.
`
`5,628,237
`[11] Patent Number:
`United States Patent
`Lindeeetal.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`May 13, 1997
`
`
`119
`
`US005628237A
`
`[54] SLICING MACHINE FOR TWO OR MORE
`FOOD LOAVES
`
`4,532,840
`4,572,044
`4,644,729
`
`8/1985 Antonissen .
`2/1986 Antonissen .
`2/1987 Fessler scssescssscsessasseusssaneenee 83/277
`
`[75]
`
`[56]
`
`Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, New Lenox; Glenn A. me ybse toe. .
`Lc
`.
`»
`Y
`i.
`Sandberg, Lockport; WilburA.
`5,033,341
`7/1991 Miussig et al. srssscnsesesesemnn 83/18
`Janssen, New Lenox, all of Ill.
`5,054,345 10/1991 Weber .
`5,101,702
`4/1992 Kuchler.
`[73] Assignee: Formax, Inc., Mokena,Ill
`5,191,820
`3/1993 Heartemann esssnsnsensnsertneestne 83/277
`.
`Primary Examiner—Kenneth E. Peterson
`tpgDos Sa789
`Ped],
`Attomey, Agent, or Firm—Dorn, McHachran, Jambor &
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 11, 1994
`Keating
`
`(51) Ent, CLS coccssssscssstssttisssesenennennenn B26D 7/06—[57] ABSTRACT
`[52] US. Ce ecscesecsccsssesreessees 83/403.1; 83/409; tie A high speedslicing machine supports first and second food
`loaves for movementalongparallel loaf paths into a slicing
`[58] Field of Search ....ussmsmsmnenee 83/722, 932, 277,
`station where both loaves are sliced by one cyclically driven
`83/403.1, 409, 409.1,422
`knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on
`a receiving conveyor located below the slicing station.
`References Cited
`Independentloaf feed drives are provided;slices cut from
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. The
`machine combines manual and automated mechanisms to
`load food loaves onto the food paths. These mechanisms
`share a central barrier that is used only during loading; at
`other times the barrier is clear of the loaf paths. The
`automated loaf loading mechanism has a sweep to push one
`or more loaves onto a support defining the loaf paths. There
`are two grippers, one on each loaf path; each grips the end
`of a loafremote from the slicing station. For each gripper, a
`loaf feed drive impels the gripper (and loaf) toward the
`slicing station and then moves the gripper back to a home
`position,releasing an unslicedloaf butt on the way through
`a door opening in the loaf support. Each loaf feed drive
`includes two “short” conveyors driven at the same speed as
`the gripper. The loaf support is pivotally movable to a
`cleanup position; in its normal support position the loaf
`support masks the grippers, the loaf feed drive, the barrier,
`and the sweeps, but in cleanup position it exposes them all.
`
`3/1936 Walter .
`2,036,001
`4/1936 Walter .
`2,038,864
`8/1938 Englen .
`2,126,458
`2,768,666 10/1956 Garapolo et al. .
`2,834,388
`5/1958 Mayer .
`2,966,186 12/1960 Garapolo.
`3,208,321
`9/1965 Holt .
`3,605,837
`9/1971 Lambert et al. .
`3,821,913
`7/1974 Bajear etal. .
`3,827,319
`8/1974 Flesch .
`3,842,698 10/1974 Fitch et al. cccccccccsssssssssssssssenee §3/88
`3,846,957
`11/1974 Divan .
`3,894,457
`7/1975 Miller etal. .
`3,965,783
`6/1976 Mulleret al.
`3,972,256
`8/1976 Ross.
`3,995,517 12/1976 Smith .
`4,151,772
`5/1979 Johnson .
`4,309,927
`1/1982 Denniset al. .
`4,405,186
`9/1983 Sandberg et al. wisccuee 83/77
`4,423,263
`1/1984 Lindee et al. .
`
`.
`
`22 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
`Weber EX1006
`
`IPR2020-01557
`U.S. Patent No. 10,639,812
`
`Weber EX1006
`IPR2020-01557
`U.S. Patent No. 10,639,812
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May13, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 18
`
`5,628,237
`
`
`
`

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`US.
