Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting or Chopping Soft, Yielding, Plastic, Fibrous, or similar Substances.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting or Chopping
Soft, Yielding, Plastic, Fibrous, or similar Substances.
We CHARLES F. LEOPOLD, Machinist and WILLIAM W. SUPPLEE merchant, both
of Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States of America, 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:-
Our invention relates to machines for cutting soft, yielding plastic, fibrous, or
similar substances.
One object of our said invention is to provide an apparatus having two stationary
perforated plates with two rotary knives between the same, each contiguous plate and
knife working in harmony and causing the cutting chopping or nincing to be
effectively accomplished between the said plates, thus avoiding the liability of clogging
of the meat in either plate.
Another important feature of our said invention consists in the construction of the
plates with openings of different diameters, the openings of one plate being counter-
sunk, whereby the meat readily enters and passes through the same.
The means for preventing the location of the rotary knife in reversed or improper
position; and a novel manner of connecting the casing, and a supporting clamp
therefor, a novel gearing for rotating the forcing and cutting devices with great
power.
Our said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention can be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a cutter or cutting mechanisın embodying
our invention.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of portion of gearing detached from the casing.
Figure 3 represents a central longitudinal section of the cutter.

page_text: Figure 4 represents an end view showing the interior of the casing.
Figure 5 represents a section of the casing on line, Figure 1 drawn to a
reduced scale.
Figure 6 represents a peripheral view of the rotary knives or cutters.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A represents a cylindrical casing which is provided with a feed inlet or hopper B
and contains the forcing screw C, the latter having studs or journals C1, C2, the
journal being mounted on the wall of the casing, and the journal 2 being mounted
on the perforated discharge plate D, which latter is screwed to the casing as at a and
formed with a serrated or scalloped rim for the engagement of a dog or pawl whereby
the plate is retained in position.
E represents a perforated plate which occupies a position within the casing against
the shoulder E, at or about the termination of the screw C, and having its openings
countersunk, the widest portions being on the side towards the screw, it being noticed
that a portion of the journal of the screw passes freely through the centre of said
plate E, the contiguous portions of the plate and said portion of the screw being
cylindrical.
The perforations of the plate D are of considerably less diameter than those of the
plate E.
Interposed and confined between the plates E, D, are two knives respectively F, G,
which are placed back to back, and each formed of two or more blades radiating from
a hub, the central opening whereof, is squared or angular to accord with a squared or
angular portion of the shaft or journal C2 of the screw, whereby when the screw is
rotated the knives are rotated by said screw, both in the same direction therewith.
It will be seen that the cutting edges of the blades of the knife F, and the outer face
of the perforated plate E are contiguous, whereby there is a cutting action of said
blades with the walls of the narrow ends of the perforations of said plate.
The cutting edges of the blades of the knife G, and the inner face of the perforated
plate F are contiguous, whereby there is a cutting action of said blades with the inner
walls of the perforations of said plate.
One of the angles of the squared or angular portion of the stud or journal (2 is
chamfered and tapering in the direction from the knife F to the plate D as at a, and
the opening in the hub of the knife G is of similar contour. By this provision the
knife G, or both knives F, G, can only be fitted on the shaft in the proper position,
it being a common complaint that the knife of a cutter is often placed on its shaft in
reversed direction, whereby when the device is rotated, the knife is broken, or con-
tiguous parts are fractured or otherwise injured. This is prevented by the present
construction.
The inner periphery of the casing is scalloped or corrugated as at figure 5, the
scallops or corrugations being perfect segments of circles, and forming pockets for
temporarily detaining the substance to be cut during the advancing action of the
screw, and preventing the same from being carried around the tube or casing before
it reaches the perforated plate.
H represents a clamp for connecting the device with a table or other support, the
same being a casting made separate from the casing A, and forined with a dovetailed
groove d to receive a dovetailed tongue on the under side of the casing, it being
seen that owing to the dovetailed joint formed by said tongue and groove, the casing
and clamp are firmly connected, and they may be readily separated when so required.
For heavy work, the shaft or journal of the screw has keyed or otherwise secured to
it, a spur wheel J with which gears an idler K, the latter meshing with a pinion L,
to whose shaft a crank handle or power wheel may be connected the shafts of said
pinion and idler being secured to an arm M, which is cast with or otherwise secured
to the casing, and projects laterally therefrom.
The operation is as follows:-
Pieces of substances to be cut are placed in the hopper, and the screw is rotated,
whereby the substance is advanced and forced towards and through the perforations
T

