Patent GB-343897-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to bread slicing machines
IPC: B26D7/06
Filed: 1929-11-22
Abstract: 343,897. Slicing loaves. WHITE, A. E., 5, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London.-(Mac-Rob Sales & Manufacturing Co. ; 312, Kahl Building, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.A.) Nov. 22, 1929, No. 35828. [Class 5 (i).] A machine for completely slicing a whole loaf of bread in a single slicing operation is provided with means for presenting a corner of the loaf to the cutting devices at the beginning of the operation to prevent crushing of the loaf and thereafter for increasing the area coming under the action of the knives. The cutting devices comprise open frames A, B each frame having top and bottom members 9, 10, interconnected by sidepieces 11 having reduced end portions 12 sliding in guides 21, 22, on the main frame 1. Blades 8 extend between adjustable lugs 13, 14, the lugs of the two frames overlapping so that the cutting edges of the blades of the two frames are in the same vertical plane and the blades of one set alternate with those of the other. The frames are reciprocated in opposite directions by connecting rods 23 coupled to a crank shaft 26, driven by an electric motor 30. The loaf, as it is being sliced, is supported on a feedtable 36 mounted on a horizontal pivot 37 extending between the side members of the main frame near the blades 8. A spring 39 normally tends to hold the table horizontal and against the lower face of a pusher 53. Slots to permit the passage of the knives are provided at the front of the table. The bread is fed from the feed-table to the blades by a pusher head 47 pivoted between extensions 46 of levers 43 connected by crossarms 44 and rocked about their pivots 45 by a roller 59 engaging a cam 58 carried by a shaft 28. The cam is shaped to give a slow initial forward movement to the pusher and then an acceleration until the pusher arms reach their extreme forward position. The shaft 28 is driven from the shaft 26 through a breakable connection and a reduction gear. Set screws 50 adjust the position of the pusher head which is formed with a series of slots to take the cutter blades. A plate carrying prongs 55 engaging the top of the loaf is adjustably mounted on the head. The lower surface of the head engages and tilts the table 36. The loaves are carried from a conveyer C, having endless chains 98, connected by transverse members 99 and given an intermittent feed by a ratchet device drawn forward by springs 116 and retracted by a chain connection 112 to the pusher levers 43, to the feed-table by bread supporting plates 75 hinged to laterally adjustable side plates 72 reciprocated in guides in the side frames of the machine. The movements of the conveyer, the lowering device and the pusher head are so timed that a loaf is fed on to the lowering device while the pusher head is in its most forward position and is then lowered on to the table as the head is retracted. Laterally adjustable side guides 117 hold the loaves towards the middle of the apron 100 over which the endless chains move the loaves by the transverse members 99. The sliced loaves are discharged by the pusher head between adjustable guides 126 on to a table 124. The complete machine is enclosed in a sheathing provided with removable doors.