WO1996007514A1

WO1996007514A1 - Trimming and slicing device

Info

Publication number: WO1996007514A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/001000
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan SÖDERLIND
Original assignee: Soederlind Jan
Priority date: 1994-09-07
Filing date: 1995-09-06
Publication date: 1996-03-14
Also published as: SE9402981D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held device (10) for trimming or slicing meat of various types. The device is adapted for relative motion of said device and a piece of meat to be trimmed or sliced. It comprises a handle (12), a motor mounted within the handle, a drive roller connected to the drive motor via an angular gear, and idle roller mounted in spaced apart relationship with the drive roller, both rollers rotatably mounted in a frame (25) connected to said handle (12), a releasable stretching means (31) for keeping said rollers in said spaced apart relationship with a predetermined force, a movable closed loop cutting element provided in frictional engagement around said rollers, means (30, 32) for defining a desired cutting or slicing depth, comprising an abutment plate (32) mounted adjacent and in plane-parallel relationship with the cutting band, and provided with adjustment screws (30), extending through the frame (25) and provided with turning knobs (30) for adjusting the distance between said plate (32) and said cutting band.

Description

TRIMMING AND SLICING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a trimming and slicing device with adjustable trimming/slicing depth.

A. Background of the Invention

1. Technical Field of the Invention

In the food industry there is a need to be able to trim pieces of meat to remove undesired tissue, such as fat, membranes, tendons and the like. This is both a question of appearance of the meat and also a matter of quality for cooking purposes.

There is also a need to be able to slice meat (e.g. salmon, smoked ham etc) efficiently and in such a way that the end product has an attractive appearance to the consumer.

2. Description of Related Art

Trimming devices for meat trimming are known, and an example is disclosed in e.g. US-4,854,046, which is directed to a rotary hand trimming knife.

This known device comprises a ring-like blade having an internal circumference cutting edge. Said knife is mounted in a circular or ring-like housing, and is rotatably driven by means of a motor via an angular gear.

This known device, although it has great utility for many purposes, such as trimming of smaller pieces of meat (e.g. flank, rump-steak, buttock), has certain disadvantages. These dis¬ advantages become evident for trimming of larger pieces of meat (e.g. strip loin, pork loin/pork belly). In such applications the known device will not cut away enough of the undesired tissue (fat, membranes, tendons etc), because the effective trimming surface that can be covered by the device, and thus the size of the piece that can be removed, is limited by the dimensions of the opening in the ring-like housing. In most applications it is limited to about 50 mm. Thus, the maximum width of a slice that can be removed from a piece of e.g. meat that is being trimmed is 50 mm. Increasing the diameter in order to make possible larger slices to be removed, would render the device very bulky and awkward to work with in an efficient way.

EP-0 058 501 A2 discloses a meat cutting band blade machine for slicing soft meats. It is large, bench type machine of a construction similar to a band saw. It comprises a base and a vertical band blade support frame secured to the base. A pair of band blade wheels are rotatably supported in said frame. A flat band blade is drivingly supported about the wheels. This device is usable for slicing meat to some extent, but it is very awkward to use for trimming purposes, where it is essential that one be able to manipulate the cutting edge in a very flexible way, in order to have access to all surfaces of the meat to be trimmed.

EP-0 139 232 Al discloses an electrical hand held device for domestic use. It comprises a housing, a handle, a driving unit chamber and a blade guide for oppositly, linearly moving blades. This device is not suitable for trimming purposes because of the forwards/backwards movement of the blade(s).

p, Symιnarγ of the Invention

An object of the present invention is therefor to provide an improved trimming device with broader utility than the previously known devices. Especially it has been an object to make available a device having the capability to remove larger (wider and longer) portions of tissue from the meat to be trimmed, in one operation.

A further object is to provide a device having the capability to take away slices or portions of tissue with different thicknes¬ ses.

Another object is to provide a possibility to adjust the thickness of the portion to be removed across its width, such that it may be thicker along one edge than along the other.

