I 1111111111111111 1111111111 111111111111111 IIIII IIIII IIIII IIIIII IIII IIII IIII
`US010639812B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Lindee et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.: US 10,639,812 B2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 5, 2020
`
`(54) HIGH SPEED SLICING MACHINE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(71) Applicant: FORMAX, INC., Mokena (IL)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Mokena, IL (US);
`James E. Pasek, Tinley Park, IL (US);
`David Hancock, Morris, IL (US);
`Thomas C. Wolcott, LaGrange, IL
`(US)
`
`2,047,400 A
`4,226,176 A
`
`7/1936 Walter
`10/1980 Macchi
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(73) Assignee: PROVISUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
`Chicago, IL (US)
`
`DE
`DE
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 127 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 16/017,346
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 25, 2018
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Nov. 1, 2018
`US 2018/0311853 Al
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62)
`
`Division of application No. 13/099,325, filed on May
`2, 2011.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`B26D 7122
`B26D 7101
`
`(Continued)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............... B26D 7132 (2013.01); B26D 71225
`(2013.01); B26D 5100 (2013.01); B26D 7/0683
`(2013.01);
`
`(Continued)
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC ........ B26D 7/06; B26D 7/0625; B26D 7/225;
`B26D 7/0683; B26D 7/30; B26D 7/32;
`(Continued)
`
`10/1980
`2912446
`10/1990
`3912446
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Machine translation of DE19525742.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Phong H Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Klintworth & Rozenblat
`IP LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A high-speed food article slicing machine with a slicing
`station, a moveable frame supporting a food article feed
`mechanism frame, a food article gate, and a safety guard
`system for detecting an intrusion into the machine. Food
`articles are loaded onto a lift tray and raised to a staging
`position where food articles are in contact with a food article
`gate. The lift tray is located in line with the food article feed
`paths such that lateral shifting of food articles into the feed
`paths is not needed. Food article grippers, individually
`driven along feed paths by an overhead conveyor, move food
`articles over the food article gate towards the slicing station.
`The food article gate functions to assist in removal of food
`article end portions. The slicing machines utilizes a hori(cid:173)
`zontally radiating laser intrusion detector to shut down
`systems when an unwanted intrusion is sensed.
`
`11 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`Weber EX1001
`IPR2020-01557
`U.S. Patent No. 10,639,812
`
`

`

`US 10,639,812 B2
` Page 2
`
`(60)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`.
`.
`.
`.
`Prov1s1onal applrcatlon No. 61/343,551, filed on May
`1, 2010.
`
`(51)
`
`(200601)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int Cl
`'
`'
`326D 7”
`B26D 5/00
`326D 7/06
`B26D 7/30
`(52) US. Cl.
`CPC .......... B26D 7/30 (2013.01); 3261) 2007/01]
`(2013.01); 3261) 2210/02 (2013.01); Y10T
`83/2074 (2015.04); Y10T 83/654 (2015.04)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`---------------323165079528 321%?)27/1532635385
`,
`,
`,
`B26D 2007/011; B65G 15/00; B65G
`15/10; B65G 15/12; B65G 15/14; B65G
`15/16; B65G 15/30; B65G 15/50; Y1OS
`83/932; Y10T 83/6668; Y10T 83/202;
`Y10T 83/2192, Y10T 83/2194, Y10T
`83/463; Y10T 83/647; Y10T 83/6504;
`Y10T 83/6505; Y10T 83/6537; Y10T
`83/654; Y10T 83/9377; Y10T 83/2074
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,583,435 A
`4,934,232 A
`5,191,820 A
`5 628 237 A
`5’974’925 A
`6:415:698 Bl
`2004/0016331 A1
`2004/0031363 A1
`2004/0055439 A1
`2004/0139706 A1
`
`4/1986 Fessler
`6/1990 Weber et a1.
`“993 Hartman“
`5/1997 Lindee et a1.
`11/1999 Lindee et 31.
`7/2002 Haas et a1.
`1/2004 Wolcott et a1.
`2/2004 Lindee et 31,
`3/2004 Lindee et al.
`7/2004 Drebing et a1.
