US1027972A - Appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and other analogous substances. - Google Patents

Description

J. ASHTON.

BR, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1912.

APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTT Patented May 28, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON, 1,. .4

J. ASHTON. APPLIANGEFOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 6, 1912.

Patented May- 28, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 l I I l I I l I I ll fill H HHHHHHIH WITNESSES INVENTUR Q 0 I: (175/??070 Q,

COLUMBIA bLANDCIRAPH (10-, WASHINGTON, D. C.

J. ASHTON. ".APPLIANGE FOB. CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1912.

Patented May 28, 1912.

3 SHEBTS- SHEET 3.

INVE NTO R Jazaflafit on WITNESS ES m WWO COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D. C.

JoHiv ASHTON, or rrnnnronn, ENGLAND.

APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES.

1 all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ASHTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hereford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Cutting Cheese, Butter, Soap,

. Lard, and other Analogous Substances, of

being adapted to be propelled to and fro' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and other analogous substances, particularly for use by grocers, provision merchants, and the like; the said appliances being of that type in which the cutting element consists of an angularly-movable tensioned wire, thin strip of metal, or knife blade, whose outer end is guided by a curved quadrant bar carried by the base.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved appliance which is simple in construction and can easily be manipulated, in whichthe wire or cutter is kept in a constant stat-e of tension, and which is provided with simple but efiective means for fixing the wire or the like and for adjusting its tension.

The improved appliance consists essentially of a quadrant guide bar or the like substantially in the form of an arc of a cirole of a spring construction upon which is mounted a runner fitting or wire clamping and tensioning device to which one end of the wire or the like is attached, said runner along the bar so as to cause'the wire or knife to make an angular cutting movement.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation, partly in section, of an appliance constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 shows a topsideplan of same. Fig. 3 is a sectional-elevation of the appliance showing the wire or cutter during its operative movement. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation partly in section of the front end of the appliance with the cutter and runner retained at. the end of its upward stroke. Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of the appliance, with the cutter in the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the lower clamping and tensioning arrangement. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section through same.

Fig. 8 shows a side elevation of the said locking and tensioning arrangement. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a? Fig. 6. Fig.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 6, 1912.

Patented May 28,1912.

Serial No. 675,743.

10 represents a vertical transverse section through the runner fitting and tensioning arrangement to which the upper end of the w re cutter is attached. Fig. '11 is a similar view to Fig. 10, but shows the tensioning device after being adjusted in order to increase the tension of the wire. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the runner fitting and tensioning device.

The same reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures of the drawings.

The appliance consists of a curved quadrant arm 1 bent substantially to an arc of a circle, and attached at one end to an outstanding horizontal bracket 2 carried by an end plate 8 which is formed integral with, or part of the same casting as, the metallic bot tom 4 of the hollow base of the appliance, said bracket 2 being provided with a split eye or socket adapted to embrace the said end of the quadrant arm, which is clamped in position by a bolt 5. The said quadrant arm or bar 1 is of a spring construction, its free end normally tending to move outward or upward, thus causing it, when in its free state, to assume a curvature which is not quite a true arc, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3. This bar 1 is arranged longitudinally over the middle of the top or slab 43 of the base upon which the cheese or the like is placed so that its free extremity comes above the end remote from the attachment bracket 2, the said base 43 being slotted longitudinally at 44 immediately beneath the bar 1 in order to receive the wire 6, which constitutes the cutter, after having passed through the material.

