WO2002068159A1

WO2002068159A1 - Slicing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002068159A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000730
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fernando Jordan
Original assignee: Fernando Jordan
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2002-02-20
Publication date: 2002-09-06
Also published as: GB0104433D0

Abstract

Apparatus suitable for slicing fruit or vegetables comprising a circular base (4) with an upper substantially conical support wall (20) for supporting an item of fruit (1) and a slider (6) which accommodates a removable blade insert (8). The base (4) has guide means in the form of diametrically opposed shoulders which engage corresponding guide channels on an inner surface of the slider (6) so that cutting edges (86) of the blade insert (8) become accommodated within grooves (24) in the support wall (20) when the slider (6) is fully lowered over the base (4). The blade insert (8) may have radially disposed blades (10) or blades which are parallel to each other for respectively cutting sector shaped or parallel sided slices. The base (4) may have an arrangement of grooves (24) configured to correspond to the radial or parallel blades or an array which can accommodate blades of either blade insert (8).

Description

SLICING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to the field of fruit and vegetable slicers and more particularly to a slicer for cutting citrus fruit into sector shaped or parallel sided slices .

In the catering environment, and more particularly in the course of running a bar, there is a regular requirement for sector shaped slices of citrus fruit such a lemons and limes. When slices are to be inserted into the necks of bottles of beer, as is customary for certain beers, it is necessary for the slices to be accurately cut in order that they are of a uniform size. The use of a standard chopping board and knife to cut such slices is a time consuming process, frequently does not result in sufficiently uniform slices and more importantly can be hazardous if performed in haste.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

It is a further preferred object to provide an apparatus which is able to cut substantially parallel sided slices as well as substantially sector shaped slices.

Thus according to the invention there is provide a fruit slicing apparatus including a support means for supporting a fruit and cutting means having plural cutting edges, the cutting means being co-operable with the support means to cut the fruit into slices. The provision of a support f means removes the necessity for the user to hold the fruit thereby substantially eliminating the chance of the user becoming accidentally cut. The fact that the cutting means has plural cutting edges results in a single use of the apparatus being capable of making all of the required cuts in the fruit . Co-operation of the cutting means with the support means provides precise control of the cutting means as slicing occurs. References throughout to fruit should be construed as references to fruit or vegetables .

In order that residual uncut fruit portions do not interconnect adjacent slices after slicing has occurred, the support means preferably includes recesses or grooves which accommodate at least parts of the cutting edges when the cutting means is fully engaged with the support means. As a consequence, each cutting edge can travel through and beyond a fruit portion actually in contact with the support means. More preferably, each cutting edge is completely so accommodated.

Preferably the plural cutting edges and corresponding recesses are radially disposed whereby the apparatus is for cutting the fruit into substantially sector shaped slices. Alternatively the plural cutting edges may be substantially parallel to each other as are the corresponding recesses whereby the apparatus is for cutting the fruit into substantially parallel sided slices .

To make the apparatus versatile, preferably the recesses include a first set of substantially radially disposed recesses and a second set of recesses which are substantially parallel with each other and intersect the first set of recesses whereby the support means can selectively co-operate with alternative cutting means to cut the fruit into either substantially sector shaped slices or into substantially parallel side slices.

So as to obviate careful alignment of the cutting means with the support means and avoid the danger of blunting the cutting edges by forcing them down into contact with a fruit supporting surface of the support means, preferably guiding means in the support means co-operate with complementary guiding means on the cutting means to at least substantially restrain the cutting means against rotation relative to the support means.

In order to avoid the problem of a relatively large piece of fruit on the support means preventing engagement of the guiding means (to set the rotational position of the cutting means relative to the support means) before slicing of the fruit commences, the guiding means on the support means preferably projects beyond a main body part thereof. Alternatively the complementary guiding means on the cutting means may project past a main body part thereof .

