GB2101470A - Slicing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A slicing machine for comestible products comprises a housing (1, 2) on which are mounted a rotary knife blade (7), a drive motor (3) with belt drive (6, 8, 9) for rotating the blade (7), a fence plate for regulating the thickness of cut product slices, and a reciprocable meat table (10) for delivering the product to be cut to the blade (7). The orientation of the housing (1, 2) relative to a base member (13) can be selected by the user in order to render the machine either gravity feed or push feed. In one embodiment the housing (1, 2) is supported on the base member (13) partly by a pivotal mount (14) and partly by a clamp arrangement (16, 17). The clamp arrangement comprises an arcuate plate (16) upstanding from the base member (13) and provided with screw- threaded holes each of which may selectively receive a screw-threaded spigot (17) carried by a depending portion of the housing (1, 2). In another embodiment a removable wedge member is located between the housing (1, 2) and the base member (13) to provide the required inclination for gravity feed operation. The meat table (10) may itself be adjustable into one of two positions so that it can be V-shaped for gravity feed operation or L-shaped for push feed operation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slicing machines This invention relates to slicing machines.

Slicing machines for comestible products broadly fall into two categories: gravity feed and push feed. The choice between these two categories is dependent upon the customers preference and at present the customer requires to state his preference at the point of purchase. This is disadvantageous in certain circumstances in that it may only become clear to the purchaser that the need is for a gravity feed slicer after he has purchases a push feed slicer or vice versa.

Additionally the customer may find that certain slicing operations are best suited to a push feed slicer whereas other slicing operations may require a gravity feed slicer.

Accordingly the present invention provides a slicing machine comprising a housing on which are mounted a rotary knife blade, drive means for rotating the knife blade, a fence plate and a reciprocal meat table; a base member for supporting said housing; and means for securing the housing relative to the base plate to render the machine either gravity feed or push feed.

Conveniently said securing means comprises a wedge member removably interposed between said housing and said base member. Alternatively said securing means comprises mutually adjustable and interengageable components respectively affixed to or forming part of said housing and said base member.

Preferably said securing means further comprises at least one spigot and socket arrangement.

Preferably the meat table is pivotally mounted on a reciprocal carrier and clamp means are provided between the meat table and the carrier to secure the meat table either with its principal support surface horizontal for push feed or with its principal support surface inclined for gravity feed.

The meat table may also be provided with a pusher device for moving the product to be sliced towards the knife blade.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of slicing machine according to the present invention in its push feed and gravity feed modes respectively; Fig. 3 is a view of a detail of the first embodiment; Figs 4 and 5 illustrate second and third embodiments of slicing machine according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 illustrates details of the meat table applicable to each of the embodiments.

As shown in the first embodiment a slicing machine comprises a housing formed by interconnected parts 1, 2 which together are pivotally mounted at 14 on a base member 1 3 having feet 1 5 for supporting the machine above a work surface.

Housing parts 1, 2 together enclose an electric drive motor 3 secured by mountings 4 and having a drive shaft 5 with pulley 6. Pulley 6 is connected by belt 8 to pulley 9 which is secured to a shaft carrying a rotary blade 7 externally of the housing.

Knife blade 7 is dished (i.e. concave) and the hollow central portion is covered by a releasable cover (not shown) which is secured to the blade 7 by a central shaft 37 and a release knob 38.

Adjacent knife blade 7 is meat table 10 carried by rollers 11, 12 and arranged for reciprocal movement parallel to the plane of knife blade 7 in conventional manner. Roller 11 runs on the upper surface of housing part 1 and roller 12 runs in a slot formed in the side wall of housing part 1.

Although not illustrated in this embodiment a fence plate (sometimes referred to as a guard plate) is mounted on the housing generally aligned with knife blade 7 but adjustable in position to regulate the thickness of product slices cut by blade 7.

In order to render the machine dual mode, in accordance with the present invention the housing is mounted on the base member and securing means are provided so that meat table 10 can be either horizontal (as shown in Fig. 1) or inclined to the horizontal (as shown in Fig. 2). The mounting of housing to base member is provided in part by pivot 14 and in part by the securing means which in this embodiment is in the form of an upstanding plate 1 6 integral with base member 13 together with a spigot and socket arrangement 17, illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the machine can be secured in either its gravity feed or push feed positions.

Fig. 3 illustrates arrangement 1 7 in greater detail from which it will be evident that plate 1 6 comprises two holes 20, each screwthreaded and knob 21 carries a threaded stud 22 which is engageable with one of holes 20. A cup shaped washer 23 is also carried by stud 22 within a recess in housing 1 to provide a degree of friction grip.

In order to render the machine hygienic plate 1 6 extends over the entire width of the machine and terminates at wedge-shaped side plates 1 9 (see Fig. 2) at each side of the machine. Likewise the housing formed by parts 1, 2 is closed except at its base in order to accommodate side plates 1 9 and upstanding plate 1 6. Sliced product cut by knife blade 7 is gathered on the upper surface of base member 13 to the rear of the housing 1, 2.

In operation of the first embodiment stud 22 is entered in the lower hole 20 and screw-threaded therein by means of knob 21 to arrange the machine in the push feed mode as shown in Fig. 1.

