US1954606A - Slicing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 10, l934- w. A. VAN BERKEL. 1,954,606

SLICING MACHINE Filed 000. 10, 1932 Jim- Patented Apr. 10, 1934 SLICIN G MACHINE Wilhelmus Adrianus van Berkel, Clarens, Switzerland, assigner to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 10, 1932, Serial No. 636,961 In Great Britain Dctober 23, 1931 8 Claims.

My invention relates in general to slicing machines, and has more particular reference to a machine of the character mentioned, in which the substance to be sliced is mounted on a carriage having reciprocating movement with respect to the slicing knife.

An important object of the invention resides in providing a slicing machine having a shiftable carriage and selectively operable means for reciprocating the carriage either by means of a rotatable flywheel operatively connected to the carriage through a crank and connecting rod or equivalent mechanism so that rotation of the flywheel results in reciprocation of the carriage to and fro, or by means of a handle on the carriage which may be grasped by the operator to enable him to push and pull the carriage past the knife. Where the carriage is under the direct manual control of the operator, the stroke of its movement past the knife may be varied at the will of the operator, whereas when driven by the rotatable flywheel through the crank and connecting rod mechanism, the carriage is constrained to a definite stroke. Both of these arrangements have their advantages and it is the object of this invention to provide a machine which may be quickly and easily converted for use according to either arrangement.

Another important object is to provide a device of the class described, which may be conditioned for manual operation either to permit the stroke to be accomplished and varied at the will of the operator, or, even while the device is being manually operated the movement of the carriage is constrained to a definite stroke.

These and other numerous advantages will become apparent as the invention is more fully understood from the following description which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine, only such parts thereof being shown as are necessaryto permit the invention to be understood;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail sectional views drawn to a large scale and taken respectively on lines 3-3, 4 4, and 5--5 in Figs. 1 and 2.

In accordance with this invention, a slicing machine of the kind stated has an operative clutch connection so constructed and arranged that, when the clutch is engaged, the carriage can be moved to-and-fro and the knife rotated by turning the flywheel; and, when the clutch is dis- (Cl. B16-102) engaged and the carriage moved to-and-fro by directly pushing and pulling it, the knife being rotated either by the carriage movement or by power applied to the flywheel.

In a preferred construction, the aforesaid operative clutch connection is interposed between the flywheel and the carriage and knife, and a second operative connection is providedbetween the flywheel and knife, the arrangement being such that this second connection comes into op- 06 eration only when the flywheel is rotated. When a machine of this construction is operated by power, the power is applied to the flywheel. Thus, the entire machine may be driven either by hand or power by turning the iiywheel, or alternatively the carriage may be directly pushed and pulled by hand, in which event the knife is rotated directly by the carriage.

The slicing machine shown comprises a base 4 on which is mounted a reciprocable carriage 75` 5 for the substance to be sliced, slicing being performed in the usual manner by a circular rotary knife 6, The machine can be operated either by a ilywheel 7 or by a handle 8 secured to the carriage 5. 'Ihe ywheel 7 can either be turned 80 manually by means of a handle 9 or can be rotated by power, for which purpose an electric motor 10 is provided, the motor 10 having a driving pulley 11 and being pivotally mounted at 101 so that `it can be arranged to press the pulley 11 85 into frictional engagement with a pneumatic tire 12 provided on the flywheel 7, or can be Withdrawnv into an inoperative position. The vusual valve by means of which the pneumatic tire can be inflated projects inwardly from the rim of the iiywheel and is accordingly not shown in the drawing. The handle 9 has a pivotal attachment at 91 with the flywheel in order that, preparatory to power operation, the handle can be turned out of the way into the position in which it is 95 plate slidable across the carriage and 52 denot- 100 ing a clamp on the plate 51. The substance-holder can be fed in well known manner towards the knife either by hand or by automatic feed mechanism, including an intermittently rotatable feed-screw conventionally represented at 53. A vertical gauge plate 61 is provided in association with the knife 6 for use in well known manner during hand feeding, the plate 61 being disposed vparallel to the slicing plane and being adjustwhich is secured to its shaft while the other has l a free-wheel mounting, this mounting being such that the bevel-gear-wheel concerned transmits driving power if the flywheel 7 is rotated clockwise, when viewed in the direction towards the right of Figs. l and 2. n the embodiment illustrated, the gear wheel 17 is shown provided with the free wheel device or over-running clutch 171.

