GB2113534A - Deep frozen tart cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Tart cutting apparatus comprises a tart support base (5) divided into a number of separate segments (3) equal in number to the number of slices into which the tart (6) is to be cut, and two sets of radially directed blades (14, 15) arranged in tiers one above the other. The blades are slightly inclined to the horizontal. The inner ends of the blades (14, 15) support a tubular cutter (13) which removes a central core of small diameter thereby ensuring that the slices do not have pointed tips which break off. The arrangement of the blades is such that the blades of each tier complete a cutting action before the next succeeding blades commence a cut The segments (3) are mounted on rods (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Deep frozen tart cutting apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for cutting articles such as tarts, cakes, pastries, gateaux, flans or the like which have been deep frozen.

For convenience through out this description such articles will be referred to as tarts.

A machine is known which is intended to cut tarts which have been deep frozen i.e., down to a temperature in the vicinity of minus twenty degrees Centigrade. In practice it has been found that when using this machine that the cutting or slicing of circular tarts into pointed sectors of tart that there is a tendencyforthe points to be broken orto crumble.

This clearly impairs the appearance of the cut tart and thus its salability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which at least reduces the possibility of such crumbling. The machine of the invention stems from the realisation that the undesired crumbling is influenced by the action of the cutter blade arrange ments provided for the machine and in particular the avoidance of adhering remains of a previously cut tart. It has also been appreciated that it is important to avoid pointed cuts.

Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for cutting a tart or the like into a plurality of tapered slices including in addition to cutting means provided for cutting the tapered sides of the slices additional cutter means for removing a portion of the central region of the tart to avoid the formation of sharp points to the slices.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a tart support member formed from a plurality of sections corresponding in number to the number of slices to be produced, and arranged in side-by-side relationship such that adjacent edge regions thereof define the positions of the lines of division of said slices, a cutter blade assembly including an elongate blade for each said line of division, the blades being arranged in at least two tiers one above the other relative to the support member, with the blades of the assembly extending radially outwards from the central region of the support and having cutting edges which are inclined upwardly from the inner ends towards the outer ends thereof, the blades of each set being angularly offset relative to the blades of the other set, a tubular cutter forming said additional cutter and adapted to remove a central core from the tart or the like to be cut connected to be carried by the inner ends of the blades of at least the iowermost tier, the relative positioning of the blades with respect to the support member being such that the blades of each set are able to complete their cutting action before the blades of the next following set are able to co-operate with the tart, and wherein means are provided for enabling relative displacement between the blade sets and the support member for the purposes of effecting a tart cutting operation.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus which, in addition to a tart base divided into the number of segment supports into which the tart is to be cut, is provided with at least two sets of radially directed cutter blades arranged one above the other with respect to the base plate and mounted at their outer ends at different levels to a cylindrical support ring, and at their inner ends to a central cutter tube of small diameter, in such a way that the blades at each level converge on the central tube at a small angle to the horizontal forming a cone like arrangement, and in which means are provided for relatively moving the base plate and the blade arrangement in such manner that each tier of blades passes through the separation between adjacent pairs of segment supports of the tart base and emerges from them before the succeeding tier of blades commences the next following cut.

In practice, the provision of the central cutter tube has the effect that sharply pointed extremities to the slices of tart are not produced, and thus can not crumble. In addition, the arrangement of blades in tiers has the advantage that, per tier, only half of the usual number of blades is used at each cut thereby requiring less space and as a consequence subjecting the tart being cut to less lateral compression. The circular plug left at the centre of the tart by the action of the tubular cutter guarantees that no unwanted tip fragments can break off and crumble whereby the tarts cut by the apparatus of the invention have a good appearance at the end of the cutting operation.

Preferably, the cleaning of the blades takes place by providing the separate segments of the base plate in the regions where they are engaged by the cutter blades with resilient edges or edge sections, and also arranging that the blades pass entirely between the edges or edge sections during a cutting operation so that the blades can be simultaneously cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention it has been found advantageous to cutaway the underside regions of the contiguous edges of adjacent segments of the support base plate so that the blades are able readily to pass wholly through the base plate and, in addition, by rounding the uppermost edge of the blades an optimum blade cleaning effect is achieved when the blade is subsequently moves upwards away from the support segments. With this combination it has been found that any remains of a tart being cut are removed from the blades before they next perform a cutting operation on a further tart.

