Knife assembly for slicing machines and machines equipped therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10562203-B2
Application number	US-201715807145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 8, 2016
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

A slicing machine having a cutting head and a knife assembly mounted thereto, and methods for clamping a knife of the knife assembly in the slicing machine. The knife assembly includes a knife holder having a support surface that supports the knife and a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the support surface of the knife holder and the clamp. A clamping rod is rotated from a release position to a clamping position to secure the clamp to the knife holder and clamp the knife therebetween. The clamping rod is eccentrically mounted to the cutting head and uses eccentricity to apply a clamping load to the clamp when rotated from the release position to the clamping position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slicing machine comprising a cutting head and a knife assembly mounted to the cutting head, the knife assembly comprising:
a knife holder having a clamp support surface and a knife support surface terminating at a distal edge;
a knife supported by the knife support surface of the knife holder, the knife having a cutting edge that projects beyond the distal edge of the knife holder;
a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife support surface of the knife holder and the clamp, the clamp having an inward surface facing the knife holder and an outward surface facing away from the knife holder, the clamp having first and second clamp portions that are not coplanar and have a junction therebetween, the first clamp portion contacting the clamp support surface of the knife holder, the second clamp portion contacting the knife, and the junction being out of contact with the knife holder and the knife; and
a clamping rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween, the clamping rod having a camming surface that contacts the outward surface of the clamp near the junction between the first and second clamp portions, the clamping rod being rotatable to have a clamping position and a release position, the camming surface applying a force that clamps the clamp against the knife holder when the clamping rod is in the clamping position so that the first clamp portion is forced against the clamp support surface of the knife holder and the second clamp portion is forced against the knife, the camming surface releasing the force against the clamp when the clamping rod is in the release position.

2. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp is between the knife holder and the clamping rod, and the clamping rod is eccentrically mounted to the cutting head and uses eccentricity to apply a clamping load to the clamp when rotating from the release position to the clamping position.

3. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the camming surface of the clamping rod comprises a cylindrical portion of the clamping rod that faces and contacts the clamp in the clamping position and faces away from and disengages the clamp in the release position.

4. The slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the clamping rod further comprises a planar portion that faces away from the clamp in the clamping position.

5. The slicing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the planar portion faces the clamp in the release position.

6. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping rod is rotatably and eccentrically mounted in the slicing machine, the clamping rod is closer to the knife holder in the clamping position, and the clamping rod is farther from the knife holder in the release position.

7. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting head comprises support members and the knife assembly is mounted to and between the support members.

8. The slicing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the knife holder supports and mounts the clamp and the knife to the support members.

9. The slicing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the clamping rod has first and second ends rotatably coupled to the support members so that the camming surface of the clamping rod is eccentric to the first and second ends of the clamping rod, the clamping rod is closer to the knife holder in the clamping position, and the clamping rod is farther from the knife holder in the release position.

10. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting head is an annular-shaped cutting head, the slicing machine further comprises an impeller coaxially mounted within the cutting head for rotation about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head, the impeller has means for delivering food products radially outward toward the cutting head, and the knife extends radially inward toward the impeller in a direction opposite the rotational direction of the impeller.

11. A method of clamping a knife of a knife assembly in a slicing machine that comprises a cutting head to which the knife assembly is mounted, the knife assembly comprising a knife holder having a clamp support surface and a knife support surface that supports the knife and a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife support surface of the knife holder and the clamp, the clamp having first and second clamp portions that are not coplanar and have a junction therebetween, the first clamp portion contacting the clamp support surface of the knife holder, the second clamp portion contacting the knife, and the junction being out of contact with the knife holder and the knife, the method comprising:
rotating a clamping rod from a release position to a clamping position to secure the clamp to the knife holder and clamp the knife therebetween, the clamping rod being eccentrically mounted to the cutting head and using eccentricity to apply a clamping load to the clamp when rotated from the release position to the clamping position, the clamping rod having a camming surface that contacts the clamp near the junction between the first and second clamp portions with the result that the first clamp portion is forced against the clamp support surface of the knife holder and the second clamp portion is forced against the knife.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the clamping rod is rotatably and eccentrically mounted in the slicing machine so that the clamping rod is closer to the knife holder in the clamping position and farther from the knife holder in the release position.

Assignees

• Urschel Laboratories Inc

Inventors

• Jacko Michael Scot

Classifications

• B26D3/26

  specially adapted for cutting fruit or vegetables, e.g. for onions · CPC title

• B26D7/2614 Primary

  Means for mounting the cutting member · CPC title

• B26D2210/02

  for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers · CPC title

• B26D7/0691

  by centrifugal force · CPC title