Patent GB-325062-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to slicing machines
IPC: B26D7/06
Filed: 1928-12-31
Abstract: 325,062. Fitzpatrick, H. D., (U. S. Slicing Machine Co.). Dec. 31, 1928. Cutting slices in succession.-In a machine for cutting slices in succession, of the kind wherein the substance to be sliced is supported on a table reciprocated past a knife and is fed progressively to the knife, the feed mechanism comprises two relatively movable arms, the first of which is oscillated through a period extending from shortly before to shortly after the end of the return stroke of the table by a movable part of the machine and the second of which is oscillated through a variable fraction of such period to cut slices of variable thickness, this fraction being variable by a single adjustable head member. The table 1 reciprocates on guides 61, 62 tvhereof the former is provided with a guard 60 and the latter is of channel section to receive fines 64<1> on a bracket 64 attached to the underside of the table, an absorbent material for lubricant being placed between the tines. The substance to be sliced is carried by a support 50 having rails 51, 51<1>, Fig. 4, slidable on the table. The rails are maintained on their guides by a plate 52 held to the table by springs 71 and by interengaging plates 53, 52<1> on the support and table respectively. To remove the support, the plate 52 is pressed outwards against its springs and the support is then lifted and moved to the right in Fig. 4. A slab 102, which may be formed of or faced with vitreous material, is attached to the support by bevels 22', 101. A screw 27 for feeding the support on the table is journaled in brackets 29, 69 on the table and is rotated intermittently by a pawl 30 and a ratchet 32 through the variable mechanism referred to above. The connecting rod 67 which reciprocates the table from a crank 2, carries a roller 4 engaging a cam slot 5 in a lever 6 rotatable about a pin 7 on the table. The cam slot 5 is arranged so that the lever 6 commences its oscillation slightly before the table reaches the end of its return stroke and ends slightly after the start of the slicing stroke. A clutch 10, Fig. 2, is scoured to' the hub of the lever and has teeth 10<a> engaging teeth 9<a> on a clutch 9, the clutch teeth being considerably narrower than the spaces in which they engage so as to allow relative . rotation between the lever 6 and a lever 8 secured to the clutch 9. A rod 20, Figs. 1 and 4, is attached to the lever 8 by links 19 and carries at its other end a roller 25 adapted to engage a tever 26 which carries the pawl 30. A spring 21 urges the lever 8 against an adjustable stop 11 whose position determines the rearward movement of the lever and hence the stroke given to the pawl by the lever 8. The stop 11 screws in a bar 13 to provide adjustment for wear and the bar is provided with rack teeth engaging a pinion 14 on a hand operated shaft 15. A hand wheel 16, Fig. 1, secured to the shaft has recesses 33 in which a pin 34 on the table engages to lock the stop 11 at any setting of the feed, a spring 35 on the shaft tending to move it axially and engage the pin and recess. One of the recesses secures the stop in the " no feed " position, and when in this position a cam 56 on the end of the shaft 15 acts on a rod 57 slidable in the table so as to displace the rod against the spring plate 52 and release the support 50, thus ensuring that the support can only be removed from the table when the feed has been rendered inactive. In order to allow easy assembly of the feed screw 27 the screw is pressed axially by a spring 68', Fig. 1, and the hub 26<1> of the pawl lever 26 is engaged by the end of a helical spring 28 whose other end is attached to a bushing 61<1> on the bearing 29, the tension of the spring being adjusted by a screw 62' in the bearing and a slot 75 in the bushing. The abutment for limiting the rearward movement of the pawl may be placed anywhere between the pin 7 and the lever 26, e.g. the stop 11 may act on a lug &c. on the rod 20, or alternatively the rod 20 may be adjustable in length by screw means.