Abstract:
Meat slicing machine, comprising a belt blade ( 5 ) conceived to follow a straight cutting line ( 50 ) for the meat to be sliced, characterised in that it comprises a support surface ( 9 ) parallel to the cutting line ( 50 ) and set at a distance from the line at right angles to the support surface ( 9 ) itself; a container ( 11 ) for the meat to be sliced, having an exit opening ( 12 ) facing the said support surface ( 9 ) on the side of the cutting line ( 50 ); Pushing devices ( 13 ) associated with said container ( 11 ), conceived to push the meat down towards said exit opening ( 12 ); and a moving mechanism ( 19, 22 ) conceived to translate the container ( 11 ) in a parallel manner to the support surface ( 9 ) with a backward and forward motion from one side of the cutting line ( 50 ) to the other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a machine for slicing meat, in particular meat on the bone. 
     Machines currently available on the market are generally composed of a flat horizontal support surface for placing the meat to be sliced, and a belt blade mounted around two transmission rollers, the blade then performing a straight line cutting action in an upward vertical direction from said support surface. 
     This machine is operated by placing the meat to be sliced on the support surface, then by pushing the meat in a suitable direction against the blade during the slicing action, to obtain the meat slices with the thickness required. 
     From this description it is obvious that these machines are very dangerous for the operator, who because of lack of attention or by accident can place their hands in direct contact with the blade causing serious injury. 
     In particular, this danger is increased even further due to the fact that often the meat to be sliced is frozen, and for this reason is slippery and can escape the operator&#39;s grasp. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid problems by providing a simple, rational, and economical solution. 
     This aim is achieved by the invention by means of a meat-slicing machine as will be described below. 
     Said machine comprises: a support or surface parallel to the slicing action path, and set at a distance from the latter in a direction at right angles to the support surface; at least one container for the meat to be sliced, having an exit opening facing onto said support surface set on the slicing side; pusher means associated to said container, adapted to push the meat down towards said exit opening; and a moving mechanism conceived to slide the container in a direction parallel to the support surface, in an alternating motion backwards and forwards across the slicer area. 
     Thanks to this solution, the subject machine allows to slice the meat efficiently without the need for direct intervention by the operator during slicing action. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages will be made clearer in the following description provided simply as a non-limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the appended drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a meat slicing machine according to the invention, but without the front protection guard; 
         FIG. 2  is the section II-II of  FIG. 1 , with the front guard mounted in position; 
         FIG. 3  is the plan view of the machine in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is the section V-V of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged detail of  FIG. 2 , shown during meat loading action on the machine; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the detail of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The machine identified throughout in all appended figures by numeral  1 , is a machine for slicing meat, in particular, meat on the bone, whether fresh or deep-frozen. 
     Machine  1  comprises a casing provided with a set of support feet  2  to be placed on the floor, which also provides a main body  3  to support all the mechanical organs that perform the slicing action, and a secondary body  4  which contains all the command and control instruments for said mechanical organs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the main body  3  comprises a front compartment  30 , normally closed by a flip-down guard  31 , which contains a belt driven blade  5  running in ring fashion on two transmission rollers  6  and  7 , to form a cutting line  50 , in a horizontal straight line, set at a fixed height in relation to the flooring (Also refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
     In particular, the transmission roller  6  is driven by a motor  8  housed inside the main body  3 , while the transmission roller  7  is idle, and can be moved towards or away from the other roller, to adjust the tension of the belt blade  5 . 
     Associated with the belt blade  5 , are at least two horizontal surfaces for positioning the meat to be sliced, of which the front mobile surface  9 , is set at a lower height than the cutting line  50 , and the rear fixed surface  10 , is adjacent and at the same height as the cutting line  50 . 
     In particular, the front surface  9  is partially positioned between the said transmission rollers  6  and  7 , so that the rear edge of the surface is vertically aligned under the cutting line  50  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). The surface is also supported by an upright column  32  by means of shims  33  which are used to move it up and down to vary the height from the floor, and therefore from the cutting line  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , above said front  9  and rear surfaces  10 , machine  1  comprises at least one container  11  for the meat to be sliced, having a lower exit opening  12 , set slightly higher than the cutting line  50  of the belt blade  5  (refer also to  FIG. 4 ). 
     Said container  11  is equipped with pusher means  13  adapted to push the meat inside the container so that it slides towards said exit opening  12  and it is associated to means for horizontal travel from one side of the cutting line  50  to the other, between a forward position where the exit opening  12  is facing downwards onto to the front support surface  9 , and a rear position where it is facing downwards onto the support surface  10 . 
     Under said rear support surface  10 , machine  1  also comprises a conveyor belt  14 , which provides a retractable plate, or upper moving surface,  15  adapted to transfer the slices of cut meat towards appropriate collection means (not shown) positioned at the rear of the machine  1 . 
