Electrical slicing machine

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical slicing machine for domestic use, comprising a base (1) and a casing (6) for the motor (5) obtained by cutting an extruded aluminum profile. The slicing machine is also provided with an overturning dish (3b) that supports the product to be sliced and a plastic transparent dish (8) used to collect the slices, provided with a lamp.

Description: This invention relates to an electrical slicing machine for domestic use that is extremely compact in size, convenient in terms of construction costs, functional and reliable. This model of slicing machine for family use has been devised with the intention of realizing a machine with limited volume that can be easily stored inside the modular furniture for kitchen, whose cabinets usually feature a standard depth of 60 cm. It appears obvious that such a compact slicing machine is not only advantageous for the final user, who needs to find a proper place for the machine when it is not used, but also for the retailer, who will be able to stock a higher number of machines in his warehouse. Another objective of this invention is to develop and use new construction solutions in order to reduce the production costs of the slicing machines that are currently on the market. Last but not least, another purpose of the invention is to obtain a practical and functional slicing machine able to give the maximum protection against domestic injuries. The first objective - that is the maximum reduction possible of the machine volume - has been reached by using a support dish (for the product to be sliced) that can be overturned upwards and lifted from the working position with sub-horizontal direction to the resting position in which it is placed against the "sail". It must be specified that the word "sail" indicates the sub-vertical wall in front of the blade on which the transversal section of the product to be sliced is placed and slides. When the support dish is overturned in the resting position, the transversal volume of the machine according to this invention is reduced by approximately 50% and is represented by the maximum width of the base, since the support dish in lifted position does not project out of the base (either in the back or in the front). To tell the truth, said solution is already disclosed by the patent DE-C-4403485 which concerns an electrical slicing machine for domestic use featuring a support dish (for the product) to be overturned from a working position, with horizontal direction, to a resting position, with vertical direction against the blade. However, no solutions is provided in order to reduce the production costs in the slicing machines of known type, whose constructive elements are in most part made of die-cast metal. This means that in order to produce the current slicing machines the manufacturer must have a specific base mold for each size of the blade, whose length proportionally increases according to the diameter of the blade used on the machine. The use of an extruded aluminum profile for the machine base makes it possible to produce bases of any length at very low cost, since it is only necessary to cut the aluminum profile in the desired dimension. In this way the expensive series of molds with different sizes for the die-cast base is no longer necessary. According to this invention, an extruded aluminum profile is also used to make the casing that houses the motor. This allows creating any size of casing to house the motor used in the machine, whose length usually varies according to its power. Moreover, it must be said that the production costs of the machine according to the invention are further reduced due to the fact that the two different extruded profiles - respectively used for manufacturing the base and the casing of the motor - feature matching sections so that there is no need of applying common fixing means such us screws, bolts and welding spots. Another characteristic of the slicing machine according to this invention is the use of a plastic transparent dish to collect the slices, under which a lamp is placed to light the surface on which the slices fall. The idea of providing specific lighting on this surface is due to the fact that for space reasons the slicing machines are often kept in segregated positions in the kitchen that do not have enough light to carry out the slicing operation in safe conditions. For clearer explication, the description of the model of slicing machine according to this invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which only have an explanatory, not restrictive purpose, where: Fig. 1 shows the slicing machine from the side on which the overturning dish is located; Fig. 2 is the cross-section of Fig. 1 with plane II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is the cross-section of Fig. 1 with plane III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the slicing machine with the overturning dish lifted in the resting position. With reference to the above mentioned figures the electrical slicing machine according to this invention comprises a base (1) obtained by cutting an extruded aluminum profile whose bottom features two longitudinal grooves (1a) in which the support feet (2) of the machine are inserted and fixed, with the possibility of been positioned and blocked in place anywhere along the said grooves. The base (1) houses a carriage (3) to which a vertical bracket (3a) is fixed to hold the support dish (3b) of the product to be sliced, that is hinged to the upper edge of the bracket (3a) with respect to the horizontal axis in order to be overturned from the working position with sub-horizontal direction (see Fig. 2) to the resting position with vertical direction against the "sail" of the machine (see Fig. 4). The electrical motor (5) is housed inside a casing (6) obtained by cutting an extruded aluminum profile, whose bottom features two longitudinal ribs (6a) that match two corresponding longitudinal grooves (7a) located on the supports (7) of the casing (6), made of two extruded aluminum profiles, whose bottom part features two beads (7b) that are housed and fixed inside longitudinal grooves (1b) located on the upper part of the base (1). The slice-collecting dish (8) is made of molded semi-transparent plastic material and lit by a lamp (9) housed in a compartment located under the dish (8).

Claims: Electrical slicing machine for domestic use where the base (1) and the casing (6), that houses the motor (5), are obtained by cutting an extruded aluminium profile and where the support dish (3b) of the product to be sliced is hinged to the support bracket (3a) with respect to the horizontal axis in order to be overturned from the working position with sub-horizontal direction to the resting position with sub-vertical direction against the "sail" (4) of the machine; slicing machine characterized in that the slice-collecting dish (8) is made of moulded transparent plastic material and lit by a lamp (9) housed in a compartment located under the dish (8). Electrical slicing machine, for domestic use, according to claim (1) characterized in that said electrical motor (5) is housed in said casing (6), obtained by cutting an extruded aluminium profile, whose bottom features two longitudinal ribs (6a) that match two longitudinal grooves (7a) located on the supports (7) of the casing (6), made of two extruded profiles, whose bottom part features two beads (7b) that are housed and fixed inside longitudinal grooves (1b) located on the upper part of the base (1). Electrical slicing machine, for domestic use, according to claim (1) characterised in that the base (1) is obtained by cutting an extruded aluminium profile that features two longitudinal grooves (1a) in which the support feet (2) are located and fixed.

Inventors: FRANCHINI FABIO, FRANCHINI, FABIO
Applicants: PADA ENG SRL, PADA ENGINEERING - S.R.L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B26D7
IPC codes: B26D7