Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improvement in a chamfering machine for chamfering blocks of vegetable such as carrots or potatoes. A conventional vegetable block chamfering machine uses a chamfering blade having a crank-like axle integrally connected thereto with its opposite handles aligned with the blade edge, permitting the chamfering blade to rotate freely about its opposite handles. An improved chamfering machine according to the present invention is free of any kind of malfunction as would be often caused in the conventional chamfering machine, and is capable of chamfering blocks of vegetable effectively. A chamfering blade is placed in the path in which a selected block of vegetable is transported, the edge of the chamfering blade being directed to the vegetable block. The chamfering blade is integrally connected to a blade axle, which is placed in engagement with guide and the blade axle is fixed to one end of a swingable rod. A vegetable carrier is placed in front of the chamfering blade. A vegetable block transporting transports the block of vegetable on the transporting way with the block of vegetable pinched and held, and the vegetable block transporting is operatively connected to the other end of the swingable rod, thus permitting the swingable rod to swing about the blade axle, allowing the chamfering blade to turn about the blade axle while moving and chamfering the block of vegetable under the guidance provided by the guide in the counter direction to the direction in which the block of vegetable is transported.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for chamfering cuboid blocks of vegetables. 
     It is often requested that vegetables, such as carrots or potatoes be cut to provide bite-sized blocks of carrots or potatoes. Such blocks of carrots or potatoes have a cuboid form with ridges extending along its corners. These ridges give an unpleasant touch in one&#39;s mouth, and are easily broken when boiled, thus making the soup thick. Therefore, such bite-sized blocks are preferably chamfered to give a rounded shape as a whole before cooking. 
     The chamfered block looks like a Rugby ball, having convex sides. Assuming that cuboid blocks of vegetable are chamfered manually with a kitchen knife, even a skilled hasher can chamfer 200 to 400 pieces for one hour at best. If food is prepared for many people, such skilled hashers cannot be allotted such a less-important work. 
     In an attempt to facilitate such work a machine is proposed for chamfering cuboid blocks of vegetable (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.9-248791). 
     The vegetable block chamfering machine has a chamfering blade fixed to a crank-like axle with the edge of the chamfering blade aligned with the opposite lateral handles of the crank-like axle, and the opposite lateral handles of the crank-like axle are fixed rotatably to a stand frame of the chamfering machine, thereby permitting the chamfering blade to be tilted about the crank-like axle against a block of vegetable when the chamfering blade meets with the counter force caused by advance of the block of vegetable on the chamfering blade. Thus, the cuboid block of vegetable can be chamfered so that it may be contoured to be given a Rugby ball-like shape. 
     Attaching the chamfering blade about its pivot axle for free tilting, however, has the defect of abruptly increasing the resistance to the turning of the chamfering blade if vegetable debris is stuck to the pivot axle of the chamfering blade, preventing the smooth cutting, and what is worse, deforming blocks of vegetable and breaking the chamfering blade as a result of stress convergence at the blade-to-axle joint. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a vegetable block chamfering machine having the pivot axle of the chamfering blade fixed to an associated link mechanism, thereby permitting the tilting of the chamfering blade to be controlled through the agency of the link mechanism, thus assuring that the vegetable block chamfering machine is free of such defects as described above. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention a vegetable block chamfering machine is constructed as follows: 
     a single chamfering blade is placed in the path in which a selected cuboid block of vegetable is made to advance, and the chamfering blade is oriented with its edge directed to the block of vegetable; a pivot axle of the chamfering blade is placed in engagement with guide means, and is fixed to one end of a swingable rod via an intervening connection rod; a vegetable carrier having means for pinching a selected cuboid block of vegetable is set in front of the chamfering blade for carrying the block of vegetable toward the chamfering blade; and the vegetable carrier is operatively connected to the one end of the swingable rod, thereby permitting the swingable rod to swing about the other or pivot end of the swingable rod in unison with the advance of the vegetable carrier so that the chamfering blade may be tilted about its pivot axle while being guided by the guide means, thus chamfering the block of vegetable. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention a vegetable block chamfering machine is constructed as follows: 
     two chamfering blades are placed at different levels with their edges directed to a cuboid block of vegetable for simultaneously chamfering the same, the two chamfering blades being in the path in which the cuboid block of vegetable is made to advance; the pivot axle of the first chamfering blade is placed in engagement with guide means, and is fixed to one end of a swingable rod via an associated intervening connection rod whereas the pivot axle of the second chamfering blade is placed in engagement with the guide means, and is fixed to the swingable rod via an associated intervening connection rod; a vegetable carrier having means for pinching a selected cuboid block of vegetable is set in front of the chamfering blade for carrying the cuboid block of vegetable toward the first and second chamfering blades; and the vegetable carrier is operatively connected to the one end of the swingable rod, thereby permitting the swingable rod to swing about the other or pivot end of the swingable rod in unison with the advance of the vegetable carrier so that the first and second chamfering blades may be tilted about their pivot axles while being guided by the guide means, thus chamfering the cuboid block of vegetable at the upper and lower levels. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention a vegetable block chamfering machine is constructed as follows: 
     two chamfering blades are parallel-arranged with their edges directed to a cuboid block of vegetable for simultaneously chamfering the same, the two chamfering blades being in the path in which a selected cuboid block of vegetable is made to advance; the pivot axle of the first chamfering blade is placed in engagement with guide means, and is fixed at each end to one end of a swingable rod whereas the pivot axle of the second chamfering blade is placed in engagement with the guide means, and is fixed at each end to another swingable rod; a driving plate which can be moved back and forth on a linear passage, and is operatively connected to the one end of each swingable rod; a vegetable carrier having means for pinching a selected cuboid block of vegetable is set in front of the chamfering blades, carrying the block of vegetable toward the first and second chamfering blades; and the vegetable carrier is operatively connected to a driving plate, thereby permitting the swingable rods to swing about the other or pivot ends of the swingable rods in unison with the advance of the vegetable carrier so that the first and second chamfering blades may be tilted about their pivot axles while being guided by the guide means, thus chamfering the block of vegetable in the opposite planes parallel to the direction in which the block of vegetable is transported. 
