylindrical cartridge (3) containing the product (7) to be sliced, such that the longitudinal axis of the cartridge (3) is parallel to the axis of the blade, and that a first end of the said cartridge (3) is close to the cutting zone, means (9) for blocking the cartridge (3) within the said housing, and pressure means (10, 12) applicable to the product (7) from the second end of the cartridge (3) for the advancement of the same relative to the cartridge (3) towards the cutting zone. The invention further comprises a cartridge (3) for sliceable solid food products having the shape of a cylinder (4) provided with two terminal closing means (5) corresponding to the bases of the cylinder (4) and, preferably, with a flat member (6) adjacent to the product (7) on one end thereof, the said cartridge (3) being made of rigid or semirigid materials.

Description

SLICING MACHINE FOR CARTRIDGE-PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCTS AND RELEVANT CARTRIDGES

SPECIFICATION

The present invention concerns a slicing machine for cartridge- packaged food products and the relevant cartridges. More particularly, this invention relates to a slicing machine particularly suitable for use as an electric kitchen appliance, for cutting slices from noπ rigid, solid comestible products such as meat products and cheese, when the latter are packaged, stored and employed in special cartridge containers. The invention also relates to the cartridges designed as food containers for the above use.

It is known that some processed food products, specifically meat products such as salt meat and moulded meat products, are obtained in pieces of consistent material, and are then sold either in whole pieces or already sliced.

The slicing operation subjects the product to mechanical and thermal stresses, and results in large surface areas of product being exposed to deterioration. As a result, the organoleptic properties of the product after cutting inevitably tend to get worse in time. For the said reason, the fresh-cut product is usually much more appreciated by the consumers. This is, at least to some extent, the reason why some consumers choose to keep a slicing machine at home and buy whole piece products. On the other hand, very often the size of the piece of food product is such that it is not possible to use the product up before it deteriorates, which happens quite rapidly once the packing has been opened. Further, storing the product once the packing has been opened may bring about hygienic problems, affecting both the product itself and the surfaces with which the said product comes into contact, as it is practically impossible to seal again any opened package, or to wrap it up hermetically .

The known slicing machines, specifically the slicers with rotating blade, show a great variety of structures and of modes of operation. Said slicers may be, e.g., semiautomatic or totally automatic; their blade may rotate about a fixed axis, or about an axis reciprocating along a straight line, or about an axis rotating about a second axis parallel to the first; the said blade may be circular or not; and the axis thereof may be horizontal, vertical or at various slopes.

Rotary slicers with flat spiral-edged blade are disclosed, e.g., by EP- A-0 407 883, while EP-A-0 202 777 discloses, e.g., a rotary slicing machine with circular blade in which said blade not only rotates about its vertical axis, but also it orbits about a second vertical axis parallel to the first one, as the cutting unit is carried by a rotating table. The free end of the product exposed to cutting is slidably supported, in an upright position, on the said rotating table.

In general, a slicing machine comprises a cutting unit with motor, blade and devices for controlling the motor and for transmitting the movement to the blade, as well as for positioning the blade relative to the surface of the product exposed to cutting, so as to control the thickness of the slices. Usually, the product to be cut is made to rest on a suitable carriage,' or it is supported by other means on the machine, and a zone is provided where the slices fall after being cut, possibly associated with a device for evacuating the said slices.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for cutting slices from non rigid comestible products, in particular meat products, which system employs a slicing machine of a known kind, modified so as to be suitable for working directly on a product fed from a re-sealable and durable container, from which the said product does not have to be extracted before use. To that aim there is proposed, according to this invention, to enclose the concerned food products in cylindrical containers having the function of optionally refutable cartridges, from which the said products may be gradually extracted by pressing in the axial direction from one of the two open ends. Each of the said cylindrical containers is provided with removable sealing or closing means on each one of its two ends. The slicing machines to be employed for slicing such food products are provided, according to the invention, with devices capable of housing the cartridges in the appropriate position and of gradually extracting therefrom the product, which, during the cutting operation, is exposed to the blade and cut away slice by slice. In this context, the term "cylindrical" is to be intended in its broadest geometrical meaning, i.e. as a solid the lateral surface of which is generated by a straight line (i.e., the generatrix) moving parallel to itself, following a plane curve (i.e., the directrix). The said curve may be, but not necessarily is, a circumference. It is obvious, in this connection, that food products such as traditional salt meat products may have differently shaped cross-sections, not always circular.

