Food slicer and associated belt tensioner

Abstract

A food slicer includes: a base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge; a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocating motion back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife; and the driving assembly is used for moving the bracket. The drive assembly includes a movable belt and a member secured to the belt for movement with the belt, where the member is associated with the carriage such that movement of the member with the belt causes movement of the carriage. The component is configured to operate as a belt tensioner that includes a non-linear path through which a portion of the belt passes to tension the belt.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates generally to a food slicer commonly used for slicing large-volume food products, and more particularly to a belt tensioner in such a food slicer. Background Art

[0002] A common reciprocating food slicer has a rotatable circular or disc-shaped slicing blade, an adjustable gauge plate for determining slice thickness, and a carriage for supporting the food as it moves back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife during slicing. It is usually connected to a drive motor via a belt to drive the carriage back and forth during an automatic slicing operation performed by the slicer's controller. Existing slicers may have some type of belt tensioner, such as an adjustable pulley and shaft assembly that can adjust the spacing between the pulleys around which the belt extends. However, it is difficult to adjust this system to achieve proper belt tension. Improper tensioning can result in belt slippage (undertension) or shorter belt / bearing / system life (overtension). Additional tools and complexity are often required to achieve proper bolt torque or ensure proper belt tension.

[0003] In other environments outside of slicers, it is known to utilize special torsion springs that engage the belt and move with the belt. However, the large forces and accelerations generated during movement of the food slicer carriage are not conducive to the use of such torsion spring tensioners.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a slicer having an improved belt tensioner. Summary of the invention

[0005] In one aspect, a food slicer includes: a base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base; and a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past a cutting edge of the knife. A drive is associated with the carriage assembly to move the carriage assembly, wherein the drive includes a belt and a belt tensioner configured to provide a non-linear path through which a portion of the belt passes to tension the belt.

[0006] In an embodiment, the belt tensioner includes a clamping assembly.

[0007] In another aspect, a food slicer includes: a base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge; a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; and a drive assembly for moving the carriage. The drive assembly includes a movable belt and a component fixed to the belt for movement with the belt, wherein the component is associated with the carriage so that movement of the component with the belt causes movement of the carriage. The component is configured to operate as a belt tensioner, the belt tensioner including a non-linear path through which a portion of the belt passes to tension the belt.

[0008] In another aspect, a food slicer includes: a base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge; a bracket mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; and a drive assembly for moving the bracket. The drive assembly includes a movable belt and a component clamped to the belt for movement with the belt. The component is associated with the bracket so that movement of the component with the belt causes movement of the bracket. The configuration of the clamping engagement of the component on the belt is such that the belt is tensioned by the clamping engagement, and such that releasing the clamping engagement of the component on the belt reduces the tension of the belt.

[0009] In yet another aspect, a method for tensioning a belt in a food slicer including a carriage mounted to reciprocate back and forth past a cutting edge of a knife is provided. The method includes contacting the carriage so that the carriage moves with the belt by clamping a member to the belt to force a portion of the belt to follow a non-linear path, thereby tensioning the belt while the portion of the belt follows the non-linear path. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A food slicer is shown;

[0011] Figure 3 A food slicer is shown with the body removed to reveal the internal components;

[0012] Figure 4 and Figure 5 A view showing a belt drive assembly;

[0013] Figures 6 to 9 The connection to the belt is shown;

[0014] Figures 10 to 13 A clamping assembly is shown making the connection; and

[0015] Figures 14 to 16 Alternative arrangements are shown in which the non-linear shape of the clamping assembly is different. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] See also Figures 1 to 13 , food slicer 10 includes a housing or base 12 and a motor-driven circular slicing knife 14 mounted to the housing for rotation about an axis 16 . Figure 2 Depicted is a right side view of the microtome. Figure 2 The left side of the slicer (where the controls are located) is often referred to as the front side of the slicer (where the operator stands while slicing). Figure 2 The right side of the slicer is generally referred to as the back side of the slicer. The food may be supported on a manually operable (or motor-driven) food support 20 that moves the food to be sliced ​​past the cutting edge 14a of the rotating slicing knife 14. The food support 20 is located relative to the Figure 2 Reciprocating along a linear path from left to right causes the lower end of the bulky food to slide along the surface of the gauge plate 22, be cut by the knife 14, and then slide along the knife cover plate 24. The gauge plate system includes a rotatable knob 40 that is associated with it to adjust the position of the gauge plate for slice thickness control.