     Finally according to a fourth aspect of the present invention a vegetable block chamfering machine is so constructed as follows: 
     five chamfering blades for effecting a required chamfering at one time, that is, a single inverted “V”-shaped blade for cutting and removing the opposite upper ridges of the cuboid vegetable block, two horizontal blades at different levels for cutting and removing the top and bottom of the cuboid vegetable block, and two vertical blades spaced apart from each other for cutting and removing the opposite sides of the cuboid vegetable block are placed sequentially in the path in which the vegetable block is made to advance, all chamfering blades being oriented with their edges directed to the vegetable block; 
     the pivot axle of the inverted “V”-shaped blade is placed in engagement with first guide means, and is fixed at each end to one end of one or the other first swingable rod; the pivot axle each of the second horizontal blades is placed in engagement with second guide means, and is fixed at each end to one end of one or the other second swingable rod; and the pivot axle each of the third vertical blades is placed in engagement with third guide means, and is fixed to one end of one or the other third swingable rod; 
     first and second driving plates which can be moved back and forth in linear passages, the first driving plate being operatively connected to the other ends of the first and second swingable rods whereas the second driving plate being operatively connected to the other ends of the third swingable rod; 
     a vegetable carrier having means for pinching a selected cuboid block of vegetable is set in front of the chamfering blades, carrying the block of vegetable toward the first and second chamfering blades; and the vegetable carrier is operatively connected to the first and second driving plates, thereby permitting the swingable rods to swing about the other or pivot ends of the swingable rods in unison with the advance of the vegetable carrier so that the chamfering blades may be tilted about their pivot axles while being guided by the guide means, thus chamfering the block of vegetable at all sides in planes parallel to the direction in which the block of vegetable is transported. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a vegetable block chamfering machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plane view of the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the vegetable block chamfering machine taken along the line A—A in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 shows how the chamfering blades are tilted in chamfering a block of vegetable; 
     FIG. 6 shows how a piece of vegetable is cut into a cuboid block of vegetable, and how the cuboid block of vegetable is chamfered; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vegetable block chamfering machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a plane view of the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of two inverted “V”-shaped chamfering blades for cutting and removing the opposite upper corner ridges of the vegetable block; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of two horizontal chamfering blades for cutting and removing the top and bottom portions of the vegetable block; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of two vertical chamfering blades for cutting and removing the opposite sides of the vegetable block; 
     FIG. 14 shows how a piece of vegetable is cut into a cuboid block of vegetable, and how the cuboid block of vegetable is chamfered by the vegetable block chamfering machine of FIG. 7; 
     FIGS. 15 to  17  show how these different chamfering blades work; 
     FIG. 18 is a plane view of some parts of the vegetable chamfering machine for pinching and holding a cuboid block of vegetable B; 
     FIG. 19 is a side view of some parts for pinching and holding a cuboid block of vegetable B; 
     FIG. 20 is a plane view of vegetable block pinching-and-holding parts in the state of discharging a chamfered block of vegetable B; 
     FIG. 21 is a side view of vegetable block pinching-and-holding parts in the state of discharging the chamfered block of vegetable B; and 
     FIG. 22 illustrates how the swingable rod is operatively connected to an actuating pin. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The accompanying drawings show two embodiments of the present invention, that is, FIGS. 1 to  6  show a first embodiment, and FIGS. 7 to  22  show a second embodiment. 
     At first, a vegetable block chamfering machine according to the first embodiment is described below. FIG. 1 is a side view of the chamfering machine; FIG. 2 is a plane view of the chamfering machine; FIG. 3 is a front view of the chamfering machine; and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the chamfering machine taken along the line A—A in FIG.  2 . 
