Removable end weight for microtome

Abstract

A rotary blade slicer is provided. The slicer includes a housing and a carriage assembly slidably movable along the housing relative to a knife. A gauge plate is provided for setting the cutting depth. The carriage assembly movably supports a weight plate, which is slidably mounted on the carriage assembly and configured to be positioned over an upper surface of a food product to be sliced ​​by the knife. The weight plate is supported by an arm slidably mounted to the carriage assembly, wherein the weight plate is removably attached to the arm such that the weight plate can be removed from and attached to the arm without the use of any external tools.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 962,383, filed on January 17, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a rotary blade slicer, which may have manual or automatic functionality. The slicer typically includes a carriage assembly that reciprocates relative to a housing that rotatably supports a knife or cutting blade. The housing also includes a gauge plate that is movable relative to the knife, the parallel distance between the knife and the gauge plate determining the slice thickness of a food slice arranged on the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly may include a weight plate that is configured to rest on top of a food arranged on the carriage assembly and that engages the food to help keep the food resting on the carriage assembly and also slide along the gauge plate as the carriage assembly moves (either manually or automatically relative to the knife). During use, it is important to clean all parts of the slicer that interact with the food at set intervals. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A first representative embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. The embodiment includes a rotary blade slicer. The slicer includes a housing and a carriage assembly, the housing rotatably supporting a knife, the knife configured to rotate during operation of the slicer, the carriage assembly slidably movable along the housing between a first position in which the carriage assembly is located in front of the knife and a second position in which the carriage assembly is disposed above the knife. A gauge plate is adjustably mounted to the housing, the position of the gauge plate being adjustable between a position in which the gauge plate is aligned with a plane passing through the knife and a plurality of positions in which the gauge plate is positioned parallel to the plane passing through the knife, wherein a distance exists between the second plane passing through the gauge plate and the plane passing through the knife. The carriage assembly movably supports a weight plate, the weight plate being slidably mounted on the carriage assembly and configured to be disposed on an upper surface of a food product intended to be sliced ​​by the knife. The weight plate is supported by an arm that is slidably mounted to a carriage assembly, wherein the weight plate is removably attached to the arm such that the weight plate can be removed from and attached to the arm without the use of any external tools, while providing an uncomplicated set of structures that can be easily cleaned in accordance with food safety standards. The embodiments described herein address the need / problem of providing a weight plate that can be easily installed, safely operated, and easily removed (e.g., for storage or cleaning) without the use of external tools, and provides a structure that can be easily cleaned to comply with food safety standards.

[0005] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages fall within the scope of the present invention and be encompassed by the following claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a product slicer showing the weight plate in an upper position.

[0007] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Another perspective view of the product slicer showing the weight plate in the lower position.

[0008] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the arm and load plate of a product slicer.

[0009] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Exploded view of the arms, weight plates, and handles.

[0010] Figure 5 is extended through the handle and arm and engages Figure 3 A perspective view of the distal portion of the shaft of the weight plate of the component.

[0011] Figure 6 is Figure 3 A perspective view of an insert extending within the casing of a load plate.

[0012] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 End view of the insert.

[0013] Figure 8 When attached to the arm and handle Figure 5 A stereoscopic view of the distal portion of the shaft.

[0014] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Schematic diagram of Figure 6 The pin of the insert extends within the first slot of the distal portion of the shaft.

[0015] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Schematic diagram, due to the relative movement between the shaft and the insert and the load plate, the pin is arranged in the second groove.

[0016] Figure 11 The arm is removed Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Now turn Figures 1 to 11, which provides a product slicer 10. The slicer 10 has a housing 11 that serves as the outer casing of the product slicer and supports and / or encloses various known mechanical components of a reciprocating slicer (automatic or manual) and encloses various electrical components, such as motors, controllers, and other components known for conventional manual or automatic slicers 10.

[0018] In addition to the housing 11, the product slicer 10 also includes a circular knife 20 mounted on the housing 11, which rotates about a knife axis located at the center of the knife 20. Furthermore, the knife 20 has a knife cutting edge 22 located around the periphery of the knife that defines a knife cutting plane. During use, the knife 22 can be covered by a knife cover 23 to prevent injury to the end user.