Since it may be necessary to sharpen the cutting edges and/or insert different arrangements of cutting edges into the cutting means, preferably the cutting means includes a body which is co-operable with the support means and a removable insert or cartridge including the plural cutting edges .

Preferably the insert is engageable with the body by means of at least one releasable detent so that it can be easily installed in or removed from the body. Conveniently the releasable detent may be in the form of one or more and preferably two resilient latching members.

In order to ensure correct relative rotational positions of components of the apparatus when assembled and to assist engagement of the insert in the body of the cutting means, preferably engagement means on the insert engage complementary engagement means on the cutting means body to at least substantially restrain the insert against rotation relative to the cutting means body.

Since the cutting means body needs to be rotationally • restrained relative to both the support means and the removable insert, preferably the complementary guiding means on the cutting means also constitutes the complementary engagement means, thereby simplifying manuf cture of the body of the cutting means .

Conveniently the support means and the cutting means have longitudinal axes which are substantially coincident when they co-operate with each other and such co-operating involves translation of the cutting means towards the support means along its longitudinal axis.

In order to reduce the overall force required to slice a particular fruit, which is important because plural cuts are effected simultaneously, preferably each cutting edge is disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutting means. As well as making the apparatus easier to operate, a reduction of the required actuation force will place lower loads on the components of the apparatus. This will lead to a lightweight design being possible. It has been found that particularly advantageous cutting characteristics are achieved if the cutting edges are disposed at between 41° and 71° to the longitudinal axis of the cutting means. More preferably this angle lies in the range 46° to 66°.

Since the maximum force tends to be required to achieve initial penetration of the fruit by the cutting edges, preferably the cutting edges substantially converge towards at least one point which is or are arranged to puncture the fruit to initiate slicing.

When the apparatus is for cutting sector shaped slices preferably to cutting edges radiate from a single point substantially on the longitudinal axis of the cutting means. If, on the other hand, the apparatus is for cutting parallel sided slices, preferably complementary pairs of the cutting edges (and associated blades) lie in a common plane and converge at a point, common planes containing different pairs of cutting edges being substantially mutually parallel.

Preferably the point defined by each complementary pair of cutting edges is staggered relative to the point defined by an adjacent complementary pair in order that simultaneous, or near simultaneous, penetration of the fruit by plural points is avoided thereby reducing the maximum force needed during the slicing operation.

In order to provide a removable insert which is easy to manufacture and to provide adequate support of blades having the cutting edges, preferably the cutting edges are constituted by leading edges of blades each of which blade has a trailing portion encased in a support medium.

Preferably the thickness of support medium encasing each blade trailing edge or trailing portion is sufficiently thin to permit a slice cut by two adjacent blades to move into a region between encased parts of the blades as slicing progresses. With such an arrangement, only a leading portion of each blade needs to be self-supporting and slices will be held in the cutting means by being clamped between encased blade portions as the cutting means is removed from the support means. When the blades are substantially parallel, clearance between two encased blade portions is preferably no more than between 15% and 25% and more preferably around 20% less than the clearance between unencased portions of the blades. When the blades are radially disposed, the overall thickness of the encased portion of each blade is preferably no greater than between 2.5 and 3.5 and more preferably around 3.0 times the thickness of the blade itself.

To increase the versatility of the apparatus, it preferably includes first and second cutting means which are selectively co-operable with the support means, which cutting means respectively include substantially radially disposed and substantially parallel cutting edges.

To reduce manufacturing costs and to make the apparatus relatively compact and avoid a requirement for two completely separate complete cutting means, preferably the first and second cutting means are constituted by a common body part in which a first or a second removable insert or cartridge is selectively fixable, which inserts respectively include substantially radially disposed and substantially parallel cutting edges.