[0017] The food tray 20 includes a tray mounted on a tray arm 26, which orients the tray of the food tray at an appropriate angle (usually perpendicular) to the plane of the knife cutting edge. The arm of the food tray reciprocates in a slot 28 in the lower portion of the housing 12. The tray 20 can be automatically driven. Here, an internal motor 30 drives a belt 32, which follows an annular path and can include teeth 35 (only some of which are shown here), wherein the belt is internally connected to a tubular conveying portion 34, which is connected to the arm 26 and the tubular conveying portion is spanned along a slide bar 36. In particular, the motor 30 moves an output belt 38 to rotate a gear 42, which in turn includes a drive pulley 44 engaged with the belt 32, and the belt 32 also extends around a spaced-apart idle pulley 46. In an embodiment, the spacing between the axes of the pulleys can be between about 400 mm and 500 mm, such as between about 430 mm and 470 mm.

[0018] The conveying portion 34 is coupled to the belt 32 by a belt connector 50 so as to move with the belt. In this case, the belt connector also operates as a belt tensioner. To this end, the belt connector 50 is formed as a clamping assembly 52 that defines a non-linear path 54 of the belt portion engaged with the clamping assembly. The clamping assembly includes a bracket segment 52a that is integral with or fixed to the conveying portion 34 and a clamping plate 52b connected to the bracket segment 52a, so that a portion of the belt 32 is squeezed between the clamping plate 52b and the bracket segment 52a and the belt assumes the shape of the non-linear path. With the belt 32 already wrapped around the pulley in the manner taught (e.g., no material slack in the belt), the clamping plate 52b is connected to the bracket segment 52a using a fastener 56. When the clamp moves closer to the support section 52a according to arrow 60, the belt 32 is pushed / moved by the protruding portion 52b1 of the clamp 52b into the recessed portion 52a1 of the support section 52a according to arrow 62, causing the belt to begin to present the shape of a non-linear path 54, which increases the total length traveled by the belt 32 and automatically tensions the belt 32. When the clamp 52b reaches the final position on the support section 52a, the tensioning is completed.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the nonlinear path 54 is a V-shape or a U-shape in side profile. Steeper or shallower V-shapes or U-shapes are possible. Other shapes are also possible. For example, the nonlinear path can be an arc or other curved path, or the nonlinear shape can be any wavy path including one or more wavy shapes.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the nonlinear path 54 is defined between the protruding portion 52b1 of the clamp plate 52b and the recessed portion 52a1 of the bracket segment 52a. However, the protruding portion may be on the bracket segment 52a and the recessed portion may be on the clamp plate 52b, or both the bracket segment 52a and the clamp plate 52b may include both the protruding portion and the recessed portion that are aligned and correspond to each other to define the nonlinear path 54 in combination.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the projection 52b1 includes a series of teeth 64 which engage the surface of the belt to assist in the clamping operation. However, in other embodiments, the teeth may be omitted.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the non-linear path that causes the belt to be tensioned is formed as a clamping assembly to engage the belt. However, in other embodiments, the non-linear path can be a fixed path, and the belt is manually engaged (e.g., by manual guidance) into the fixed path without any clamping operation.

[0023] In an embodiment, the belt tensioner is configured such that approximately 10-15 pounds of tension is applied to the belt, such as approximately 12-14 pounds of tension.

[0024] In an embodiment, the total length L54 of the non-linear path 54 is at least 4% longer than the linear path L that the belt portion would normally follow if not guided along the non-linear path.