Therefore, this invention specifically provides a slicing machine for sliceable solid food products, comprising a cutting unit with motor, blade, driving means, transmission means and means for adjusting the thickness of the slices, characterised in that it comprises a housing adapted to hold a cylindrical cartridge containing the product to be sliced with the longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the blade, and with a first end close to the cutting zone, means for blocking the cartridge within the said housing and pressure means applicable to the product from the second end of the said cartridge for movement of the said product forward with respect to the cartridge, towards the said cutting zone.

Preferably, the said pressure means comprise a jack with the axis parallel to that of the cartridge mounted in said housing, which jack is connected on one end to the body of the slicer and on the other end to a pressure plate applicable against the product, the said pressure plate having a size smaller than the cross-section of the cartridge.

Further features of the slicing machine according to the invention are recited in the enclosed dependent claims.

As referred to before, the invention further provides a cylinder-shaped cartridge for sliceable solid food products, provided with removable sealing or closing means, corresponding to the bases of the said cylinder, which cartridge is made of rigid or semirigid materials. Preferably, said cartridge also comprises a flat member which adheres to one end of the food product contained therein. Said flat member, which may slide within the said cartridge, co-operates with the pressure plate of the slicing machine for transmitting to the product the pressure exerted by the jack.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the said sealing or closing means are two gas-tight screw caps, which keep the as-packaged product under vacuum or under an inert blanket, and seal the said product from the exterior also once the original package has been opened and consumption has started, thus allowing a long term storage of the product for instance in the refrigerator. As an alternative, one of the said sealing or closing means, at the cartridge end where the said flat member is provided, may be made of a closure of thermoplastic material co-operating with the said flat member for sealing the container when it is packaged. At the end of the cartridge from which the product is to be cut a gas-tight screw cap is provided.

• Further features of the cartridge according to the invention are recited in the enclosed dependent claims. The said features will be disclosed in detail with reference to some embodiments shown, for exemplification purposes only, in the enclosed drawings, wherein: f igure 1 is a perspective view of a slicing machine according to the invention, with a cartridge inserted and the relevant housing open; figure 2 is a second perspective view of the same slicing machine in a working position; figure 3 is a front view of the same slicing machine with the cartridge housing closed and the safety shield, partially cut away, in a risen position; figure 4 is a lateral view of the slicing machine of figure 3; figure 5 is a top plan view of the same slicing machine; figure 6 is a plan view from the bottom of the same slicing machine; figures 7-9 are, respectively, the front view, the lateral view and the rear view of a cartridge according to the invention; figure 10 is a rear view of the same cartridge deprived of its two caps; figure 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A of figure 10, of a full cartridge; figure 12 is a front view of an empty cartridge according to the invention; figure 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B of figure 12, of an empty cartridge; figure 14 is a top plan view of the cartridge of figure 12; figure 15 is a top plan view of the flat member internal to the cartridge; figure 16 is a front view of an adapter member for the slicing machine of figures 1 -6; figure 17 is a top plan view of the same adapter member; figure 18 is a front view of a second adapter member for the slicing machine of figures 1 -6; figure 19 is a top plan view of the same adapter member; and figure 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same adapter member, taken along lines C-C of figure 18-.

In a specific embodiment, shown in figures from 1 to 6, the slicing machine according to the invention is of the kind having a circular rotating blade with vertical axis. It is to be noted, however, that any other known operative configuration could be equally suitable, provided that the slicer includes the new features claimed.

The slicing machine shown is composed by a main body (1 ) and a base (2), which serves as a supporting element, thus making the structure totally self-supporting. The main body (1) comprises, within a compact shape, two distinct sections, i.e., the section containing the cutting unit with motor, blade, and the relevant devices (not shown) to the left hand-side (in figures 1- 3) of the machine, and the housing for the cartridge (3) with the food product to be sliced on the right hand-side of the machine. As pointed out before, the said food product can be not only a salt meat product, such as salami or sausages, but also any other sliceable meat-based product, such as turkey breast, and/or cheese-based product, and/or compact food products of any other kind.

