Patent GB-224152-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for slicing bread and the like
IPC: B26D1/157
Filed: 1924-03-28
Abstract: 224,152. Berkel & Parnall's Slicing Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd., (U.S. Slicing Machine Co.). March 28, 1924. Cutting slices in succession. - Relates to improvements in slicing machines of the type described in Specification 205,331, in which a disc knife rotates on its own axis and also bodily about an eccentric axis, the food stuff being moved intermittently, by a follower connected to the feed screw, along a runway in the path of the knife. The machine is normally adapted to be motor driven, removable base plates 103, 110 having resilient feet 111, being provided, the plate 103 carrying a hinged portion 101 on which the motor 100 is mounted. The portion 101 may be adjusted to tension the belt 96 and clamped by a thumbscrew 106 engaging a slot in a bracket 104, or the portion 101 may be left unclamped, the weight of the motor then tensioning the belt. The belt is enclosed in a casing 97 having a central opening through which projects an auxiliary handwheel 108 for moving the main shaft 24 by hand when the machine is fitted for the motor drive. The shaft 24 is enclosed in a casing 25. To adapt the machine for hand operation, the base plates 103, 110, motor 100, casing 97, belt 96 and auxiliary hand wheel 108 are removed and a handle is secured to the pulley 95, the machine resting on the end frames 20, 21. The runway 23, along which the loaf 51 is pushed, comprises two plates 60, 61, Fig. 14, the plate 60 being flanged downwardly, to permit easy access to the loaf, and the plates 60, 61 are spaced apart and are supported on guide rails 62, 63 secured at the ends to the frames 20, 21. The follower 52 is supported on and secured to a runner 66, slidable on the guides 62, 63, which projects upwardly between the plates 60, 61, a spring friction member 67 engaging the guide 62. A depending portion of the. runner 66 carries a spring-pressed halfnut 69 which engages the feed screw 68, the nut 69 carrying a radial pin 71 which is engaged by an arm 72 carried by a shaft 73 having another arm 74 which is engaged by a spring-returned plunger 75 ejected by a pivoted cam lever 77. Movement of the lever 77 in either direction releases the half-nut and slides the runner 66, together with the follower 52, on that direction. The follower 52 carries a pivoted, spiked arm 53, which is forced down on the loaf by spring plungers, and an abutment plate 57 which carries screwed and riveted spikes 58. The feed screw is operated by a cam on the shaft 24 engaging a roller 89 on a spring-returned pivoted lever 87 having a slider 86, adapted to be clamped in any position corresponding to the desired slice thickness indicated by a scale on the lever 87, connected to a one-way ball clutch 84 on the feed screw by a rod 85. To ensure a clean shearing cut, an inwardly projecting abutment 112, positioned on the abutment wall 61 adjacent to the knife, projects beyond the face of the receiving- shoot which slopes downwardly and is arranged with its floor below the level of the runway 23. the slices are tilted into inclined positions against the slider 116 in the receiving shoot by the guard plate for the gears driving the knife. A hinged closure 120, for the opening 20, is provided and is held open by a catch 121. A plate 122 is adjustably secured at the side of the opening 20, the edge 123 conforming to the shape of the knife. The threads of the feed screw 68 end at such a position that the follower 52 is arrested close to the path of the knife, and the screw 68 is journaled in a removable bush 81 held in the frame 20 by a spring-pressed plug 83, whereby alignment of the feed screw bearings is facilitated. The knife is held in its uppermost position for grinding, or in its lowermost position for cleaning, by a spring detent 43 which engages notches in a disc 46 secured to the shaft 24. A detent 47 holds the grinding-handle 39 stationary during slicing. A sliding cover 48, provided with a knob 50, is displaced before the grinder is positioned for use.