[0019] The product slicer 10 has a carriage assembly 30 that is configured for reciprocating motion relative to the knife cutting edge 22 and is slidably attached to the housing 11 by a carriage assembly arm 32. The carriage assembly 30 may include a carriage assembly handle 33 that provides a gripping point for an end user, such as Figure 1 During use, the carriage assembly 30 supports the product being sliced, while reciprocating motion is provided manually by a user, or automatically by, for example, an electric motor, a pneumatic motion system, or an electromagnetic motion system.

[0020] Variability in the thickness of the sliced ​​product is achieved through the use of an adjustable gauge plate 27, the relative position of which relative to a plane passing through the cutting knife 20 can be controlled by a depth adjustment mechanism 28. The gauge plate 27 can be adjusted between a position in which the gauge plate 27 is aligned along a plane passing through the knife 20 and a position in which the gauge plate 27 is arranged parallel to but behind the knife 20, such adjustment being accomplished by rotating a knob 24. As is well known in the art, during use, an object to be sliced ​​(typically sliced ​​reciprocally) is positioned on the carriage assembly 30 such that as the carriage assembly 30 moves toward and away from the knife 20, the object contacts and slides along the gauge plate 27 toward and away from the knife 20, wherein the thickness of the object cut is determined by the parallel distance between the gauge plate 27 and the knife 20. In some embodiments, the carriage assembly can receive various types of food to be sliced ​​into a plurality of relatively thin slices, such as deli meats, cheeses, fish, potatoes, vegetables, etc.

[0021] The carriage assembly can further support a weight plate (i.e., end weight) 60, which is configured to contact the top surface of an object (as described above, typically a food item) resting on the carriage 30. The weight plate 60 is provided to exert pressure on the food item, holding it stationary as it reciprocates and engages the cutting edge 22 of the knife 20. In some embodiments, the weight plate 60 can include a plurality of engagement features 62 arranged to increase the force applied to the food item in contact therewith, further minimizing any potential movement of the food item when engaging the rotating knife edge 22. In some embodiments, the features 62 can be protrusions, spikes, a roughened surface, or other features that facilitate engagement with the food item by increasing contact friction or providing increased localized force (e.g., having small protrusions that contact the food item). The features 62 are arranged on a first surface 60a of the weight plate 60, i.e., the surface that faces and contacts the food item. A generally horizontal platform 15 can be provided to receive sliced ​​material from the carriage during operation.

[0022] The weight plate 60 can be supported by the arm 40, which in some embodiments connects the weight plate to the carriage assembly 30 via an axle 38 supported by the carriage assembly 30. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As will be appreciated, the position of the arm 40 on the shaft 38 controls the position of the weighted plate 60. The arm 40 is freely slidable along the shaft, which allows the weighted plate 60 to move down the carriage as the width of the food item decreases as slicing material is removed from the food item by successive slices via the reciprocating action of the slicer.

[0023] The arm 40 may include a first hole 41 that allows the shaft 38 to pass therethrough and a second hole 42 that allows the second shaft 80 to pass therethrough. Figure 4 ), as described below. Shaft 80 is rotatable relative to arm 40 and connects arm 40 to plate 60.

[0024] The weight plate 60 can be attached to and detached from the arm 40 by a user without using any external tools. Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the components of the load plate is depicted so that reference is made to Figure 11 Together Figures 3 to 10 It will help the reader understand the disclosed system.

[0025] The weight plate 60 is secured relative to the arm 40 by the following components, which will be discussed in further detail below. Specifically, a shaft 80 extends from the handle 50, which may include a flared / larger diameter portion 51. The shaft 80 extends through the second hole 42 in the arm 40 and into a sleeve 64 that protrudes from the second surface 60b of the weight plate 60.

[0026] The sleeve 64 extends from the rear surface 60b of the load plate 60 and includes a hole 64a extending blindly therein. The sleeve 64 supports the pin 72, which extends within the hole 64a in a direction substantially parallel to a plane 1000 passing through the width of the load plate 60, as shown in FIG. Figure 11 Depicted (pin 72 is depicted as extending in and out Figure 11 The term "substantially parallel" is specifically defined herein to mean completely parallel and within an angular range of plus or minus 5 degrees relative to parallel. In other embodiments, the pin 72 may extend at another angle relative to the plane 1000, such as 15 or 20 degrees, as long as the pin 72 extends such that it can extend over the distal portion 82 of the shaft 80 and engage within the slots 83, 84, as discussed herein.

