AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR CHOPPING AND MINCING MEAT AND VEGETABLES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1879.
A com-
munication from abroad by Jules Fleury, of Tinchebray (Orne), France,
Manufacturer of Ironmongery.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR
CHOPPING AND MINCING MEAT AND VEGETABLES." A communication from abroad
by Jules Fleury, of Tinchebray (Orne), France, Manufacturer of Ironmongery.
The machine or apparatus the subject of this Invention is intended to cut, divide
into small pieces, chop, or mince meat, spinach, sorrel, endive, and other matters,
and constitutes at the same time a meat chopper and a vegetable chopper.
Its principle of construction lies in the circular form of its knives or cutters,
their indefinite number, their setting closer or further apart, and in the movement
necessary to be given to the apparatus in order that it may perform the work.
It is composed essentially of several circular knives or cuttors fixed upon a
common axle at suitable distances apart, and of handles covering the ends of the
axle and turning freely thereupon, so that it is only necessary to take the chopper
by its two handles, and holding them firmly to give to the knives a to and fro
motion, which soon changes into a rolling motion resulting in the division into
pieces as small as may be desired of the matters spread upon the bearing surface or
table made of marble or other suitable material.
A comb embraces the knives, prevents choking, and cleans the knives during the
working.
When not in use the chopping and mincing apparatus may be held in a box, the
ends of which may carry the handles so that these latter form bearings to the axle
of the knives or cutters for the purpose of sharpening. For this purpose a small
crank is fitted onto one of the ends of the axle to turn it at a suitable speed while
a grind-stone or other sharpener is presented to its blades.
This arrangement of meat-chopper or mincer offers several advantages; it is of a
very simple and rustic construction, easily kept in order, and cheaply repaired; it
cuts fairly or cleanly, does not tear, and therefore does not compress or squeeze the
matter being operated upon.
The construction of this improved machine or apparatus will be readily under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing upon which,—
Figure 1 shows the box enclosing the apparatus partly open and the axle
provided with a crank for the sharpening operation.
Figure 2 is a view of the apparatus at work.

page_text: Figure 3 shows in longitudinal elevation and in section the chopper or mincer
resting on its bearing surface, table, or slab, and Figure 4 is an end view, and
Figure 5 a front view of the comb or clearing.teeth.
The axle of the instrument or apparatus presents between its two ends a part
with increased diameter, upon which the circular knives or cutters are set, six are
shown, but any number may be used according to the requirements, and sockets or
rings are placed between these cutting blades, to keep them at equal or unequal
distances apart as may be desired. Then to unite these pieces with the axle, this
latter is keyed and the cutters as well as the rings are morticed in order that they
may all fit on the key or feather.
The ends of the axle which is of metal and may be covered with wood or other
suitable material receives two handles fitting easily thereon; these handles will be of
or of wood or suitable material. The pieces on the inner side receive and form
slides for the comb, which may be of any suitable shape and dimensions, it covers
each cutter or knife and fills while leaving sufficient play, the spaces between these
cutters to the end ones and the slides.
Nuts screwed on the ends of the axle keep the handles in position. Finally one
of the ends of the axle is pierced in the centre with a square hole to receive the
square of the small crank.
The two lateral sides of the box are cut to form supports for the handles, and
braces with ends bent at right angles and fixed on the sides of the box keep these
handles firmly in position during the rotation of the axle and of its knives.
The knives or cutters are, as already stated, circular of steel, and their cutting
edge is formed by circumferential bevel, in a somewhat small diameter they offer a
-large cutting surface which rolls and shift during the working, and therefore wears
tolerably uniformly. The front of the box, that to which the lid hooks on, forms a
natural bearing for the sharpening stone or tool.