In the following description the support means will be referred to as a base and the cutting means body as a slider.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a base of a first embodiment of the invention viewed from above;

Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section on the line 22 of the base shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a view from below of the base shown in Figures 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4. shows a slider of the first embodiment of the invention for sliding over the base shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a vertical cross-section on the line 55 of the slider shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a view from below of the slider shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 shows a view from above of a removable bladed insert of the first embodiment of the invention for fixing in the slider shown in Figures 4 to 6 to cut sector shaped slices; Figure 8 shows a cross-section on the line 88 of the insert shown in Figure 7 ;

Figure 9 shows a cross-section on the line 99 of the insert shown in Figure 7 ;

Figure 10 shows in isolation a complementary pair of blades of the insert shown in Figures 7 to 9;

Figure 11 shows a view from above of an alternative insert to that shown in Figures 7 to 9 for cutting parallel sided slices;

Figure 12 shows in isolation a cross-section on the line 12' -12" of the blades of the alternative insert shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 shows a cross-section on the line 13-13 of the alternative insert shown in Figure 11;

Figure 14 shows a schematic vertical section through the assembled apparatus on the point of commencing slicing of the fruit installed therein;

Figure 15 shows a view from above of an alternative base used when cutting parallel sided slices; and

Figure 16 shows a view from above of a further alternative base used when cutting either sector shaped or parallel sided slices.

A first embodiment of the invention includes three main components which are shown in vertical cross-section in Figures 2 , 5 and 8. These components are a base 4 , a slider 6 and a removable insert 8 including blades 10.

The base 4 includes a substantially cylindrical hollow main body part 12 with an outer wall 14 at the lower end of which an annular foot 16 projects outwardly. Extending inwardly and downwardly from an upper end 18 of the wall 14 is a substantially conical support wall 20 at the downwardly directed apex of which a juice collecting chamber 22 is situated. radially disposed grooves 24 spaced at 45° intervals extend along an inwardly facing surface of the support wall 20 from the upper end 18 of the wall 14 to the juice collecting chamber 22. Each groove 24 tapers in depth towards its upper end 26.

Two diametrically opposed guiding means 28 in the form of raised portions of the wall 14 each subtending approximately 90° at the base's central axis 30 extend from the foot 16 to the upper end 18 of the wall 14. A projecting portion 32 of each guiding means 28 projects above the upper end 18 of the wall 14.

Below the support wall 20 are four stiffening walls 34 which extend from the support wall 20 to the foot 16 and are connected to the outer wall 14 as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3, which is a view from below, of the base 4, also shows undersides 36 of the support wall 20 at the locations of the grooves 24 in its upper surface.

The slider 6 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 4 to 6.

The slider 6 includes a substantially cylindrical slider wall 40 at an upper end 42 of which integral inwardly and outwardly projecting annular flanges 44 and 46 are situated. The inner flange 44 has two diametrically opposed vertical slots 48 which extend parallel to a central longitudinal axis 50 of the slider. The purpose of the slots will be described below. A base 52 of each slot comprises an extension of the adjacent inner surface 54 of the side wall 40. Two diametrically opposed channels 56, each of which subtends approximately 90° at the central axis 50, extend from a bottom end 58 of the slider wall 40 to its upper end 42. These channels constitute complementary guiding means and are designed to snugly receive the guiding means 28 on the base.

A first variant of a removable bladed insert for fixing in the slider 6 will be described with particular reference to Figures 7 to 10. This variant is for cutting substantially sector shaped slices.

The insert 8 includes a substantially cylindrical outer side wall 68 at an upper end 70 of which two diametrically opposed engagement means in the form of engagement ribs 72 project. Each rib 72 subtends approximately 90° at a central axis 74 of the insert 8. These ribs 72 only extend around the upper end 70 of the side wall 68 and are configured to co-operate and snugly engage complementary engagement means on an inner surface of the slider wall 40 to prevent relative rotation between the insert 8 and the slider 6. In the embodiment depicted, this complementary engagement means is constituted by the channels 56 of the slider which are also configured to co-operate with the guiding means 28 on the base to prevent relative rotation between the slider 6 and the base 4 as explained above. At diametrically opposed locations, also at the upper end of the insert side wall 68, and equally spaced between the ribs 72 are two upwardly extending resilient latch members 76 each having an outwardly extending latch projection 78.

