AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SLICING BREAD, MEAT, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SLICING BREAD,
MEAT, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for cutting or slicing bread, meat,
vegetables or other substances, which apparatus will act more efficiently than those
heretofore designed for this purpose, and, when not required for use, can be folded
up so that it will occupy a comparatively small space.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation shewing the improved apparatus ready for use.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan shewing the said apparatus folded up.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and
Figure 6 a section on the line y, y, Figure 5, illustrating a slight modification.
a is the base of the apparatus, upon which is placed the substance to be sliced.
The apparatus is intended for use upon a table or other suitable support, and the
base a is provided with a projecting piece a¹ to bear against the edge of the said
table or support, and serve to steady the apparatus while in use. b is a 'fraine,
which is secured by: hinges b' to the base a. When the apparatus is ready for use,
this frame is at right angles to the said base, as shewn in Figure 3, but, when the
apparatus is folded up, these two parts lie close together, as shewn in Figure 4.
c is a flap or piece which is secured to the base a by hinges c¹, and which either
lies closely thereto or is raised so that it forms a right angle therewith. When
raised, it is held in position by a pin or stud d, which is fixed in the frame b and
enters an aperture in the flap c. The said flap then constitutes a bracket for sup-
porting the frame b. It also serves to hold the bread or other substance, while
being cut, and prevent its forward movement under the action of the knife or
cutter.

page_text: Two guides e are attached to the frame b, and between these guides a frame fis
fitted to slide. This sliding frame f carries the knife or cutter g, which is secured
thereto by screws or otherwise. The said frame is provided with a stop or piece h,
against which the substance to be cut or sliced is pressed. This piece is adjustable
transversely to or from the knife g to regulate or determine the thickness of the
slices. It is also capable of adjustment longitudinally to and from the said knife for
the purpose hereinafter specified. This adjustable stop or piece, and the frame f, are
so constructed and arranged relatively to each other that there is an aperture or
slot h¹ between them; through which each slice will pass as it is cut off, and the
width of which slot can be increased or diminished' as hereinafter explained. The
frame fis, moreover, provided with a handle f¹ to facilitate its operation.
The adjustment of the stop or piece h is provided for as follows, that is to say:-
A bracket i, having a diagonal slot i', is secured to the lower edge of the stop or
piece h, and a pin or stud k, having a suitable head, is inserted in the said slot and
turned so that its head is at an angle to the said slot; the said pin or stud. is then
secured to the frame f by screws or otherwise. A screw is attached to the stop or
piece h and fits into a nut m, made in the form of a small hand-wheel, and carried
by a bracket n secured to the frame f. Two guide pins or studs o are also attached
to the stop or piece h and pass through holes in the bracket.n. The screw 7 and
pins or studs o are placed. parallel with the slot in the bracket i so that, as the
stop his adjusted, it will always remain parallel with the knife or cutter g. By
turning the nut or wheel m in one direction or the other, the stop h will be simul-
taneously moved transversely and longitudinally nearer to, or farther from, the
knife, thereby regulating the thickness of the slices to be cut and the width of the
aperture or slot h' through which they, pass after being cut.
According to a slight modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6,
I connect the stop or piece to the frame f by two parallel links p, p, and provide
the said stop with a rack 9. A'n excentric pinion is mounted upon a spindle s
carried in brackets t secured to the frame f. This pinion gears with the said rack
and; when the said pinion is turned'in one direction or the other; the links'p, p¹ are
turned around their pivots p*. The stop or piece h is thus simultaneously moved
forward and outward, or backward and inward, the excentricity of the pinion ?
permitting such outward and inward movements,, while maintaining the rack and
pinion in gear with each other.
It is obvious that I may, if desired, employ other means than those above
described for adjusting the said stop or piece h.
u is a loose flap, or piece which is provided with a pin or stud u¹ to fit into an
aperture in the base a, so that the said flap can be turned upon the said pin or stud
to press the substance to be cut or, sliced against the stop h. This flap may; however,
be dispensed with and the substance be fed towards the stop,h by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that.what
I claim is
The improved cutting or slicing apparatus constructed substantially as above
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
2001