`
`2005/0082147 A1
`2005/0132855 A1
`2005/0199111 A1
`2006/0289281 A1
`2007/0214969 A1
`
`4/2005 Mol
`6/2005 Weber
`9/2005 sandberg et a1,
`12/2006 Sandberg et a1.
`9/2007 Mueller et a1.
`
`2008/0185095 A1
`2008/0250944 A1
`2009/0120256 A1
`
`8/2008 Gutknecht
`10/2008 Pryor et a1.
`5/2009 Pasek
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`3%
`DE
`DE
`3%
`a»
`EP
`EP
`EP
`i1}
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`W0
`
`4235985
`10200§g§gjj§
`19518583
`19518595
`19150325531411?1 A1
`00547389
`0713753 A2
`2566670
`20053;;33 :1
`89/06588
`0230635
`2005/037501
`2010011237
`2011/ 139996
`
`4/1994
`$33:
`11/1996
`11/1996
`5:33;
`6/1993
`5/1996
`7/2016
`iggggg
`7/1989
`4/2002
`4/2005
`1/2010
`11/2011
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Machine translation of FR2677573.
`Machine translation of JP2000-288983.
`International Search Report dated Jan. 27, 2012.
`European search Report for European Patent Application No. EP 11
`77 8126 dated Jan. 26, 2015, 3 pages.
`M h'
`t
`1 t'
`f DE102008020248
`3° {He ”“13 a?” 0
`Machine translation of DE10353114.
`Machine translation of DE2912446.
`Machine translation of 13134235985
`Machine translation of W02005037501.
`U.S.App1. No. 61/343,551, entitled “High Speed Slicing Machine,”
`filed May 1, 2010, 39 pages.
`
`'
`
`

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`199
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`197b
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`Fig. 1A
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 10,639,812 B2
`
`1
`HIGH SPEED SLICING MACHINE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit of US. Provisional
`Application No. 61/343,551, filed May 1, 2010, and is a
`divisional application of US. Ser. No. 13/099,325, filed on
`May 2, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein
`in their entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Many different kinds of food articles or food products,
`such as food slabs, food bellies, or food loaves are produced
`in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. There are meat loaves
`made from various meats, including ham, pork, beef, lamb,
`turkey, and fish. The meat in the food loaf may be in large
`pieces or may be thoroughly comminuted. These meat
`loaves come in different shapes (round, square, rectangular,
`oval, etc.) and in different lengths up to six feet (183 cm) or
`even longer. The cross-sectional sizes of the loaves are quite
`different; the maximum transverse dimension may be as
`small as 1.5 inches (4 cm) or as large as ten inches (25.4 cm).
`Loaves of cheese or other foods come in the same great
`ranges as to composition, shape, length, and transverse size.
`Typically,
`the food loaves are sliced,
`the slices are
`grouped in accordance with a particular weight requirement,
`and the groups of slices are packaged and sold at retail. The
`number of slices in a group may vary, depending on the size
`and consistency of the food article and the desire of the
`producer, the wholesaler, or the retailer. For some products,
`neatly aligned stacked slice groups are preferred. For others,
`the slices are shingled or folded so that a purchaser can see
`a part of every slice through a transparent package.
`Food articles can be sliced on high speed slicing machines
`such as disclosed in Published Patent Document WO 2010/
`011237 A1 or US. Pat. No. 5,628,237 or 5,974,925; or as
`commercially available as the Power Max 4000TM and
`FX180® slicers available from Formax, Inc. of Mokena, 111.,
`USA.
`
`The FX180® machine can be configured as an automati-
`cally loaded, continuous feed machine, or an automatically
`loaded, back-clamp or gripper type machine.
`For an automatically loaded, continuous feed machine,
`side-by-side upper and lower conveyor pairs drive food
`articles into the cutting plane. A gate is located in front of the
`conveyors. The initial food articles are loaded with leading
`ends abutting the gate. The gate is lowered and the food
`articles proceed into the conveyors. When the initial food
`articles are sliced to the extent that the trailing ends of the
`food articles clear the gate, the gate is raised and new food
`articles are loaded in the feed paths, held back by the gate.