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`U.S. Patent
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`May13, 1997
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`Sheet 3 of 18
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`May 13, 1997
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`May 13, 1997
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 1997
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`Sheet 6 of 18
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`WEIGH
`
`USS. Patent
`
`May13, 1997
`
`Sheet 7 of 18
`
`5,628,237
`
`FROM FIG. 6A
`
`FIG. 6B
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`May 13, 1997
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 1997
`
`Sheet 10 of 18
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`5,628,237
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`USS. Patent
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`May13, 1997
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`Sheet 11 of 18
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`5,628,237
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`May13, 1997
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`May13, 1997
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`May 13, 1997
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`May 13, 1997
`
`Sheet 17 of 18
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`5,628,237
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`

`

`Sheet 18 of 18
`
`5,628,237
`
`May13, 1997
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`

`

`Many different kinds of food loaves are produced; they
`come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. There are meat
`loaves made from various different meats, including ham,
`pork, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, and even meats not usually
`mentioned. 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 four feet (122 cm) or even
`Accordingly, the invention relates to an improved high
`longer. The cross-sectional sizes of the loaves are quite
`speed food loaf slicing machine comprisingaslicing station
`15
`different; the maximum transverse dimension may be as
`including a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the
`small as 1.5 inches (4 cm)or as large as ten inches (25.4 cm).
`knife blade along a predetermined cutting path, and loaf
`Loaves of cheese or other foods come in the same great
`support means for supporting a first food loaf and a second
`ranges as to composition, shape, length, and transverse size.
`food loaf for movementalong parallel first and second loaf
`Many of these food loaves meet a commonfate; they are
`paths, respectively,
`into the slicing station for repetitive
`sliced, the slices are grouped in accordance with a particular
`slicing of both loaves by the knife blade.
`weight requirement, and the groups of slices are packaged
`In one aspect of the invention, the improvement com-
`and soldat retail. The number of slices in a group may vary,
`prisesafirst loaf feed drive for advancingthefirst food loaf
`depending on the size and consistency of the food loaf and
`along the first loaf path at a first preselected loaf feedrate,
`even on the whim of the producer, the wholesaler, or the
`and a second loaf feed drive for advancing the second food
`retailer. For some products, neatly aligned stacked slice
`loaf along the second loaf path at a second preselected loaf
`. groups are preferred. For others,
`the groups should be
`feed rate. Further,
`the improvement includes means for
`shingled so that a purchaser can see a part of every slice
`varying one loaf feed rate independently of the other so that
`through a transparent package. And whenit comes to bacon
`slices cut from one loaf can differ in thickness from slices
`or other food products of variable shape,the problems do not
`cut from the other.
`just increase; they literally multiply.
`A variety of different known slicing machines have been
`used to slice food loaves. They range from small, manually
`fedslicers used in butcher shopsandin retail establishments
`to large, high speed slicers usually employed in meat pro-
`cessing plants. The present invention is directed to a high
`speed slicing machine used in a meat processing plant.
`Some known high speed food loaf slicing machines have
`provided for slicing two food loaves simultaneously with a
`single, cyclically driven knife blade. Other prior high speed
`slicing machines, including that shown in S. Lindeeet al.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,263, have sliced one loaf at a time, but
`could be expanded to slice two or more loaves simulta-
`neously. But none of the prior high speed slicing machines
`have had the versatility needed to slice food loaves of the
`manydifferent sizes and shapes referred to above, particu-
`larly with provision for either stacking or shingling of the
`sliced output, variations in slice thickness and slice count
`from two different
`loaves, and precision control of the
`weight of slice groups.
`
`2
`computer control, so that the slicing machine output is
`adapted to a broad range of end use requirements.
`A specific object of the invention is to provide a new and
`improved gripper construction for a positive loaf feed
`mechanism in a high speed food loaf slicing machine, a
`gripper mechanism that permits use with broad ranges of
`food loaf sizes and end use requirements yetfacilitates use
`with a set homeposition for the gripper for each new food
`loaf cycle.
`These and other objects of the invention are realizable
`with the present invention as described more fully herein-
`after.
