Systems and methods for slicing food products

• US 8,408,108 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Inventors: Redemann, Rory J., Watson, Timothy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/704,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 833/50, 833/55, 833/56, 834/01, 839/32, 833/73
• US Class Current: 83/356
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/143 rotating about a stationary axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2003/285 cutting one single slice at each stroke
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2210/02 for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/00 Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting cutters B26D1/00; arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools B26B29/06; punching tools or dies, cutting-out knives or dies B26F
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/088 by cleaning or lubricating sterilizing B26D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/05 With reorientation of tool between cuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/242 With means to clean work or tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/283 With means to control or modify temperature of apparatus or work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/496 With periodic lateral feed of tool or work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/647 With means to convey work relative to tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7722 Support and tool relatively adjustable

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for cutting slices of food product from a larger portion of the food product, whereby the systems and methods can reduce down-time associated with some of the portions of the equipment during cleaning. Components of the system requiring more frequent cleaning can be readily disconnected from those components requiring less frequent cleaning. Further, substitute components can be connected to those components requiring less frequent cleaning to reduce their down-time while the other components are being cleaned.

Claims

1. A modular slicing system for cutting slices of food from a larger piece of food, the modular slicing system comprising:

a slicer blade for cutting slices of food from a larger piece of food, the slicer blade being operably connected to a driven shaft;

a conveyor for advancing the meat log toward the slicer blade;

a motor operably connected to a driving shaft for driving the driving shaft for rotation;

a coupling selectively joining the driven shaft and the driving shaft, thereby permitting the driving shaft to drive the driven shaft and the slicer blade for rotation;

a first platform for supporting the slicer blade and the conveyor; and

a second platform for supporting the motor independent of the first platform such that the first platform, along with the slicer blade and the conveyor, can be moved away from the second platform, along with the motor, when the coupling between the driven shaft and the driving shaft are decoupled.

2. The modular slicing system of claim 1, wherein a controller is operably connected to the motor for controlling operation of the motor, the controller being supported by the second platform.

3. The modular slicing system of claim 2, wherein an infeed gripper is supported by the second platform for controlling at least in part the infeed of a larger piece of food to the conveyor, the infeed gripper and the conveyor being operably connected to the controller.

4. The modular slicing system of claim 2, wherein the slicer blade is disposed within a housing, the housing having an upstream opening aligned with the conveyor for the introduction of a larger piece of food into the housing and a downstream opening through which slices of food from the larger piece of food can exit the housing.

5. The modular slicing system of claim 4, wherein one of the drive and drive shafts extends at least partially into the housing through a shaft opening of the housing.

6. The modular slicing system of claim 5, wherein an integrated heating element is disposed adjacent the shaft opening of the housing to provide localized sterilization.

7. The modular slicing system of claim 2, wherein a support for the driving shaft is disposed on the second platform between the coupling and the motor.

8. The modular slicing system of claim 7, wherein an integrated heating element is disposed adjacent the support for the driving shaft to provide localized sterilization.

9. The modular slicing system of claim 1, wherein at least one integrated heating element is disposed to provide localized sterilization.

10. The modular slicing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated heating element is disposed adjacent one of a support for the driving shaft, a support for the driven shaft, the slicing blade and the motor to provide localized sterilization.