`Shortly thereafter the gate is lowered and new food articles
`slide down to where lead ends of the new food articles abut
`
`trailing ends of the initial food articles being sliced. The new
`food articles are driven into the cutting plane trailing the
`initial food articles. Food articles are sequentially and con-
`tinuously loaded in this manner, lead end-to-trailing end, in
`abutting contact with the preceding food articles.
`US. Pat. No. 5,628,237 and European patent EP 0 713
`753 describe a back-clamp or gripper type slicing machine.
`According to this type of slicing machine, food articles are
`loaded onto a lift
`tray and the lift
`tray is raised to a
`ready-to-sweep position. Loaf grippers are retracted after the
`previous food articles are sliced. During retraction of the
`loaf grippers, loaf-to-slicing blade gate doors are closed and
`
`2
`
`ends of the previous food articles are dropped through a loaf
`end door. After the grippers have reached the retracted
`position or “home position” remote from the slicing blade,
`a loaf sweep mechanism is activated, moving the food
`articles laterally together into the slicing position. A spacing
`mechanism moves down and spaces the food articles apart.
`The grippers then advance after it has been determined that
`the loaf sweep mechanism has moved the food articles to the
`slicing position. The grippers have onboard sensing mecha-
`nisms that are triggered by contact with the food articles.
`After sensing and gripping the food articles, the food articles
`are retracted slightly, and the loaf-to-slicing blade gate doors
`are opened and the food articles are advanced to the slicing
`plane of the slicing blade. The loaf sweep mechanism
`retracts and the loaf lift tray lowers, ready for the next reload
`cycle. According to this design, in practice, the reload cycle
`is accomplished in about eight seconds. In a high-volume
`slicing operation, reload cycle time can be a significant
`limitation to optimum production efficiency.
`The machine disclosed in WO 2010/011237 A1 provides
`an automated, food article tray loading method and appara-
`tus wherein food articles can be loaded into the lift tray into
`designated and separated lanes which automatically assume
`a preload condition, and after the food articles are loaded,
`food article separation is maintained on the lift tray. A food
`article transfer receives the food articles on the lift tray in
`their separated positions and transfers the food articles into
`the slicing feed paths while maintaining the separated posi-
`tions. A food article end disposal system utilizes a transport
`that laterally moves end portions outside of the feed path and
`ejects the end portions as the transport is moved back into
`the feed path to receive the subsequent end portions. The
`machine utilizes food article grippers that are fixed onto
`conveyor belts which support and drive the food articles in
`the feed paths.
`The present inventors have recognized that it would be
`desirable to slice plural food articles with independent
`feeding and weighing capabilities, with hygienic and opera-
`tional enhancements.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention provides a mechanism and method for
`slicing multiple food articles with independency of feed rate
`and the ability to weigh each product group from each food
`article respectively to achieve optimal weight control and
`yield of each food article.
`The present invention provides a high-speed slicing appa-
`ratus and a weighing and classifying conveyor combination
`that provides plural advantages in machine cost, productiv-
`ity, food hygiene, and operation.
`The invention provides a lift tray that is located in line
`with the food article feed paths and is lowered to receive
`food articles and raised into the feed paths. There is no need
`for lateral shifting of food articles into the feed paths. Food
`article grippers are driven along the feed paths by an
`overhead conveyor. A laser food article end detection system
`is employed in each feed path to detect the terminal end of
`the food article to control the positioning of the gripper for
`that path.
`The invention provides the use of an automatic debris or
`scrap removal conveyor that also provides for end portion
`removal.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The invention provides an automated cleanup position
`wherein the elevated food article feed mechanism can be
`
`collapsed to a more convenience plane or maintenance
`position, and the blade cover is automatically pivoted to a
`
`

`

`US 10,639,812 B2
`
`3
`cleanup position. The combination provides for enhanced
`portion control and yield. A food article feed mechanism
`ensures accurate feeding by the use of servo driven and
`controlled feed belts and grippers. The slicing mechanism
`includes three independent drives for slicing multiple food
`articles simultaneously.
`An improved food article stop gate is provided that also
`serves as a door for the removal of food article end portions.