     A machine frame  1  has two vertical guide plates  13   a  and  13   b  standing upright intermediate of the flat bed of the machine frame  1 . Each vertical guide plate has a vertical guide slot  14  made therein. Upper and lower chamfering blades  21  and  22  have their axles  19  and  20  slidably fitted in the vertical guide slots  14  of the opposite vertical guide plates  13   a  and  13   b , thus permitting the upper and lower blades  21  and  22  to move up and down. 
     In place of such guide slots  14  vertical grooves may be made in the opposite guide plates  13   a  and  13   b  for snugly accommodating the blade axles. 
     The upper and lower chamfering blades  21  and  22  have their axles  19  and  20  vertically aligned, and are so oriented that their edges are directed to a block of vegetable. 
     A swingable rod  16  is rotatably fixed at one end to one vertical guide plate  13   a  at a level higher than the vertical guide slot  14 , thereby permitting the swingable rod  16  to swing back and forth about its pivot axle  15 . An upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  is rotatably connected at one end to the other end of the swingable rod  16 , and is fixedly connected at the other end to the axle  19  of the upper chamfering blade  21 . A lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18  is rotatably connected at one end to a selected portion  26  of the swingable rod  16 , and is fixedly connected at the other end to the axle  20  of the lower chamfering blade  22 . The lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18  is semi-circular in shape (see FIG. 1) to avoid any interference with the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  19 . 
     The upper chamfering blade  21  has a trapezoid-like shape as seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 in this particular example. It may have an arch-like or triangular shape. 
     A vegetable carrier  12  is movably set a predetermined distance ahead of the upper and lower chamfering blades  21  and  22 . The vegetable carrier  12  has a “V”-shaped groove  12   a  formed on its top surface. Two parallel guide rails  2  are laid on the flat base of the machine frame, and vegetable transporting means  3  is adapted to run on the pair of parallel guide rails  2 . The vegetable transporting means  3  comprises movable front and rear walls  5  and  6  both riding on the guide rails  2 . These front and rear walls  5  and  6  have confronting push rods  4  and  4  fixed thereon. These push rods  4  and  4  extend above the “V”-shaped groove  12   a  of the vegetable carrier  12  for pinching an elongated cuboid block of vegetable between the confronting push rods  4  and  4 . 
     Also, the front and rear movable walls  5  and  6  have confronting longitudinal push-extensions  7  and  8  formed on their bottoms. The front movable wall  5  has a lateral handle extension  9  formed on its outer side. The lateral handle extension  9  has a groove  10  formed thereon. The rear movable wall  6  has a stud pin  11  on its outer side at the same level as the groove  10  of the lateral handle extension  9 . A length of coiled spring  24  is fixed to the front and rear movable walls  5  and  6  by permitting its opposite ends to be caught by the groove  10  and the stud pin  11  so that it may be stretched therebetween to pull these walls  5  and  6  toward each other. 
     A slider block  23  is adapted to move back and forth along one side of the machine frame  1  in a certain limited intermediate range between the confronting longitudinal push-extensions  7  and  8 . The slider block  23  can be moved back and forth by moving the longitudinal push-extensions  7  and  8  with the aid of the lateral handle extension  9 . 
     The slider block  23  has a vertical slot  27  formed therein, and the joint between the swingable rod  16  and the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  is movably fitted in the vertical slot  27 . Detents  26   a  and  26   b  are positioned to be apart a predetermined distance on either side of the intermediate position of the vertical guide plate  13   a  on the machine frame  1 . 
     FIG. 5 shows how the edges C of the upper and lower chamfering blades  21  and  22  change in angle relative to an elongated cuboid block of vegetable such as a potatoes, which is ahead of their edges C (their backs indicated by D). As seen from FIG. 6, a piece of potatoes (FIG. 6-1) is cut at opposite ends (solid lines, in FIG. 6-2) and then, in radial directions (broken lines in FIG. 6-2) into an elongated cuboid block of potato B (FIG.  6 - 3 ). 
     When the lateral handle extension  9  is pulled toward a user (leftward in FIG. 1) to move the front movable wall  5  forward, the rear movable wall  6  is moved forward accordingly, thereby allowing the longitudinal push-extension  8  to push the slider block  23  forward. Accordingly the swingable rod  16  is formed to swing clockwise until the slider block  23  abuts against the detent  26   b , and then the swingable rod  16  and the rear movable wall  6  stop. 
     As the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  is formed to swing clockwise, the upper blade axle  19  is lowered in the vertical guide slot  14 , permitting the edge of the upper chamfering blade  21  to be inclined upward relative to the elongated cuboid block of vegetable B. 
     At the same time, the lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18  is formed to swing counterclockwise to raise the lower blade axle  20  in the vertical guide slot  14 , thereby permitting the edge of the lower blade  22  to be inclined downward relative to the elongated cuboid block of vegetable B. 