`
`the improvement of the invention
`In another aspect,
`includes an automated loaf loading mechanism comprising
`a first loaf storage tray for storing a food loaf ready for
`transfer to a loaf path, and first loaf transfer means for
`moving a food loaf from the first loaf storage tray to a loaf
`path.
`In a further aspect of the invention, the improvement
`comprises a first loaf gripper, on the first loaf path, actuat-
`able between a gripping condition, in which thefirst gripper
`engages and grips the endofthefirst food loaf remote from
`the slicing station, on the first loaf path, and a release
`condition disengaged from the first loaf. There is a second
`loaf gripper, on the second loaf path, also actuatable between
`a gripping condition gripping a second food loaf and a
`release condition. The first and second grippers are actuat-
`able independently of each other.
`In yet another aspect of the invention, the improvement
`comprises an elongated barrier aligned between andparallel
`to the first and second loaf paths. Barrier displacement
`meansare provided for displacing the barrier betweena first
`position between food loaves on the food paths and a second
`position clear of food loaves on the food paths.
`In still another aspect of the invention, the improvement
`comprises a first pair of short feed conveyors engaging
`opposite sides ofa first food loaf along the portion ofthefirst
`loaf path immediately adjacent theslicing station. A second
`pair of short feed conveyors engage opposite sides of a
`second food loaf along the portion of the second loaf path
`immediately adjacent the slicing station.
`In yet a further aspect of the invention, the loaf support
`means comprises first and second aligned supports separated
`from each other, in a direction parallel to the food paths, by
`a discharge space. There is a third support movable between
`a normal closed position in which the third support fills the
`discharge space and an openposition in which the discharge
`space is open between the first and second supports. This
`improvementincludes actuating means for movingthe third
`
`5,628,237
`
`1
`SLICING MACHINE FOR TWO OR MORE
`FOOD LOAVES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
`a new and improved versatile high speed slicing machine,
`capable of slicing one, two, or more food loaves with a
`single cyclically driven knife, a slicing machine that can be
`loaded automatically or manually, that can accommodate
`food loaves having wide variations in dimensions, and that
`can vary the slice thickness and slice count for groups of
`slices simultaneously cut from different loaves.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a new and
`improved versatile high speed slicing machine having auto-
`mated loaf loading and loaf feed mechanisms that can
`handle food loaves of many different sizes and shapes.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a new and
`improved versatile high speed slicing machine incorporating
`self-correcting precision control, preferably with internal
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`5,628,237
`
`3
`support member to its open position following completion of
`slicing of a food loaf and subsequently returning the third
`support to its normal closed position.
`Asubcombinationof the invention, for use in a high speed
`slicing machine as previously referred to, is a gripper that
`comprises a sensor for sensing engagement of the gripper
`with the end ofa food loaf as the gripper moves along a food
`path toward the slicing station. The gripper includesat least
`two gripping elements each actuatable between a loaf end
`gripping position and a release position. There is also a
`gripping element actuator, responsive to the sensor, for
`actuating the gripping elements to their gripping positions
`when the sensor senses engagement with the end of a food
`loaf, and for actuating the gripping elements to their release
`positions when the gripper moves back along the food path.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In the Drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slicing machine com-
`prising a preferred embodimentof the invention, with por-
`tions of the covers on the machine base cut away to show
`typical power supply and computer enclosures;
`
`like FIG. 1, with some
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view,
`guards and covers for the loaf feed mechanism removed and
`some operating components of the loaf feed mechanism
`shownin simplified form;
`
`FIG.3 is a perspective view,like FIGS. 1 and 2, with other
`guards and covers cut away to show further operating
`components of the slicing machine, some illustrated in
`simplified form;
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic, simplified illustrations of
`operating componentsof the slicing machine of FIGS. 1-3;
`
`FIGS. 6A and 6B jointly comprise a flow chart for a
`computer control used in the slicing machine of FIGS. 1-5;
`FIGS. 7A and 7B, which fit together as shown in FIG. 7C,
`jointly afford a longitudinal section view of principal com-
`ponents of the loaf feed mechanism for the slicing machine
`of FIGS. 1-5;
`
`FIG. 8 is a detail section view, similar to FIG. 7B, of a
`portion of the loaf feed mechanism thatfeeds loaves into the
`slicing station of the machine of FIGS. 1-5;
`FIG.9 is a detail section view, on an enlarged scale, of a
`lower “short” conveyorusedin the slicing machine of FIGS.