`A horizontally radiating laser intrusion detector is used to
`shut down systems when an unwanted intrusion by an
`operator is detected.
`An automated,
`food article tray loading method and
`apparatus is provided wherein food articles can be loaded
`into the lift tray into designated and separated lanes which
`automatically assume a preload condition, and after the food
`articles are loaded, food article separation is maintained on
`the lift tray.
`Numerous other advantages and features of the present
`invention will become readily apparent from the following
`detailed description of the invention and the embodiments
`thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a near side elevational view of a slicing machine
`and a weighing and classifying conveyor combination of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary view taken from FIG.
`
`1;
`
`FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the slicing machine of
`FIG. 1 in a clean-up configuration;
`FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combination of FIG. 1 with
`some panels and parts removed or made transparent illus-
`trating some underlying components;
`FIG. 2A is a bottom perspective view of a portion of FIG.
`
`2;
`
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3
`of FIG. 2 with some panels and parts removed or made
`transparent and underlying components revealed;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic, sectional view taken generally
`along line 4-4 of FIG. 6 with some panels and parts removed
`or made transparent and underlying components revealed;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic, sectional view taken generally
`along line 5-5 of FIG. 6 with some panels and parts removed
`or made transparent and underlying components revealed;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6-6
`of FIG. 3 with some panels and parts removed or made
`transparent and underlying components revealed;
`FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken generally
`along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 with some panels and parts removed
`or made transparent and underlying components revealed;
`FIG. 7A is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of
`FIG. 7;
`FIG. 7B is an enlarged fragmentary view of apportion of
`FIG. 7A;
`FIG. 7C is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion
`of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 7D is a top perspective view of a portion of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 7E is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of
`FIG. 7;
`FIG. 7F is an enlarged fragmentary view of an alternate
`embodiment of a lower conveyor.
`FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the
`apparatus of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 9 is a far side perspective view of the apparatus of
`FIG. 1 with a lift tray in a lowered position;
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`FIG. 10 is a top perspective rear view of the lift tray of
`FIG. 9 with a tray platform removed;
`FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary near side perspective
`view of a portion of the slicing machine of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary far side perspective
`view with a door removed to show underlying components;
`FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram of the loaf feed appa-
`ratus in a first stage of operation;
`FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of the loaf feed appa-
`ratus in a second stage of operation;
`FIG. 13C is a schematic diagram of the loaf feed appa-
`ratus in a third stage of operation; and
`FIG. 13D is a schematic diagram of the loaf feed appa-
`ratus taken generally along line 13D-13D of FIG. 13C.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`in
`While this invention is susceptible of embodiment
`many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and
`will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments
`thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is
`to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of
`the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the
`
`specific embodiments illustrated.
`Published Patent Application No. WO 2010/011237 and
`US. Pat. No. 5,628,237 are herein incorporated by refer-
`ence.
`
`Overall Description
`
`FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a high-speed slicing apparatus 100
`and a weighing and classifying conveyor or output conveyor
`102 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
`The slicing apparatus 100 includes a base section 104, a
`collapsible frame 105, an automatic food article loading
`apparatus 108 that receives food articles 110 to-be-sliced, a
`food article feed apparatus 120, a food article end and scrap
`removal conveyor 122 (FIGS. 13C and 13D), a laser safety
`guard system 123, a slicing head apparatus 124, and a slice
`receiving conveyor 130. The slicing head apparatus includes
`a slicing blade 125 that defines a slicing plane and an orifice
`plate or slicing block 126 that guides food articles into the
`slicing plane, the blade cutting closely to the orifice plate.
`The slicing apparatus also includes a computer display touch
`screen 131 that is pivotally mounted on and supported by a
`support 132.
`
`Base Section
`
`The base section 104 includes a compartment 136 having
`side walls 138a, 138b, a bottom wall 140, and an inclined
`top wall 142. The apparatus 100 is supported on four
`adjustable feet 144. The compartment 136 has a tapered side
`profile from back to front wherein the top wall 142 slants
`down from back to front. The slanted orientation of the top
`wall 142 ensures water drainage of the top of the compart-
`ment 136. The compartment is supported on adjustable feet
`144.