     The lateral handle extension  9  is pulled toward the user even more to expand the distance between the confronting push rods  4  and  4 , and then a selected elongated cuboid block of vegetable is placed on the “V”-shaped groove  12   a  of the vegetable carrier  12  in the expanded space between the confronting push rods  4  and  4 . Then, the lateral handle extension  9  is released to allow the confronting longitudinal push rods  4  and  4  to pinch the elongated cuboid block of vegetable therebetween (see FIG.  1 ). 
     Then, the lateral handle extension  9  is pushed rearward (rightward in FIG. 1) to allow the longitudinal push-extension  7  of the front movable wall  5  to push the slider block  23  rearward along with the elongated cuboid block of vegetable B. 
     The lengths of the confronting push rods  4  and  4  are so determined that the elongated cuboid block of vegetable B may be placed in contact with the edges of the upper and lower blades  21  and  22  when the longitudinal push-extension  7  of the front movable wall  5  abuts against the slider block  23 . 
     Immediately after the block of vegetable B abuts against the upper and lower chamfering blade edges, the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  puts the edge of the upper chamfering blade  21  in an upward oblique position whereas the lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18  puts the edge of the lower chamfering blade  22  in a downward oblique position (see FIG. 5, ST- 1 ). 
     Further pushing of the lateral handle extension  9  moves the slider  23  rearward to rotate the swingable rod  16  counterclockwise about the pivot axle  15  from the position indicated by solid lines toward that indicated by broken lines in FIG.  1 . 
     While the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  rotates about the joint  25  toward the upright position, the upper blade axle  19  is raised in the vertical guide slot  14 , allowing the upper blade  21  to chamfer the end of the vegetable block B. As the upper blade axle  19  turns, the edge of the upper chamfering blade changes gradually in angle from the upward oblique to horizontal position to slice the top of the vegetable block B horizontally. 
     On the other hand, while the swingable rod  16  pushes down the lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18 , the lower blade axle  20  is lowered in the vertical guide slot  14 , permitting its edge to turn gradually from the downward oblique to horizontal position to slice the bottom of the vegetable block B horizontally. 
     The joint  25  between the swingable rod  16  and the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  is allowed to move in the vertical slot  27  of the slide block  23  while the swingable rod  16  swings a certain angular distance about the pivot axle  15 , thereby assuring that the swingable rod  16  along with both connection rods  16  and  17  move smoothly. When the swingable rod  16  comes to the upright position, the upper chamfering blade  21  is raised up to the highest position with its edge horizontal, and the lower blade  22  is lowered down to the lowest position with its edge horizontal (see FIG. 5, ST- 2 ). 
     When the swingable rod  16  swings rightward beyond the upright position, the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  lowers the upper blade  21 , allowing its edge to turn downward, and the lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  22  raises the lower blade  22 , allowing its edge to turn upward (see FIG. 5, ST- 3 ). 
     When the slider block  23  abuts against the detent  26   a , the swingable rod  16  stops, and it is retained in the position shown in phantom lines in FIG.  1 . The chamfering of the block of vegetable B is finished. 
     Guide plates  13   a ,  13   b , upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rods  16 , lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rods  18  of different sizes are prepared, and selectively used to meet different vegetable block sizes and shapes. 
     When the vegetable carrier means  3  moves a certain predetermined distance, the trapezoid-like upper chamfering blade  21  cuts and removes the top of the vegetable block B, and at the same time, the linear lower blade  22  cuts and removes the bottom of the vegetable block B. 
     As the vegetable block B is brought a distance equal to its longitudinal size, the upper and lower blades  21  and  22  change their angles gradually so that the vegetable block B may be cut and shaped as seen from FIG. 6-4. 
     After finishing the chamfering of the vegetable block, the rear movable wall  6  is withdrawn rearward to allow the chamfered vegetable block to fall. While chamfering, vegetable debris is allowed to fall, so that the finished vegetable block may be free of such vegetable debris. 
     After removing the finished vegetable block from the machine, the front movable wall  5  is allowed to return to the initial position by releasing the lateral handle extension  9 , and at the same time the rear movable wall  6  is pulled toward the front movable wall  5  by the stretched spring  24 . 
     The slider block  23  is pushed forward by the longitudinal push-extennsion  8  of the rear movable wall  6 , allowing the swingable rod  16 , the upper blade raising-and-lowering connection rod  17  and the lower blade lowering-and-raising connection rod  18  to return to their initial positions as shown in solid lines in FIG.  1 . 
     In this particular example the vegetable carrier means  3  is moved by hand. The machine may be so designed that the vegetable carrier means  3  may be moved through the agency of an electric motor driven rack-and-pinion, and then, a lot of vegetable blocks can be chamfered one after another simply by putting them on the vegetable carrier  12 , permitting time and labor to be saved. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 to  22 , a chamfering machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described below. The machine is so designed that blocks of vegetable may be shifted alternately in the opposite directions to be chamfered one after another. 
     A longitudinal vegetable-feeding passage M is defined on the flat base of the machine, and two opposite side plates  28  stand upright on either side of the longitudinal vegetable passage M with two lateral support plates  30  traversing the space between the opposite side plates  28  on the front and rear sides of the machine. These make up together a machine frame  29 . 
