AN IMPROVEd Machine for ČUTTING OR SLICING PRESERVED MEAT
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVEd Machine for ČUTTING OR SLICING PRESERVED MEAT." A
communication from abroad by the Firm of Libby, McNeill, and Libby, of
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Sealed the 12th March 1880, and dated the 30th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING OR
SLICING PRESERVED MEAT." [A communication from abroad by the Firm of
Libby, MoNeill, and Libby, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to a machine for cutting preserved meat, such as canned
beof, into slices or pieces of uniform weight.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a rectangular box of any
suitable dimensions open at both ends, and provided at the front end with a metal
frame or mouth. On one side of this frame or mouth projects an arm having a
pin or stud fastened thereto, and on this stud is placed a curved lever, to which a
knife or blade is rivetted or otherwise securely attached. This knife or blade is
inade in curved form, and its inner end made wider than the outer end, so that in
slicing the meat a draw cut will be made from the very start of the cut to the
finish. A spring is placed on the said stud between the curved lever and a pin in
the stud, so as to hold the lever and blade close up against the aforesaid mouth.
Within the aforesaid box is a follower, to the rear side of which is fastened a
plate, and from this plate projects a horizontal open tube, formed along the top
with side flanges, which run over plates fastened to the under side of the top of
the box. Above these plates in the underside of the top of the box is a longi-
tudinal groove, and in this groove is placed a ratchet-bar, which is guided or held
in place by the said open tube, and works on a pin in said tube. The rear end of
the ratchet bar is held in a guide, while the front end thereof has an upward
projection, which is pivoted to an elbow lever. This elbow-lever is pivoted in a

page_text: casting on top of the box, and one arm of the lever projects through a slot in the
top of the box.
Beef put up in cans is now generally packed in tapering cans, so that by opening
the large end of the can the whole piece will come out without breakage. In
using this machine the whole pieco is put into the box in front of the follower, and
by moving or operating the said elbow lever the follower will be moved forward,
forcing the meat out through the front a certain distance, when the knife is
brought down, cutting off the slice.
In the casting there is a movable stop to regulate the distance the lever can be
moved.
As the meat in the box is of tapering form it is evident that if the slices were
all of the same thickness there would be a difference in their weight, according to
which end is being cut off. To obviate this difficulty, and cause all the slices to be
of uniform weight, I make the aforesaid ratchet bar graduated, that is to say,
increasing the distance between the teeth gradually in one direction. By this
means the smaller end of the piece of meat will be fed forward more for each
stroke of the lever than the larger end, so as to make the pieces of the same
weight.
In one side of the box is arranged a spring on the inside near the mouth to hold
the meat close up to the opposite side.
At the mouth of the box there is a bottom ledge to receive a ladle, having a
flange along its lower edge, on which the cut slice will fall when cut off. A
spring is placed on the ledge to hold the ladle in proper position, and yield while
cutting one or more slices.
After the meat is put into the box it is not necessary to touch the former with
the hands at any time.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to this
Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, and
Figure 3 a transverse vertical section of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
A represents a rectangular box of any suitable dimensions open at both ends,
and provided at the front end with a metal frame or mouth B. On one side of
this frame or mouth projects an aim C, having a pin or stud a fastened thereto,
and on this stud is placed a curved lever D, to which the knife or blade E is
rivetted or otherwise securely attached. This knife or blade E is made in a curved
form, as shewn, and its inner end is made wider than the outer end, so that in
slicing the meat a draw cut will be made from the commencement of the cut to
the finish. A spring b is placed on the stud a between the lever D and a pin e in
the stud to hold the lever or blade close up to or against the mouth B.
Within the box is a follower F, to the rear side of which is fastened a plate d,
and from this plate projects a horizontal open tube G, formed along the top with
side-flanges i, i, which extend over plates h, h, fastened to the underside of the top
of the box. Above these plates in the underside of the top of the box is a longi-
tudinal groove, as shewn, and in this groove is placed a ratchet-bar I, which is
guided or held in place by the open tube G, and works on the pin m in the said
tube. The rear end of the ratchet-bar is held in a guide k, while the front end
thereof has an upward projection n, which is pivotted to an elbow lever H. This
elbow-lever is pivotted in a casting J on the top of the box, and one arm of the
said lever projects through a slot in the top of the said box.
Beef put up in cans is now generally packed in tapering cans, so that by opening
the large end of the can the whole piece will come out, or can be removed without
breakage. In using this machine the whole piece of meat is put into the box in
front of the follower, and by moving or operating the lever H the follower will be
moved forward, forcing the meat out through the front to a certain distance; when
the knife is brought down the slice is cut off.
In the casting J is a movable stop L to regulate the extent to which the lever
can be moved.
As the meat in the box is of tapering form it is evident that if the slices were
all of the same thickness there would be a difference in their weight, according to
which end is being cut off. To obviate this difficulty and cause all the slices to be
of uniform weight I make the ratchet bar I graduated, that is to say, I increase
the distance between the teeth gradually in one direction. By this means the
smaller end of the piece of meat will be fed further forward between the strokes
of the knife than the larger end, so as to ensure the pieces cut off being of the
same weight.

page_text: At one side of the interior of the box is arranged a spring M near the mouth to
hold the meat close up to the opposite side.
At the mouth of the box is a bottom ledge N to receive a ladle O, having a
flange p along its lower edge, on which the cut slice will fall when cut off. A
spring P is placed on the ledge N to hold the ladle in proper position and yield
while cutting one or more slices.
From the above description it will be readily understood that after the meat
is put into the box it is not necessary to touch such meat with the hands at any
time.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The combination of the box A, the follower, the flanged box G, the guide
plates h, h, the pin m, the graduated ratchet-bar, and the elbow lever, substantially
as above set forth and for the purposes specified
Second. The adjustable or movable stop in combination with the lever H. and
the ratchet-bar, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination with the box having the ledge N of the flanged ladle
and the spring P, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. A machine consisting of the parts constructed, combined, and operating
as above set forth, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THEN DONT TAV