`
`The compartment 136 includes a near side door 152, a far
`side door 156 (FIG. 9), and a rear door 162 that permit
`access into the compartment or to modules normally held
`within the compartment 136. The compartment 136 typi-
`cally affords an enclosure for a computer, motor control
`equipment, a low voltage supply, and a high voltage supply
`
`

`

`US 10,639,812 B2
`
`5
`and other mechanisms as described below. The compartment
`may also include a pneumatic supply or a hydraulic supply,
`or both (not shown).
`
`Collapsible Frame and Elevated Housings
`
`The base section 104 supports the collapsible frame 105
`as shown in FIGS. 1, 1B and 9. The collapsible frame 105
`includes a foldable support mechanism 174 that supports a
`food article feed mechanism frame 190.
`
`The foldable support mechanism 174 includes a servo-
`motor 175 that drives a gear reducer 176 having a drive shaft
`178 that extends out of far side of the compartment 136
`(FIG. 9). The drive shaft 178 is rotationally fixed to parallel
`levers 180a, 1801) which swing out with a turning of the
`drive shaft 178. The levers 180a, 1801) are pivotally con-
`nected to a column 182 via a rotary connection 184. The
`column 182 is pivotally connected at a pivot connection 192
`to the frame 190 which supports the food article feed
`apparatus 120.
`For cleaning and maintenance purposes, the collapsible
`frame 105 is collapsed down by actuating the servomotor
`175 and gear reducer 176 to rotate the levers 180a, 180b,
`which draws down the column 182 as shown in FIG. 1B.
`
`is
`The frame 190, and all equipment supported thereby,
`lowered for more convenient maintenance and cleaning as
`illustrated in FIG. 1B. In some cases, this eliminates the
`need for ladders or platforms when servicing the slicing
`apparatus 100.
`The slicing head 124 is covered by a guard 119 that is
`attached to the frame 190 such that when the frame is
`
`pivoted down as shown in FIG. 1B, the guard 119 is pivoted
`away from a slicing head base 117 to expose the slicing
`blade 125 and internals for cleaning and maintenance.
`Additionally, the elevation of the food article feed appa-
`ratus can be adjusted by using the servomotor to selectively
`pivot the levers 180a, 1801) and lower the rear of the frame
`190. At a front, the frame 190 is supported on a cross shaft
`193 that is eccentrically fixed at each end to a round cam 194
`(FIG. 1A). The cam is joumaled in a round opening 195 in
`side supports 197a, 1971) and the cam is fixed for non-
`rotation to the respective side support by fasteners 199. The
`far side is shown in FIG. 1A, with the understanding that the
`near side is mirror image identical across the longitudinal
`vertical center plane of the machine. As shown in FIG. 1A,
`because the dimension “a” is smaller than the dimension
`
`“b”, the shaft ends can be temporarily loosened by removing
`the fasteners and the shaft and cams can be rotated 180
`
`degrees about a centerline of the shaft, and the cams can be
`re-fastened to be fixed to the side supports. The elevation
`will be different between the two 180-degree adjustable
`positions. Thus, the machine will accommodate two differ-
`ent height settings for different types of food articles.
`
`Food Article Feed Apparatus
`
`An upper conveyor assembly 530 of the food article feed
`apparatus 120 is shown in FIG. 2. The conveyor assembly
`530 includes three independently driven endless conveyor
`belts 802, 804, 806. Each belt 802, 804, 806 is identically
`driven so only the drive for the belt 802 will be described.
`The belt 802 is wrapped around a toothed front drive
`roller or pulley 812 and a back-idler roller or pulley 816. The
`belt 802 preferably has teeth that engage teeth of the two
`rollers 812, 816. Each drive roller 812 includes a toothed
`outer diameter 812a and a toothed, recessed diameter 81219.
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`An endless drive belt 820 wraps around the recessed
`diameter 81219. The drive belt 820 also wraps around a drive
`roller 824 that is fixed to a drive shaft 828. The drive shaft
`
`828 extends transversely to the belt 802 and is journaled for
`rotation within a bearing 830 mounted to a near side frame
`member 836.