     Each side plate  28  has upper and lower longitudinal, horizontal guide slots  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c  or  32   d , and vertical guide slots  33   a  and  33   b.    
     The lateral support plate  28  is positioned at a level lower than the upper longitudinal slot  32   a , and it has a lateral guide slot  31 . 
     A vegetable carrier  12  is placed at the intermediate position of the machine frame  29 . 
     The vegetable carrier  12  is composed of a pair of chamfered blocks, which are arranged with their chamfered sides facing each other, thereby defining a “V”-shaped groove  12   a  therebetween. The opposite chamfered blocks are somewhat apart from each other, leaving a longitudinal gap of predetermined width on the bottom of the “V”-shaped valley. 
     Each chamfered block has a through hole formed therein. A light-emitting element is placed on one side of one of the opposite chamfered blocks and a light-receiving element is placed on the other side of the other chamfered block, so that a block of vegetable B may be detected when it is placed on the vegetable carrier  12 . 
     Two inverted “V”-shaped blades  34  are arranged on the front and rear sides of the vegetable carrier  12 , and their blade axles  39  are slidably fitted in vertical guide slots  33   a , which are formed in the opposite side walls  28  (see FIG.  11 ). 
     Two pairs of upper and lower horizontal chamfering blades  35  and  36  have their axles  39  slidably fitted in the vertical guide slots  33   b , which are formed in the opposite side walls  28  (FIG.  12 ). 
     Finally, two pairs of left and right vertical blades  37  and  38  have their axles  39  slidably fitted in the horizontal guide slots  31 , which are formed in the lateral support plates  30  (FIG.  13 ). 
     The inverted “V”-shaped blades  34  for cutting and removing the opposite longitudinal corners of an elongated cuboid block of vegetable, upper and lower horizontal blades  35 ,  36  for cutting and removing the top and bottom of the vegetable block, and left and right vertical blades  37 ,  38  for cutting and removing the opposite sides of the vegetable block are separated into two groups with their edges directed to the vegetable carrier  12 . 
     A slider system  40  comprises a screw rod  42  extending parallel to the longitudinal vegetable-feeding passage M and a slider block  43  threadedly engaged with the screw rod  42 . The screw rod  42  is connected to the shaft of an electric motor  41 . The slider system  40  has a reversing switch (not shown) positioned at either end, too. When the reversing switch is actuated to permit the motor  41  to run in one or the other direction, the slider block  43  is moved back and forth within a predetermined distance. 
     An elongated guide rail  44  is laid parallel to the vegetable-feeding passage M, extending along the two side walls  28  on one side of the flat bed of the machine frame, and a liner  45  is slidably mounted on the longitudinal guide rail  44 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 18 to  21 , the slider block  43  has a projected joint plate  48  fixed to its top, and the projected joint plate  48  has its projection  47  laid on the liner  45 . 
     The projection  47  has an engagement hole  49  formed for accommodating a steel ball  50  and a coiled spring  51  whereas the liner  45  has a counter semicircular-hole  52  formed thereon, thus providing a detachable engagement mechanism  46  by which the projected joint plate  48  is detachably connected to the liner  45  by allowing the steel ball  50  to be fitted in the blind hole  52  under the influence of the coiled spring  51 . 
     The guide rail  44  has two detents  533  and  544  projecting at its opposite ends for defining the range within which the liner  45  can be driven. 
     The slider block  43  can be moved beyond the range set for the liner  45  when the steel ball  50  leaves the blind hole  52 , thereby disengaging the slider block  43  from the liner  45 . The slider block  43  can be placed in engagement with the liner  45  when the slider block  43  enters the range set for the liner  45  again, allowing the steel ball  50  to drop in the blind hole  52 . 
     The liner  45  has a lateral extension  55  movably fitted in the longitudinal, horizontal guide slot  32   c  of the side wall  28 , and a longitudinal push rod  56  is integrally connected to the lateral extension  55  of the liner  45 . 
     The liner  45  has an actuator pin  57  depressibly projecting from its top (see FIG.  22 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the slider block  43  has square joint holes  59  formed in its opposite sides. These square joint holes  59  extend parallel to the screw rod  42 , and the slider block  43  has detachable engagement means  46  equipped therewith. The detachable engagement means  46  can be operatively accommodated in the square joint holes  59 . 
     The longitudinal extensions of two L-shaped plates  60  are so arranged along the longitudinal guide rail  44  on the opposite sides of the slider block  43  that the end of each longitudinal extension may be aligned with one or the other square joint hole  59  of the slider block  43 , thus permitting the end of each longitudinal extension to be inserted in the square joint hole  59  and detachably caught by the detachable engagement means  46 . The lateral extension of the L-shaped plate  60  is movably inserted in the longitudinal guide slot  32   b  of the side wall  28 , and it has a counter push rod  61  integrally connected to its end in confronting relation with the push rod  56 . 