The slicing machine mechanism also includes a short cross-shaft 19 having secured to it a crankarm 20 and a bevel gear-wheel 21 meshing with a bevel-gear-wheel 22 on the shaft 15. The crank 20 is pivotally connected to one end of a `connecting rod 23 whose other end is pivotally attached to a member 24 pivoted to a pin 25 which is fixed to a stationary bracket 26 on the frame 4. The member 24 merely constitutes a support for the adjacent end of the connecting-rod 23 and takes no part in the transmission of driving power.

The carriage 5 has pivotally attached to it at 27 one end of a connecting rod 28 whose other end is pivotally attached at 29 to one arm 30 of a lever which is fulcrumed on the fixed pin 25. The other arm of this lever consists of a toothed segment 31 meshing with a pinion 32 having a free-wheel mounting 321 on the shaft 16, the mounting being such that the pinion transmits driving power to the shaft 16 when the pinion is forced to rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed in l Fig. 1.

The pivotal connection between the connecting-rod 23 and member 24 consists of a pin 33 which can engage in a hole in the toothed segment 31, as shown in Fig. 3. The pin 33 is slidably mounted in a boss 231 forming a part of the connecting-rod 23 and is provided with a stem 331 terminating in a finger-knob 34. The pin 33 is continuously pressed towards the segment 31 by a spring 35 housed within the boss 231 and bearing against a ring 36. screwed into the boss.

The stem 331 has a feather 37 whichcan engage in a slot 38 formed in the boss 231 and ring 36. The arrangement is such that, by pulling the knob 34, the pin 33 can be withdrawn from engagement with the segment 31, and thereafter, by turning the knob 34 slightly, the feather 37 can be moved clear of the slot 33, with the result that the pin 33 is locked in its retracted position. As shown in Fig. 2, the base 4 is formed with an opening by means of which access can be had to the finger-knob 34.

The free-wheel mountings of the pinion 32 and the bevel-gear- wheel 17 or 18 have been illustrated conventionally in Figs. 4 and 5 and may be of any appropriate construction and may include ratchet-and-pawl devices, or rollers inserted in wedge-shaped pockets, or coil clutches, or other devices.

It will be clear that the machine includes an operative clutch connection extending between the flywheel 7 and the carriage 5 and knife 6, the said connection comprising the following parts, namely, the shaft 15, bevels 22 and 21, cross-shaft 19 and crank 20, connecting-rod 23, withdrawable pin 33 (which constitues the clutch) and segmental lever 31; these parts being connected to the carriage through the rod 28 and to the knife-shaft through the pinion 32, counter-shaft 16 and chain-drive 141 (including the sprocket 14). On account of the above-described connection, when the clutch is engaged (i. e., the pin 33 inserted into the segment 3l), the carriage can be reciprocated and the knife rotated by turning the flywheel 7 appropriately either by hand or by power; and when the clutch is disengaged, the carriage can be reciprocated and the knife rotated by pushing and pulling the handle 8. It will be clear that, while the pin 33 is disengaged, the carriage is not confined to any definite stroke.

It will also be clear that the machine described includes in addition a second operative connection between the iiywheel and the knife, this connection comprising the shaft extension 151, bevels 17 and 18, and shaft extension 161. On account of the second operative connection, appropriate rotation of the flywheel always results in rotation of the knife; and, if the clutch be disengaged, the carriage can be reciprocated independently by pushing and pulling the handle 8, or it can be left at rest (this being desirable, for example, when the knife has to be sharpened). It will be seen that the connecting rod 23 meantime moves idly to-and-fro, the member 24 swinging with it.

It will be manifest that a machine such as hereinbefore described can have its carriage reciprocated either directly by hand while the clutch is disengaged, in which event the stroke is unconstrained, or by turning the flywheel either by hand or by power while the clutch is engaged, in which event the stroke is denite. When the clutch is disengaged and the stroke unconstrained, it is desirable to perform the feeding of the substance-holder by hand, use being made of the gauge plate 61; but when the clutch is engaged, the automatic feed-mechanism may be used.

It is to be understood that the slicing machine described and illustrated has been chosen merely by way of example and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any desired drive may be provided between the motor and the flywheel shaft; and any appropriate form of clutch may be provided. The various parts of the connecting-rod mechanism illustrated are arranged to move in vertical longitudinal planes, but any other arrangement can be adopted instead.