At the end of the base opposite to the fixed extremity of the bar 1 is a bracket 7 which carries a swiveling or rotary clamping fitting to which one end of the wire cutter 6 is attached. This clamping fitting consists (Figs. 6 to 9) of a block 8 carrying a pivot 9 which passes through, and turns within, a transverse hole in the said bracket 7 so that the fitting can turn in a longitudinal plane, the pivot 9 being retained in. the bracket 7 by a nut 10 screwed upon its end. The outer face of the pivoted block 8 lies in the same plane as the slot 44: in the base and it carries a projecting bolt or screwed stud 1l,having a square sectioned inner end upon which a loose clamping plate or washer 19. is threaded, While upon the outer end of this bolt 11 is a nut which, when screwed up, enables the end of the wire 6, which passes through a transverse hole or piercing 14 at the inner end of the said bolt 11, to be securely clamped between the said clamping washer 12 and the pivoted block 8. The inner edge of the clamping washer 12 is also provided, at a point adjacent to the hole 14 in the bolt 11 through which the wire passes, with a recess or gap 15 in order to prevent the said wire being sheared or broken. After the wire has been passed through the said hole or piercing 14: but before being clamped by the washer 12, it is engaged with a trans verse eye 16 in the end of a rotary winding pin or spindle 17 which passes axially through the outer cranked end of the block 8. This pin 17 has a milled thumb-piece 18 fixed upon its outer end by which it can be rotated, and it tends to be drawn inward by a spring 19 so as to cause ratchetteeth 20 upon the inner face of the said thumb-piece 18 to be taken into engagement with corresponding teeth 21 upon the face of the cranked end of the block 8, thereby locking the pin 17 in posit-ion. By turning the thumb-piece 18 however, the ratchet teeth 20 and 21 will wipe over one another and the wire 6 wound around the inner end of the said pin 17 so as to be drawn fairly taut and given an initial tension. When this has been done the said wire 6 is fixed by screwing up the nut 13 of the clamping fitting so that it is securely gripped between the loose clamping washer or block 12 and the face of the bracket plate 8. The opposite end of the wire 6 is adapted to be attached to a runner fitting or traveling carriage mounted upon quadrant bar 1 over which it can be traversed to and fro by hand. This runner consists of a suitable frame 22, fitted with handles or grips 23 upon each side, and of a substantially U-shape the sides embracing the opposite faces of the bar 1 which latter is preferably of a rectangular section as shown. Between the outer ends of the said sides of the frame 22 a pair of rollers 24 are mounted, which run upon or travel over the outer edge of the bar 1 so as to admit of the fitting being easily moved to and fro. To attach the wire 6 to the said fitting and give the necessary tension thereto, a clamping and tensioning device, similar to that described in connection with the lower end of the wire, is employed. The device is carried by and is adjustable within, a radially directed forked or slotted extension 25 of the runner frame 22 and comprises a slide 26 having a necked part 27 of reduced diameter which engages between the sides of the said forked extension 25 carrying said slide carrying an integral bracket or plate 28 which supports, a bolt or stud 29, fitted with a clamping block 30 and nut 31, the wire 6 being passed through a transverse hole in the square inner end of the bolt 29 and being clamped in position in a similar manner to above described. After having been thus passed through this hole the upper end of said wire 6 is engaged with a transverse eye in the end of a rotary winding pin or spindle 32 which passes axially through the slide 26, said pin 32 having fixed upon its outer end a head 15 provided with ratchet-teeth 33 engaging with corresponding teeth 34 upon the end of the said slide 26, and adapted, onbeing turned, to impart a tension to the wire 6, the latter being then secured by the aforesaid clamping block 29. The latter is recessed at 46 to prevent cutting or shearing of the wire.

In order to give the final and more delicate adjustment to the tension to the wire 6 and draw it up tight, the slide 26-carries a long radiallydirected bolt or shank 35 which passes through guide sleeves 36 upon the side of the runner frame 22. A spring 37 surrounds the inner end of the shank between the lower sleeve 36 and the slide 26 and a nut 38 is fitted upon the upper end so as to bear upon the outer end of upper sleeve 36. This nut 38 is of a long barrel form, and has a milled head 39 by which it can be operated by hand. \Vhen screwed up it draws the slide 26 to which the wire 6 is attached, outward in a radial direction, and thus gives the necessary tension to the said wire, atthe same time compressing the spring 37 which surrounds the shank 35. On the nut 38 being slackened this spring 37 re-acts upon the slide 26 so as to reduce the tension of the wire 6.

