An Improved Bread Cutting Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
An Improved Bread Cutting Machine.
I, AUGUST STEFFENHAGEN, of No. 145, Einesbutteler Chaussee, Hamburg, in
the Empire of Germany, Technical Artisan, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for cutting bread by
means of which a loaf can be cut into slices of any thickness.
The apparatus differs from like machines at present in use by being worked
by a simple lever arrangement.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, and
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus viewed from the underside.
The apparatus consists of a frame, a knife, a curved carrier for the knife,
and a device to regulate and fix the thickness of the slice of bread.
With reference to the drawings the frame of the apparatus is supported or
stands on feet a, and consists of a tray-rest b, to hold the loaf of bread, on the
front end of which there is provided a vertical frame c of size to let the loaf
pass through, on this frame the knife is mounted. The tray rest b is inclined
from right to left and is bent round to form a side flange to provide a rest
and guide for the loaf. c designates the conducting frame which is bent on the
left side, and has a flange d on which is pivoted the ejecting or releasing impact
catch or lever g, f denotes the knife frame or holder which is pivoted at e on the
flanged to work over the face of the frame c.
To the left at the bottom of the frame there is provided a stop pin h to limit
the downward stroke of the knife frame f.
l
Underneath the frame c and the tray-rest 6 there is a shaft or axle i carried
by the bottom flange of the frame c and the bearing k, on the front end of this
shaft is fixed a plate which acts as a gauge to limit the thickness of the
slices of bread. The shaft i is free to move in its bearings lengthways thereby
moving the plate or gauge according to the thickness of the slices of bread to
be cut. On the shaft i there is provided a hook or lever m to which is connected
one end of a rod n, the other end of which takes into a hole o in the lever g, the
shaft is also provided with a spiral spring p one end of which lies against the
tray-rest, and the other end takes on to a pin on the shaft i, this pin q passes
through a slot r in a movable lever arm which is pivoted at one end to the
tray-rest band at the other end is provided with a slot which catches hold of
stops, or pins u on a bar at the edge of the tray-rest.
The bread cutting machine according to this invention works as follows: -
The gauge plate 7 is by means of the arm placed in position in relation to
the front edge of the frame c to correspond with the desired thickness of the
slices of bread, the knife frame fand knife blade is moved upward on the pivot e
by the handle and frees the lever g; thereby allowing the shaft i to turn by
the action of the spring p and cause the gauge plate / to take a vertical position,
the lever g is by the rod n drawn to the left. The loaf of bread is placed on

page_text: the tray-rest and moved up to the gauge plate 7, and then by pressing down
the knife frame f and knife blade the slice is cut off the loaf by the knife blade.
The knife frame f in its descent pushes back the lever g which by means of
the rod n turns the shaft i against the spring p and moves the gauge plate
into a horizontal position so that the slice of bread can fall away from the loaf.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A bread cutting machine characterized by having below the tray-rest
for the bread, a shaft i capable of longitudinal and rotary movement, and pro-
vided at its front end with a gauge plate that determines the thickness of the
slices of bread, the said shaft i being connected to an impact lever pivoted on
the frame of the machine in such a manner that when the knife holder is raised
the shaft by means of a spring p revolves so far that the gauge plate / takes
a vertical position and the impact lever g is drawn inwards; and on the downward
movement of the knife holder it forces the impact lever g outwards and in so
doing turns the shaft i so far that the gauge plate is brought to a horizontal
position releasing the cut slice of bread as set forth.
2. In a bread cutting machine as claimed in Claim 1 providing on the under-
side of the tray-rest, a device consisting of a movable lever arm t.pivoted to said
tray-rest; and connected to the shaft i, and whereby said shaft i can be given
longitudinal movement and the gauge plate adjusted and fixed by means of
stops which take into a slot in the lever arm t, as set forth.
3. The improved machine for cutting slices of bread substantially as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Grant & Maddison's Bank Buildings, Canute Road, Southampton,
Applicant's Agent.