Modular units, clamping assemblies, and slicing machines equipped therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12083699-B2
Application number	US-202117471479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2021
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A modular unit configured for mounting to a cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, and slicing machines equipped with one or more of such modular units. The modular unit includes mounting blocks adapted to be spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a clamping assembly assembled with the mounting blocks so as to extend between the mounting blocks. The clamping assembly is configured to secure a knife to the cutting head, and at least portions of the clamping assembly may be removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the mounting blocks without removing the mounting blocks from the cutting head.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slicing machine comprising an annular-shaped cutting head that comprises first and second support rings spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a modular unit mounted to the cutting head, the modular unit comprising:
mounting blocks that are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cutting head, a first of the mounting blocks being secured to the first support ring and a second of the mounting blocks being secured to the second support ring; and
a clamping assembly assembled with the first and second mounting blocks so as to be between the first and second mounting blocks, the clamping assembly comprising a knife holder and a clamp arranged with the knife holder to clamp a knife between the knife holder and the clamp;
wherein the first and second mounting blocks are secured to the first and second support rings so that the knife holder, the clamp, and the knife are removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the first and second mounting blocks without removing the first and second mounting blocks from the first and second support rings.

2. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a cam rod that overlies a radially outer surface of the clamp so that the clamp is between the cam rod and the knife and the cam rod secures the clamp to the knife holder, and the cam rod is operable to clamp and release the knife between the clamp and the knife holder by respectively engaging and disengaging the outer surface of the clamp.

3. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a cam rod that has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the first and second mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends that contacts a radially outer surface of the clamp, the cam rod being rotatable to have a clamping position and a release position to respectively clamp and release the knife between the clamp and the knife holder, the camming portion applying a force that clamps the clamp against the knife holder when the cam rod is in the clamping position, the camming portion releasing the force against the clamp when the cam rod is in the release position.

4. The slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the camming portion of the cam rod comprises a cylindrical portion of the cam rod that contacts the clamp in the clamping position and disengages the clamp in the release position.

5. The slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the cam rod is rotatably and eccentrically coupled to the first and second mounting blocks, the camming portion is closer to the knife holder in the clamping position, and the camming portion is farther from the knife holder in the release position.

6. The slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the cam rod protrudes through a surface of the first support ring.

7. The slicing machine according to claim 6 , further comprising a protrusion on the cam rod, a first stop that prevents rotation of the cam rod beyond the clamping position and a second stop that prevents rotation of the cam rod beyond the release position.

8. The slicing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second stops are defined by the first support ring.

9. A method of modifying the slicing machine of claim 8 by replacing the first support ring with a third support ring, wherein the location of the second stop of the first support ring is different than the location of the second stop of the third support ring so that the release positions established by the first and third support rings are different.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the release position established by the third support ring enables the clamping and releasing of a thicker knife than possible with the first support ring.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the thicker knife is a shaped knife having a periodic pattern of peaks and valleys.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising disassembling the clamping assembly from the first and second mounting blocks and assembling a second clamping assembly to the first and second mounting blocks, the second clamping assembly comprising a second knife holder and a second clamp that each have a periodic pattern of peaks and valleys that is complementary to the shaped knife.

13. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp has oppositely-disposed ends at which the clamp is pivotably coupled to the first and second mounting blocks.

14. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable gate that is assembled with the first and second mounting blocks so as to be between the first and second mounting blocks, the adjustable gate defining a trailing edge and being adjustably secured to the first and second mounting blocks so that the trailing edge thereof has an adjustable radial location on the cutting head.

15. The slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the slicing machine further comprises an impeller coaxially mounted within the cutting head for rotation about the 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.

16. A modular unit configured for mounting to an annular-shaped cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, the cutting head comprising support rings spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, the modular unit comprising:
first and second mounting blocks configured to be individually and separately secured to the support rings so that the first and second mounting blocks are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cutting head; and a clamping assembly assembled with the first and second mounting blocks so as to be between the first and second mounting blocks, the clamping assembly comprising a knife holder and a clamp arranged with the knife holder to clamp the knife between the knife holder and the clamp;
wherein the first and second mounting blocks are configured to be secured to the support rings so that the knife holder, the clamp, and the knife are removable by disassembling the clamping assembly from the first and second mounting blocks without removing the first and second mounting blocks from the support rings.

17. The modular unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a cam rod that overlies a radially outer surface of the clamp so that the clamp is between the cam rod and the knife and the cam rod secures the clamp to the knife holder, and the cam rod is operable to clamp and release the knife between the clamp and the knife holder by respectively engaging and disengaging the outer surface of the clamp.

18. The modular unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a cam rod that has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the first and second mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends that contacts a radially outer surface of the clamp, the cam rod being rotatable to have a clamping position and a release position to respectively clamp and release the knife between the clamp and the knife holder, the camming portion applying a force that clamps the clamp against the knife holder when the cam rod is in the clamping position, the camming portion releasing the force against the clamp when the cam rod is in the release position.

Assignees

• Urschel Laboratories Inc

Inventors

• Gereg Dustin J
• Jacko Michael Scot

Classifications

• B26D1/36

  and rotating continuously in one direction during cutting, e.g. mounted on a rotary cylinder (for flying cutting B26D1/62) · CPC title

• B26D7/0691

  by centrifugal force · CPC title

• B26D3/28

  Splitting layers from work; Mutually separating layers by cutting (B26D3/30 takes precedence; Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics B29B17/00) · CPC title

• B26D2210/02

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

• B26D1/62

  and is rotating about an axis parallel to the line of cut, e.g. mounted on a rotary cylinder · CPC title