Radiating outwardly from the central axis 74 to an inner surface of the side wall 68 are eight web-like blade support walls 80. At upper portions of the blade support walls 80, where they meet, a strengthening member 82 is formed. A lower part 84 of each blade support wall 80 encases an upper part of one of the eight blades 10 with its cutting edge directed downwardly and obliquely inclined at an angle of around 51° to the central axis 74 of the insert. Due to the thickness of the blades 10, where they meet at the central axis 74, a small gap 88 will be present (shown in exaggerated form in Figure 10) . In order that lowermost corners 90 of the blades 10 can meet precisely on the central axis 74, an end portion 92 of each blade 10 which is closest to the central axis 74 is ground so that a leading part 94 thereof is disposed at a smaller angle a to the cutting edge 86 thereof than the angle b between the remainder of the end edge 92 and the cutting edge 86. In a particular embodiment, the angle a is 35.3°, angle b is 51.5° and dimension c is 1.5 mm. This forms a nib portion 96 which extends to the central axis 74. It should be noted that the junction between adjacent parts of the blades 10 as discussed in detail above are only shown schematically in Figures 8, 13 and 14.

The use of the apparatus to cut a fruit 1 into sector shaped slices will now be described with particular reference to Figures 1 to 10 and 14. If the insert 8 is not installed in the slider 6, this must first be done. It should be noted that the entire slicing process, including installation and/or changing of inserts 8, can be achieved without touching the cutting edges 86 or even getting a user's hands close to the cutting edges. An insert, as shown in figure 7, is placed directly from appropriate protective containment means (not shown) onto the base 4 with the cutting edge 86 of each blade 10 positioned within an appropriate groove 24 of the base and its ribs 72 aligned with the guiding means 28 of the base. The slider 6 is then lifted over the base 4 and rotated until its channels 56 are aligned with the ribs 72 of the insert and the guiding means 28 of the base. The slider 6 is then lowered down around the insert 8 and base 4 and as this occurs the latching members 76 on the insert flex inwardly so that the latch projections 78 thereon slide up the inner surface 54 of the slider, through the slots 48 in the inner flange 44 and finally snap back out to engage an upper surface 43 of the inner flange 44 thus preventing movement of the insert downwards and out of the slider. As the slider moves downwardly, its channels 56 first engage the ribs 72 of the insert 8 and then engage the guiding means 28 on the base. As the latch projections 78 snap outwardly over the upper surface 43 of the inner flange 44, the ribs 72 of the insert 8 and the adjacent upper edge of its side wall 68 come to rest against a lower surface 45 of the inner flange 44. The slider 6 and insert 8, which together constitute the cutting means referred to above, can then be lifted as a unit from the base.

A fruit 1 is then placed on the support wall 20 of the base as shown schematically in Figure 14. The slider is then placed over the base 4, rotated until its channels 56 are aligned with the guiding means 28 on the base and lowered until the lowermost corners 90 of the blades 10 come into contact with the fruit. Downward pressure is then exerted on the slider by means of the outer flange 46. This force is transmitted by means of the inner flange 44 and the insert side wall 68 to the blades 10. The lowermost corners 90 of the blades, which meet at a point, then centrally pierce the fruit 1 and continued downward pressure causes the cutting edges 86 to slice obliquely through the fruit cutting it into sector shaped slices which compress slightly as they enter the region of the insert in which the blades 10 are encased by a thin lower part 84 of the blade support walls 80. Eventually, the cutting edges 86 pass completely through a lower surface of the fruit since they can enter the grooves 24 with which they will automatically be aligned. The slider is then lifted from the base with the slices of fruit retained between the blades and associated support walls 80. By tapping the slider sharply on a firm surface the slices are released and fall onto the surface ready for use.

An alternative insert for cutting slices having substantially parallel sides and the method of changing the insert in the slider will now be described.