In use the handles 23 upon the opposite sides of the runner frame 22 are grasped and the latter movedalong the quadrant bar 1 to the outer end. The cheese or the like having been placed upon the base or slab, the runner is then drawn downward over the bar 1, causing the wire 6 to make an angular movement and pass through the substance fitting 8 to which the lower end of the wire 6 is attached moves with the said wire during this operation. As the runner frame 22 is raised the spring arm 1 is slightly depressed, and made to assume a true arc, thus exerting a radial pull upon the wire 6 and keeping samein a constant state of tension. To keep the runner in a raised position with the wire 6 vertical the outer end of the arm 1 is provided with a notch or recess 10 in its outer edge with whichthe foremost of the rollers 2 1 is adapted to engage. Means are also provided for locking the pivoted carrier 8 of the lower clamping fitting at the inner end of the wire when the latter is in the vertical position. For this purpose, thebracket 7 'is provided with'a pivoted'catch 41 adapted to be turned into engagement with a recess 42. in the said making a clean out. The pivoted clamping i block 8, so as to prevent the latter turning. The said clamping fitting and bracket can be inclosed by a detachable cover or cap and the rollers may, if required, be mounted upon ball bearings.

47 are stops upon the base for preventing movement or displacement of the cheese or the like during the cutting operation.

A spring 48, or a pad of rubber is preferably employed within the interior of the base for damping the vibration of the wire.

Having now fully described my invention I declare that what I claim is 1. An appliance of the type herein referred to for cutting cheese and similar substances, comprising a slotted cheese supporting base, a quadrant guide arm in the plane of the slot in the base and having an end fixed to the latter, the guide arm being resiliently yieldable in its plane, a runner operating on the guide arm, a cutting wire connected at one end to the runner, and means in line with the slot of the base for associating the other end of the wire with the base.

2. An appliance of the type herein referred to for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, an angularly movable cutter, a runner to which the outer end of the cutter is attached, and a quadrant guide arm carried by the base and upon which the runner is mounted, the said guide arm being of a spring construction and having a free outer end which normally assumes a position that gives to the arm a less degree of curvature than that of a true are of a circle, but which, when the runner is moved to the outer end of its travel, is depressed and the arm put in tension, so that the said free end tends to move outward and exerts a radial pull upon the cutter to keep same in a constant state of tension.

3. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a carriage having rollers which run upon the arm, a clamping device upon the carriage for attaching the outer end of the cutter to the latter, and laterally extending handles upon opposite sides of the frame of the carriage.

4. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction fixed at one end to the base and having a free outer end provided with a recess in its upper edge, an angularly movable cutter, a carriage mounted on the arm, and a clamping fitting on the carriage for attaching the outer end of the cutter thereto,

said carriage depressing the outer end of the arm so as to put the latter in tension when moved to the outer end of its travel, and running upon rollers one of which is adapted to engage with the recess in the end of the guide arm to hold the carriage in its raised position.

5. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a pivoted clamping fitting mounted upon a bracket on the base and to which the inner end of the cutter is attached, a carriage mounted on the quadrant arm, and a clamping fitting 011 the carriage for attaching the outer end of the cutter to the latter.

6. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable wire cutter, a carriage mounted on the quadrant arm, a rotary winding key 011 the carriage with which the outer end of the wire is engaged, means for retaining the key in its adjusted positon, and a separate clamping fitting for fixing the wire after the operation of the winding key.

7 An appliance for cutting cheese,butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a runner mounted on the quadrant arm, a slide on the carriage having the outer end of the cutter attached thereto, and a hand-operated screw device connected with the slide for adjusting the tension of the said cutter.

8. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter,

soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a runner carriage mounted on the quadrant arm, a necked tensioning slide working in a slot in the carriage frame and attached to the outer end of the cutter, a radial shank carried by the slide and passing through guides on the said frame, a

hand-operated nut upon the outer end of the shank adapted, when screwed up, to draw the slide outward, and a spring surrounding the shank for moving the slide inward and reducing the tension of the cutter when the nut is slackened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ASHTON. Witnesses HENRY L. KERRETT, HENRY NORTON MERRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of ratents, Washington, D. G.

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