Food article feed apparatus for a food article slicing machine

• US 8,978,529 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Provisur Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Formax Incorporated
• Inventors: Pasek, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US12/255,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,338 Days
• Field of Search: 837/34, 839/32, 83/78, 831/55, 831/551, 832/37, 832/76, 834/01, 83709-711, 837/31, 837/61, 836/33, 836/65, 836/66, 836/76, 198/415, 198/623, 198/817
• US Class Current: 83/155
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/0093 Handling, transporting or packaging pieces of meat
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/02 having a stationary cutting member B26D1/547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/143 rotating about a stationary axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/157 rotating about a movable axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/165 for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/36 and rotating continuously in one direction during cutting, e.g. mounted on a rotary cylinder for flying cutting B26D1/62
• 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 2210/08 Idle cutting
• 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 5/08 Means for actuating the cutting member to effect the cut
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/32 with the record carrier formed by the work itself
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/34 scanning being effected by a photosensitive device
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/42 with interrelated action between work feed and clamp work clamping arrangements B26D7/02
• 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 7/06 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 7/0608 by pushers B26D7/0616, B26D7/0625 and B26D7/0641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0683 specially adapted for elongated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/088 by cleaning or lubricating sterilizing B26D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/18 : Means for removing cut-out material or waste
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 : Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/225 : for food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/24 : arranged to disable the operating means for the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/30 : for weighing cut product
• 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: F16P 3/144 : using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/932 : Edible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30392 : with means to protect operative or machine [e.g., guard, safety device, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 : Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0467 : By separating products from each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/061 : With manually actuated means to disturb cyclic operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 : With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/166 : Removable element carries program
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/182 : With means to weigh product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2048 : By movement of stack holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2137 : And alternatively movable to or from operating position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2192 : Endless conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/242 : With means to clean work or tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/531 : With plural work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/647 : With means to convey work relative to tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6536 : By carriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6563 : With means to orient or position work carrier relative to tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6577 : With means to adjust additional means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6579 : With means to press work to work-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6582 : Tool between tandem arranged work carrying means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6616 : Having means to actuate pusher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/662 : Lever, cam, or link actuated pusher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6668 : Interrelated work-feeding means and tool-moving means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6945 : With passive means to guide tool directly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/741 : With movable or yieldable guide element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/768 : Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7868 : Tool element selectively operative
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/85 : Signal; e.g., alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/95 : Machine frame

Abstract

A food article feed apparatus for a food article slicing machine. The apparatus has conveyor with a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt. The drive roller is for driving the conveyor. The drive roller has an outer diameter and a recessed diameter where the drive belt is connected around the recessed diameter and the conveyor belt is connected around the outer diameter. The drive belt operates within an area defined by the first conveyor belt.

Claims

1. A food article slicing machine, comprising:

a slicing station comprising a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the blade along a cutting path;

a food article feed apparatus supporting food articles for movement along food article paths intersecting the cutting path; and

said food article feed apparatus for independently moving at least three loaves into said cutting path;

wherein said food article feed apparatus comprises;

a first conveyor for independently moving a first food article toward said cutting path;

a second conveyor for independently moving a second food article toward said cutting path;

a third conveyor for independently moving a third food article toward said cutting path;

wherein each said first, second and third conveyor comprises;

a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt;

said drive roller for driving said corresponding conveyor belt;

wherein each said drive roller includes an outer diameter and a recessed diameter;

each said drive belt surrounds in engagement the recessed diameter of the corresponding drive roller;

each said conveyor belt surrounds in engagement said outer diameter of the corresponding drive roller; and

wherein each said drive belt operates in a path that is within an area defined by the corresponding conveyor.

2. The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third conveyors comprises:

a drive shaft; and

each said drive shaft positioned transverse to a conveyor path.

3. The food article slicing machine of claim 2, wherein the drive shaft corresponding to the second conveyor intersects the conveying path at a longitudinal position along the conveying path different than that of the drive shafts corresponding to the first and third conveyors.

4. The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein said food article feed apparatus is adapted to independently move said first, second and third food articles longitudinally into said cutting path.

5. The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third conveyors are arranged laterally side-by-side with the second conveyor between the first and third conveyors, and wherein said second conveyor is driven to circulate by a drive motor driving a drive shaft that extends laterally through an open interior of the first conveyor, the drive shaft operatively connected to the second conveyor such that rotation of the drive shaft by the drive motor circulates the second conveyor.

6. The food article slicing machine of claim 1, further comprising a machine control for controlling each said first, second and third conveyors, and wherein the machine control includes instructions ending machine slicing of all said first, second and third food articles on the food article feed apparatus when a shortest of said first, second and third food articles is sliced to a minimum length.

7. The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third conveyors comprises a gripper for releasably holding an end of a corresponding food article at a position opposite of said slicing station.

8. A food article slicing machine, comprising:

a slicing station comprising a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the blade along a cutting path;

a food article feed apparatus supporting food articles for movement along food article paths intersecting the cutting path; and

said food article feed apparatus for independently moving at least three loaves into said cutting path;

wherein said food article feed apparatus comprises;

a first conveyor for independently moving a first food article toward said cutting path;

a second conveyor for independently moving a second food article toward said cutting path;

a third conveyor for independently moving a third food article toward said cutting path;

wherein each said first, second and third conveyor comprises;

a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt;

said drive roller for driving said corresponding conveyor belt;

wherein each said drive roller includes an outer diameter and a recessed diameter;

each said drive belt surrounds in engagement the recessed diameter of the corresponding drive roller;

each said conveyor belt surrounds in engagement said outer diameter of the corresponding drive roller; and

wherein each said first, second and third conveyor has a first vertical plane defined by a lateral first edge of said conveyor belt and a second vertical plane defined by an opposite second lateral edge of said conveyor belt;

wherein said drive belt of each of said first, second and third conveyors operates between said first vertical plane and said second vertical plane of respective first, second and third conveyors.

9. The food article slicing machine of claim 8, wherein each of said first, second and third conveyors comprises:

a drive shaft; and

each said drive shaft positioned transverse to a conveyor path.

10. The food article slicing machine of claim 9, wherein the drive shaft corresponding to the second conveyor intersects the conveying path at a longitudinal position along the conveying path different than that of the drive shafts corresponding to the first and third conveyors.

11. The food article slicing machine of claim 8, wherein said food article feed apparatus is adapted to independently move said first, second and third food articles longitudinally into said cutting path.

12. The food article slicing machine of claim 8, wherein the first, second, and third conveyors are arranged laterally side-by-side with the second conveyor between the first and third conveyors, and wherein said second conveyor is driven to circulate by a drive motor driving a drive shaft that extends laterally through an open interior of the first conveyor, the drive shaft operatively connected to the second conveyor such that rotation of the drive shaft by the drive motor circulates the second conveyor.

13. The food article slicing machine of claim 8, further comprising a machine control for controlling each said first, second and third conveyors, and wherein the machine control includes instructions ending machine slicing of all said first, second and third food articles on the food article feed apparatus when a shortest of said first, second and third food articles is sliced to a minimum length.

14. The food article slicing machine of claim 8, wherein each of said first, second and third conveyors comprises a gripper for releasably holding an end of a corresponding food article at a position opposite of said slicing station.