The objects of the invention are fulfilled by providing a hand held device for trimming or slicing meat of various types. The device is adapted for relative motion of said device and a piece of meat to be trimmed or sliced. The device comprises a movable cutting element having in operation at least one essentially straight or linear portion. Furthermore it comprises means for defining a desired cutting or slicing depth. In addition thereto it comprises means for causing said cutting element to move essentially perpendicularly to the direction of said relative motion of said device and said piece of meat.

In a preferred embodiment the device comprises a cutting element in the form of a closed loop cutting band, preferably made of steel. The means for causing perpendicular motion of said cutting element, comprises a drive unit for a drive roller, whereby the cutting element is arranged in frictional contact with said drive roller to cause movement of said cutting element.

In another preferred embodiment the device comprises an idle roller spaced apart from said drive roller, said cutting element being arranged in frictional contact with said idle roller.

Suitably the device comprises means for keeping said drive roller and said idle roller apart with a predetermined force.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus not limitative of the present invention, and wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trimming device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view from above with portions broken away, showing one embodiment of the stretching or tightening device for the cutting element;

Fig. 3 is a side view with portions broken away, showing the means for adjusting cutting and slicing depth;

Fig. 4 shows one of the adjustment screws in detail;

Fig. 5 shows a portion of a cutting element;

Fig. 6 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the stretching device; and

Fig. 7 shows the mechanism of Fig. 6 in a side view with the idle roller removed.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

In Fig. 1 a trimming device according to the present invention is generally designated with the reference numeral 10. It comprises a handle 12 which houses a drive unit, such as a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric motor 14 (only schematically shown with a broken line in Fig. 2). The handle is provided with a safety gripper 16 of the type "dead-mans-hand". The output shaft 18 from the motor, which extends generally in the longitu¬ dinal direction of the handle, is provided with an angular gear 20, which drives a drive roller 22. Spaced apart from the drive roller 22 at a distance of approximately 200 mm there is an idle roller 24. The diameter of the rollers may be about 30-40 mm. Slightly longer life of the cutting blade can be observed with rollers having its diameter in the upper region of this interval. The rollers 22, 24 are mounted on a frame 25 which in the disclosed embodiment is a piece of folded sheet metal forming a bracket that carries the rollers. The frame 25 can also be constructed to form a housing covering the rollers and cutting element completely apart from the portion of the cutting element actually in contact with the product to be trimmed. In the case of a housing there must also be provided a removable lid for enabling access to the interior, in order that the cutting band may be changed.

A cutting element in the form of a closed loop steel band 26 (to be described below) runs around the drive roller 22 and the idle roller 24 in frictional contact therewith. In order to achieve the best frictional contact between the rollers and the cutting band, the presently preferred material for the rollers is anodized aluminium, although stainless steel with a structured surface, e.g. groovings, may be used, and for the cutting element stainless spring steel is the most suitable material.

The rollers 22, 24 are kept apart with a force amounting to approximately 5 kg (49 N) by means of a stretching device 28. The force should be high enough to keep the cutting element stretched to such a degree that it is maintained straight, i.e. it does not notably bend inwards or flex during operation of the trimming device. The stretching device 28 may be a simple construction such as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. It comprises a slide 29 in which the axle of the idle roller 24 is mounted. The slide 29 is connected with a pin 31 extending from the frame e.g through a hole 33. The pin 31 is provided with a notch 31c. It is also provided with a knob 31b for ease of gripping when releasing and stretching the device. Around the pin between the part of the frame containing said hole 33 there is provided a spiral spring 37. The spring 37 is arranged to pull on the slide 29, thus urging the rollers 22, 24 apart. For the purpose of changing cutting element 26, the knob 31b is pushed inwards against the force of the spring 37, thus slackening the cutting band. The pin 31 is locked in a position for releasing the cutting band by letting the notch 31c rest over an edge in the hole 33.