Figure 11 shows a top plan view of an alternative removable insert 106 in which parts which correspond directly to parts in the removable insert 8 are shown with the same numeral and are not described below. In the alternative insert 106 the blade support walls 108 are parallel to each other and each includes a lower part 110 which encases an upper part of a pair of complementary blades 10 with cutting edges 86. Figure 13 shows a schematic cross-section on the line 13-13 of the alternative insert of Figure 11. The arrangement and shapes of the blades where they meet (only shown schematically in Fig. 13) will be as shown in Figure 10. Alternatively, the blades may simply contact each other at the centre line 112 of each blade pair or a single blade having two cutting edges and roughly corresponding in shape to the two blades shown in Figure 13 may be used instead. As shown in Figure 12, which is a partial cross- section on the line 12' -12' of the insert of Figure 11, the blade support walls 108 have the same depth f and each is staggered upwardly by distance g from the adjacent blade support wall 108 closer to a central axis 114 of the alternative insert. This staggering of the support walls 108 and the consequent staggering of the lowermost corners or points 90 of the blade pairs spreads the load exerted by the blades on the side wall 116 of the insert more evenly than if all the blade support walls 108 were at the same level and also means that the points 90 will sequentially pierce the fruit as slicing is commenced starting with the point 90 situated on the central axis 114 of the alternative insert 106 and ending with those furthest therefrom. This avoids the problem of having to exert a high downward load on the slider as slicing commences which would be necessary if all of the points 90 had to pierce the fruit substantially simultaneously. Although the fruit will be substantially spherical, a central region of its upper surface will be substantially flat which would mean that simultaneously piercing by at least some of the points closer to the insert's central axis 114 would occur if the points were not staggered.

To remove the insert 8 from the slider 6, the installation process is basically reversed. The slider and attached insert are placed on the base 4, the two latch members 76 are urged inwardly for example by thumb pressure in order that their latch^' projections 78 disengage from the upper surface 43 of the inner flange 44 and the slider 6 is slid upwardly leaving the insert 8 resting on the base 4 which may involve pushing down lightly on the insert 8 as the slider is raised. Thereafter, appropriate protective packaging is placed over the exposed insert 8 which is lifted of the base without any touching of the blades 10 having occurred.

If the alternative insert 106 is to be used it will be necessary to employ one of two alternative bases 122 and 124 which are shown from above respectively in Figures 15 and 16. These bases only differ from the base 4 shown in Figure 2 in respect of the arrangements of grooves in their support walls. Other parts of the alternative bases are the same as the parts of the base 4 and where shown in Figures 15 and 16 are designated with the same reference numerals .

Figure 15 shows a parallel cut base 122 which includes a support wall 126 which has the same basic conical form as the support wall 20 of the base 4 but in place of the radially disposed grooves 24 has nine parallel grooves 128 which are spaced so as to correspond to the nine pairs of complementary blades 10 of the alternative insert shown in Figures 11 to 13. Figure 16 shows the preferred dual purpose base which includes a substantially conical support wall 130 which is also of the same general form as the support wall 20 of the base 4. The support wall 130 has formed therein a first set of radial grooves 122 and a second set of parallel grooves 134 which intersect each other as shown. The relative positions of the radial and parallel grooves 132 and 134 correspond to those of the grooves 24 and 128 of the base 4 and the parallel cut base 122 respectively. The use of the dual cut base 124 accordingly permits the use of the apparatus for cutting both sector shaped and parallel sided slices depending on which insert is installed in the slider 6.

