Improvements in Machines for Cutting Meat, as Bacon, Hams, and the like, into Slices.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1897-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1897
UNAL
TIUN
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Meat, as Bacon, Hams, and
the like, into Slices.
I, CHARLES WILSON, of No. 75 Elswick Street, in the City and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Provision Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a machine specially designed for cutting boneless meat,
or meat from which the bone has been removed, into a number of slices of required
thickness by the continuous operation of a series of band knives. The machine
consists of a number of "graded" sheaves driven by manual or other power and
carrying a corresponding number of band knives, the distance between each knife
corresponding to the differences of the diameters of the graded sheaves. The meat
to be sliced is held in position upon a sliding table, running on friction
rollers, by sharp points which penetrate the skin of the meat, or by other suitable
means, and this table is slotted from front to back clearing the knives and may
be fitted with side and back "fences," or either, as required. The knives are
formed of thin bands of steel and mounted on the "graded" sheaves and are kept
at the proper degree of tension by adjusting scrows. "In the frame of the machine
under the sliding table are fixed a series of spring scrapers for cleaning the grease
from the knives and these are all contained in a box like receptacle in which
is contained an edible substance, such as ground rice or the like, which adhering
to the blades is, together with the grease, scraped from them and the grease being
absorbed there is formed a valuable constituent of sausages and the like or for
other purposes instead of being wasted or only imperfectly utilised. The machine
may also be adapted for cutting meat having a bone running through it, into a
number of slices, by replacing the cutting knives with sawing and cutting knives
combined, thus forming a supplement to the machine described in my Patent
No. 10,993 of June 11, 1892 and for such requirement means will be provided by
which either the sawing and cutting blades can be substituted for the cutting
blades upon the "graded" sheaves, or for changing the latter with their knives for
the saw and knife combined which can be done in a few minutes. In such appli-
cation I use an appliance for holding the bone firmly in the flesh so that it is sawn
through of the same thickness as the slices of meat."
Dated this 26th day of August 1896.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Cutting Meat, as Bacon, Hame, and
the like, into slices.
I, CHARLES WILSON, of No. 75 Elswick Street, in the City and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Provision Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of said
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 a machine specially designed for cutting boneless meat,
r meat from which the bone has been removed, into a number of slices of required
thickness by the continuous operation of a series of band knives. The machine
consists of a number of "graded" sheaves driven by manual or other power and
carrying a corresponding number of band knives, the distance between each knife
corresponding to the differences of the diameters of the "graded" sheaves. The meat.
to bo sliced is held in position upon a sliding table, preferably running on friction
rollers, by sharp points which penetrate the skin of the meat, or by other suitable
means, and this table is slotted from front to back clearing the knives and may
be fitted with side and back "fences," or either, as required. The knives are
formed of thin bands of steel and mounted on the "graded" sheaves and are kept
at the proper degree of tension by adjusting screws. In the frame of the machine
under the sliding table are fixed a series of spring scrapers for cleaning the grease
from the knives and these are all contained in a box like receptacle in which
it contained an edible substance, such as ground rice or the like, which adhering
to the blades is, together with the grease, scraped from thom and the grease being
absorbed there is formed a valuable constituent of sausages and the like or for
other purposes instead of being wasted or only imperfectly utilised. The machine
may also be adapted for cutting meat having a bone running through
it, by replacing the cutting knives with a sawing and cutting knife
combined, thus forming a supplement to the machine described in my patent
No. 10,993 of June 11th, 1892, and for such requirement means will be provided
by which either the sawing and cutting blades can be substituted for the cutting
blades upon the "graded" sheaves, or for changing the latter with their knives for
the saw and knife combined which can be done in a few minutes. In such appli-
cation I use an appliance for holding the bone firmly in the flesh, so that it is sawn
through of the same thickness as the slices of meat."
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings a machine, made according to my
invention, is shewn, having three sets of knives to cut three slices of boneless
meat at once, but there may be four, five, or more knives according to the require-
ments of the trade. The machine is shewn by the various figs. adapted to be
driven by hand, by foot treadles, or by power which may be a steam engine, gas
or oil engine, or an electric motor.
Fig. I shews an end view of the machine from the front looking towards the
edges of the knives and worked by hand power.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 on the line ab of Fig. 1, shewing the machine adapted
to be worked by foot power by the workman who thus has both hands at liberty to
manipulate the meat being sliced.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine in section through the line c-d Fig. 1
shewn adapted for driving with power direct without bevil gear from the sheave
on back end, also tho knife cleaners and grease receptacle, the strong dotted lines
indicating the hand power bevil gear Fig. 1.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3 with the sliding table removed shewing the grease
receptacle with the spring knife cleaners.
