Dual-mode feed mechanism for a food slicing machine

• US 20080016999A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: J. E. Grote Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: J. E. Grote Company
• Inventors: Kemp, Paul M., Locascio, William J., Mathues, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US11/490,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/42
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2007/011 by clamping claws, e.g. in high speed slicers for food products
• 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 7/01 Means for holding or positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/02 with clamping means B26D7/018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/06 Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form feeding or discharging sheets, webs, or filaments B65H
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0633 by grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0683 specially adapted for elongated articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0538 Repetitive transverse severing from leading edge of work

Abstract

A feed mechanism for a food slicing machine. The feed mechanism is capable of dual configurations: gripper mode and continuous feed mode. The apparatus has dual conveyors that can feed food products continuously, and a gripper mechanism that can feed food products reciprocatingly. Before engaging the continuous mode, the gripper mechanism is driven to an end of the machine and then a drive belt, which a jaw clamps during the gripper mode, is released. The dual, opposing conveyors then feed the food product that rolls to them by gravity over a moveable roller frame extending beneath the gripper mechanism. During gripper mode, the upper conveyor can be removed or raised out of the way, and the moveable roller frame is positioned just beneath the gripper. The gripper jaw clamps the drive belt and the gripper is driven in a reciprocal manner over the lower conveyor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying food products along a food path into a blade of a food slicing machine, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a lower conveyor defining a base of the food path and drivingly linked to means for driving the lower conveyor;

(b) an upper conveyor spaced from the lower conveyor, adjacent the food path and drivingly linked to means for driving the upper conveyor at least during a continuous feed mode;

(c) a gripper; and

(d) means for linking the gripper to gripper drive means and disposing the gripper in the food path during a reciprocating gripper mode, and for unlinking the gripper from the gripper drive means and disposing the gripper out of the food path during the continuous feed mode.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower conveyor'"'"'s drive means, the upper conveyor'"'"'s drive means and the gripper drive means are all connected.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the lower conveyor'"'"'s drive means, the upper conveyor'"'"'s drive means and the gripper drive means include a single drive motor.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of linkage members pivotably mounting the upper conveyor to the food slicing machine;

(b) a first of said linkage members extends between a drive shaft and a driven shaft;

(c) a toothed belt extends from the drive shaft to the driven shaft;

(d) a roller of the upper conveyor is drivingly linked to the driven shaft; and

(e) the first linkage member has pivot points that coincide with axes of the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a moveable roller frame that extends from near one end of the lower conveyor to beneath the gripper for conveying food products from beneath the gripper to the lower conveyor.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a moveable roller frame that extends from near one end of the lower conveyor to beneath the gripper for conveying food products with the gripper on the lower conveyor.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a moveable roller frame with opposing first and second ends, the first end having a connector removably mounted to the lower conveyor, the second end extending beneath the gripper and having a connector for mounting to the lower conveyor.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first end of the moveable roller frame is substantially planar and the second end is curved.

9. An apparatus for conveying food products along a food path into a blade of a food slicing machine, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a lower conveyor defining a base of the food path and drivingly linked to a motor that drives the lower conveyor;

(b) a vertically displaceable upper conveyor removably mounted above the lower conveyor and removably, drivingly linked to the motor at least during a continuous feed mode;

(c) a gripper; and

(d) a clamping jaw connected to the gripper for clamping a drive belt driven by the motor and disposing the gripper in the food path during a reciprocating gripper mode, and for releasing the drive belt and disposing the gripper out of the food path during the continuous feed mode.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of linkage members pivotably mounting the upper conveyor to the food slicing machine;

(b) a first of said linkage members extends between a drive shaft and a driven shaft;

(c) a toothed belt extends from the drive shaft to the driven shaft;

(d) a roller of the upper conveyor is drivingly linked to the driven shaft; and

(e) the first linkage member has pivot points that coincide with the axes of the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a moveable roller frame that extends from near one end of the lower conveyor to beneath the gripper for conveying food products from beneath the gripper to the lower conveyor.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a moveable roller frame that extends from near one end of the lower conveyor to beneath the gripper for conveying food products with the gripper on the lower conveyor.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a moveable roller frame with opposing first and second ends, the first end having a connector removably mounted to the lower conveyor, the second end extending beneath the gripper and having a connector for mounting to the lower conveyor.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first end of the moveable roller frame is substantially planar and the second end is curved.