`
`The drive shaft 828 penetrates a far side frame member
`838 and extends to a bearing 843, coupled to a gear reducer
`842 mounted to a support frame 854. The gear reducer 842
`is coupled to a servomotor 850 that is mounted to the support
`frame 854.
`The servomotor 850 drives the drive shaft 828 which
`turns the roller 824 which circulates the belt 820 which
`rotates the roller 812 which circulates the belt 802.
`
`Three servomotors 850 are mounted to the support frame
`854 and all are located within an upper compartment 855
`that is supported by the frame 190.
`The idler rollers 816 are provided with a pair of mirror
`image identical adjustable cam belt
`tension adjustment
`mechanisms 882a, 8821). As shown in FIG. 7A, each mecha-
`nism 882a, 8821) includes a fork 885 that is braced from the
`respective side frame member 836, 838 by an adjustable cam
`883. The fork 885 is guided by upper and lower pins 886a,
`8861) so as to slide rearward and forward and has an end 891
`
`that captures an axle 889 that rotationally supports the idle
`rollers 816. For adjustment, the cam fastener 883a is loos-
`ened so as to be rotatable on the respective side frame
`member 836, 838, rotated to achieve the desired belt tension,
`and then the cam fastener is tightened to hold the cam fixed.
`FIG. 7B illustrates a gripper 894 used in cooperation with
`the belt 802. The gripper 894 is mounted to a bottom run of
`the belt 802 and is translated along the food article path by
`the belt 802. The gripper 894 is clamped to a belt joint and
`guide assembly 896 by a fixture 901 that engages the
`assembly 896 and is fixed thereto by a clamping set screw
`897. The assembly 896 comprises a pair of upper members
`899 and a lower member 900. The upper members 899 can
`include teeth 899a that mesh engage the teeth of the belt 802
`once the members 899, 900 are fastened together to splice
`the free ends 802e, 802f of the belt 802 (FIG. 7D). For
`clamping, fasteners 902, 904 (FIG. 7D) are provided which
`are inserted from above the members 899 through plain
`holes in the members 899 and tightly threaded into threaded
`holes in the member 900.
`
`The lower member 900 includes guides 906, 907 that
`contain slide bearings 906a, 907a composed of friction
`reducing material. The slide bearings 906a, 907a partly
`surround longitudinal rails 912, 913 that are in parallel with,
`and straddle the belt 802. The rails 912, 913 support the
`gripper along its working path from a retracted position to a
`fully forward position near to the slicing plane.
`For each gripper there are two rails 912, 913 to support
`and guide that gripper. Thus, there are two rails that straddle
`the belt 804 and two rails that straddle the belt 806.
`
`The gripper 894 is connected to the fixture 901 by a front
`plate 920 having a predominant lateral face and a rear plate
`922 having a predominant longitudinal face. Each gripper
`894 is provided with two air lines 930, 932 for two-way
`pneumatic gripper open-and-close operability.
`The air lines 930, 932 are guided through lower rings 940
`and upper rings 942 to an air tube storage area 950 above the
`food article feed apparatus 120 (FIG. 7D). The air tube lines
`are routed around weighted rollers or slides 951 that are
`guided by longitudinal slots 952 and extend to a source of
`pressurized air. Thus, the movement of the rollers or slides
`along the slots under force of gravity, will take up slack in
`
`

`

`US 10,639,812 B2
`
`7
`the air tubes when the grippers 894 are moving toward, and
`when in, the retracted position.
`The gripper 894 travels from the retracted home position
`shown in FIG. 7A to the advanced,
`forward position
`approaching the slicing plane.
`The grippers 894 are as described in Published Patent
`Application No. WO 2010/011237, herein incorporated by
`reference.
`
`Lower Conveyor
`
`As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 7E at a front end of the
`food article feed apparatus 120, are three lower feed con-
`veyors 992, 994, 998, having endless belts 1002, 1004,
`1008, respectively. The endless belts 1002, 1004 1008 are
`independently driven and are directly opposed to presser
`plates 1003, 1005, 1007 respectively.