`1-5;
`
`FIG. 10 is a plan view ofa preferred construction for a
`gripper device used in the slicing machine of FIGS. 1-5;
`
`FIGS. 11 and 12 are section views, taken approximately
`along line 11—11 in FIG. 10, showing the gripper actuated
`and unactuated, respectively;
`FIG.13 is a sectional elevation view of the automated loaf
`feed mechanism,
`taken generally as indicated by line
`13—13in FIG. 7B;
`FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation view of the manual loaf
`feed mechanism, taken at about the same location as FIG.
`13;
`
`FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a gripper used in the
`slicing machine; and
`
`FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram ofslicing level varia-
`tions in the slicing machine.
`
`15
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`A. The Basic Slicing Machine, FIGS. 1-5.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a food loaf slicing machine 50 con-
`structed in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the
`present invention. Slicing machine 50 comprises a base 51
`which, in a typical machine, may have an overall height H
`of approximately 32 inches (81 cm), an overall length L of
`about 103 inches (262 cm), and a width W of approximately
`41 inches (104 cm). Base 51 is mounted upon four fixed
`pedestals or feet 52 (three of the feet 52 appear in FIG. 1)
`and has a housing or enclosure 53 surmounted by a top 58.
`Base 51 typically affords an enclosure for a computer 54, a
`low voltage supply 55, a high voltage supply 56, and a scale
`mechanism 57. Base enclosure 53 may also include a
`pneumatic supply or a hydraulic supply, or both (not shown).
`Slicing machine 50, as seen in FIG. 1, includes a conveyor
`drive 61 utilized to drive an output conveyor/classifier
`system 64, There is a front side guard 62 extending upwardly
`from the top 58 of base 51 at the near side of the slicing
`machine 50 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A similar front side
`guard 63 appears at the opposite side of machine 50. The two
`side guards 62 and 63 extend upwardly from base top 58at
`an angle of approximately 45° and terminate at the bottom
`65 of a slicing station 66; member 65constitutes a part of the
`housing for slicing station 66, There is a conveyor/classifier
`guard (not shown) between side guards 62 and 63, below the
`bottom 65 of slicing station 66.
`The slicing machine 50 of FIG. 1 further includes a
`computer display touch screen 69 in a cabinet 67 that is
`pivotally mounted on and supported by a support 68. Sup-
`port 68 is affixed to and projects outwardly from a member
`74 that constitutes a front part of the housingofslicing head
`66. Cabinet 67 and its computer display touch screen 69 are
`pivotally mounted so that screen 69 can face either side of
`slicing machine 50, allowing machine 50 to be operated
`from either side. Cabinet 67 also serves as a support for a
`cycle start switch 71, a cycle stop switch 72, and a loaf feed
`on-off switch 73. Switches 71~73 and display/touch screen
`69 are electrically connected to computer 54 in base 51.
`The upper right-hand portion of slicing machine 50, as
`seen in FIG. 1, comprises a loaf feed mechanism 75 which,
`in machine 50, includes a manual feed from the right-hand
`(far) side of the machine and an automated feed from the
`left-hand (near) side of the machine. Loaf feed mechanism
`75 has an enclosure that includes a far-side manual loaf
`loading door 79 and a near-side automatic loaf loading door
`78. Slicing machine 50 is equipped for automated loading of
`loaves from the near-side, as seen in FIG. 1, and manual
`loading of food loaves on the far-side of the machine. It will
`be understood that automated loaf loading may be provided
`on either or both sides of the machine; the same holds true
`for manual loaf loading. Indeed, different versionsof slicing
`machine 50 may have automated loaf loading from the
`near-side and manual loading on the far-side, as shown
`herein, or can be reversed as regards the sides using manual
`and automated loading. Other versionsof slicing machine 50
`may have automated loaf loading or manual loaf loading on
`both sides of the slicing machine.
