Safety illumination for a slicing machine that monitors the state of the blade and stop plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827689-B2
Application number	US-201615170968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A slicing machine for cutting slices of a food product includes a machine housing including a circular blade configured to rotate in a cutting plane, a stop plate configured to be move, by an adjustment device, perpendicular to the cutting plane, a carriage mounted such that it is movable parallel to the cutting plane, and a machine status display for displaying an actual status of the slicing machine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slicing machine for cutting slices of a food product, comprising:
a machine housing including a circular blade configured to rotate in a cutting plane;
a stop plate configured to be move, by an adjustment device, perpendicular to the cutting plane;
a carriage mounted such that it is movable parallel to the cutting plane;
a machine status display for displaying an actual status of the slicing machine;
a first sensor configured to determine if the blade is rotating;
a second sensor configured to determine the state of the stop plate; and
a processor configured to receive outputs of the first sensor and the second sensor and to generate a machine status value.

2. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is a knob comprising a transparent or translucent material, and
wherein the machine status display is at least one light source integrated in the knob and configured to transmit light through the transparent or translucent material.

3. A slicing machine according to claim 2 , further comprising a wire connection configured to provide signaling to and supplying of the at least one light source, wherein the wire is guided through an axis of a cam plate and through an inner area of the knob, and
wherein an electronic board for controlling the at least one light source is located in the knob.

4. A slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the wire is connected to the electronic board by sliding contacts or a rotatable connection.

5. A slicing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic board comprises seven dual-light emitting diodes arranged in circular and equidistant manner, each one providing light to an input of a light guiding structure, the light guiding structure being integrated in the transparent or translucent material of the knob and configured to fracture the light in a way that a homogeneous brightness is provided in a sector of the outer periphery of the knob.

6. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
feet attached to the bottom of the slicing machine configured to set the slicing machine up on a flat surface,
wherein the machine status display is integrated as at least one light source in the bottom side of the slicing machine and configured to transmit light onto the flat surface on which the slicing machine is set up.

7. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine status display is integrated as at least one light source in a blade protection ring.

8. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine status display is integrated as at least one light source in the carriage.

9. A slicing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode or dual-light emitting diode covered by a transparent or translucent material.

10. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine status display is a fluorescent material covering at least part of the slicing machine.

11. A slicing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine status display provides at least:
a first display mode for indicating that the stop plate is in a zero position and the circular blade is not moving,
a second display mode for indicating that the stop plate is not in a zero position and the circular blade is not moving, and
a third display mode for indicating that the stop plate is not in a zero position and the circular blade is moving.

12. A slicing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the machine status display is illuminated green in the first display mode, wherein the machine status display is flashing red in the second display mode, and wherein the machine status display is illuminated red in the third display mode.

13. A method for operating a safety illumination display for a slicing machine for cutting slices of a food product, the method comprising:
determining a state of a circular blade;
determining a state of a stop plate;
generating a machine status value depending on the state of the circular blade and the state of the stop plate; and
illuminating a machine status display depending on the machine status value.

14. A method for operating a safety illumination display for a slicing machine according to claim 13 , wherein illuminating a machine status display depending on the machine status value comprises:
illuminating the machine status display in a first display mode if the circular blade is not moving and the stop plate is in a zero position;
illuminating the machine status display in a second display mode if the circular blade is not moving and the stop plate is not in a zero position; and
illuminating the machine status display in a third display mode if the circular blade is moving and the stop plate is not in a zero position.

15. A method for operating a safety illumination display for a slicing machine according to claim 14 , wherein the machine status display is illuminated green in the first display mode, wherein the machine status display is flashing red in the second display mode, and wherein the machine status display is illuminated red in the third display mode.

Assignees

• Bizerba Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Steinhilber Ralf
• Klinger Holger
• Seemann Rainer
• Heck Michael
• Bodmer Markus

Classifications

• B26D1/15

  with vertical cutting member · CPC title

• B26D5/26

  wherein control means on the work feed means renders the cutting member operative · CPC title

• B26D7/225 Primary

  for food slicers · CPC title

• B26D7/0616

  by carriages, e.g. for slicing machines · CPC title

• B26D2210/02

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