`FIG. 6 shows the conveyor 992 has a drive roller 1010
`having a central hub 1012 with a central bore 1014. The
`drive roller 1010 has tubular stub axles 1016, 1018 extend-
`ing from opposite ends of the central hub 1012. The tubular
`stub axles 1016, 1018 are journaled for rotation by bearings
`1020, 1022 that are fastened to carrier blocks 1023a.
`The conveyor 994 includes a drive roller 1038 having a
`central hub 1042 with a bore 1044. The drive roller 1038 has
`
`tubular stub axles 1046 and 1048 extending from opposite
`ends of the central hub 1042. The tubular stub axles 1046,
`1040 are journaled by bearings 1050, 1052 respectively that
`are attached to carrier blocks 1023b.
`
`A motor housing 1054, including a base plate 1054b and
`a cover 1054a, is mounted to an end of an upper conveyor
`support bar 1056. The base plate 1054b of each side of the
`machine is fastened to a linear actuator, such as a pneumatic
`cylinder 1055a and 1055b respectively. The cylinders
`1055a, 1055b are connected together by the support bar
`1056. Each cylinder slides on a fixed vertical rod 1057a,
`1057b respectively. Thus, controlled air to the cylinders
`1055a, 1055b can be used to uniformly raise or lower the
`near side motor housing 1054 and the far side motor housing
`1054 uniformly.
`A spindle 1060 extends through the motor housing 1054,
`through a sleeve 1064, through a coupling 1065, through the
`tubular stub axle 1016,
`through the central bore 1014,
`through the tubular stub axle 1018, through the tubular stub
`axle 1046, and partly into the bore 1044. The spindle 1060
`has a hexagonal cross-section base region 1070, a round
`cross-section intermediate region 1072, and a hexagonal
`cross-section distal region 1074. The hexagonal cross-sec-
`tion base region 1070 is locked for rotation with a surround-
`ing sleeve 1071 to rotate therewith.
`The intermediate region 1072 is sized to pass through the
`sleeve 1064, through the tubular stub axle 1016, through the
`central bore 1014, and through the tubular stub axle 1018 to
`be freely rotatable therein. The distal region 1074 is con-
`figured to closely fit into a hexagonal shaped central channel
`1078 of the tubular stub axle 1046 to be rotationally fixed
`with the tubular stub axle 1046 and the drive roller 1038.
`
`The sleeve 1064 includes a hexagonal perimeter end
`1064a that engages a hexagonal opening 106511 of the
`coupling 1065. The coupling 1065 includes an opposite
`hexagonal opening 1065a that engages a hexagonal perim-
`eter end 101611 of the tubular stub axle 1016. The coupling
`1065 couples the sleeve 1064 and the stub axle 1016 for
`mutual rotation such that the sleeve 1064 and the drive roller
`
`1010 are locked for rotation together,
`sleeve 1064 turns the drive roller 1010.
`
`i.e., turning of the
`
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`Within the motor housing 1054 are two servomotors
`1090, 1092 mounted to the housing by fasteners. As shown
`in FIGS. 4 and 6, the servomotor 1090 has a vertically
`oriented output shaft 1096 that rotates about a vertical axis
`connected to a worm gear 1098 that is enmesh with and
`drives a drive gear 1100 that rotates about a horizontal axis.
`The drive gear 1100 drives the sleeve 1071 that drives the
`region 1070 of the spindle to rotate the spindle 1060.
`Rotation of the spindle 1060 rotates the drive roller 1038 via
`the hexagonal cross-section distal end region 1074.
`Adjacent to the servomotor 1090 is the servomotor 1092.
`The servomotor 1092 is configured substantially identically
`with the servomotor 1090 except the worm gear 1098, as
`shown in schematic form in FIG. 5, of the servomotor 1092
`drives a drive gear 1100 that drives the sleeve 1064 to rotate.
`The sleeve 1064 rotates independently of the round cross-
`section region 1072 of the spindle 1060, and drives a stub
`axle 1016 to rotate, which rotates the drive roller 1010.
`The sleeves 1071 and 1064 are journaled for rotation by
`bearings. The drive gears 1100, 1100 are fastened to the
`respect