     Again referring to FIG. 11, the inverted “V”-shaped chamfering blade  34  comprises an inverted “Y”-shaped blade section and a “U”-shaped frame  62 , and the inverted “Y”-shaped blade section is integrally connected to the blade axle  39  via the “U”-shaped frame  62 . The “I”-shaped blade section  63  which connects the ridge of the inverted “V”-shaped blade section to the inverted “U”-shaped frame  62  functions to cut and separate a slice of vegetable into two pieces. The edge of the inverted “Y”-shaped blade section is in the plane in which the center axis of the blade axle  39  is contained, and the joint between the inverted “V”-shaped blade section and the “I”-shaped blade section is preferably at a level which is somewhat higher than the center axis of the blade axle  39 . 
     The blade axle  39  has two swingable rods  69  fixed to its opposite ends. Each swingable rod  69  has a roll  64  fixed to its lower end. The roll  64  has its axle  65  movably fitted in the longitudinal guide slot  32   d  of the side wall  28 , and the roll  64  confronts one or the other actuator pin  57  of the liner  45 . 
     Referring to FIG. 22 again, the liner  45  has an electromagnet (not shown) contained therein for pulling the actuator pin  57  in the liner  45 , thereby allowing the liner  45  to pass under the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69 , and then, the actuator pin  57  is allowed to appear again from the top surface of the liner  45 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, the upper horizontal chamfering blade  35  is integrally connected to the blade axle  39  with its edge inclined somewhat upward whereas the lower chamfering blade  36  is integrally connected to the blade axle  39  with its edge inclined somewhat downward. The blade axle  39  of the upper blade  35  has two swingable rods  70  fixed to its opposite ends whereas the blade axle  39  of the lower blade  36  has two swingable rods  71  fixed to its opposite ends. 
     Two actuator plates  68  for each set of upper and lower horizontal blades  35  and  36  are provided outside of the opposite side walls  28 . Each swingable rod  70  of the upper horizontal blade  35  is operatively connected to the actuator plate  68  and the side wall  28  by fixing the axle of the roll  64  to the lower end of the swingable rod  70 , inserting the roll axle loosely in the hole of the lower end of the actuator plate  68 , and inserting the roll axle loosely in the longitudinal guide slot  32   d  of the side wall  28 . 
     The upper end of each swingable rod  71  of the lower horizontal blade  36  is rotatably fixed to the upper end of the actuator plate  68 . 
     Referring to FIG. 13, the left and right vertical chamfering blades  37  and  38  are integrally connected to the vertical blade axles  39  with their edges directed somewhat outward, and the vertical blade axles  39  are fixed to the horizontal swingable rods  72  and  73 . A horizontal slide plate  66  has a traversing guide slot  31  formed therein, and the opposite ends of the horizontal slide plate  66  are slidably inserted in the longitudinal, horizontal guide slots  32   a  of the opposite side walls  28 . An upright slide plate  67  is fixed to one end of horizontal slide plate  66 , which appears from the side wall  28 . 
     The vertical blade axles  39  are slidably fitted in the traversing guide slot  31  of the horizontal slide plate  66 , and the swingable rods  72  and  73  are rotatably fixed to the horizontal slide plate  66  via associated joint pins  72   a  and  73   a.    
     The upright slide plate  67  has a roll  64  fixed to its lower end, and the axle  65  of the roll  64  is movably inserted in the longitudinal guide slot  32   d  of the side wall  28 . 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 show that an elongated cuboid block of vegetable B is pinched and held between the push and counter push rods  56  and  61 . 
     When the slider block  43  is driven in the direction indicated by arrow in FIG. 18 to placed the center of the slider block  43  in alignment with the center of the liner  45 , the slider block  43  is coupled with the liner  45  by the engagement mechanism  46 , and then the slider block  43  and the liner  45  move together as a whole, allowing the lateral extension  55  of the liner  45  to move in the longitudinal slot  32   c  of the side wall  28 , so that the push rod  56  may push the block of vegetable B forward. 
     On the other hand, the lateral extension of the L-shaped plate  60  remains still, lying ahead of the slider block  43 . When the slider block  43  continues to move toward the confronting end of the longitudinal extension of the L-shaped plate  60  to allow it to enter the square joint hole  59  of the slider block  43 , the L-shaped plate  60  is coupled with the slider block  43 , and then, the block of vegetable B is pinched and held between the push rod  56  and the counter push rod  61 . The L-shaped plate  60  is caught by detent means (not shown) to permit it to stay at a predetermined position against the pressure applied by the slider block  43 , thereby assuring that the block of vegetable B be held positively. 
     Referring to FIG. 22, the liner  45  is driven rearward, permitting the actuator pin  57  to push the roll  64 , thereby rotating the swingable rod  69  counterclockwise to raise the blade axle of the inverted “V”-shaped chamfering blade  34  in the vertical guide slot  33   a . After the swingable rod  69  passes the upright position as shown in FIG.  22 ( b ), the inverted “V”-shaped chamfering blade  34  starts descending. 