The above mentioned cutting apparatus has the advantage that the tart is initially cut by the first tier of blades into a number of larger pieces i.e., of twice the size in the case of a two tier blade arrangement and is then cut by the second tier of blades such that the double size slices are cut in half to produce the required number of slices. As a result not only are the cutting pressures required reduced but, in addi tion, the pressure is uniform in that the inclined blades enterthetartwith a cutting action which involves a gradual radial movement outwards.

It has also been found that the apparatus provides a construction which is easily accessible in terms of mounting or positioning a tart to be cut on the support plate in that the frame carrying the cutter blades includes two guide pillars located preferably to one side of the support ring for the blades which act as guides for two support ring elements for vertical movement relative to the support plate which latter is so mounted in the apparatus that the two tiers of blades can attain a working position lower than the surface of the tart base plate, and such that the motive means for controlling the movements of the blades can comprise a hydraulic ram, using air or oil pressure, which is mounted at one end to a rigid bridge located between the guide pillars and at the other end to the support ring elements through which the blade arrangement is operated.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of tart cutting apparatus incorporating the features of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic side view to an enlarged scale of a cutter blade arrangement used in the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the relationship of the blade arrangement and the edges or edge regions of support segments provided for mounting a tart to be cut.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus shown therein includes a table 1 provided with short rods 2 arranged as two rings of rods each including twelve equiangularly spaced rods 2. The rods 2 mount alternately located tart segment supports 3 and 4, each segment having the shape of a cut tart slice. There are six segments 3 and six segments 4 which combine to provide a circular tart support base plate 5 upon which a tart 6 to be cut is indicated in the position in which it is placed in order to be sliced.

To one side of the of the base plate 5 two upright guide pillars 7 and 8 are upstanding from the table 1.

The pillars 7 and 8 act as guides for two tubular support ring elements 9 and 10. These support ring elements 9 and 10 carry a tiered blade arrangement or structure 11 which is centred above the machine table 1 and also the support plate formed by the segments 3 and 4.

The tiered structure 11 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3 and includes a cylindrical outer ring 12 and a cylindrical inner ring 13. The inner ring 13 is provided with a knife edge whereby the ring 13 acts as a tubular cutter. Equiangularly spaced laminar or elongate blades 14 and 15 are mounted between the inner and outer rings 12 and 13 in such a way as to form two tiers of blades with the blades 14 upper most.

In both said tiers the blades 14 and 15 are mounted to the support ring 12 so that they are angularly offset with respect to each other by an angleof300. Each tier of blades, therefore, contains apart from the central cutting tube 13 six radially directed blades.

Each one of the blades 14, 15 has a cutting edge which is inclined to the horizontal. In practice, each cutting edge of the blades 14, 15 is set at an angle of 5" with respect to a horizontal plane of the tart base plate 5.

The connection between the blades 14 and 15 and the outer support ring 15 and that between the blades and the inner ring 13 may be e.g., corrugated.

Figure 4 schematically represents the cutting process of a blade 14 in relation to two adjacent segment supports 3, 4. The edges 16 and 17 of the adjacent supports 3 and 4 are formed from or other wise edged with a durable substantially rigid but sufficiently deformable plastics material having a profile as can be seen in Figure 4. In the example shown both of the edges 16, 17 are cut-away from below to form a bridge-like formation of such dimensions that the edge regions 16 and 17 are able to flex in the manner shown in Figure 4. In other words by reason of the use of the flexible material the relative displacement between the blades 14 and 15 and the edges 16 and 17 produces a wiping or blade cleaning action which keeps the blades 14 and 15 clear of any cutting debris.The different movements of the blades 14 and 15 relative to the edges 16 and 17 and the consequential movements of these edges 16 and 17 are shown in the Figure 4, the direction of movement of the blades being represented by the arrows.

It will be noted that for the lowermost position of the blade structure 11 a blade 14 or 15 is situated below the edges 16 and 17 of the tart base plate 5 and that it is only at this lowermost position that the cut tart slices are removed from the support plate 5.

This can be effected by a resilient clamping ring (not shown).

Following removal the slices would be suitably packed.