Fig. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 a vertical section of the blocks and springs for
clearing the knives from grease.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are one fourth and Figs. 5 and 6 one half the actual size.
The same letters refer to the same or equivalent parts ou all the figs.
A. is the bedplate supported on a frame at convenient height from the floor
and fixed thereto so as to be detachable for removal to any suitable position in the
shop or warehouse. B. B. are grooves formed on top of the bedplate in which slide
the guides C. C. on the underside of the meat table D, and small runner sheaves
may be fitted in these guides if required, but are not shewn. The top graded
sheaves E. for the knives I. are carried by the frame G. in bearings H. which are
adjustable by the screws J. to keep the knives in proper tension, and the bottom
graded sheaves E' are keyed on a driving shaft K. in fixed bearings H, H³, the
latter not shewn, formed upon or bolted to the helplate. In driving by hand
power the shaft K. has keved upon it a bovil wheel L. gearing into another bevil
wheel L keyed on the cross shaft M, which is carried in a bearing H formed
or bolted to the bed plate, see Fig. 1, and (in dotted lines) Fig. 3, the outer end of
the shaft M. carrying the hand driving wheel N.
upon
The distance between the edges of the knives represents the thickness of the
slices to be cut and is determined by the different diameters of the graded
sheaves E, B. The knives cut downward as indicated by the arrow Fig. 1 and are
guarded on their upward travel within the hollow part of the frame G.
Referring to Fig. 2 a pair of hevil wheels L. L' are keyed respectively on the
shaft K. and cross shaft K, which latter has a pair of cranks O. O' one on each end
connected by rods to the pair of treadles P. P', fulcrummed at Q. Q, and these
treadles are worked by the feet of the workman seated in front of the machine.
In driving by power, other than manual, a steam, gas, or electrical, the bevil
wheel L. and L are dispensed with, and the shaft K. is caned through a
bearing H, Figs. 3 and 4, and has keyed ou it the driving sheaves N' for a belt
from the motor.
A brush may be fitted to clean tho surfaces of the bottom graded sheaves, as
shewn in my Patent No. 10,903 of 1892, but this has not been found necessary in
the machines I have used. A guard and splash board, both readily detachable,
may be fitted over the top graded sheaves as also shewn in my said prior Patent.
The sliding meat table 1. is made of hard wood and has a slot R. to clear the
knives F. running from the back forward, which may be bound along its edges and
closed at end by a band of iron. The projecting points S. are for holding the
meat on the table when being cut.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 which shew respectively a plan and end elevation, also
to Figs. 3 and 4, the clearing of the knives from grease is effected by graded
blocks T. (preferably of wood) corresponding to the grades of the saw blades (held
in position by fixed brackets T), and pressed against the knives F. by elliptical
springs U, which may be of any other suitable form, and the bevilled tops of the
blocks scrape the knives as they descend und deliver the grease into the recep
tacle V. which forms a drawer and contains ground rice or other edible
substance W. see Figs. 3 and 6, by which the grease is absorbed and utilised as an
ingredient for sausages or the like.
In my Provisional Specification I described cutting meat with a bone running
through it into a number of slices, but I have since found that this is not practi-
cable and that in such application one blade only, alternately knife and saw edged,
can be used on this machine, as in my prior Patent No. 10,993 of 1892. Where
neat with a bone is to be sawn through by single slices I propose to apply at
suitable intervals holders or supports inserted through the flesh, and resting against
the bone and upon the meat table to hold the bone firmly in the flesh.. These
holders will resemble strong nails the sharp ends next the under half of the bone

page_text: and the heads resting upon the meat table, and will be placed at suitable angles to
prevent the bone moving when being sawn through.
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:-
1st. Machines operated by manual or other power, for cutting boneless meat
iuto a number of slices at one operation by a series of baud knives mounted upon
graded sheaves, substantially as described.
2nd. In such machines the application of spring scrapers to clear the knives or
saws from grease and to cause the waste grease to form by mixture with other
ingredients an edible substance, substantially as described and shewn.
3rd. Machines for cutting meat into a number of slices at one operation com-
prising: A bedplate carrying a table, sliding in guides, with spikes for holding
the meat firmly, a series of band knives, mounted upon graded sheaves driven by
manual or other power; spring scrapers to clear the knives of grease and utilise
the waste grease as described and shewn by Figs. 5 and 6; the whole combined
and operating substantially as described and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 for
hand or foot power, and by Figs. 3 and 4 for other power.
Dated this 24th day or an
1001.
T. J. DANSON,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.