15. A method for continuously conveying food products along a food path into a slicing blade of a food slicing machine, the method comprising:

(a) disposing a lower conveyor at a base of the food path;

(b) drivingly linking the lower conveyor to means for driving the lower conveyor;

(c) spacing an upper conveyor from the lower conveyor adjacent the food path;

(d) drivingly linking the upper conveyor to means for driving the upper conveyor;

(e) disposing a gripper on the machine out of the food path; and

(f) unlinking the gripper from means for driving the gripper.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising drivingly linking the gripper to means for driving the gripper and disposing the gripper in the food path.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the steps of drivingly linking the gripper and disposing the gripper further comprise clamping a jaw that is connected to the gripper on a drive belt and then displacing the belt.

18. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising mounting a moveable roller frame leading to the lower conveyor beneath the gripper for conveying food products from beneath the gripper to the lower conveyor.

19. A method for conveying food products along a food path into a slicing blade of a food slicing machine, the method comprising:

(a) disposing a lower conveyor at a base of the food path;

(b) drivingly linking the lower conveyor to means for driving the lower conveyor;

(c) disposing a gripper into the food path; and

(d) drivingly linking the gripper to means for driving the gripper.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

(a) spacing an upper conveyor from the lower conveyor adjacent the food path; and

(b) drivingly linking the upper conveyor to means for driving the upper conveyor.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising unlinking from the upper conveyor the means for driving the upper conveyor.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, further comprising removing the upper conveyor from adjacent the food path.

23. The method in accordance with claim 21, further comprising raising the upper conveyor, thereby spacing the upper conveyor further from the lower conveyor.

24. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising raising the upper conveyor, thereby spacing the upper conveyor further from the lower conveyor.

25. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising mounting a moveable roller frame leading to the lower conveyor beneath the gripper for conveying food products from the gripper to the lower conveyor.

26. A primarily vertically displaceable conveyor for conveying food products on a food slicing machine, the conveyor comprising:

(a) at least first and second rollers rotatably mounted to a conveyor frame and around which an endless loop belt extends;

(b) a plurality of linkage members pivotably mounted to the frame at a plurality of points and pivotably mounted to the food slicing machine at a plurality of spaced points;

(c) a drive shaft drivingly linked to means for driving the conveyor and having an axis coincident with one of said pivot points in a first of said linkage members, wherein the first roller'"'"'s axis is coincident with a second of said pivot points in the first linkage; and

(d) a belt drivingly linking the drive shaft with the first roller.

27. A removable conveyor for conveying food products on a food slicing machine, the conveyor comprising:

(a) at least first and second rollers rotatably mounted to a conveyor frame and around which an endless loop belt extends;

(b) at least three pins extending from the conveyor fame;

(c) a first bracket mounted to at least a first of the pins, and a second bracket mounted to at least a second of the pins; and

(d) an arm removably mounted to a prime mover for displacing the arm vertically, and to which at least the first bracket is mounted;

wherein the prime mover is removably mounted to the food slicing machine.

28. The removable conveyor in accordance with claim 28, wherein the prime mover is mounted to a mounting apparatus that is removably mounted to the food slicing machine, the arm further comprises first and second arms that extend downwardly from the mounting apparatus to opposite sides of the conveyor frame, the first bracket is mounted to the first and second arms on a first side of the conveyor frame, and the second bracket is mounted to the arms on the opposite side of the conveyor frame.

29. The removable conveyor in accordance with claim 29, further comprising fastening means extending around the pins for retaining the pins.