     In the example illustrated in the appended figures, machine  1  is equipped in particular with two containers  11 , having a vertical tubular configuration, each one being divided lengthwise into two separate portions, reciprocally hinged at the exit opening  12 , so that the front portion  11 ′ can be flipped open forwards to permit meat loading for slicing (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     Each container  11  is associated to a respective front support surface  9 ; therefore, machine  1  is globally provided with two surfaces  9  which can be individually adjusted in height independently from one another. 
     The pusher means  13  in each tubular container comprise a disk  16 , which slides in a lengthwise direction inside the tubular container  11 , driven by a jack  17  attached to the end opposite the exit opening  12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , both tubular containers  11  are held by the same support frame  34  which is positioned to rest on the main body  3 , and has a substantially C-shaped configuration in plan view, in a manner so to provide two side arms adapted to define a corridor  35  inside which the tubular containers  11  are able to slide. 
     In particular, each single side arm bears two guide rails  18  which protrude inside said translation/slide corridor (also refer to  FIG. 1 ), to which a mobile carriage  19  is slidingly coupled, to which a respective tubular container  11  is solidly attached; said mobile carriage  19  being driven by a pair of sliding rods  20  which protrude from the support frame  34 , the internal end of which is connected by means of a common crossbar  21 , to a driving jack  22 . (See  FIG. 5 ). 
     It should be observed that, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the support frame  34  is also adapted to support the aforesaid rear support surface  10 , and is equipped with two brackets  36 , hinged to the main body  3 , so that it can be flipped back to a rest position, making the slicing area accessible in order to facilitate cleaning of the front support surface  9  and the tubular containers  11 . 
     The machine  1  also comprises a safety system adapted to arrest the translation action of the tubular containers  11 , in the case where any object, such as the operators&#39; hand, accidentally enters the interior of the translation corridor  35  of the support frame  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in particular, said safety system comprises two photocells  28 , positioned respectively in the front and rear part of said translation corridor  35 , which are adapted to identify the presence of any object, and to transmit an electric signal to the control devices which arrest the machine  1  operation. 
     Lastly, the machine  1  comprises a cleaning system  23  for the belt blade  5 , which system is adapted to run on the lower straight line section  51  as it runs around the transmission rollers,  6  and  7 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show said cleaning system  23  comprises scraper means  24  adapted to remove meat residue attached to the belt blade  5  during slicing action, and sprinkler means  25 , adapted to wash the blade with a washing liquid to remove all dust. 
     In particular, said scraper means  24  and sprinkler means  25  are contained inside a collector receptacle  26  for the meat residue and the washing liquid, which is attached to the main body  3 ; and is crossed by the belt blade  5  in said lower section  51 ; said collector receptacle  26  being equipped with a waste duct  27  which protrudes from the exterior of the machine  1 . 
     In order to use the machine  1 , firstly the thickness of the meat slices required must be adjusted by setting the distance between the front support surface  9  and the cutting line  50 , then the meat is introduced into the tubular containers  11 . 
     Now the machine  1  can be activated, so that the pusher means  13  push the meat towards the exit opening  12  of each tubular container  11 , and that the latter perform a backwards and forwards translation movement between the front and rear positions. 
     In this manner, when the tubular containers  11  are in the forward position, their exit opening  12  faces the relative front support surface  9 , and the meat is pressed against the surface to define the thickness of the slice to be cut. Then, during the translation movement from front to rear position, the tubular container  11  moves the meat against the cutting line  50  of the belt blade  5 , which cuts off a slice. 
     In particular, as can be seen in  FIG. 5 , in order to prevent the cutting line  50  from bending or torsion, the rear support surface  10  bears three guide elements  29  for the belt blade  5 , two at the sides and one in the centre (see  FIG. 1 ) which are positioned so that they do not interfere with the action of the tubular containers  11 . 
     When the tubular containers  11  reach the rear position, their exit openings  12  face the rear support surface  10 , which prevents the meat from moving downwards, thus, permitting the return run of the tubular containers  11 . After it has been cut, the meat slice drops by gravity onto the upper moving surface  15  of the conveyor belt  14 , which moves the slice away from the machine  1 . In particular, said conveyor belt  14  is controlled by an electronic system adapted to regulate the running action in relation to the translation movement of the tubular containers  11 , so that the meat slices are placed on the upper moving surface  15  according to an established order, suitable for specific packaging requirements, for example. 
     In order to increase productivity levels of the machine  1 , the tubular containers  11  can operate individually, separate from one another, so that one can be loaded while the other is performing the slicing action, thus eliminating dead times during work operations. 
     Naturally numerous modifications of a practical nature can be applied to the subject invention while remaining within the context of the inventive concept as claimed below.