US1825711A - Pusher plate for slicing machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1931. w. J; CAMPBELL PUSHER PLATE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed July l2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Ali.

MME

Oct. 6, 1931. w. J. CAMPBELL PUSHER PLATE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PUSHER PLATE FOR SLIGING MACHINES Application led .Tuly 12,

My invention relates to a4 slicing machine of the type wherein a circular knife is employed, herein shown as motor driven, and with which la work carriage is employed,

5 means'being provided for guiding the carriage across .the face and past the cutting edge ofthe knife. One object of the invention is to provide an improved pusher plate for use withY the carriage. Another object is the provision of such a plate which shall slide with maximum ease toward and away from the face of the knife. Another object is the provision of means for automatically resisting outward movement of the pusher plate away from the knife beyond a predetermined point. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specificati-on and claims.

I illustrate Vmy invention more or less Y, diagramatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view; and

Figure 4 is a detail.

Like parts areindicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

A generally indicates a base or support for a slicing machine and A1 'ground engaging members or pads.

Mounted on the base A is a circular knife B with its knife shaft 'B1 and pulley B2 associated therewith. B3 indicates a belt extending to any suitable power source, for example an electric motor, not herein shown. B4E indicates a guard plate positioned in front of the knife B and including an arcuate edge B5 penetrating the recess B6 in front of the knife. B7 indicates a generally bell shaped guard portion the edge of which penetrates the recess BS- at the rear of the knife.

C generally indicates a supporting struc- 'gire upon which is mounted the gauge plate D generally indicates a track, herein shown as of circular cross-section, which has associated with it a rectangular guide track D1. D2 generally indicates a work support- 50 ing carriage slidably mounted on the track 1929. Serial No. 377,844.

D and provided with flanges D5 downwardly depending about the track D1. D4 indicates any suitable adjustable engaging members adapted to engage the4 track D1 and to prevent rotation of the carriage D2 around the track D. D5 indicates a work supporting member positioned on the carriage D2. I illustrate it as pivoted as at D5 to the carriage and connected to the carriage by the adjusting links D7 controlled by the locking member D8. It will be understood, however, that the invention herein described and claimed may be applied to other forms of work support.

E generally indicates a handle which i serves also as a guide pin for the pusher plate E1. E2 indicates al manual handle for the pusher plate which is connected with the pusher plate by the member E3 and is connected with the guide pin E by the member E* and the sleeve or additional handle member E5. Note that the sleeve E5 is adapted for manual grasp. As shown in Figure 4 the sleeve E5 is of interior diameter greater contact therewith. In order to obtain a f bearing contact at the edge of the pusher Vplate opposite from the sleeve E5 I provide any suitable bearing member generally indicated as E7, the lower edge of the pusher plate being'downwardly extended as at E8.

The upper face of the member D5 may be milled or grooved or otherwise treated as at E, to form a bearing for engagement with the member E7 or, in case it is worn down or removed with the downward projection E8. As shown in AFigure 1 a cover B10 is illustrated over the upper arc of the knife. This cover projects outwardly sufficiently to interfere with the movement of the carriage in case the carriage extends upwardly above the lower edge of the cover. In order to permit the tilting of the member D5 I cut away the upper edge or corner of the pusher plate as shown at E1".

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to myrspecific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I find it desirable tolemploy a pusher plate on the carriage which may be controlled by the hand of the operator 'which also controls the reciprocat-ion of the carriage. I Ience I provide the guide pinE whicl1,1n conJunction with thefvuide sleeve E, serves as a handle whereby tIie carriage D2 may be reciprocated across the face of the knife. Atthe same time, and with the same hand, the operator may urge the )usher plate toward the work. The member 4 may assist, being engaged by afinger of the operators hand, if desired, or 4being interposed'between the operators fingers. `The supplemental handle Eglmay also be employed, at the election of the operator,'the o erator employing whichever of the two han les suits his need and the length of his arm. The pusher plate is mounted Vfor smooth movement upon the pin E and in order to produce this-smooth movement I employ a' relatively long sleeve E. 'W'hen the operator is withdrawing the pusherplate from the work orthe face of theknife, this movement is so smooth thatl he can li it back ractically by the curve of ay finger. twould lie extremely disadvantageous to permitfthe pusher plate to drop from the machine and `t-his risk of its dropping increases with'the ease of movement of the pusherplate.