     The swingable rod  69  is rotated a predetermined angular distance to allow the “V”-shaped chamfering blade  34  to cut and remove the top of the vegetable block B, reaching the position as shown in FIG.  22 ( c ), when photo sensor means (not shown) detects arrival of the swingable rod  69  at the position to de-energize the electromagnet means, thus allowing the actuator pin  57  to be depressed in the liner  45  under the influence of spring. 
     Thereafter, the liner  45  continues to move rearward, allowing the roll  64  to ride over the depressed actuator pin  57  (see FIG.  22 ( c )), and leaving the swingable rod  69  behind. 
     The top of the block of vegetable B is cut and removed by the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  (see FIG.  14 ( 4 )), and then, the top slice is cut into two separate pieces, which can be removed from the chamfering machine without being caught by any parts of the machine. 
     The liner  45  moves rearward beyond the position as shown in FIG.  22 ( c ), and then, the electromagnet means is energized to project the actuator pin  57  from the top surface of the liner  45 . 
     The liner  45  continues to move rearward, so that the actuator pin  57  abuts against the subsequent roll  64  to push it, thereby rotating the swingable rod  70  and raising the horizontal, upper chamfering blade  35 , and at the same time, lowering the horizontal, lower chamfering blade  36 . 
     After slicing the upper and lower portions of the vegetable block B with the upper and lower horizontal blades (see FIG.  14 ( 5 )), rotation of the swingable rod  70  over a predetermined angular distance is detected by an associated photo sensor (not shown) to de-energize the electromagnet, thereby allowing the actuator pin  57  to be depressed in the liner  45 . Thus, the roll  64  rides over the depressed actuator pin  57 . 
     After the roll  64  passes the depressed actuator pin  57 , the electromagnet is energized to allow the actuator pin  57  to appear on the top surface of the liner  45 . 
     Finally, the roll  64  of the left and right vertical blades  37  and  38  is pushed rearward by the actuator pin  57 , thereby pushing the horizontal slide plate  66  rearward via the upright plate  67  to allow the left and right vertical chamfering blades  37  and  38  to move horizontally in the traversing guide slot  31 . 
     When the upright plate  67  stops at the terminal end of the longitudinal guide slot  32   a , the photo sensor detects arrival at the terminal position for de-energizing the electromagnet. The roll  64  is allowed to ride over the depressed actuator pin  57 , so that the liner  45  moves rearward, leaving the roll  64  behind, and finally the liner  45  stops when it abuts against the detent  53   b.    
     On the other hand, the slider block  43  continues to move rearward, leaving the liner  45  behind, and the L-shaped rod  60  is pushed rearward to expand the space between the push rod  56  and the counter push rod  61  until the chamfered block of vegetable B may fall down. 
     The manner in which the actuator pin and the link mechanism work with unison is described below in respect to the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34 . 
     The slider block  43  is driven forward, and the liner  45  is coupled with the slider block  43 , and is driven together with the slider block  43 . The push rod  56  of the liner  45  pushes an elongated cuboid block of vegetable B, making it to leave the vegetable carrier  12  so that it is pinched and held between the push rod  56  and the counter push rod  61 . 
     The liner  45  continues to move forward, pushing the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  with the actuator pin  57  to allow the upper end of the swingable rod  69  to rise in the vertical guide slot  33   a . Accordingly the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  rises with its edge turning accordingly, thereby cutting the top of the vegetable block B in a triangular shape. 
     When the swingable rod  69  stands upright to be aligned with the vertical guide slot  33   a , the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  is raised up to the highest position in which the edge is directed horizontal. 
     When the liner  45  continues to move forward, the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  is lowered while allowing the blade edge to turn downward. Thus, the vegetable block B is chamfered to be given a triangular shape in cross section. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21 show how the chamfered vegetable B is discharged. 
     The slider block  43  continues to move, and the liner  45  abuts against the detent pin  53   b , so that the slider block  43  is disengaged from the liner  45  to allow only the slider  43  to continue to move while pushing the counter push rod  61  apart from the chamfered vegetable block B. Thus, the chamfered vegetable block B is allowed to fall down. 
     After the chamfered vegetable block B is discharged, the screw rod  42  turns in the opposite direction to drive the slider block  43  along with the L-shaped plate  60  in the opposite direction. When the L-shaped plate  60  abuts against the detent  54 b to stop there, the slider block  43  is disconnected from the L-shaped plate  60 , and then, the slider block  43  is coupled with the liner  45  to permit the liner  45  to move together with the slider block  43 . 
     As the liner  45  moves rearward, the actuator pin  57  of the liner  45  pushes the roll  64  of the upright slide plate  67 , the roll  64  of the actuator plate  68  and the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  rearward in the order named to bring all of them in their initial position in which the left and right, vertical chamfering blades  37  and  38 , the upper and lower, horizontal chamfering blades  35  and  36  and the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  are so oriented that their edges are directed to the vegetable carrier  12 . 