A preferred embodiment of the stretching device is shown in Fig. 6 and 7. A yoke 70 is positioned with one leg on each side of the frame 25. In the frame 25 there is provided an elongate recess 72 through which the axle of the idle roller 24 runs. Said axle rests in bearings in the legs of the yoke 70. A tightening screw 74 is threaded through the yoke and extends in the longitudinal direction. It rests with its end against the frame 25 in a small depression or groove 76 in the frame. By tightening the screw 74 the yoke pulls the idle roller such that the it and the drive roller are pushed apart, thus tightening the cutting band.

In Fig. 3 a means for adjusting slicing/cutting depth is shown and generally designated with reference numeral 30. It comprises an abutment plate 32. In operation the thickness of a slice or of tissue to be removed is defined by the spacing between the plate 32 and the cutting element 26. Said abutment plate 32 is provided with two adjustment screws 34 and 36 respectively. They can be attached to the plate 32 (e.g. welded or soldered) close to the ends 38 and 40 respectively, of the plate 32. The screws 34, 36 extend through holes 42 and 44 respectively in the top portion 46 of the bracket or frame 25. The upper, externally threaded ends 48, 50 of the adjustment screws 34, 36 are provided with turning knobs 52, 54 which are internally threaded. A scale 56 is provided around the circumference of each knob 52, 54 for easy setting of the cutting depth. Spiral springs 70, 72 are provided around the pins and exerts a force on the abutment plate 32 to keep it in position.

Alternatively (Fig. 4) the plate 32 could be provided with externally threaded pins 58, 60 attached to the plate, and internally threaded pins 62, 64 could be screwed onto the pins 58, 60. In this case the turning knobs 52, 54 would be integral with the pins 62, 64 and said pins would non-threadingly extend through holes 66, 68 in the frame.

By providing two adjustment knobs 52, 54 it is possible to set the cutting depth to different settings at each end, thereby providing for production of slices of varying thickness across the width of the slice. This is a great advantage for processing of asymmetric pieces of meat, such as trimming of strip loin or pork loin. With this simple adjustment means it is possible to vary the cutting depth between 0 and 25 mm, with a precision of 0,1 mm in the settings.

The cutting element generally shown in Fig. 5 is preferably a steel band, which is laser welded into a closed loop. Manufacture of the cutting element will be described below.

For the purpose of the present application the term "edge angle" means the angle that one flank of a cutting edge on the cutting element forms with the general plane of the cutting element.

The cutting element or cutting band 26 is as noted preferably made of stainless spring steel. A suitable length of a band of steel is diagonally cut at the ends, preferably such that the cut forms an angle of 30° with the longtudinal direction of the band. If a sharper angle is used the band may be ripped apart. The diagonally cut ends of the band are mounted adjacent (the gap between ends is approx. 0,1 mm) each other in a high precision jig and thereafter a laser weld is applied to the joint. The device used for welding may e.g. be a laser welding, apparatus commercially available from Hitachi. It would not be possible to employ standard welding techniques where material is added to make up the joint, because the heating of the material in the vicinity of the joint, inherent in such techniques, would cause material failure: this would in turn lead to breaking of the blade when it is bent over the rollers. Furthermore, even if it were possible to use standard welding, the joint would tend to be slightly convex, which inevitably would have an effect on the tissue to be treated, causing rips and other defects on the surface of the sliced/trimmed meat. Laser welding heats the material extremely locally, and causes the material of the wleding object to melt and form a very durable joint, that will withstand the extreme strain when the blade is moved over the rollers. In addition, the laser weld will be slightly concave, or possibly flush with the band surface adjacent the joint, which will not have the negative effect on the tissue mentioned above.

The closed loop cutting band may be sharpened when the the weld is completed by grinding to a cutting edge. However, this may cause an "overgrindig" effect at the point where the grinding is completed, since it is virtually impossible to stop grinding exactly at the point where it was initiated. Therefore, the cutting band is preferably sharpened by grinding before welding. The edge angle, as defined above is preferably about 15°.

The thickness of the cutting band should be 0,10 - 0,25 mm, preferably 0,20 mm. The width of the band may vary in realtive wide limits, 6-18 mm, depending on the application. For softer meat and fat tissue a width of 6-12 mmm, preferably 8 mm is employed. For harder meat a width of 15-18 mm is employed.