It is thought that the invention and the numerous attendant advantages will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form hereinbefore described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A slicing machine of the kind stated having a rotatable driving member, a work support and a knife, said knife and work-support being relatively reciprocable, and operative driving mechanism between the parts comprising a crank rotated through gearing by the rotatable driving member, an oscillatory member, a connecting rod extending between the crank and the oscillatory member, a co-axial oscillatory lever formed with a toothed segment, clutch means connecting the said connecting-rod and oscillatory lever, a counter-shaft having a driving connection with the knife, another connecting-rod between the lever and the work support, and a gear-wheel engaging the toothed segment and having a oneway driving connection with the counter-shaft.

2. A slicing machine of the kind stated having an operative connection extending between the flywheel and the carriage and knife and including a clutch, the said connection comprising a crank rotated through gearing by the flywheel-shaft, a connecting rod extending between the crank and an oscillatory member, a co-axial oscillatory lever formed with a toothed segment and which is connectible to the said connecting-rod by the clutch, another connecting-rod between the lever and the carriage, and a gear-wheel which meshes with the toothed segment and is mounted on a knife-driving counter-shaft.

3. A slicing machine of the kind stated having a rotatable driving member, a work support and a knife, said knife and Work-holder being relatively reciprocable and operative driving mechanism between the parts and comprising a crank rotated through gearing by the rotatable driving member, an oscillatory member, a connecting-rod extending between the crank and the oscillatory member, a co-axial oscillatory lever formedwithatoothedsegment, clutch means connecting the said connecting-rod and oscillatory lever, a counter-shaft having a driving connection with the knife, another connecting-rod between the lever and the work support, and a gearwheel engaging the toothed segment and having a `one-way driving connection with the countershaft, and a geared driving connection between the driving member and the counter-shaft.

4. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a carriage, a flywheel, an operative connection extending between the flywheel and the carriage and knife including a clutch, the said connection comprising a crank rotated through gearing by the flywheel-shaft, an oscillating member, a connecting rod extending between the crank and said oscillatory member, a co-axial oscillatory lever formed with a toothed segment and which is connectible to the said connecting-rod by said clutch, another connecting-rod between the lever and the carriage, and a gear-wheel which meshes with the toothed segment and is mounted on a knife-driving counter shaft, and a geared connection between the flywheel-shaft and the knifedriving counter-shaft.

5. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a carriage, a fiywheel, an operative connection extending between the flywheel and the carriage and knife including a clutch, the said connection comprising a crank rotated through gearing by the flywheel-shaft, an oscillating member, a connecting rod extending between the crank and said oscillatory member', a co-axial oscillatory lever formed with a toothed segment and which is connectible to the said connecting-rod by said clutch, another connecting-rod between the lever and the carriage, and a gear-wheel which meshes with the toothed segment and is mounted on a knife-driving counter-shaft, said crank oscillatory member and toothed lever being mounted for movement in vertical plane.

6. A slicing machine comprising a relatively reciprocatory knife and substance-supporting carriage, and mechanism for operating the knife and carriage, the said mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a counter-shaft driving the knife, a crank-shaft geared to the driving shaft, a lever connected to the carriage and having a freewheel gear connection with the counter-shaft, a selective clutch-connection between the crank shaft and said lever, and a free-wheel gear-connection between the driving shaft and the counter-shaft. Y

7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotary knife of a substance table reciprocable relative to said knife, a rotatable shaft arranged with the axis of rotation thereof extending substantially at right angles to the path of reciprocation of said table and substantially parallel to the plane of reciprocation, a gear segment pivoted on an axis substantially parallel to said shaft, a connection between said gear segment and said table comprising a link pivoted to said table and to said segment, a gear on said shaft meshing with said gear segment and having a one-way driving connection with said shaft, a driving connection between said knife and shaft, a power shaft, a crank having a plane of rotation substantially perpendicular to said rst mentioned shaft, and a pitman pivoted to said crank and releasably connected to said gear segment whereby said crank may be used selectively to actuate said gear segment and thus actuate said knife and carriage through said gear segment and operative connections to said knife and carriage from said segment.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotatable slicing knife of a rotatable knife actuating shaft extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said knife, a substance carriage reciprocable in a path substantially parallel to the cutting plane of said knife and parallel to a plane through the axis of said shaft, a gear segment pivoted on an axis substantially parallel with said shaft and having a one-way driving connection therewith, a drive shaft having positive connection with said first mentioned shaft for imparting continuous movement to said shaft, a releasable operative connection from said drive shaft to said gear segment for rocking said gear segment, and a connection between said gear segment and said carriage whereby when said drive shaft is actuated said knife and carriage are operated due to the rocking of said gear segment, and whereby said carriage may be operated independently of the drive to said knife by releasing said releasable operative connection from said drive shaft to said gear segment.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL.

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