Patent GB-246384-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the feed mechanism of slicing machines
IPC: B26D7/06
Filed: 1925-07-10
Abstract: 246,384. Maatschappij tot Vervaardiging van Snijmachines Volgens van Berkels Patent en van Andere Werktuigen. March 19, 1925, [Convention date]. Cutting slices in succession.-The feed mechanism of a slicing-machine includes a spring coupling which intermittently connects a driving-member to the main feed member, the feeding action being effected by a tightening or clamping action of the spring coupling and terminated by releasing the clamping action. As shown in Fig. 1, the feed screw 20 is moved intermittently in one direction by spring coupling-means which connects it to a hollow shaft 1 which is oscillated by suitable means, e.g., a bevel wheel 2 which engages a bevel wheel on an oscillating pin which secures the usual crank-operated connecting-rod to the reciprocating table. The shaft 1 carries a sleeve 3, a ring 8 revoluble on the shaft 1 to an extent limited by a pin 13 which engages a recess in the ring, and a ring 12 having a revoluble movement similarly limited by a pin 16. A coil spring 9, on the ring 8, is anchored at 10 to the sleeve 3 and at 11 to the ring 12, and a spring 19 is wound on the feed screw 20 and is anchored at 18 to the ring 12. A spring 21 prevents retrograde movement of the screw 20. The sleeve 3 carries a number of projections 4 in staggered relationship, Fig. 4, whereby the sleeve 3 may be stopped, as described below, in a position corresponding with a desired slice thickness. In operation, the shaft 1 when moving clockwise (looking from the left in Fig. 1) moves the ring 8, the projection 13 and corresponding recess allowing lost motion, and the spring 9, wound on the ring 8, moves the sleeve 3 and ring 12. The ring 12, by its rotation, tensions the spring 19 and revolves the feed screw 20 until the sleeve 3 is stopped by the feed regulating means, which causes the spring 9 to distend and allows the ring 8 to rotate without transmitting motion to the ring 12. On reversal of the shaft 1 all parts are restored to their initial positions. The projections 4, Fig. 4, are adapted each to engage with a stop 6 which stops are all normally retained inoperative by springs 32. As shown in Fig. 10, the stops 6 are arranged in two rows and each comprise a stud 5 pressed outwardly by a spring 83. The portions 33 of the stops 6 are notched at 79 and flatted at 81 to engage a spring-controlled sliding plate member 30. When a stop 6 is pressed inwardly the plate 30 is moved to the left, Fig. 10, releases the previously used stop, moves to the right, and grips the stop which is being operated. Stops corresponding to thickness from zero to the maximum are provided. A permanent stop 34, Fig. 4, corresponding to the maximum thickness prevents injury to the springs 9, 19. The device is secured to the slicing-machine by screws 27. In a modification, Fig. 8, a solid shaft 1 carries a ring 56 having a lost motion revoluble connection 13, 14 with the shaft, the ring 56 being embraced by the major portion of a spring 58 the remainder being wound on the portion 59 of the feed screw 20. One end of the spring 58 is secured to a sleeve 3, which co-operates with stops in the manner described above. The ring 56 is carried around by the shaft 1 and the spring 58 carries around the sleeve 3 and the feed screw 20 until it is distended and thereby released from the ring 56 by the stoppage of the sleeve 3. In another modification, the portion corresponding with the portion 59 is provided with a crank arm which is connected by a rod to a one way clutch on the feed screw which is not aligned with the shaft 1. In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the beginning as well as the end of the feed movement is controlled. The solid shaft 1 carries a ring 62 having a projection 73 engageable with an adjustable stop 74, the ring being coupled by a left handed spring 69 to a ring 61 having a lost motion connection to a ring 60 by a pin 67 and recess 68. The ring 60 is coupled by a right handed spring 64 to the sleeve 3 which is stopped as described above. The spring 64 embraces the boss 44 of a crank arm 45, which is connected by a rod to the one-way clutch on the feed screw, and also a ring 63 driven by the shaft 1. The boss 44 and ring 63 are recessed at 65 and the ring 60 is stopped on the return movement by a projection which engages a stop 72 whereby the initial position of the feed arm 45 is determined. In operation, the spring 69 carries around the rings 60, 61, 62 and the sleeve 3, but the spring 64 being distended does not rotate the boss 44. When the ring 62 is stopped the spring 69 is distended and the spring 64 embraces the ring 63 and the boss 44, and effects the feed until it is stopped by distension of the spring 64 due to the stoppage of the sleeve 3. In the modifications described above, a single stop 6 laterally adjustable in an inclined helical groove may replace the plurality of stops or the projections 4 may be replaced by a bar extending the length of the sleeve 3 and adapted to co-operate with a number of adjustable stops, or the stops 4 may be adjustable and arranged to co-operate with a fixed bar. The feed screw and segmental nut may be replaced by a cable which is gripped by tongs or a clamp and the invention may be applied to reciprocating or swinging table machines or to reciprocating or rotating knife machines. In a further modification, Fig. 11, the sleeve 3 is stopped by hooked portions 94 on arms 93 which are bifurcated to embrace bell crank levers 86, 87 with which they are moved, with lost motion, by interposed leaf-springs 95. The bell cranks are provided with operating-keys 88 arranged in two rows and springs 97 normally render the hooks 93 inoperative. The arms 87 are formed with two recesses which are engaged by a bar 100 carried by an oscillating arm 99, and movable in a guiding slot 101. The arm 99 is pulled by a spring 103 so that the bar is always engaged with the recesses in the arms 87 corresponding with the inoperative positions of the hooks 93 except in that bell crank which is operative. The setting of another stop releases the previously set stop.