Patent GB-472878-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to slicing machines
IPC: B26D7/06
Filed: 1937-02-18
Abstract: 472,878. Slicing bread. TRIGGS, W. W. (National Bread Wrapping Machine Co.) Feb. 18, 1937, No. 4883. [Class 5 (i)] [Also in Group XXX] In a bread-slicing machine, the loaves are brought in front of a pusher 82 by a series of pushers 62 on an endless chain 63 running transversely to the direction of the pusher 82 which co-operates, as described below, with a pusher 100, to force the loaf, through the oppositely reciprocating gangs of vertical knives 43, to receiving means which convey the sliced loaf to a wrapping-mechanism. The knives 43 are secured in two frames 37, guided for vertical reciprocation, and are individually tensioned by springs 50. The knives are driven independently of the feeding-means, by a motor 25, belt 27, crank 29, rocker 32, 33 and links 35. The feeding-means are driven from a cam-shaft 21 which is driven, by a chain and sprocket acting through a clutch and an overload release, from the wrapping- mechanism so that the feed is synchronized therewith. The drive from the shaft 21 to the chain 63 includes a Geneva motion, so that the loaves are pushed intermittently over the table 80, between guide walls 75, and a period of rest occurs whilst the foremost loaf is pushed through the knives. The pusher 82 is mounted on a slide 84 guided on rods 85, the slide being reciprocated, with an adjustable amplitude, by links and levers actuated by a cam on the shaft 21. The pusher 100 comprises a part having a number of fingers, spaced to pass between the knives, and interchangeably attached to a member pivoted at 102 to a slide 103 arranged for reciprocation on guides 104. The slide 103 is actuated from the cam-shaft 21 through links and levers 105 ... 109, whilst the pivoted pusher carrier is actuated, also from the shaft 21, through links &c. 115, 118, 120, in such manner that as the loaf is advanced to the cutting position, the pusher 100 is moving backwards to engage behind the loaf, the pivoted finger part being swung up, by the link 115, so that it passes clear of the top of the loaf. Before the pusher 82 starts its receding movement, the fingers 101 descend into recesses 97 in the pusher 82, and the feed of the loaf through the knives is thus continued by the pusher 100. As the sliced loaf emerges from the knives it is received between spring plates 130 which move backwards with the loaf and hold it in assembled condition until it is received on the plate 160 over which it is moved by pushers 161 on endless chains 162, side plates 166 keeping the slices assembled. The plates 130 are preferably serrated on their faces and are each mounted on parallel motion linkages under spring pressure tending to force the plates towards the loaf, the plates and linkages being carried by slides 132 horizontally reciprocable in guides by links operated from the shaft 21. The guides are adjustable to vary the distance between the plates 130 according to the size of the loaves being sliced, a screw 138 clamping the guides in the adjusted position. The side plates 166 are pivoted at their forward ends and are pressed inwardly against the sliced loaves by springs. The delivery means 160, 162 and associated parts, are adjustable to enable the loaves to pass satisfactorily to the wrapping-mechanism. For this purpose, the frame 165 carrying the delivery means, is pivoted on the shaft 170 and is clamped in the position of adjustment by a bolt 172. A bridge plate 175 guides the loaves from the plate 80 to the plate 160, the bridge 175 being pivoted on the shafts 176 and held in place by a spring plunger 177 so that it can be swung out of the way when the knives are to be replaced.