To arrange the machine in the gravity feed mode knob 21 is operated to release stud 22 from the lower hole 20, the housing formed by parts 1, 2 is then pivoted on pivot 14 so that stud 22 is aligned with the upper hole 20 and then stud 22 is screwthreaded therein by actuation of knob 21.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 4 and like parts are given like members. It will be evident in this embodiment that housing part 1 has a closed base formed by plate 25 and that base member 1 3 is devoid of upstanding plate 1 6. In the second embodiment the securing means is in the form of a removable wedge member 26 and which is releasably secured in position by means of screws 27, 28 the former (27) defining a spigot and socket connection between the member 26 and plate 25 and the latter (28) defining a spigot and socket connection between the member 26 and the base member 1 3. Aperture 29 is provided to permit access to screw 27.It will be evident that with this arrangement screw 27 could simply be a protrusion formed on member 26 and likewise screw 28 a protrusion formed on member 1 3 for engagement in corresponding holes in plate 25 and member 26 or vice versa. Also, there may be several pairs of screws 27, 28 along the width of the machine. The lateral spacing of the screws from the pivot 14 is also such that when the wedge member 26 is removed one of the screws can be used to secure the housing plate 25 in the base member 1 3. If the screw connection is dispensed with each spigot and socket interconnection may take the form of an elongate tongue and slot.

Although not shown in Fig. 4 base member 13 includes feet 1 5 corresponding to those of Figs. 1 and 2.

The third embodiment, shown in Fig. 5, is similar in concept to that of Fig. 4 in that it utilises wedge member 26' and two screws 28' and two access holes 29'. Additionally pivot 14 is omitted, pivotal movement of the housing parts 1, 2 being achieved without a fixed pivot. This has the advantage of bringing housing part 2 closer to base plate 13 in the gravity feed mode.

Although the embodiments described provide a single gravity feed position it will be obvious that more than one gravity feed position could easily be provided simply by means of additional holes 20 in the first embodiment and by differently sized wedge members 26,26' for the second and third embodiments. Also, in the first embodiment instead of discrete holes 20 a slot could be provided in which case stud 22 would be provided with a head within the base member cavity and knob 21 would then be threadedly received on the stud 22 to act as a clamping device.

In each of the embodiments described above the meat table 10 is shown diagrammatically and the principal support surface 39 (Fig. 6) for the product to be sliced remains parallel to the plane of the reciprocal movement defined by rollers 11, 1 2. In practice push feed machines are of this type whereas gravity feed machines are not. That is, in gravity feed machines the principal support surface of the meat table is inclined to the plane of reciprocal movement so that the meat table takes on a V-shaped section rather than an L-shaped section as used by push-feed machines. To accommodate this feature each of the machines illustrated in the foregoing embodiments may have its meat table in the form illustrated in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6 the table 10 is formed in two parts, the lower part 1 OB acts as a carrier for the upper part 1 OA and wheels 11, 12 are mounted on part 1 OB and the parts 1 OA, 1 OB are pivotally mounted together at 30 by means of an arcuate recess on one and an arcuate protrusion on the other, a clamp in the form of a bolt 31 with a knurled actuator knob 35 being provided in part 1 OB to engage in one of two threaded holes 34 in part 1 OA. Holes 34 are disposed so that when bolt 31 is in the illustrated position the principal support surface 39 of part 1 OA is inclined at an angle of about 300 to the plane of reciprocal movement defined by wheels 11, 12 whereas when bolt 31 engages the other hole 34 this surface 39 is parallel to the plane of reciprocal movement. The upper part 1 OA additionally carries a pusher device 32 having a handle 33 whereby product to be sliced is biassed either by hand in the push feed mode or by the weight of the device 32 in the gravity feed mode towards the knife blade 7.

Fig. 6 also diagrammatically illustrates the location of the fence plate 40.

Claims (10)

1. A slicing machine for commestible products comprising a housing on which are mounted a rotary knife blade, drive means for rotating the knife blade, a fence plate and a reciprocable meat table; a base member for supporting said housing; and means for securing the housing relative to the base plate in an orientation to render the machine either gravity feed or push feed.

2. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises a wedge member removably interposed between said housing and said base member.

3. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said securing means further comprises interengageable spigot and socket devices for securing the wedge member to the housing and to the base member or, when the wedge member is removed, for securing the housing to the base member.

4. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said devices each comprise a screwthreaded engagement.

5. A slicing machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing is pivotally mounted on said base member.

6. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is pivotally mounted on said base member and said securing means comprises an arcuate extension member formed on one of said housing and said base member and mutually interengageable spigot and socket components on said extension member and on the other one of said housing and said base member.

7. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said extension member is formed on said base member and comprises a plurality of sockets therein and said housing carries a spigot which is securable within any one of said sockets to thereby orientate the housing at a selected inclination with respect to the base member.

8. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said spigot is screw-threadedly engageable with each of said sockets and a friction grip element carried by said spigot is interposed between the extension member and the housing.

9. A slicing machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said meat table is pivotally mounted on a reciprocal carrier and clamp means are provided between the meat table and the carrier to secure the meat table either with its principal support surface horizontal for push feed operation or with its principal support surface inclined for gravity feed operation.

10. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.