The linear speed of the moving edge should be no less than 300 mm/s, preferably 400-500 mm/s. If the speed is lower, the tissue to be cut would be "dragged" with the edge, and the surface of the slices would be of inferior quality with respect to appearen- ce. If the speed is too high proteins may be released and precipitate, and smearing of fat might also occur.

It is conceivable to make the cutting band of high performance plastics, such as various types of nylon, in which case the welding operation would be avoided, and the band could be cast in one piece, or cut from tubing of suitable material.

Although a most preferred embodiment of the invention is a hand¬ held device, which an operator moves across a piece of meat to be trimmed or sliced, it is also within the scope of the invention to construct a work bench incorporating a device according to the invention. Thereby the device is mounted below the surface of the work bench, and only the cutting element is exposed and position slightly above the working surface. The abutment plate would in this embodiment be essentially co-planar with the working surface.

A trimming or slicing operation using a hand-held device according to the invention is performed as follows.

The operator holds the trimming device in one hand and a piece of meat to be trimmed or sliced is held firmly against a working surface. The cutting band running at a linear speed of e.g. 400 mm/s is placed essentially perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of the piece of meat. The device is then moved across the surface with only slight pressure against the meat until a desired slice has been produced, or until the fat or other unwanted tissue has been removed.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A hand-held device (10) for trimming or slicing meat of various types, comprising

a handle (12);

a drive motor (14);

a drive roller (22) connected to the drive motor (14) via an angular gear (20);

an idle roller (24) mounted in spaced apart relationship with the drive roller (22), both rollers being rotatably mounted;

a releasable stretching means (28) for keeping said rollers in said spaced apart relationship with a predetermined force; and

a movable closed loop cutting element (26) provided in frictional engagement around said rollers (22, 24), and having at least one essentially linear portion.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force amounts to preferably more than 5 kg (49 N).

3. The device as claimed in any preceeding claim, wherein said cutting element (26) is driven with a linear speed in said perpendicular direction of not less than 300 mm/s, preferably 400-500 mm/s.

4. The device as claimed in any preceeding claim, comprising a means (30, 32) for defining cutting or slicing depth, compri¬ sing an elongate plate (32) arranged essentially in plane- parallel relationship with said essentially straight portion of said cutting element (26), and at least one adjusting means (30) for varying the distance between said cutting element (26) and said plate (32).

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, comprising two adjusting means (30), for varying the distance between said cutting element (26) and said plate (32), such that the distances varies along the length of said cutting element (26).

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adjustment means (30) comprise externally threaded pins mounted to and extending from the abutment plate (32), and internally threaded pins mounted on said externally threaded pins and extending through said frame, the outer ends of each externally threaded pin being provided with turning knobs.

7. A work bench comprising a working surface and a means for mounting device as claimed in any preceding claim within the working surface, such that the cutting element is exposed and postioned slightly above the working surface.

8. A method of trimming or slicing meat, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a movable cutting element having at least one essentially straight portion;

b) causing said straight portion of said cutting element to move essentially perpendicularly to the direction of said relative motion; and

c) causing relative motion between said device and the surface of a piece of meat, such that tissue is cut off at a thickness defined by the spacing between said cutting element and a plate arranged in essenti¬ ally plane-paralell relationship with said cutting element .

9. A cutting element for use with a device as claimed in any of the claims 1-7, comprising

a closed loop cutting band, having at least one edge thereof machined to a cutting edge; said closed loop being manufactured by laser welding diagonally cut ends of a finite length steel band.

10. The cutting element as claimed in claim 9, the thickness of which is 0,17 - 0,25 mm, preferably 0,20 mm.

11. The cutting element as claimed in claim 9 or 10, manufac¬ tured of a steel having a tensile strength such that it with¬ stands a stretching force of 5 kg (49 N) in an application as a cutting element.

12. The cutting element as claimed in any of claims 9-11, having a cutting edge sharpened to edge angles of 15° on each flank thereof.

13. The cutting element as claimed in any of claims 9-12, wherein said cutting band is welded such the the joint is flush with the band surface or slightly concave.