`Slicing machine 50, FIG. 1, further includes a pivotable
`upper back frame 81 and an upper back housing 82. Back
`frame 81 supports the upper ends of many of the components
`of loaf feed mechanism 75. A loaf feed guard 83 protects the
`nearside of the loaf feed mechanism 75 and shields mecha-
`nism 75 from a machine operator. There may bea similar
`guard on the opposite side of the machine. Behind loaf feed
`
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`

`5,628,237
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`5
`guard 83 there is a loaf lift tray 85 employed to load a food
`loaf into mechanism 75 during an automated loaf loading
`operation in machine 50 as describedin detail below.A fixed
`loaf storage tray, used for manual loaf loading,is located on
`the opposite side of machine 50 butis not visible in FIG. 1.
`There are some additional switches seen in FIG. 1. An
`emergency stop switch 87 for interrupting all operations of
`slicing machine 50 is mounted on the near side of loaf feed
`guard 83. There may be a similar emergency stop switch on
`the opposite side of the machine. A loaf lift switch 88 for
`initiating automated loading of a loaf from tray 85 into
`mechanism 75 is located immediately below switch 87.
`There would be a like switch on the opposite side ofslicing
`machine 50 if that side of the machine were equipped for
`automated loaf loading. An emergency stop switch 89 is
`mounted on slicing station 66 on the near-side of machine
`50, and there is a similar switch (not shown) on the opposite
`side of the slicing station. Switches 87, 88, and 89, and any
`counterparts on the opposite (far) side of slicing machine 50,
`are all electrically connected to the controls in enclosure 54.
`As shown in FIG. 1, slicing machine 50 is ready for
`operation. There is a food loaf 91 on tray 85, waiting to be
`loaded into loaf feed mechanism 75 on the near-side of
`machine 50. Two, three, or even four food loaves may be
`stored on tray 85, depending on the loaf size. A similar food
`loaf or loaves may be stored on a correspondingloaf lift tray
`on the opposite side of machine 50. Machine 50 produces a
`series of stacks 92 of food loaf slices that are fed outwardly
`of the machine, in the direction of the arrow A, by conveyor
`classifier system 64. Machine 50 also produces a series of
`stacks 93 of foodloaf slices that also move outwardly of the
`machine on its output conveyor system 64 in the direction of
`arrow A. Stack 92 is shown as comprising slices from a
`rectangular loaf, and stack 93 is made up of slices from a
`round loaf. Usually, both ofthe slice stacks 92 and 93 would
`be either round or rectangular. Stacks 92 and 93 may have
`different heights, or slice counts, and hence different
`weights; as shown they contain the same number of food
`loaf slices in each stack, but that condition can be changed.
`Both groupsofslices can be overlapping, “shingled” groups
`of slices instead of having the illustrated stacked configu-
`ration. Groups 92 and 93 must be the same in one respect;
`both must be stacks or shingle groups. Three or more loaves
`can be sliced simultaneously; slicing of two loaves is more
`common.
`
`FIG.2 illustrates the slicing machine 50 of FIG. 1 with a
`number of the covers omitted to reveal operating compo-
`nents of the automated loaf feed mechanism 75 on the
`near-side of the machine. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a
`stack/shingle conveyor drive 101 located on the near-side of
`slicing machine 50. One part of the drive for slicing station
`66 is enclosed within a support enclosure 104 on the
`near-side of machine 50. A manual slicing station rotation
`knob 103 is mounted on and projects into enclosure 104 for
`mechanical connection to the slicing station drive. At the
`opposite side ofslicing machine 50 there is an enclosure 105
`for a knife drive. Slicing station drive enclosure 104 and
`knife drive enclosure 105 extend upwardly from table top 58
`at an angle, preferably approximately 45°, corresponding to
`the angular alignment of mechanism 75. There is a manual
`knife rotation knob (not shown) on the far-side of machine
`50, corresponding to knob 103.
`A loaf tray pivot mechanism 107 is located above top 58
`of base 51 on the near-side ofslicing machine 50. Mecha-
`nism 107 is connected to and operates the automaticloaf lift
`tray 85, as described below. A similar loaf tray pivot
`mechanism may be provided on the opposite side ofslicing
`
`6
`machine 50 in a machine equipped for automated loaf
`loading from both sides.