[0027] In some embodiments, the sleeve 64 receives the insert 70 ( Figure 6 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 11 ), the insert 70 supports the pin within the sleeve 64. The insert may include one or more flat surfaces 76, and the sleeve 64 may be formed with a corresponding number and size of flat surfaces (not shown, but readily understood to be similar and complementary to the flat surfaces on the insert in the figures), such that engagement of the corresponding / complementary flat surfaces between the insert 70 and the sleeve 64 prevents relative movement therebetween. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the pin 72 can extend within a cavity (72a) within the insert 70 (to interact with the distal portion 82 of the shaft 80, as discussed below), and the pin 72 can further extend beyond the insert 70. In this embodiment, the extension portion 72b can be housed within the sleeve 64, for example, the sleeve 64 is overmolded around the pin 72 to increase the strength of the connection between the two components. In other embodiments, the insert 70 is not provided, and the sleeve 64 supports the pin 72 in the same manner as discussed herein. In embodiments where the insert 70 is disposed within the sleeve 64, the sleeve 64 supports the pin 72 by virtue of its engagement with the insert 70.

[0028] Axis Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 as well as Figure 11 The shaft 80 extends from a distal portion 81a to a proximal portion 81b. The proximal portion 81b is received within the aperture 52 in the handle 50 (at Figure 4 (shown schematically between the dashed lines within the handle 50). Figure 482z that can be accommodated relative to corresponding flat surfaces 82z of the shaft 80 (not shown, but similar to flat surfaces 82z) to prevent relative movement between the handle 50 and the shaft 80. In some embodiments, the shaft 80 and the handle 50 can be formed as a single component (rather than being an assembled component of the shaft 80 and the handle 50). In other embodiments, the shaft 80 and the weight plate 60 can be formed as a single component, wherein the pin and slot assembly described herein with reference to the sleeve 64 is instead disposed in the handle 50, such that one skilled in the art will readily understand that the ends of the shaft 80 are reversed relative to the figures, wherein the pin-slot engagement is with the handle 50 rather than with the plate 60. In such alternative embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily understand the configuration with reference to the figures and description provided herein, wherein the pin / slot engagement ends are reversed between the handle and the plate (e.g., Figure 5 The structure shown can be at the handle end or the plate end of the shaft, Figure 6-Figure 7 The structures shown are part of the receiving structure within the handle or part of the plate structure.) Having those structures associated with the different components will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, as taught by this disclosure.

[0029] The shaft includes a distal portion 81a extending to a distal end 82 that is configured to be inserted into the sleeve 64 and the insert 70 (when provided) to connect the block 60 to the handle 50 and ultimately to the carriage 30. In embodiments where the insert 70 is not provided, the distal end 82 extends directly into the sleeve 64 and the sleeve 64 is sized to matingly receive the distal end 82.

[0030] The tip 82 includes a diameter that is just smaller than the inner diameter of the hole in the insert 70 (or, if no insert is provided, the sleeve 64). The tip 82 may include a first groove 83 and a second groove 84 connected together. The first groove 83 extends through the end face 82a of the tip 82 along a specific distance along the tip and, in some embodiments, may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 1001 through the shaft 80 ( Figure 11). The second groove 84 is connected to one end of the first groove (away from the end face 82a) and extends in a direction that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis 1001. In some embodiments, the second groove 84 can extend in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1001 of the shaft 80, while in other embodiments, the second groove 84 can extend at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis 1001, for example, in the range of 45 degrees to 135 degrees, including all angles within this range, for example, 70 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees, 85 degrees, 95 degrees, 100 degrees, 105 degrees, 110 degrees with the longitudinal axis 1001. In some embodiments, the second groove can extend between approximately 65 degrees and approximately 135 degrees, including all values ​​within this range. In some embodiments, the second groove 84 can extend in a constant direction, while in other embodiments, the second groove 84 can be curved along its length (i.e., have different angles with the longitudinal axis 1001 along its length).

[0031] The second slot 84 may have a first portion that intersects the end of the first slot 83, such that the pin 72 that travels along the first slot 83 and reaches the end of the first slot enters the second slot 84. Both the first and second slots 83, 84 may be just wider than the diameter of the pin 72 to restrict movement of the pin 72 relative to the distal end portion 82 of the shaft 80 (and thus restrict movement of the sleeve 64 (or insert 70) relative to the shaft 80). Figures 8-11 As can be better understood, when the weight plate 60 is assembled to the arm 40 (and shaft 80), the weight plate 60 is positioned so that the hole in the sleeve 64 and / or insert 70 is aligned with the end 82 of the distal portion 81b of the shaft 80, so that the axes of the two components are aligned. The weight plate 60 is arranged in a rotational position in which the pin 72 supported by the insert 70 is aligned with the opening in the first slot 83. In some embodiments, the shaft 80 (or handle 50) and the sleeve 64 or weight plate 60 can have alignment markings to help the user position the two components into their aligned position.

