US1619746A - Potato slicer - Google Patents

Description

March 1,1927.

l. H. MILLER POTATO SLICER Filed Feb. 26, 192e 2 sheets-smet 1 .mMD

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS F. H. MlLLER POTATO SLICER March 1 1927.

Filed Feb. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLMME Y BY M' ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

helmet FREDERICK H. MILLER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

POTATO SLCER.

Application filed February 26, 1926. Serial No. 90,525.' c

This invention relates to potato Slicers designed for quickly and efliciently slicing potatoes for use in the well-known French fried, julienne and shoe string styles and has particular reference to that type of such devices as comprise stationary vertical and horizontal cutters over which the potatoes are moved to be sliced as desired.

My invention primarily has for its object to provide a potato Slicer of the type stated which is of a particularly simple and compact construction that maybe economically manufactured and which in spite of its simplicity of construction is efficiently operable for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the vertical knives holder.

Figure l is a detail perspective view of one of the knife clamping and spacing plates.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a safety device for reciprocating the potatoes.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views illustrating samples of potato slicings of the i French fried, julienne and shoe string types, respectively.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates the base board ofiny invention which is provided with a cut-out portion 2 to provide a socket for receiving ,the knife housing unit and also for prov-iding the potato slice discharging throatway 3.

A platea is secured to the bottom of the board l, as at 5, so as to projectover a part of the cut-out portion 2, the said extended part serving as a means for securing, as at 6, the knife carrying housing 7. The housing 7 is in the nature of an open rectangular metal box having a series of stepped shoulders 8, 9 and 10 in one end thereof, see Figures land 3; f

The housing 7 is adapted to carry a plurality of spacer plates 11 anda plurality of 'vertically positioned blades 12, one thereof being positioned and clamped between each pair of adjacent spacerplates, the clamping action being provided for by a pair of set screws 13 directed throughtapped holes inl one side wall ofthe said housing. These blades 12 are clamped in vertical position and are equi-distantly spaced the spacer vtheother end thereof elevated or projected above the said boardfand housing top surfaces so `as to `provide an inclined cutting surface, as shown in Figure 1 of the draf ings. VBy providing the shoulders the high i point of the cutting edge may be varied to three different heights, it being understood that when the blades are adjusted upon the shoulder 8 the device will be set for slicing potatoes for French fries; when at 9, for juliennes, and when at 10, for the shoe string variety.

It may be understood, of course, that the housing with the knife blades clamped in and carried thereby forms avertical cutting unit readily removable and replaceable and whichmay be readily knocked down for the purpose of thorough cleansing. i

When it is desired to prepare the varied sizes of .potato slices mentioned', the blades of the housing may be individuali i adjusted but it will probably vbe more convenient to have three ofthe units assembled so that the desired unit may bereadily fitted to position and secured by the screw 6. i ln other words, three separate units may be provided, oneadjusted for cutting potatoes for French fries, oneadjusted for juliennes and one for the shoe string variety. Obviously in either of the uses of the unit the provision of the three shoulders makes it possible to construct all housings uniformly Y regardless of use effecting great saving in manufact-ure.

The board 1 may be provided with suit-` able recesses 14@ at one sid-e of the cut out portion 2 to readily receive the set screws 13 when the housing 7 is inserted to position in the said cut out and upon the extended end of the plate 4f.V

In practice, the-potato is to be moved forwardly over the vertical blades 12 for effecting the vertical equi-distantly spaced cuts therein and into engagement with a cross knife positioned at a suitable elevation for severing the vertically sliced portions so as to provide the long square cuts for either of the three varied Vsizes of potatoes mentioned. If the device is set for cutting potatoes for French fries the blades 12 will be adjusted upon the shoulder S and the spacer plates 11 will be of a thickness corresponding to the height 'of projection of the blades 12. 'This is true in each of the other cases. The width' of the spacer plates is equal to the Vamount of projection of the blades above the top surfaces of the housingv 7 and board 1. i

rllhus, for eiiiciently cooperating with the blades 12 projected at varied heights for the particular purposethe cross knife must be mounted ina manner whereby it may be adjusted to position upon a level corresponding to the size of slices to be made. ln other words, the height of the cross knife above'the board 1`.y the height to which the blades 12`are projected above the Vtop surface of that board, and the width of the spacerplates between the blad-es, i. e. the space between the blades 12, are coincident.

To provide for this adjustable mounting of the cross knife I provide a pair of opposed guide standards 15 which form vertical slide guides for the guide bl-ocks 1G and have suitable bearings" for the adjuster' screws 17, one of'which is swivelly connected, as at 18, to eachof theblocks 1G. Each bloc-k 16 is provided with a cross slit 19 for receiving the cross knife 2O projectedtherethrough from side to side across the board 1, see Figures 1 and 2.

In order to suitablyv support the main body of the potato from which the slicings are cut as the said potato body is moved rearwardly over the cross knife 20, I provide asupporting plate 21 loosely connected to, to move with, the guide block 16, as at 22, and rigidly secured tol the board 1, as at 23, at a point beyond the slicings discharge throatway 3. may be Vprovided for by notching the guide blocks 16 and loosely projecting the fore corners of the said plate into the said notches in the manner indicated in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings.

As the otato is moved rearwardl over.

the vertically projected blades 1.2 equi-distantly spaced vertical kerfs will be cut in the under surface thereof and as the potato is forced rearwardly beyond .the blades 12 it will come intoV contact with the forwardly projected cutting edge of the horizontal cross knife 20, and the vertically cut p orti ons of the potato will be horizontally severed to provide long square slices suitable for use The loose connection at 22 in the particular variety of fries for which the device has been set, either French, julienne or shoe string, the slices being forced downwardly beneath the knife 20 and through t-he throatway 3 into any suit-able receiving receptacle and the body of the potato passing` rearwardly ov i' the knife to be temporarily supported by the plate 21 until by reciprocatory action the operation is repeated.

