Slicing blade for concurrently slicing a plurality of product loaves disposed in a side-by-side relationship

• US 6,484,615 B2
• Filed: 08/15/1997
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Formax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Formax Incorporated
• Inventors: Lindee, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Charles
• Application Number:
  US08/911,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 833/52, 833/55, 835/96, 836/72, 836/77, 839/32, 833/56, 833/68, 837/03, 836/985.1, 836/995.1, 834/44, 834/71, 83/86, 83/88, 834/092, 303/09, 303/10, 303/47
• US Class Current: 83/596
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/008 for measuring quality, e.g. to determine further processing
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/0006 Cutting members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/0046 rotating continuously about an axis perpendicular to the edge
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/0053 having a special cutting edge section or blade section
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/006 the cutting blade having a special shape, e.g. a special outline, serrations
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/161 for obtaining more than one product at a time
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/32 for conveying or stacking cut product means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/932 Edible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0538 Repetitive transverse severing from leading edge of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2037 In stacked or packed relation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2042 Including cut pieces overlapped on delivery means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6544 End of work protrudes through aperture in carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/739 Positively confines or otherwise determines path of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8796 Progressively cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9394 Helical tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9403 Disc type

Abstract

A slicing machine including a slicing blade for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a side-by-side arrangement using a single rotation of the slicing blade is set forth. A single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation. To this end, the slicing edge may have a profile defined a plurality of constant radius sections. Each constant radius section has a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section. Further, each constant radius section has a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section. Such a blade and its associated slicing station provide great control of slices from the loaves as they proceed from the loaf to a receiving conveyor of the slicing station.

Claims

1. In a slicing machine for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a lateral side-by-side arrangement using a single slicing blade to produce two groups of stacked or shingled slices corresponding to the first and second product loaves, a vertical midway passing axis passing midway between the first and second product loaves in a plane containing the blade, a slicing blade arrangement comprising:

a slicing blade having a slicing edge and a center of rotation;

said slicing edge having a curved shape such that a single rotation of the slicing edge about the center rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation;

a loaf guide for guiding said first and second product loaves along preselected feed paths as the loaves are sliced into slices by said slicing blade, said feed paths arranged along respective lengths of said first and second loaves;

the slicing blade being mounted in the slicing arrangement with respect to said loaf guide so that the center of rotation is displaced from the midway passing axis;

a receiving surface located below said feed paths, adjacent the slicing blade, said receiving surface horizontally disposed in a lateral direction, said receiving surface arranged to receive slices cut from said first and second loaves in two stacks, vertical clearances between each of said first and second loaves, adjacent the slicing blade, and the receiving surface being substantially equal and set such that each slice touches said receiving surface before being separated completely from the respective loaf; and

at slice completion, the slicing edge generating adjacent, substantially equal penetration vector angles through the first and second product loaves measured in opposite rotational direction from the midway passing axis.

2. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the curved shape of the slicing edge is defined by a plurality of constant radius sections, each constant radius section having a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section, each constant radius section having a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section.

3. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of constant radius sections comprises:

an initial constant radius section having a first radius magnitude and a first section center, the first section center being displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation; and

a final constant radius section having a second radius magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude, the final constant radius section having a section center that is displaced above and laterally from the center of rotation, the initial constant radius section being disposed to cut into the first and second product loaves prior to cutting by the final constant radius section upon rotation of the blade about the center of rotation.

4. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of constant radius sections further comprises an intermediate constant radius section having a third radius magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude and smaller than the second radius magnitude, the intermediate constant radius section having a section center that is displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation.

5. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising a conveyor, wherein said receiving surface comprises a top surface of said conveyor, said top surface movable to transport said two stacks.

6. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising a loaf feed conveyor having at least one conveying surface for feeding said first and second loaves and a stationary end plate, said loaf guide comprising two spaced-apart recesses in said end plate.

7. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two stacks comprise shingled stacks.

8. In a slicing machine for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a lateral side-by-side arrangement using a single slicing blade to produce two groups of stacked or shingled slices corresponding to the first and second product loaves, a vertical midway passing axis passing midway between the first and second product loaves in a plane containing the blade, a slicing blade arrangement comprising:

a slicing blade having a slicing edge with a profile defined by a plurality of constant radius sections, each constant radius section having a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section, each constant radius section having a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section;

a center of rotation;

said slicing edge having a curved shape such that a single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation;

a loaf guide for guiding said first and second product loaves along preselected feed paths as the first and second loaves are sliced into slices by said slicing blade, said feed paths arranged along respective lengths of said first and second loaves;

the slicing blade being mounted in the slicing arrangement with respect to said loaf guide so that the center of rotation is displaced from the midway passing axis;

a receiving surface located below said feed paths, adjacent the slicing blade, said receiving surface horizontally disposed in a lateral direction, said receiving surface arranged to receive slices cut from said first and second loaves in two stacks, the vertical clearances between each of said first and second loaves, adjacent the slicing blade, and the receiving surface being substantially equal and set such that each slice touches said receiving surface before being separated completely from the respective loaf; and

at slice completion, the slicing edge generating adjacent, substantially equal penetration vector angles through the first and second product loaves measured in opposite rotational direction from the midway passing axis.

9. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plurality of constant radius sections comprises:

an initial constant radius section having a first radius magnitude and a first section center, the first section center being displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation; and

a final constant radius section having a second radius magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude, the final constant radius section having a section center that is displaced above and laterally from the center of rotation, the initial constant radius section being disposed to cut into the first and second product loaves prior to cutting by the final constant radius section upon rotation of the blade about the center of rotation.

10. A slicing blade as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plurality of constant radius section further comprises an intermediate constant radius section having a third magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude and smaller than the second radius magnitude, the intermediate constant radius section having a section center that is displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation.

11. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the section center of the intermediate constant radius section is collinear with the section center of the initial constant radius section.

12. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the section center of the intermediate constant radius section is collinear with the section center of the final constant radius section.

13. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the section center of the intermediate constant radius section is collinear with the section center of the initial constant radius section and wherein the section center of the intermediate constant radius section is collinear with the section center of the final constant radius section.

14. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein the center of rotation is offset from the section centers of the plurality of constant radius sections.

15. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the center of rotation is offset from the section centers of the plurality of constant radius sections.

16. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plurality of constant radius sections comprises:

an initial constant radius section having a first radius magnitude and a first section center, the first section center being displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation; and

a final constant radius section having a second radius magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude, the final constant radius section having a section center that is displaced above and laterally from the center of rotation, the initial constant radius section being disposed to cut into the first and second product loaves prior to cutting by the final constant radius section upon of the blade about the center of rotation.

17. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 16 wherein the plurality of constant radius sections further comprises an intermediate constant radius section having a third radius magnitude that is larger than the first radius magnitude and smaller than the second radius magnitude, the intermediate constant radius section having section center that is displaced below and laterally from the center of rotation.

18. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8, comprising a conveyor, wherein said receiving surface comprises a top surface of said conveyor, said top surface movable to transport said two stacks.

19. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8, comprising a loaf feed conveyor having at least one conveying surface for feeding said first and second loaves and a stationary end plate, said loaf guide comprising two spaced-apart recesses in said end plate.

20. A slicing blade arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said two stacks comprise shingled stacks.