Installation of the alternative insert 106 in the slider 6 will be performed in exactly the same way as the insert 8 was installed which is described in detail above. In summary, the alternative insert 106 will be placed on either of the bases shown in Figures 15 and 16 with its blades received in the grooves 128 or 134 respectively and the slider will be rotationally aligned and then slid down over the alternative insert and the base until the latch projections 78 on the latch members 76 snap into position over the inner flange 44. Thereafter, the coupled slider 6 and the alternative insert are lifted off the base 124, an item of fruit is placed on the support wall 130, the slider 6 is rotated to align its channels 56 with the guiding means 28 on the base and slid downwardly. As slicing progresses, the slices enter nipping regions between the lower wall parts 110 and are accordingly retained there when the slicing has been completed and the coupled slider 6 and alternative insert 106 are lifted away from the base 124. A sharp tap of the slider 6 on a hard surface results in the slices being released and falling out of the slider.

While any appropriate material may be used for the manufacture of the components of the apparatus such as plastics material or metal, particularly for the inserts, plastics material is preferred since it is possible to mould the insert as a single unitary item with the blades installed. Alternatively, the insert may be manufactured by producing its side wall and then installing the blade support walls into it and fixing them thereto.

Although the insert 8 has eight radially disposed blades and the alternative insert 106 has nine parallel blades, other number of blades could be employed.

From the foregoing it is clear that the apparatus is suitable for quickly and easily cutting either sector shaped or parallel sided slices from an item of fruit in a manner which is entirely safe for the user and results in highly uniform slices being provided.

Claims

1. Fruit slicing apparatus including a support means (4) for supporting a fruit (1) and cutting means (6,8) having plural cutting edges (86), the cutting means (6,8) being cooperable with the support means (4) to cut the fruit (1) into slices.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support means (4) includes recesses (24,128,132,134) which accommodate at least parts of the cutting edges (86) when the cutting means (6,8) is fully engaged with the support means (4) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plural cutting edges (86) and the corresponding recesses (24) are radially disposed whereby the apparatus is for cutting the fruit (1) into substantially sector shaped slices.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plural cutting edges (86) are all substantially parallel to each other as are the corresponding recesses (128) whereby the apparatus is for cutting the fruit (1) into substantially parallel sided slices.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the recesses (132,134) include a first set of substantially radially disposed recesses (132) and a second set of recesses (134) which are substantially parallel with each other and intersect the first set of recesses (132) whereby the support means (124) can selectively cooperate with alternative cutting means (6,8,106) to cut the fruit (1) either into substantially sector shaped slices or into substantially parallel sided slices.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein guiding means (28,32) on the support means (4) cooperates with complementary guiding means (56) on the cutting means

(6,8) to at least substantially restrain the cutting means (6,8) against rotation relative to the support means (4).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the guiding means (28,32) on the support means (4) projects beyond the main body part (12) thereof.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the cutting means (6,8) includes a body (6) which is cooperable with the support means (4) and a removable insert (8) including the cutting edges (86) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the insert (8) is engageable with the body (6) by means of at least one releasable detent (76,78).

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 wherein engagement means (72) on the insert (8) engage complementary engagement means (56) on the cutting means body (6) to at least substantially restrain the insert (8) against rotation relative to the cutting means body (6) .

11. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 and claim 10 wherein the complementary guiding means (56) on the cutting means (6,8) also constitutes the complementary engagement means (56) .

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the support means (4) and the cutting means (6,8) have longitudinal axes (30,50) which are substantially coincident when they cooperate with each other and such cooperation involves translation of the cutting means (6,8) towards the support means (4) along its longitudinal axis (30) .

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each cutting edge (86) is disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (74) of the cutting means (6,8).

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each cutting edge (86) is disposed at between 41° and 71° to the longitudinal axis (74) of the cutting means (6,8).

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the cutting edges (86) substantially converge towards at least one point (90) which is or are arranged to puncture the fruit to initiate slicing.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the cutting edges (86) radiate from a single point (90) substantially on the longitudinal axis (74) of the cutting means (6,8).

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein complementary pairs of the cutting edges (86) lie in a common plane and converge at a point (90), the common planes being substantially mutually parallel.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the point (90) defined by each complementary pair of cutting edges (86) is staggered (g) relative to the point (90) defined by an adjacent complementary pair.