IMPROVEMENTS IN SLICING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abram Charles Herts, of Bloomsbury, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLICING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by John Herts, of Brooklyn, State of New
York, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abram Charles Herts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1880.
ABRAM CHARLES HERTS, of Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SLICING MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by John Herts, of
Brooklyn, State of New York, in the United States of America.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in slicing machines, and consists
of an improved construction of machine for slicing meat, vegetables, bread, and
other articles of food. Such improved construction is as follows:-Two grooved
parallel bars are connected by metal plates, and form a frame, within which the
knife slides.
Near the lower end of each metal plate is a shoulder or projection, having a
suitably shaped slot formed therein. Between such slotted shoulders is a suitable
table held in position by screws or their equivalents passing through the before
mentioned slots; while at the left end of such table is a side piece, the under side of
which, at its hinder end, is provided with a screw or its equivalent passing into a
slotted plate affixed to the table. A vertical groove is formed on the outerside of
such side piece to allow of its fitting over suitable projections formed on one of the
metal plates forming the knife frame, and thus holding the frame, table, and side
piece securely in position.
This arrangement allows of the side piece being readily removed to permit of
the table being folded up when the machine is not in use.
At the back edge of such table on its underside is a cleat formed with a suitable
shoulder to allow of its resting on the edge of the table. A wedged shaped opening
is formed in this cleat to allow of one end of a clamp being inserted therein, while

page_text: the other end thereof passes under the edge of the table whereon the machine is
placed; and the clamp being forced up the incline, the machine is thus firmly held
together. This method of fastening the machine is at once simple, durable, and
effective.
The knife of the machine is placed at a convenient incline, and secured in a
suitable slide provided with an adjustable board for regulating the action of the
knife.
The upper and lower edges of such adjustable board are furnished with inclined
lugs, which fit into corresponding grooves formed in the top and bottom bars of the
slide. If preferred, one or more of such lugs may be so made as to ensure the board
moving only in a parallel line. Such board is actuated by a set screw passing
through a yoke attached to the slide, and swivelled in a plate fastened to the end
of the board. This allows of the board being so adjusted as to regulate both the
thickness of the slice required, as well as to afford sufficient space for its passing
away when cut.
The construction of such improved machine combines simplicity and economy,
while it can be used with equal, if not greater facility and certainty, than any
machine hitherto in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Abram Charles Herts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
May 1881.
ABRAM CHARLES HERTS, of Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SLICING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by John Herts, of
Brooklyn, State of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object an improved construction of machine for slicing
meat, vegetables, bread, and other articles of food; and in order that the same may
be better understood and readily carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, proceed, more particularly to describe and ascertain the
same. Figure 1 of such Drawings shews a view in perspective of my improved
slicing machine; Figure 2 is an end view of the same; and Figure 3 is a front view
of the knife slide.
A, A, represents two grooved parallel bars connected by metal plates B, B, and
forming the frame in which the knife slides. Each of such plates B has, near the
lower end, a backward projection C, in which is made an shaped slot a, shewn in
Figure 2. A table D is held between the slotted projections C, C, by screws or
headed pins b, b, which pass through the slots a into the edges of the table. When
it is desired to use the table it is moved forward until the pins b rest in the vertical
parts of the slots a.
At the left end of the table D is a side piece E provided at its rear end on the
under side with a screw or headed pin e, which is passed into a slotted plate d
fastened on the table while near its front edge on the outer side, such side piece is
formed with a vertical groove i, which fits onto projections.h, h, formed on the
left plate B, thus holding the frame, table, and side piece firmly together.
On
When desired the side piece E can be easily removed, and thus permit the table.D
to be folded up, so that when not in use the machine will take but little room.
the under side of the table D along the rear edge, is a cleat F formed with a
shoulder or offset k, so as to rest on the edge of the table on which the machine is
used. This cleat has a wedge-shaped opening f cut therein to allow one arin of
a clamp G being easily inserted therein, while the other arm is passed under
the edge of the bench or table on which the machine is used, so that by forcing
the clamp up the incline the machine is held firmly in position. This is not
only a simple and cheap, but also a durable and effective device for fixing the
machine.
H is the main part of the slide in which the inclined knife I is secured, while J
is the adjustable board for regulating the cut. This board is provided on its upper
and lower edges with inclined lugs m, m, which fit in corresponding grooves formed
in the top and bottom bars of the slide. One or more of these lugs may be
dovetailed, tongued, and grooved, or otherwise so made as to prevent one end of
the board moving farther out than the other. Such board is adjusted by means
of a set screw L passing through a yoke K attached to the slide, and having its
end swivelled in a plate p secured to the end of the board. By this means the
board J may be set and spaced to and from the knife, so as to regulate the thickness
of the slice, while by the same motion it is moved to or from the cut, so as to
afford the slice more or less room to pass away, according to its thickness.
I would here observe that I am aware that sliding clamps have been used in
various forms on different kinds of articles, and therefore I do not claim such
broadly.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention so.communicated to me as aforesaid, and the manner of carrying the

page_text: same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim and desire to secure
by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The combined arrangement of the plates B, B, having projections C, C,
with L-shaped slots a, a, therein, the table D, and the screws or headed pins b, b,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and described.
2. In a slicing machine, the metallic bars B, B, constructed as described, and the
adjustable table D, in combination with the frame A and the slide H, carrying the
cutter I and adjustable board J, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abram Charles Herts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
A. C. HERTS. (L.S.)