The structure I have disclosed is particularly simple and economical to manufacture and so very compact as Vto rendei'tlie same readily portable and convenient to use.

As a potato, by reason of continued slicing, wears down to a dangerously thin condition, or before that time, any suitable hand-pusher, such as is indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, may be used to protect the hand against possible injury in cutting. In the figure referred to, I havel shown a pusher plate with suitable handle and small sharp brads projected from its lower surfaceY to bite into and facilitate reciprocation of the potato over the board and cutting devices.

It is, also possible to use a short bristle wire brush for this purpose, if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the4 accon'ipanying drawings, it is thought the novel details of construction, the manner of operation and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

That I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and having vertical slicing blades projecting above the top surface of the board,'and a cross knife mounted upon the board in cooperative relation with 'the projected blades for traversing the slices made thereby.

2. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and having vertical slicing` blades projecting above the top surface of the board,` a cross knife, and means for mounting the cross knife upon the board in vertically adjustable cooperative relation with the projected blades for traversing the slices made thereby,

3. A device of the class described coniv prising a base board having a recess therein, i

a slicer unit removably mount-ed in the recess and having blades projecting above theV top surface of the board, a cross knifel mounted upon the board in cooperative relation with the projected blades. and a supporting plate extending rearwardly from and on substan-A tially the same plane with thecross knife.

4. A device of the class described coniprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and having blades projecting above the top surface of the board, a cross-knife, means for mounting the cross knife upon the board in Vverticallyadjustable cooperative relation with the projectedblades, and a supporting plate rigidly secured to the-board. at one end and connected at its other end to move with the vertically adjustable knife mounting means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and having blades projecting above the top surface of the board, a cross knife, means for mounting the cross knife upon the board in vertically adjustable cooperative relation with the projected blades, said means comprising vertical guides mounted on the board, blocksV vertically slidable on the guides and having slits to receive the knife, and adjusting screws carried by the guides and swivel-connected to the blocks substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit-,removably mounted in the recess and having blades projecting above the top surface of the board, a cross knife, means for mounting the cross knife. upon the board in vertically adjustable cooperative relation With the projected blades, said means comprising vertical guides mounted on the board, blocks vertically slidable on the guides and having slits to receive the knife, adjusting screws carried by the guides and swivel-connected to the blocks and a supporting plate rigidlysecured to the board at one end, and said blocks having notches for loosely receiving the other end of the plate to cause the same to move vertically with the said blocks substantially as andfor the purposes described.

7. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, anda cross knife mounted upon the board in cooperative relation With the slicer unit, said slicer unit comprising a housing and a plurality of vertical blades equidistantly spaced therein and projecting thereabove in inclined relation to the board.

8. A .device of the class described comprising a base board having a recess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, across knife mounted upon the board in cooperative relation With the slicer unit, said slicer unit comprisingl a housing and a plurality of vertical blades equi-distantly spaced therein and projecting thereabove in inclined relation to the board, and a plurality of cross shoulders in one end of the housing upon selected ones of which one end of the blades'ma-y be rested to i'ix the degree of inclined projection thereof above the base board. j

9. A device of the class described comrisine a base board havin :a recess there# C said slicer unit comprising ahousing and a plurality of vertical 'blades equisdistantly spaced therein and projecting thereabove in inclinedrelation to the board, a plurality of cross shoulders in one end of the housing upon selected ones of which one end of the blades may be rested to fix the degree of inclined projection thereof above the base board, and means for mounting the cross knife upon the board in vertically adjust-able cooperation with the projected blades.

l0. A device of the class described comprising a base board having a rec-ess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, said recess being of a size to receive the unit in the fore end thereof and to provide a slicings discharge throatway beyond the said unit, a plate secured to the bottom face of the board and projecting over the fore end of the recess to provide a support for the unit, means for removably securing` the unit to the projected. end of the plate,

and a vcross knife mounted upon the board incooperative relation With the slicer unit, said slicer unit comprising a housing and a plurality of vertical blades equi-distantly spaced therein and projecting thereabove in inclined relation to the board.

11. In a device of the character described, a slicer unit comprising a box-like receptacle, a gang of vertical knife blades mounted in said receptacle, means within the receptacle beneath one edge of said blades` at one end to raise that end of the blades above the upper face of the receptacle for the purposes described.

12.111 a device of the class described wherein is provided a base having a recess adapted to receive a slicer unit; a slicer unit comprising a box-like body adapted to t said recess, a gang of thin ieXible slicer blade. mounted edgewise in said body, spacers between said adjacent blades, said body being of a depth substantially' the depth of the blades, and means Within said body beneath the blades at one end to raisel that end whereby to project one end of the blades above the level of the box-like body thereby to present an inclined cutting edge projecting above the face of the body, and clamp screws for securing said blades and spacers in the body.

13. A device of the class described comprising a base-board, a plurality of thin flexible cutting blades mounted Wit-hin the base-board, means for securing said blades in spaced relation in the base-board with one end flush with the upper face of the base-board and the other end elevated above the face of the base-board whereby to provide inclined cutting edges for the purthe base with one .corner `flush with the upper face of the base and another corner elevated above the face of the base whereby 10 to provide an inclined cutting edge for Vche purposes described.

FREDERICK H. MILLER.

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