Patent GB-1403250-A (GB)
Title: Method and machine for severing a meat block
IPC: B26D1/28
Filed: 1972-10-30
Abstract: 1403250 Block slicer for foodstuff MARLEN RESEARCH CORP 30 Oct 1972 [15 May 1972] 49907/72 Heading A4C A method of slicing a meat block comprises continuously advancing the block at a uniform rate along a linear path, producing a cut of continuously increasing length and depth in the block transverse of the direction of advancement, continuing to advance the block without interruption over a predetermined distance without further cutting and then resuming the simultaneous advancement and cutting until a slice is severed from the block. SLICING MACHINE: A machine for slicing  blocks of meat according to the above method comprises a rotor 42, Fig. 1, for slicing and advancing the block, 14, Fig. 7, on a support 18, said rotor 42 including a shaft 40 rotatable about an axis generally parallel with the direction of advancement and a helical blade 46 secured to and coiled about the shaft 40 and having a convolution provided with an outer cutting edge 74, Fig. 4, having a pair of circumferentially spaced helical stretches 74a, 74c and a third stretch 74b coaxial with said axis to present a dwell time for each slice during which the cutting action is discontinued during advancement of the block 14. BLADE: The convoluted blade 46 is formed by clamping an initially flat blade using clamping discs 52, 54, 56 inter-connected by bolts 58. The convoluted blade 46 is welded to a hub 60 attached to the shaft 40 by a key 60. The blade 46 has a generally radial gap 70 from the outer extremity of which a cutting edge 74 extends over the periphery of the leading convolution, which extends over about 360 degrees. The edge 74 has a stretch 74a', 74a" and 74a''' whose radii of curvature increase progressively towards a point A. The stretch 74a merges into the stretch 74b which extends over about 135 degrees from A to B and is coaxial with the shaft 40. The third stretch 74c extends over about 45 degrees from B to C. The trailing convolution 50 extends over about 180 degrees from the point C and has a cutting edge 76a which extends helically over about 20 degrees from C to D, a short unsharpened length 76b coaxial with the shaft 40 and an unsharpened end 76c extending over about 160 degrees and coaxial with the shaft 40 but having a smaller radius than the section 76b. The convolution 50 forms a finger 80 held in its helical position by radial bars 82 bolted through spaces 84. A pair of bars 82 support an arcuate plate 86 having a leading flare 88. The cutting edges 74 and 76a are formed by bevels (98) and (100), Fig. 13, (not shown) on the leading face of the blade 46. SUPPORTS: The support 18 for the meat block includes a horizontal table 20 terminating in a wall 22 which slopes downwardly at about 20 degrees and is tilted about a horizontal axis at about 10 degrees to the direction of advancement. A sidewall 24 and the wall 22 merge in an elongated corner 30. An anvil 90 supports the lower corner of the block 14 while it is being cut. A slot 96 in the anvil 90 clears the edge 76a of the blade 46. OPERATION: As the block 14 slides down the wall 22 it is engaged by the blade 46 and thereafter advanced by it owing to the continuous rotation of the shaft 40 of a speed reducer 38. The portion 74a' of the blade commences a cut into the upper edge 34 of the block 14. The cutting rate decreases gradually as the point A approaches the edge 34. Just after the point A passes through the edge 34 only a small portion at the bottom of the slice 16 remains uncut Fig. 9 (not shown). Since the stretch 74b is coaxial with the shaft 40, no cutting action accompanies the advancing action of the stretch 74b. During this dwell time, the portion 74a' is again approaching the upper edge 34. The stretch 74c resumes the cutting action and when the point C approaches the edge 32, the stretch 74a commences the next-slice Fig. 11, (not shown). When the point D passes the edge 32 to completely sever the slice 16, the stretch 74a will have penetrated into the block 14 which is therefore always controlled by the blade 46. The finger 80 slides along the outside of the block 14 so as to prevent the slice 16 from tilting away from the block 14 while it is being cut and this backing action is augmented by the plate 86 so that the slice 16 is not released by the finger 80 prior to the commencement of the dwell time. The completely severed slices fall away from the block 14 and are received by a ramp (106), Fig. 2, (not shown).