`Slicing machine 50 includes a fixed frame pivotally
`supporting the automated feed mechanism 75 for feeding
`food loaves into slicing head 66. In the construction shown
`in FIG. 2, this fixed frame includes a pair of vertical frame
`members 111 affixed to base 51 and interconnected by two
`horizontal frame members 112 and joined to two angle
`frame members 113 (only one shows in FIG. 2). Frame
`members 111-113 are all located above the top 58 of
`machine base 51. The framefor loaf feed mechanism 75 in
`slicing machine 50 also includes a frame member 114that
`extends from the upper back frame 81 downwardly, parallel
`to frame members 113, towardslicing head 66. The upper
`back frame 81 is mounted on pivot pins between the upper
`ends of twofixed frame members 127; only one member 127
`appears in FIG. 2. All of the operating elements of the
`automated food loaf feed mechanism (see FIG. 5) are
`mounted on the back frame and are pivotally movable
`(through a small angle) relative to the fixed frame 111-113.
`A manual feed tray 115 is shownatthe far-side of slicing
`machine 50 as illustrated in FIG. 2, A similar manual feed
`tray may be located at the near-side of the machine in a
`slicing machine using manual feed from both sides of the
`machine.
`The principal support for one or more food loaves in
`mechanism 75, whether food loaf loading is being carried
`out on an automated basis or on a manual feed basis,
`includes three support components, two of which are pref-
`erably of unitary one-piece construction.At the top ofslicing
`machine 50, as seen in FIG.2, there is an upper loaf support
`tray 116 that has its upper surface aligned with the top
`surface of a lower loaf support tray 117. Supports 116 and
`117 are preferably one piece, being joined by side members
`omitted in FIG. 2 to avoid overcrowding, The gap between
`loaf supports 116 and 117 is normally filled by a loaf end
`discharge door 118; thus, members 116-118 normally afford
`a continuous loaf support surface that is the bottom for the
`two loaf paths in slicing machine 50. In FIG. 2, however,
`door 118 is shown in its open discharge position. Door 118
`is hinged at the lower edge of loaf support 116 and can be
`elevated to provide a direct, uninterrupted surface for sup-
`port of a loaf throughout mechanism 75 during most of the
`slicing operations carried out by machine 50. A textured
`upper surface is preferred for support members 116-118 to
`improve sliding movement of a food loaf along those
`support members toward slicing station 66.
`The loaf feed mechanism 75 of slicing machine 50, FIG.
`2, further includes a central barrier or divider 121. In the
`position for barrier 121 shownin FIG.2,barrier 121 is used
`to position two food loaves on supports 116-118. This
`central barrier/divider 121 is suspended from frame member
`114 by a plurality of pivotal supports 122, 123 and 124.
`During operation of slicing machine 50 divider 121 is
`elevated from the position shown in FIG. 2 (see FIGS.
`7A,7B) to permit loading of one or more food loaves onto
`the supports 116-118. Barrier 121 is also elevated during
`loaf slicing so that it will not interfere with other compo-
`nents of mechanism 75.
`
`The part of food loaf feed mechanism 75 shownin FIG.
`2 also includes a carriage 125 that is mounted upon a
`rotatable shaft 126 and a stationary shaft 128 that extend
`parallel to the loaf support 116-118 throughoutthe length of
`food loaf feed mechanism 75. Thatis, carriage 125 moves
`along shafts 126 and 128 on a path approximately parallel to
`support members 113. There is a like carriage, carriage
`shafts, and carriage drive on the far-side ofslicing machine
`50.
`
`10
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50:
`
`55
`
`65
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`7
`FIG. 3 illustrates the same slicing machine 50 that is
`shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a conceptual view showing
`additional components for loaf feed mechanism 75 and other
`parts of the slicing machine. Thus, FIG. 3 also illustrates the
`general arrangementof operating components withinslicing
`head 66, one construction that may be used for conveyor/
`classifier system 64, and the drive motors for parts of slicing
`machine 50.
`
`5,628,237
`
`8
`similar gripper mechanism (not shown) at the far side of
`slicing machine 50. Gripper 151, which is connected to
`carriage 125 (FIG. 2), may have the construction shown in
`FIG. 15, or it may use the preferred construction of FIGS.