page_text: substance enters the same with greater ease, and is readily compressed, owing to the
gradual reduction in the diameters of the openings.
The knife acts upon the substance as it leaves the perforations of the plate E, and
primarily cuts it into smaller pieces than before, said pieces then passing between the
blades of both knives F, G, and reaching the perforated plate D where the knife G
acts upon it, reducing it according to the size of the openings in said plate D, said
knife cutting off so much of the substance as enters or protrudes through the said
openings. The comminuted substance escapes in streams from the plate D, and may
be collected or gathered as desired.
It is evident that mechanism embodying the present construction is adapted to cut
in a convenient and easy manner, not only soft substances such as noodles, macaroni,
raw suet and the like, but all kinds of meat which are less soft and pliable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
First. The combination of a forcing screw, two stationary perforated plates, and two
rotary knives, the latter being interposed between said plates, each contiguous plate
and knife operating together, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a casing, a forcing screw, two knives rotating in the
same direction as said screw, and two perforated stationary plates, the latter confining
said knives, and having the cutter or mincing accomplished between them, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination of a forcing screw, and two perforated plates, with knives
between said plates, the perforations of the plates being respectively of different
diameters, the perforations of the plate next to the screw being countersunk,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of a forcing screw having a portion of its stem or journal
chamfered and tapering as at a with a rotary knife having its hub provided with an
opening corresponding to the said portion substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a casing and a supporting clamp therefor, connected
therewith by means of a dovetailed joint, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a cutter, the rotary shaft provided with a spur wheel, in combination with
an idler and pinion geared therewith, said idler and pinion having their shafts con-
nected with an arm projecting from the casing of the cutter or mincer, substantially
as described.
Seventh. The combination of a corrugated casing having a shoulder on its inner
face, and containing a forcing screw perforated plates and knives between said plates,
the outer plate being attachable to the casing, and coming in contact with the outer
knife, holding the same and the inner knife in position, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination of a corrugated casing having a shoulder on its inner end,
a perforated wall at one end, and an opening at the other end with a forcing screw,
perforated plates and knives said screw having studs or journals, which are mounted
in said wall, and one of said plates, the knives being confined between said plates
substantially as described.
Ninth. A corrugated casing in combination with a supporting and attaching clamp
connected therewith by a dovetailed joint substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of a corrugated casing with a forcing screw, stationary
perforated plates and rotary knives, said screw having on one end a journal mounted
on the end wall of said casing. and at the other end a journal or stud which passes
freely through the inner perforated plate is squared for engagement with the rotary
knives, and passes freely through the other perforated plate as a bearing substantially
as described.
Eleventh. In a cutting machine, a casing containing a forcing screw, a stationary
perforated plate adjacent to said screw having countersunk or conical openings, a
knife in contact with said plate at the narrow end of the openings, a second knife at
the back of the other knife, another stationary perforated plate, with which said second

page_text: knife is in contact, one of the journals or studs of the screw being sufficiently long to
pass through said porforated plates and knives, the latter being rotatable with the
screw, the casing having a shoulder against which the inner plate abuts, the two knives
being confined between the two plates substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination in a meat cutter, of knives connected with the rotatable
feed screw, and stationary perforated plates fitted freely on the journal of said screw,
and confining the knives, the latter having their openings conical or tapering in
reverse directions, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. A meat cutter having a knife carrying a stem or journal chamfered or
tapering as at a, and said knife having a central opening corresponding to the chamfer
and taper substantially as described.