The cartridge (3) is shown by a dotted line in figures 1 and 2 to show the correct positioning thereof within the machine, and it is illustrated in detail in figures 7-15. The cartridge (3) consists of a cylindrical container (4), preferably made of a semirigid plastic material, having a circular cross-section in the embodiment shown in the figures, of two screw caps (5) (shown in figures 7-9), and of a flat member (6) (shown alone in figure 15). The flat member (6) is into contact with the product (7) contained in the cartridge (3) and, at the starting, it is at one end of the container (4), just below one cap (5).

After removing the caps (5), the cartridge (3) is introduced in a vertical position in the relevant housing of the slicer, with the flat member (6) facing upwards, and the product (7) may be caused to emerge from the lower end of the cartridge (3) in a controlled way, so as to expose to cutting a portion of product (7) whose axial length corresponds to the thickness of the desired slice.

The cutting unit comprises a rotary circular blade, placed at the lower end of the main body (1 ) of the machine, the vertical axis of which blade is reciprocated along a straight line. At each stroke the blade cuts from the product (7) a slice (8), which emerges from the lower edge of the cartridge (3). The slices (8) fall upon cutting, and are collected at the base (2) of the machine.

The housing for the cartridge (3) provided in the slicer is endowed with two or more wings (9), which block the cartridge (3) with respect to the slicer, thereby preventing the cartridge (3) from moving downwards while a telescopic jack (10) urges downwards the product (7) contained in the cartridge (3). It is clear that the wings (9) could be replaced by a continuous flange, or by any other suitable stop or blockage means. The telescopic jack (10) is connected on its upper end to an arm (11 ) pivoted on the main body (1) of the slicer, and is provided, on its lower end, with a pressure plate (12), of a diameter suitable for it to penetrate within the cylindrical container (4). In figure 3 the telescopic jack (10) is shown (in dotted lines) both completely retracted and completely extended, while the cartridge (3) is not shown; in figure 2, on the other hand, the jack is partially extended, with the pressure plate (12) into contact with the flat member (6) of the cartridge (3), in a working position of the slicer wherein the product (7) has been partially consumed.

In order to allow the insertion of the cartridge (3) the arm (11 ) is provided with a release button (13), which makes it possible to slightly rise the arm (11 ) and to rotate the same in the position shown in figure 1 (and, in dotted lines, in figure 5). Once the cartridge (3) has been inserted the arm (11 ) is rotated back to its operative position and the cover (14), which is mounted on the said arm (11) exteriorly with respect to the telescopic jack (10), and is free to rotate about its axis, is screwed on the cartridge (3) in place of the cover (5) of the production packaging.

In order to rigidly latch the assembly of telescopic jack (10) and cartridge (3) to the slicing machine during operation, thereby avoiding any displacement of the axis of the product (7) and any consequent incompleteness or irregularity of the slices (8), the cover (14) is also blocked on the main body (1 ) of the slicer, e.g. by means of the bayonet-joint obtained by the co-operation of the wings (15) with the nicks (16) on the main body (1 ) of the machine.

By means of the control board (17) the slicer may be programmed so as to obtain that when starting the operation the telescopic jack (10) advances until it rests with its pressure plate (12) on the flat member (6) of the cartridge (3). The said flat member (6) may be in the position shown in figure 1 if the product (7) is new, or it may be in an intermediate position such as that shown in figure 2 if the product (7) has already been partially consumed. For safety reasons, however, the cutting operation does not start until the transparent protective shield (18), slidable on two vertical guides (19), has been lowered. As is shown in figure 2, the protective shield (18) goes down to such a position that it prevents the introduction of any object in the zone close to the blade during the cutting operation.

The extension of the telescopic jack (10) during the cutting operation is controlled from the control board (17) in such a way that at each stroke of the blade the product (7) is urged downwards for a stretch corresponding to the desired thickness of the slice; a suitable configuration of the internal surface of the cartridge (3), as it will be clear below, prevents the product (7) from uncontrollably sliding downwards. At the end of the programmed cutting operation the telescopic jack

(10) reverts to its retracted position, the cover (14) may be manually disengaged from the main body (1) of the slicer and the cartridge (3), whose upper edge projects from the relevant housing, can be readily extracted from the machine. In the embodiment shown in figures 1-6, the slicing machine according to the invention is provided with a circular plate (20), which can be made to rotate by acting on the control board (17), so as to avoid any building of stacks of cut slices (8) one over the other. By means of the said device, the slices (8) may be automatically arranged on a dish (21 ) as is shown in figure 2. The plate (20) is provided with anti-slip inserts (22) made, e.g., by small rubber discs, and is embedded in the base (2) in order to avoid any interference to the rotation thereof.

