Improvements in and relating to Devices for Cutting Compressed Yeast.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Devices for Cutting Compressed
Yeast.
I, CLAAS DENEKAS, a citizen of the United States of America, of No. 1112
Fifteenth Street, North West, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to devices for accurately cutting compressed yeast into
cakes of predetermined size aud weight, and has for its object to provide an improved
construction or device for accomplishing this object that will not only clearly and
accurately perform the cutting operation, but will also dispense with any unnecessary
movements of the cutter.
The particular construction and arrangement of the various parts of my said
invention I will now proceed to point out and describe, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of my improved devico taken on the
line 1-1, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a sido elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same, a portion of the rim and cutters being
broken away.
Figure 4 is an enlarged contral vertical sectional view of the cutting wheel.
Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the hub of the cutting wheel.
Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the cutter wheel guides and finger
stop, and
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the same.
Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.
In the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes the delivery end of a
feeding nozzle for the compressed yeast, said yeast being properly forced there-
through in the direction of the arrow Figure 2, in a continuous form by any
suitable means, not shown. As shown in Figure 1, this nozzle is rectangular in
cross section and is made to conform with the size and shape of an ordinary yeast
cake. The bottom of this nozzle registers accurately with the top surface 2 of the
table, 3, so that no impediment will be offered to the continuous movement of the
yeast along said table. Said table is adjustably supported by a bracket, 4, attached
to the side of the device from whence the yeast is expressed by means of an
adjusting screw, 5, passing through a slot 6 in said bracket, as shown, thus providing
for an accurate vertical adjustment of the table 3. Additional brackets 7, carried
by the bracket 4, serve to support an extension 8 of the table 3, having an upper
surface 9 registering with the upper surface 2 of said table 3. These tables have
their adjacent ends a slight distance apart, forming a slot 3, as shown in Figure 3,
aud for a purpose hereinafter to be described.
Mounted in suitable bearings, 10, one carried by each of the tables, 3 and 8,
is a hub, 11, said hub having screwed or otherwise fastened therein a series of
hooks, 12, preferably four in number, and each provided with a spring closure, 13,
as shown. Engaged by these hooks are a corresponding number of cutters, 14,
formed preferably of thin wire and extending therefrom radially to the
rim 16, where they are engaged in a similar manner by spring hooks, 16,

page_text: passing loosely through rim, 15, and screw-threaded on their outer ends for the
reception of thumb nuts, 17, whereby the tension of said cutters may be accurately
adjusted. Mounted on the periphery of said rim, 15, and centrally between
the hooks, 16, are a series of guide pins, 18, for a purpose hereinafter to be
described.
From the above description it will be understood that the cutters, 14, also
serve as spokes to retain the rim, 15, in its proper relation to the hub, 11.
Projecting to one side of the tables, 3 and 8, and-attached one to each, are two
guidos, 19, serving to steady the rim, 15, in its rotation. One of said guides is
recessed at 20 to receive the stem, 21, of a stop, 22, passing therethrough and
provided with a nut, 23, on its lower end. A coiled spring, 24, in said recess
serves to normally retain said stop, 22, in its uppermost position.
An additional guide, 25, for the rim, 15, may also be provided and mounted on
the bracket, 7, by the thumb screw, 26.
From the above description the operation of the device will be understood to
be as follows:
The hub, 11, being mounted as shown will be in such relative position to the
slot, 3, between the adjacent ends of the tables, 3 and 8, that the cutters, 14, will
pass through said slot in their rotation. Now, by turning the cutting wheel to
the position shown in Figure 1, so that one of the cutiers, 14, is just above the
line of passage of the compressed yeast as it emerges from the nozzle, 1, the
operator can, by grasping with the right hand the rim, 15, of said wheel at
the guide pin, 18 just above said cutter at the proper moment rotate said wheel
and cut a yeast cake. As said wheel rotates, however, the thumb of the operator
will come in contact with the spring yielding stop, 22, by which time the cutter
will have passed completely through the yeast and completed its cutting operation.
Tho severed cake may be removed from the table by the other hand of the operator,
while the latter takes a fresh hold on the rim, 16, at the next guide pin, 18,
proparatory to another cut. It will thus be seen that this operation may be
continued indefinitely, each cut bringing the next cutter into proper position for
its cut without the necessity for a return movement of the cutters.
I have shown in Figure 3 a series of transverse gage lines on the upper surface, 9,
of the table, 8, marked, respectively, t, t, and 1, which are intended to denote
how far the yeast must be fed along the table, in order that the cat will sever
one-quarter pound, one-half pound, three-quarters pound or one pound, respectively.
The dotted lines to the left of the one pound gage line are to provide for cutting a
little more than one pound where the yeast is not to be sold immediately, in order
to compensate for the loss of weight due to evaporation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the snine is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. In an apparatus for cutting yeast cakes from a continuous feed of compressed
yeast, the combination with a table, and ineans for continuously feeding the yeast
along the same; of a cutting wheel mounted transversely to said table and
consisting of a hub, a series of cutters, and a rim, the said cutters also forming the
spokes for connecting said hub and rim and passing in their rotation through a
transverse slot in said table, guide pins on said rim for the hand of the operator,
and a stop in proximity to the rim for indicating the completion of each successivo
cut, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for cutting yeast cakes from a continuous feed of compressed
yeast, the combination with a feeding nozzle through which the compressed yeast
is expressed by suitable means; of a table for receiving the expressed yeast from
said nozzle and composed of two sections having their adjoining ends a slight
distance apart to form a transverse slot, means for adjustably supporting said table
sections in position with respect to said nozzle, a series of transverse gage lines ou
the table section furthest from the nozzle to indicate the amount of compressed

page_text: yeast that has passed the transverse slot, and a cutting wheel having its cutters
rotating through said slot to cut the yeast, substantially as set forth.
3. In an apparatus for cutting yeast oakes from a continuous feed of compressed
yeast, the combination with a table, and means for continuously feeding the yeast
along the same; of a manually operated cutting wheel mounted transversely to
said table and having its cutters passing in their rotation through a transverse slot
in said table, guide pins on said wheel for indicating the successive points to be
grasped by the operator, and a vertically yielding stop in proximity to said wheel
against which the band of the operator will contact when each successivo cut is
completed, said stop having a stem passing through its support and an interposed
spring to retain said stop in its normal uppermost position, substantially as set
forth.
4. In an apparatus for cutting yeast cakes from a continuous feed of compressed
yeast, the combination with a table, and means for continuously feeding the yeast
along the same; of a manually operated cutting wheel mounted transversely to
said table and having its cutters passing in their rotation through a transverse slot
in Baid table, a guide for said wheel mounted upon the side of the table, and a
vertically yielding stop mounted in said guide and against which the hand of the
operator contacts at the completion of each successive cut of the cutting wheel,
substantially as set forth.
5. In an apparatus for cutting yeast cakes from a continuous feed of compressed
yeast, the combination with a table, and means for continuously feeding the yeast
along the same; of a cutting wheel mounted transversely to said table and
consisting of a hub, a series of cutters, and a rim, the said onlters also forming the
spokes for connecting said hub and rim and passing in their rotation through a
transverse slot in said table, and a stop in proximity to the rim for indicating the
completion of each successive cut, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.