[0025] In an embodiment, during movement of the carriage, the segment 32a of the belt may move along a substantially linear path 33, and the clamped portion 32b of the belt is positioned along the segment 32a. The non-linear path is configured such that at least a portion of the portion 32b of the belt deviates from the linear path by a distance D1 of at least 4 mm (e.g., at least 5 mm, or at least 6 mm, or at least 7 mm, or at least 8 mm, such as between 8 mm and 12 mm). For the purpose of determining such distance D1, a measurement may be taken from the midpoint of the thickness of the clamped belt portion to the midpoint of the thickness of the unclamped belt portion.

[0026] It should be clearly understood that the above description is for the purpose of illustration and example only and not for the purpose of limitation. Changes may be made. For example, Figures 14 to 16 An alternative arrangement is shown in which the non-linear path 54' is shaped slightly differently and the belt engaging teeth 64' are formed on the bracket segment 52a.

Claims

1. A food slicer, comprising: Base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge; a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocating movement back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife; a drive assembly for moving the carriage, wherein the drive assembly includes a movable belt and a component fixed to the belt to move with the belt, wherein the component is associated with the carriage so that movement of the component with the belt causes movement of the carriage, wherein the component is configured to operate as a belt tensioner, the belt tensioner including a non-linear path through which a portion of the belt passes to tension the belt.

2. The food slicer according to claim 1, wherein: The components include a clamping assembly.

3. The food slicer of claim 2, wherein: The clamping assembly includes a protruding portion and a recessed portion that together are configured to define a shape that defines at least a portion of the non-linear path.

4. The food slicer of claim 3, wherein: At least one of the protruding portion and the recessed portion includes a plurality of teeth that engage the portion of the belt.

5. The food slicer of claim 3, wherein: The nonlinear path has a U-shape or a V-shape.

6. The food slicer of claim 2, wherein: The clamping assembly engages the portion of the belt to couple the carriage to the drive assembly.

7. The food slicer of claim 6, wherein: The clamping assembly includes a first portion fixed to a delivery portion connected to a bracket and a second portion clamped to the first portion.

8. The food slicer of claim 7, wherein: The conveying portion is a tubular portion that moves along the slide bar.

9. The food slicer of claim 1, wherein: During movement of the carriage, the segment of the belt is capable of moving along a substantially linear path, wherein the portion of the belt is positioned along the segment of the belt, wherein the non-linear path is configured such that at least a portion of the portion of the belt deviates from the linear path by at least 4 mm.

10. The food slicer of claim 1, wherein: The non-linear path is configured at least in part as a wavy path that forces the portion of the belt to assume a corresponding wavy shape.

11. A food slicer, comprising: Base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge; a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocating movement back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife; A drive assembly for moving the carriage, wherein the drive assembly includes a movable belt and a component clamped to the belt for movement with the belt, wherein the component is connected to the carriage so that movement of the component with the belt causes movement of the carriage, and wherein the configuration of the clamping engagement of the component on the belt is such that the belt is tensioned by the clamping engagement and such that releasing the clamping engagement of the component on the belt reduces the tension in the belt.

12. The food slicer of claim 11, wherein: During movement of the carriage, the section of the belt may be movable along a substantially linear path, wherein the clamping engagement of the member on the belt deflects at least a portion of the belt from the linear path by at least 4 mm.

13. The food slicer of claim 11, wherein: The clamping engagement of the member on the belt forces at least a portion of the belt to bend into a wave-like shape.

14. A method of tensioning a belt in a food slicer including a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion past a cutting edge of a knife, the method comprising: The carriage is associated with the belt for movement therewith by clamping a member to the belt to force a portion of the belt to follow a non-linear path, thereby tensioning the belt while the portion of the belt follows the non-linear path.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: During movement of the carriage, the section of the belt may be movable along a substantially linear path, wherein clamping of the component on the belt causes at least a portion of the belt to deviate from the linear path by at least 4 mm.

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