therefore'have employed separate bearings E spaced apart in the sleeve E5. If-the operator Hips the pusher plate'back away from the work, it slides over easily untilA the end of the pinlE clears the outer bearing E. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the weight of the pusher plate causes the outer endy of the sleeve Es to drop and the result is a cramping actionon the sleeve E" which immediately stops the movement of the pusher plate. The

operator can, by slightly lifting the pusher plate, straighten the alignment ofthe inner bearing Eand remove the plate, butV the possibility of its accidental removal is practically eliminated.

VThe pusher plate is effective at'all adjust- -ments of the pivoted`member D5, being formed` as at E10 to permit its penetration beV- neaththe covers B10 throughout the entire range (if-adjustment of the support D5.

The lower edge ofthe pusher plate cannot crampor scratch the upper surface of the member D, since it is spaced out of contact therewith. However,Y in order tof-provide a guide or support for the edge of the pusher plate opposite the guiding sleeve E5 I provide the terminal bearing element E'I or the down wardly depending portion E8. Preferably I employ an anti-frictional member ET but it may be dispensed with and, if it wears down, the portion E8 takes its lace with the relatively small increase in riction. A bearing may be formed or ground as at E on the edge of the member' D5.

"Note that the handle or pin E, which also serves as guide for the pusher plate, stops -sliort of the cutting edge at the extremity of the cutting excursion, in such fashion that as :long as the operator has hold of the handle he cannot cut himself. Referring for ex ample to the dotted line shown in Figure l, note that the handle E stops just short of the knife B. If the operator has his hand Vabout thepin or handle E he cannot bring his hand into contact with the cutting edge of the knife. Note that the guard E masks the cutting edge and is interposed between the end of the handle and the cuttingedge when the device is in the dotted line position. The relation of parts shown in dotted line in Figure lwill be understood as diagrammatic and it may be desirable, especially if the. guard E20 is omitted, to have the handle Epositioned even more remotely from the cutting edge, at the end of the cutting stroke.

Iclaim:

`1. `In association with a slicing machine including a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a work support movable across the fa ce of the-knife, a pusher plate associated with said work support, means for guiding it and supporting it Vfor ready movement toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, including a guide pin, a sleeve adapted to slide on said guide pin, bearings atithe opposite ends of said sleeve adapted closely to engage said guide pin, the intermediate portion of the sleeve being spaced away from the guide pin, the guide pin being adapted to permit one of said bearings to slide beyond the end thereof, and thereby cramp the other bearing upon the pin.

H2. 4In association with a slicing machine including a rotary knife and means for rotating it, anda work support movable across the face ofthe knife, a pusher'plate associated with said work support, means for guiding it and .supporting it for ready movement toward and Ward and aWay from the cutting plane of the knife, including a guiding element mounted on said Work support, the pusher plate being freely movable therealong Within a predetermined range of movement and means for cramping said pusher plate on said guiding element when the pusher plate passes beyond said ran-ge.

4:. In association With a slicing machine including a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a Work support movable across the face of the knife, a pusher plate associated With said Work support, means for guiding it and supporting it for ready movement toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, including a guiding element mounted on said Work support, the pusher plate being freely movable therealong Within a predetermined range of movement and means effective for increasing the difficulty of movement-of said pusher plate along said guiding element When the pusher plate passes beyond said range.

Signed at Indianapolis, county of Marion and State of Indiana, this 20th day of June,

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.

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