It is also possible that a slicer of the kind disclosed herein is suitable for use without the base (2), as it happens, for instance, if it is fixedly connected to a wall. In view of that, and in order to facilitate the maintenance of the machine, the button (23) allows to disengage the main body (1 ) from the base (2).

Coming back to the cartridge (3) shown in figures 7-15, the latter is preferably made of an opaque material except from a transparent longitudinal window (24), through which the product (7) may be viewed in order to check its quality and its consumption stage. This choice is made, as pointed out before. in order to avoid any deterioration of the product (7) due to exposure to the light.

As is shown in figures 12-14, the cylindrical container (4) according to the invention is provided, on its inner surface, with a series of wings or ribs (25). The latter project from the said inner surface of a thickness which increases towards that end of the cartridge (3) from which the product (7) emerges (i.e., downwards in figures 12 and 13). The ribs (25) co-operate with the friction in preventing the product (7) from sliding downwards when the cartridge (3) is inserted in the slicing machine. To that aim, the thickness of the said ribs (25) increases in the same sense of advancement of the product (7). Further, the helical configuration of the ribs (25) is intended to cause the product (7) to rotate about its axis besides advancing with respect to the cartridge (3), so that the regularity of the slices (8) is enhanced. Such device allows to avoid the tailings which would result if the product (7) exposed always the same side to subsequent cuts.

The same result could be obtained, however, also providing in the slicing machine a device which slowly rotates the cartridge (3) about its axis during the cutting operation, e.g., a gear transmission which co-operates with a ring gear provided around the cylindrical container (4). In such a case the ribs (25) could simply be straight. In the alternative, for some particular products one or more narrownigs or ribs transversal to the axis of the cartridge (3) could be provided.

The cross-section of the ribs (25), which in figure 13 is square or rectangular, may also be of a different shape, according to the nature of the product (7) which is to be contained in the cartridge (3) (taking into account any possible manufacturing problems). As a matter of fact, some products may require very smooth ribs, while others may require teeth with a higher grip-

According to a preferred embodiment, the cartridge (3) according to the invention comprises a flat member (6) (shown in figure 15) which co¬ operates with the pressure plate (12) of the slicing machine in urging the product (7) out of the container (4), and also serves to isolate as much as possible the product (7) from the air once the packaging has been opened. In order to be able to advance in presence of the ribs (25), the flat member (6) is provided with peripheral nicks (26) coupling with the said ribs (25). Moreover, in order to have the stroke of the flat member (6) during the consumption of the product (7) come to an end before the said flat member (6) interacts with the rotating blade, the thickness of the nicks (26) is slightly smaller than the maximum thickness of the ribs (25).

In order to allow the slicer according to the invention to operate on products of different cross-section, interchangeable adapters or reducers may be provided. The latter can be inserted within the machine housing in order to accommodate therein cartridges (3) of a cross-section smaller than the maximum one. For instance, adapters of the kind shown with reference numerals (27) and (28) in figures 17-20 may be provided. In both cases the threaded flange (29) mates with the main body (1 ) of the slicer at the seat

(30) thereof, shown in dotted lines in figure 3. The lower flange (31) of the adapter (27, 28) abuts on the wings (9) (figures 1-3). The transversal sizes of the cartridges (3) which may be housed in the two adapters (27) and (28) appear from the top plan views of figures 17 and 19, wherein the stop fianges (32) are also shown. The latter have, in respect of the cartridges (3) of reduced diameter, the same functions as the wings (9) have in respect of the cartridge (3) of maximum diameter.

Although not explicitly shown in the figures, the cartridges of sliceable solid comestible products according to this invention may also have non- circular cross-sections, provided that the said cartridges are enclosed within a cylindrical surface, as previously defined. Further, the containers could also be placed on the market only partially filled, so as to offer more choices as to the amount of product to purchase. Furthermore, the cartridges could be refutable, in the event that the containers and the covers were made of materials sufficiently costly to justify the recovery thereof.

From the foregoing it is evident that the set of slicing machine and cartridges proposed herein satisfactorily solves the problem of the long term storage of sliceable solid food products, since the cartridges, after the opening and the first use, may be closed again and stored as is done with jars, while remaining isolated from the exterior and protected from the light.

Further, the cartridge prevents from directly touching the food product, and drastically reduces any hygienic problem and any uπdesired smell.