     FIG. 14 shows how an elongated cuboid block of vegetable B can be chamfered sequentially. 
     At the preliminary step (see FIG.  14 ( 1 ) to ( 3 )) a piece of potatoes is cut at its opposite sides, and the barrel-like piece of potatoes is cut radially into four or six equal blocks B without their skin peeled. The preliminary treatment can be performed automatically by using an automatic cutter, which is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No.3024160. 
     An elongated cuboid block of vegetable B (FIG.  14 ( 3 )) is laid on the vegetable carrier  12  with its triangular ridge down. 
     The block of vegetable is chamfered along its opposite shoulders with the inverted “V”-shaped blade to give it such a shape as shown in FIG.  14 ( 4 ). 
     The block of vegetable is sliced along its upper and lower portions with the upper and lower, horizontal blades  35  and  36  to give it such a shape as shown in FIG.  14 ( 5 ). 
     Finally, the block of vegetable is cut along its opposite sides with the left and right, vertical chamfering blades  37  and  38  to give it such a shape as shown in FIG.  14 ( 6 ). 
     FIGS. 15 to  17  show how the different chamfering blades work. 
     Referring to FIG. 15, the push rod  56  pushes an elongated cuboid block of vegetable B, and at the same time, the liner  45  is driven to push the roll  6  of the swingable rod  69 , thereby raising the inverted “V”-shaped blade gradually while its edge is allowed to turn from upward-inclined to horizontal position, and then the swingable rod  69  stands upright (see FIG.  15   b ). 
     The roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  is pushed still further to make the swingable rod  69  to incline in the opposite way, lowering the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34  to allow its edge to be directed obliquely downward. The actuator pin  57  is depressed in the liner  45 , thus permitting the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  to ride over the depressed actuator pin  57  (see FIG.  15   c ). 
     Referring to FIG. 16, the push rod  56  continues to push the block of vegetable B until it abuts against the upper and lower, horizontal blades  35  and  36  (FIG.  16   a ). The liner  45  is driven to push the roll  64  rearward, thereby permitting the swingable rods  70  and  71  to raise the upper horizontal blade  35  and lower the lower horizontal blade  36  along the vertical guide slot  33   b , allowing their edges to turn gradually to the horizontal position (see FIG.  16   b ). 
     The liner  45  is driven to make the edges of the upper and lower, horizontal blades  35  and  36  turn inward, when the actuator pin  57  is depressed in the liner  45 , thereby permitting the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  to ride over the depressed actuator pin  57  (see FIG.  16   c ). 
     Referring to FIG. 17, the push rod  56  continues to push the block of vegetable B until it abuts against the left and light, vertical blades  37  and  38  (FIG.  17   a ). 
     The liner  45  is driven to push the slide plate  68  rearward, thereby permitting the swingable rods  72  and  73  to move the left and right, vertical blades  37  and  38  apart from each other, allowing their edges to turn gradually from the divergent to parallel position (see FIG.  17   b ). 
     The slide plate  68  continues to move rearward, permitting the swingable rods  72  and  73  to move the left and right, vertical blades  37  and  38  close to each other, allowing their edges to turn from the parallel to the convergent position, when the actuator pin  57  is depressed in the liner  45 , thus permitting the roll  64  of the swingable rod  69  to ride over the depressed actuator pin  57  (see FIG.  17   c ). 
     The vegetable block chamfering machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention has one set of different chamfering blades on either side of the vegetable carrier  12  in the order of the inverted “V”-shaped blade  34 , the upper and lower, horizontal chamfering blades  35  and  36 , and the left and right, vertical chamfering blades  37  and  38 . It uses a single slider unit  40  for reciprocating the vegetable carrier  12 , thereby permitting the two sets of different chamfering blades to work alternately, thus chamfering two blocks of vegetable B each time of reciprocation. 
     While one of the two sets of different chamfering blades work, the other set is allowed to return to its initial positions, thus permitting the saving of space required for installation, and the motor can be effectively used. 
     A chamfering machine according to the present invention can be used effectively in chamfering elongated cuboid blocks of vegetable such as potatoes or carrots into bite-sized rimless pieces. For the purpose of cutting and removing the corner ridges of an elongated cuboid block of vegetable the chamfering blades are integrally connected to their rotary axles, and such chamfering blades are operatively connected to a link mechanism. This arrangement has the effect of increasing the strength with which the rotary blades are attached to the machine frame, thus eliminating the possibility of being broken by vegetable debris stuck to the pivots of the chamfering blades. Also, advantageously the sharpness of the chamfering blade remains well even if the machine is used for an elongated length of time. 
     The symmetric arrangement of two sets of different chamfering blades relative to the center of the machine bed permits the alternate chamfering in such a way that one set of chamfering blades work while the other set is allowed to return to its initial position accordingly improving chamfering efficiency.