Food product slicer with automatic indication of when to sharpen knife

• US 20070142959A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Shariff, Shahram, Rummel, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/311,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/160
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/143 rotating about a stationary axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2210/02 for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/12 by sharpening the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/303 With tool sharpener or smoother

Abstract

A food product slicer with a rotatable slicer knife includes a knife sharpener and a control for indicating when the slicer knife should be sharpened.

Claims

1. A slicer for use in slicing a food product, the slicer comprising:

a slicer body;

a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body, the slicer knife having a peripheral cutting edge;

a food product carriage mounted to the slicer body for reciprocating movement back and forth past a cutting zone of the slicer knife;

a control operable to track a count of a selected knife use characteristic of the slicer, the control operable to effect production of a knife sharpen signal based at least in part upon the count.

2. The slicer of claim 1 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises slicing strokes of the food product carriage.

3. The slicer of claim 2 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises only slicing strokes of the food product carriage that occur while the slicer knife is running.

4. The slicer of claim 3 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises only slicing strokes of the food product carriage that occur while a load on a drive of the slicer knife exceeds a threshold level.

5. The slicer of claim 2 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises slicing strokes of the food product carriage, wherein at least some of the slicing strokes are associated with specific food products.

6. The slicer of claim 1 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises rotations of the slicer knife.

7. The slicer of claim 6 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises only rotations of the slicer knife that occur while a load on a drive of the slicer knife exceeds a threshold level.

8. The slicer of claim 6 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises only rotations of the slicer knife that occur while the food product carriage is moving.

9. The slicer of claim 1 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises run time of the slicer knife, the count comprises a time count.

10. The slicer of claim 9 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises only run time of the slicer knife while the food product carriage is moving.

11. The slicer of claim 1 wherein the knife sharpen signal is output responsive to the count exceeding a set count.

12. The slicer of claim 11 wherein the count is resettable via a user input device.

13. The slicer of claim 12 wherein the user input device comprises a sharpen initiate trigger, the slicer includes a sharpener assembly mounted to the slicer body, the sharpener assembly includes an associated powered actuator for moving a sharpening member into contact with the peripheral cutting edge of the knife in response to the sharpen initiate trigger.

14. The slicer of claim 11 wherein the knife sharpen signal effects operation of a visual indicator of the slicer.

15. The slicer of claim 11 wherein the knife sharpen signal effects operation of an audible indicator of the slicer.

16. The slicer of claim 1 wherein the control includes at least one of a digital counter and an analog counter for tracking the count.

17. A method for identifying when to sharpen a circular slicer knife of a slicer having a food product carriage mounted for reciprocating movement back and forth past a cutting zone of the slicer knife, the method comprising the steps of:

tracking a count of a selected knife use characteristic of the slicer;

comparing the tracked count with a set count; and

producing a knife sharpen signal based at least in part upon the comparison.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises slicing strokes of the food product carriage while the slicer knife is running.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises rotations of the slicer knife while the food product carriage is moving.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected knife use characteristic comprises run time of the slicer knife while the food product carriage is moving, the count comprises a time count.

21. A slicer for use in slicing a food product, the slicer comprising:

a slicer body;

a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body, the slicer knife having a peripheral cutting edge;

a sharpener assembly mounted in an operating position on the slicer body and having a sharpening member movable between a standby position and a sharpening position, a powered actuator positioned for moving the sharpening member from the standby position to the sharpening position.

22. The slicer of claim 21 wherein the powered actuator comprises a solenoid.

23. The slicer of claim 21 wherein the slicer includes a switch for initiating operation of the powered actuator.

24. The slicer of claim 21 where in the slicer includes a control operable to effect operation of the powered actuator for a certain time period corresponding to a predetermined appropriate time period for sharpening the slicer knife.

25. A slicer for use in slicing a food product, the slicer comprising:

a slicer body;

a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body, the slicer knife having a peripheral cutting edge;

a sharpener assembly mounted in an operating position on the slicer body and having a sharpening member movable between a standby position and a sharpening position, an actuator positioned for moving the sharpening member from the standby position to the sharpening position;

wherein a control is provided to cause the sharpening member to move from the sharpening position to the standby position after a certain time period.

26. The slicer of claim 25 wherein the actuator is a powered actuator and the control is electronic.

27. The slicer of claim 25 wherein the actuator is manually operated and the control is a mechanical control incorporated into the sharpener assembly.