From the point of view of the slicing quality, lastly, the presence of a sufficiently rigid container allows to obtain slices of a regular shape and of a constant and predetermined thickness. The present invention has been disclosed with specific reference to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it is to be understood that modifications and changes may be brought to it by those who are skilled in the art without departing from its true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. Slicing machine for sliceable rigid food products, comprising a cutting unit with motor, blade, driving and transmission devices, and devices for controlling the thickness of the slices (8), characterised in that it comprises a housing of a shape suitable to contain a cylindrical cartridge (3) containing the product (7) to be sliced with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to that of the said blade, and with a first end close to the cutting zone, means (9) for blocking the said cartridge (3) within the said housing and pressure means (10, 12) applicable to the product (7) from the second end of the said cartridge (3) for the advancement of the said product (7) relative to the said cartridge (3) towards the said cutting zone.

2. Slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the said pressure means (10, 12) comprise a jack (10) having the axis parallel to the axis of the cartridge (3) housed in the said housing, the said jack (10) being connected with one end to the body (1 ) of the slicer and with the other end to a pressure plate (12) applicable against said product (7), the said pressure plate (12) having smaller size than the cross-section of the said cartridge (3).

3. Slicing machine according to claim 2, wherein the said jack (10) is telescopic, and its extension is driven in a programmable way, so that the said jack (10) can extend by subsequent stretches of length equal to the thickness of the desired slices (8).

4. Slicing machine according to claims 2 or 3, wherein said telescopic jack (10) is connected to the end of an arm (11 ) pivoted on the body (1 ) of the slicer, rotatable between a closed operative position of the said housing, wherein the axis of the jack (10) coincides with that of the cartridge (3) housed therein, and an open position of the said housing, wherein the axis of the jack (10) is displaced with respect to the axis of the cartridge (3) enough to allow the extraction and the insertion of the said cartridge (3) from and in the said housing.

5. Slicing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further provided with a device for driving the said cartridge (3) in rotation about its longitudinal axis .

6. Slicing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, provided with a supporting structure (2) for being supported on a horizontal plane, and having the said cutting unit oriented with the blade parallel to the said horizontal plane, the said cartridge (3) being thus insertable in the said housing with its longitudinal axis vertically oriented.

7. Slicing machine according to claim 6, wherein the said supporting structure (2) comprises a base (2) provided with a horizontal circular plate (20), placed below the said cutting zone for receiving the cut slices (8), the said plate (20) being rotatable about its vertical axis.

8. Cartridge (3) for sliceable solid food products, having the shape of a cylinder (4) provided with two closing means (5) corresponding to the bases of the said cylinder (4), the said cartridge (3) being made of rigid or semirigid materials.

9. Cartridge (3) according to claim 8, further comprising a flat member

(6) adjacent to one end of the food product (7) contained therein, the said flat member (6) being slidable within the said cartridge (3).

10. Cartridge (3) according to claims 8 or 9, wherein both said closing means are removable covers (5), and the said flat member (6) is interposed between one of the covers (5) and the product (7).

11. Cartridge (3) according to claim 10, wherein the said covers (5) are two hermetic screw caps (5).

12. Cartridge (3) according to any one of claims 8-11 , wherein on the internal surface of the said cylinder (4) two or more projecting ribs (25) are provided, the said ribs (25) having a straight shape, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (4).

13. Cartridge (3) according to any one of claims 8-11 , wherein on the internal surface of the said cylinder (4) two or more projecting ribs (25) are provided, the said ribs (25) having the shape of a spiral wound around the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (4).

14. Cartridge (3) according to claims 12 or 13, wherein the said ribs (25) project from the inner surface of the cartridge (3) of a thickness which increases from one end of the said cartridge (3) to the other end in the same sense in which the product (7) is made to advance.

15. Cartridge (3) according to any one of the claims 12-14, wherein the said flat member (6) is provided with two or more peripheral nicks (26) having such a shape and size as to correspond to the transversal cross- section of the said ribs (25).

16. Cartridge (3) according to any one of claims 8-16, wherein the said cylinder (4) is opaque to the light, except for a transparent longitudinal window (24), having a length equal to or slightly less than the height of the said cylinder (4).

17. Slicing machine for cartridge packaged food products and relevant cartridges according to claims 1-15, substantially as shown and disclosed herein.