It will be understood that the whole process of moving tarts into the apparatus for the purpose of being cut and the subsequent removal of the cut pieces can be automated by means not shown.

The motive power for the apparatus is supplied according to Figures 1 and 2 by a ram 18 supported on a bridge 19 which bridges the pillars 7 and 8. The movable part of the ram being secured with a plate 21 serving to inter-connect the ring elements 9 and 10.

In Figure 2 it is further shown that the cutting tube 13 operates in conjunction with a cut material ejection arrangement which is similar to the arrangements involved with the edges 16 and 17.

That is to say that between the cutter tube 13 and the inner ends of the segment supports, which are suitable rounded at these locations the edge regions are formed of the plastics material.

Figure 2 shows the deep frozen tart 6 before the cutting process, when the blade structure is situated above the tart in the position illustrated. After the cutting process the blade mechanism is situated in the lowermost position, indicated by the broken lines with the uppermost blades located just above the tart.

It will be understood that the number of blades can be adjusted according to the number of slices required.

In this connection it will be understood that if perhaps only four or perhaps five or six slices are required a single blade tier could be used. In all cases the inner cutter tube would be used.

It will also be understood that, if desired, the apparatus could be manually operable.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for cutting a tart or the like into a plurality of tapered slices, including, in addition to cutter means provided for cutting the tapered sides of the slices additional cutter means for removing a portion of the central region of the tart to avoid the formation of sharp points to the slices.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the apparatus includes a tart support member formed from a plurality of sections corresponding in number to the number of slices to be produced, and arranged in side-by-side relationship such that adjacent edge regions thereof define the positions of the lines of division of said slices, a cutter blade assembly including an elongate blade for each said line of division, the blades being arranged in at leasttwo tiers one above the other relative to the support member, with the blades of the assembly extending radially outwards from the central region of the support and having edges which are inclined upwardly from the inner ends towards the outer ends thereof, the blades of each set being angularly offset relative to the blades of the other set, a tubular cutter forming said additional cutter and adapted to remove a central core from the tart or the like to be cut connected to be carried by the inner ends of the blades of at least the lowermost tier, the relative positioning of the blades with respect to the support member being such that the blades of each set are able to complete their cutting action before the blades of the next following set are able to co-operate with the tart, and wherein means are provided for enabling relative displacement between the blade sets and the support memberforthe purposes of effecting a tart cutting operation.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner ends of all of the blades of the tiers of blades connect with the additional cutter.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the the blades of each set are able to pass wholly through the spaces between two adjacent support segments before the next following set of blades engages with the tart to be cut.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, and wherein the blade assembly includes a support ring which serves mount the outer ends of all of the blades and which is mounted for relative displacemenu with respect to the tart support member.

5. Apparatus for cutting a tart or the like into a plurality of tapered slices wherein, in addition in addition to a tart base divided into the number of segment supports into which the tart is to be cut, is provided with a least two sets of radially directed cutter blades arranged one above the other with respect to the base plate and mounted at their outer ends at different levels to a cylindrical support ring, and at their inner ends to a central cutter tube of small diameter, in such a way that the blades at each level converge on the central tube at a small angle to the horizontal forming a cone like arrangement, and in which means are provided for relatively moving the base plate and the blade arrangement in such manner that each tier of blades passes through the separation between adjacent pairs of segment supports of the tart base and emerges from them before the succeeding tier of blades commences the next following cut.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the separate segment supports of the tart base are provided in the area where the blades pass there between with flexible edges or edge parts, the arrangement being such as to provide a blade wiping arrangement.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the adjacent edges edges of each adjacent pair of segment supports are cut-away at the undersides thereof to allow a blade to pass through, and wherein the upper edge of the blade is of a rounded profile.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a support arrangement for the blade assembly includes two guide pillars which act as guides for support ring elements connected with the blade assembly, and wherein the mounting of the blade assembly and the tart support segments are so mounted with respect to the remainder of the apparatus that the blades can attain a working position below the tart receiving surface of the support segments, and wherein means are provided for enabling relative displacement between the blades and the segments for the purposes of cutting a tart.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the relative movement is effected by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic ram.

10. Apparatus for cutting a tart or the like into a plurality of tapered slices, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.