`10-12.
`
`Loaf feed mechanism 75 further comprises a near-side
`sweep member 153 suspended from two sweep carriages
`154 which in turn are each mounted upon a pair of sweep
`support rods 155. Sweep mechanism 153-155 is employed
`on the near side of machine 50. A corresponding sweep
`mechanism (not shown) may be located onthefar side of a
`slicing machine equipped for automated loaf loading from
`both sides. A somewhat different manual food loaf load
`arrangement is used in machine 50; see FIG. 14. Sweep
`carriages 154 are driven along rods 155 by belts, not shown
`in FIG.3, as indicated by arrows B. Rods 155 are connected
`to a rotatable sweep actuator 156 for actuation thereby.
`Slicing machine 50 is intended to accommodate food
`loaves of widely varying sizes; it can even be used as a
`bacon slicer. This makes it necessary to afford a height
`adjustment for the food loaves as they move from loaf feed
`mechanism 75 into slicing head 66. In FIG. 3, this height
`adjustment, described more fully hereinafter, is generally
`indicated at 161.
`
`Referring first to conveyor/classifier system 64 at the
`left-hand (output) endof slicing machine 50, in FIG.3,it is
`seen that system 64 includes an inner stacking or receiving
`conveyor 130 located immediately below slicing head 66;
`conveyor 130 is sometimes called a “jump” conveyor in
`someversions of machine 50. From conveyor 130 groups of
`food loaf slices, stacked or shingled, are transferred to a
`decelerating conveyor 131 and then to a weighing or scale
`conveyor 132. From the scale conveyor 132 groups of food
`loaf slices move on to an outer classifier conveyor 134. On
`the far side of slicing machine 50 the sequenceis the same,
`butthat side of system 64 ends with a secondouter classifier
`conveyor 135 located next to conveyor 134; see FIG.5.
`Slicing machine 50, FIG. 3, may further include a verti-
`cally movable stacking grid 136 comprising a plurality of
`stack members joined together and interleaved one-for-one
`with the moving elements of the inner stack/receive con-
`veyor 130. Stacking grid 136 can be lowered andraised by
`Slicing machine 50 further comprises a system of short
`a stack lift mechanism 138, as shown in FIG. 3.
`conveyors for advancing food loaves from loaf feed mecha-
`Alternatively. food loaf slices may be grouped in shingled or
`nism 75into slicing head 66. The short conveyor systems are
`in stacked relationship directly on the receive/stack con-
`actually a part of loaf feed mechanism 75. FIG. 3 shows two
`veyor 130, with a series of stacking pins 137 replacing grid
`short lower loaf feed conveyors 163 and 164 on the near and
`136 (see FIG. 4). When this alternative is employed, lift
`far-sides of slicing machine 50, respectively. These short
`mechanism 138 is preferably connected directly to and is
`lower conveyors 163 and 164 are located immediately below
`used for vertical positioning of conveyor 130.
`two short upper feed conveyors 165 and 166, respectively.
`Slicing machine 50 further comprises a scale or weighing
`As used in describing conveyors 163-166, the term “short”
`grid comprisinga first plurality of scale grid elements 141
`refers to the length of the conveyorsparallel to the food loaf
`and a second similar group ofscale grid elements 142; each
`paths along support 116-118, not to the conveyor lengths
`group of grid elements is interleaved one-for-one with the
`transverse to those paths. The upper conveyor 165ofthe pair
`moving belts or like members of scale conveyor 132. Scale
`163 and 165 is displaceable so that
`the displacement
`grids 141 and 142are a part of scale mechanism 57 (see FIG.
`between conveyors 163 and 165 can be varied to accom-
`1). Ascale conveyor lift mechanism 143 is provided for and
`modate food loaves of varying height. This adjustment is
`is mechanically connected to scale conveyor 132. There is
`provided by a conveyor lift actuator 167 that urges conveyor
`no weighing mechanism associated with either of the two
`165 downwardly. A similar conveyor actuator is located on
`outputor classifier conveyors 134 and 135. However, there
`the far-side of machine 50 to adjust the height of the other
`is a classifier