[0032] Once the weight plate 60 is aligned with the shaft 80, the end 82 is pushed into the insert 70 so that the pin 72 can selectively extend therein until it passes through the first slot 83. With sufficient movement, the pin 72 reaches one end of the first slot 83 and thus the end 82 cannot be pushed further into the insert 70 (at least only in the direction of the longitudinal axis 1001). In some embodiments, the shaft 80 includes a disc 86 that contacts the bottom end of the sleeve 64 when the pin reaches one end of the first slot 83, as shown in FIG. Figure 11 After the pin 72 reaches one end of the first slot 83 (when the user feels the disc 86 contact the sleeve 64, or when no resistance to further movement exists due to the engagement of the pin 72 with the bottom end wall of the first slot 83), the load plate 60 can be moved in the first direction X (from Figure 9The weight plate 60 is rotated clockwise (from a top view perspective in FIG. 1 ) to allow the pin 72 to travel along the second slot 84. The second slot extends around the outside of the outer circumference of the end 82 of the shaft 80. The weight plate 60 can continue to rotate in the first direction X until it reaches one end of the second slot. This establishes a connection between the weight plate 60 and the shaft 80, the handle 50, and the arm 40.

[0033] In some embodiments, the second slot 84 can have an arc length that allows the pin to pass through the second slot 84 with approximately 90 degrees of rotation, while in other embodiments, the second slot 84 can allow approximately 180 degrees of rotation, and in still other embodiments, the second slot 84 can have an arc length between these two values, including all values ​​therein. The term "approximately" is specifically defined herein to include the reference value and plus or minus 2.5 degrees based on the reference value.

[0034] In some embodiments, the shaft 80 can be positioned so that when the pin 72 is at the end of the extended end of the second slot 84 (i.e., the end opposite the end where it meets the first slot 83), the weight of the deadbolt plate 60, due to gravity, forces the pin 72 into the extended end of the second slot 84, which tends to maintain the deadbolt plate 60 in the desired orientation (i.e., the orientation of the pin 72 at the extended end). When the user desires to remove the deadbolt plate 60 from the shaft 80 and arm 40, the user rotates the deadbolt plate 60 in the Y direction (opposite to the X direction), which causes the pin 72 to pass through the second slot 84 and move toward the first slot 83 while applying some outward force. When the pin 72 reaches the first slot 83, the outward force will cause the pin 72 to move through the first slot 83 until it is released, allowing the distal end 82 of the shaft 80 to be withdrawn from the sleeve 64.

[0035] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure should not be limited except in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. In addition, the advantages described herein are not necessarily the only advantages of the present disclosure, and it is not necessarily expected that every embodiment of the present disclosure will achieve all of the advantages described.

Claims

1. A rotary blade slicer comprising: a housing rotatably supporting a knife configured to rotate during operation of the microtome; a carriage assembly slidably movable along the housing between a first position in which the carriage assembly is forward of the knife and a second position in which the carriage assembly is disposed over the knife; a gauge plate adjustably mounted to the housing, the position of the gauge plate being adjustable between a position in which the gauge plate is aligned with a plane passing through the tool and a plurality of positions in which the gauge plate is positioned parallel to the plane passing through the tool, wherein a distance exists between a second plane passing through the gauge plate and the plane passing through the tool; The carriage assembly movably supports a weight plate, the weight plate being slidably mounted on the carriage assembly and configured to be disposed on an upper surface of a food product intended to be sliced ​​by a knife; the weight plate being supported by an arm slidably mounted to a carriage assembly, wherein the weight plate is removably attached to the arm such that the weight plate can be removed from and attached to the arm without the use of any external tools; The rotary blade slicer further includes a handle rotatably connected to the weight plate, wherein the handle supports a shaft, the shaft including a distal portion extending out of the handle and a proximal portion disposed within the handle, wherein the distal portion includes a slot, the slot having a first slot portion and a second slot portion, the first slot portion extending from the distal end face substantially along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the second slot portion extending at an angle relative to the first slot portion, wherein the first slot portion and the second slot portion are connected, wherein the bobbin plate includes a first surface configured to contact and rest on an upper surface of a food item and an opposing rear surface, wherein the rear surface includes a sleeve extending therefrom, wherein the sleeve supports a pin extending blindly within a hole in the sleeve, wherein the pin extends substantially parallel to a plane passing through the bobbin plate, Wherein the sleeve supports an insert, wherein the insert supports the pin, wherein the insert includes a plurality of flat surfaces and the sleeve includes a corresponding plurality of flat surfaces to prevent relative rotation between the insert and the sleeve.

2. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the second groove portion is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first groove portion, wherein the second groove portion extends to an outer surface of the distal end portion of the shaft.

3. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 2, wherein: The first trough portion transitions to the second trough portion via a curved portion.

4. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 2, wherein: The second groove portion extends from the first groove portion and surrounds a portion of an outer circumference of the shaft.

5. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 4, wherein: The second groove portion extends approximately 180 degrees of the outer circumference of the shaft.

6. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 4, wherein: The second slot portion extends along an arcuate length between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees of the outer circumference of the shaft.

7. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 1, wherein The proximal portion of the shaft includes one or more flat surfaces, and the handle includes a hole for receiving the shaft, the hole including corresponding one or more flat surfaces to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the shaft.

8. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 1, wherein The pin selectively extends into the slot when the shaft extends into the sleeve.

9. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 8, wherein: With the shaft extending into the sleeve, the pin selectively extends into the slot when the shaft is arranged in a rotational position where the first slot portion is aligned with the pin.

10. The rotary blade slicer of claim 9 , wherein when the first slot portion is aligned with the pin, movement of the shaft into the sleeve causes the pin to travel along the first slot portion, wherein when the pin reaches an end of the first slot portion, the shaft and the handle are rotatable in a first direction to cause the pin to move in the first direction within the second slot portion.

11. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 10, wherein: The handle is rotated in the opposite direction to the second direction, which moves the pin in the second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby causing the pin to move in the second slot portion toward the first slot portion. When the pin is aligned with the first slot portion, the shaft and handle can be pulled out of the sleeve.

12. A rotary blade slicer comprising: a housing rotatably supporting a knife configured to rotate during operation of the microtome; a carriage assembly slidably movable along the housing between a first position in which the carriage assembly is forward of the knife and a second position in which the carriage assembly is disposed over the knife; a gauge plate adjustably mounted to the housing, the position of the gauge plate being adjustable between a position in which the gauge plate is aligned with a plane passing through the tool and a plurality of positions in which the gauge plate is positioned parallel to the plane passing through the tool, wherein a distance exists between a second plane passing through the gauge plate and the plane passing through the tool; The carriage assembly movably supports a weight plate, the weight plate being slidably mounted on the carriage assembly and configured to be disposed on an upper surface of a food product intended to be sliced ​​by a knife; the weight plate being supported by an arm slidably mounted to a carriage assembly, wherein the weight plate is removably attached to the arm such that the weight plate can be removed from and attached to the arm without the use of any external tools; a handle rotatably connected to the weight plate via a shaft, the shaft configured to simultaneously engage the handle and the plate, wherein a first end portion of the shaft includes a slot, the slot having a first slot portion and a second slot portion, the first slot portion extending from an end face of the shaft substantially along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the second slot portion extending at an angle relative to the first slot portion, wherein the first slot portion and the second slot portion are connected; wherein a portion of the second groove portion is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first groove portion, wherein the second groove portion extends to an outer surface of an end face of the shaft, wherein a first end of the shaft is engaged with one of the handle or the weight plate and an opposite end of the shaft is engaged with the other of the handle or the weight plate; wherein the engagement with the handle or the weight plate comprises a pin extending into a hole in the handle or weight plate and being received in a slot, wherein the bobbin plate includes a first surface configured to contact and rest on an upper surface of a food item and an opposing rear surface, wherein the rear surface includes a sleeve extending therefrom, wherein the sleeve supports a pin extending blindly within a hole in the sleeve, wherein the pin extends substantially parallel to a plane passing through the bobbin plate, Wherein the sleeve supports an insert, wherein the insert supports the pin, wherein the insert includes a plurality of flat surfaces and the sleeve includes a corresponding plurality of flat surfaces to prevent relative rotation between the insert and the sleeve.

13. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 12, wherein: The first trough portion transitions to the second trough portion via a curved portion.

14. The rotary blade slicer according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The second groove portion extends from the first groove portion and surrounds a portion of an outer circumference of the shaft.

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