Method, device and measuring device for cutting open foodstuff

• US 9,272,428 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
• Original Assignee: GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Mller, Ralf-Peter, Schmeiser, Jrg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Laura M
• Application Number:
  US14/041,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 836/76, 83703-731, 83409-4092, 837/34, 839/32, 834/031, 832/06, 83/731, 83/767, 83/768, 83360-372, 83350-357, 83/62, 83/621, 303/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/0006 Cutting members therefor
• 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 5/007 Control means comprising cameras, vision or image processing systems
• 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 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 7/0006 Means for guiding the cutter for hand knives B26B29/06; for band-knives B26D1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/08 Means for treating work or cutting member to facilitate cutting tensioning band cutters B26D1/48
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/12 by sharpening the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2628 Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2635 for circular cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/30 for weighing cut product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0448 With subsequent handling [i.e., of product]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/929 Tool or tool with support

Abstract

New methods, devices and measuring devices for slicing food are required for solving problems that occur with existing methods and devices and/or for reacting to changes to the food product being sliced. The devices include a blade for slicing food comprising a blade edge and a recess. The recess has a center point and may be employed for mounting and centering the blade on a slicing device. At least one dimension, D, of the recess is a length or diameter of the recess and preferably is at least 140 mm and at most 450 mm. The blade edge preferably has a radius, R, measured from the blade edge to the center point of the recess. The ratio of R/D preferably is less than 2.0 for every point on the blade edge.

Claims

1. A mount and blade for slicing food comprising:

i. a blade having;

a blade edge,

a circular aperture having a center point, and

a plurality of bores,

ii. a mount;

wherein a diameter of the circular aperture, D, is at least 240 mm and at most 360 mm;

wherein the blade edge has a radius, R, measured from the center point of the circular aperture to the blade edge,

wherein R is between 250 and 550 mm;

wherein the blade including the mount has a weight that is at most 23 kg;

wherein the ratio of R/D is less than 2.0 for every point on the blade edge,

wherein the bores are asymmetrically arranged around the circular aperture so that the blade can be mounted on the mount in only a single position, and

wherein the blade edge is rotationally non-symmetrical and extends less than about three quarters around a circumference of the circular aperture.

2. The mount and blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein a counterweight is not arranged on the blade itself.

3. The mount and blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio R/D is less than 1.3 for every point on the blade edge;

and the ratio R/D is greater than 0.5 for every point on the blade edge.

4. The blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein an overall surface area of the blade is substantially planar when mounted on the slicing device.

5. A blade for slicing food comprising:

a blade edge,

a circular aperture having a circumference for mounting and centering the blade on a slicing device,

a plurality of recesses arranged around the aperture,

a plurality of bores arranged around the aperture,

one or more asymmetrical cutouts arranged around the aperture,

at least one dimension, D, of the aperture is a diameter of the aperture and is at least 140 mm and at most 450 mm, and

the blade edge has a radius, R, measured from the blade edge to a center point of the aperture, wherein the ratio of R/D is less than 2.0 for every point on the blade edge, and

wherein the blade edge extends around a portion of the circumference of the circular aperture not to exceed about three-quarters of the circumference,

wherein the recesses enable the blade to be held during fastening to the slicing device.

6. The blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein an overall surface area of the blade is substantially planar when mounted on the slicing device.

7. The blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ratio R/D is less than 1.5 for every point on the blade edge.