Food slicer and slicer system

Abstract

A food slicer system, comprising a food slicer, the food slicer comprising: a base; a knife mounted to rotate relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife; and a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position in which slicing is prevented and a plurality of open positions in which slicing at respective thicknesses is permitted. The base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed region at a sliced food falling side of the knife. A tray is removably positionable in the recessed region and has a bin portion for collecting food slices and an upper mating portion extending outwardly from the bin and overlapping the upper surface region of the housing. In an embodiment, the system includes a weighing scale that can be interchanged with a tray.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application generally relates to a food slicer commonly used for slicing large-volume foods, and more particularly to a modular food slicer adapted to be used with different companion components. Background Art

[0002] A typical reciprocating food slicer has a rotatable circular or disk-shaped slicing blade, an adjustable gauge plate for determining the slice thickness, and a carriage for supporting the food as it moves back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife during slicing. The carriage can be coupled to a drive motor to drive it back and forth during an automatic slicing operation performed by the controller of the slicer and / or manual carriage operation can be performed. The gauge plate is positioned along the cutting edge towards the front of the slicing stroke and is laterally movable relative to the knife to determine the thickness of the slice to be cut. A rotatable adjustment or indexing handle is provided for manually setting the spacing between the plane of the gauge plate surface and the plane of the cutting edge of the knife for slicing, such that the operator can select the thickness of the slices to be produced. Such a slicer typically has a base with a surface area on the back side of the knife where the sliced food falls or a food collection paper is placed to collect the food.

[0003] An existing slicer includes a base configured to have a corner section cutout in the area where the sliced food falls. This enables a food collection tray to be placed in the cutout area to collect the food. The food collection tray is formed by a peripheral edge forming a moderate edge recess and a tray base extending upward from the recess by about 1 inch. The collection tray rests on the surface supporting the slicer without engaging the slicer for position retention.

[0004] There is a desire to provide a slicer with modular features that are more useful in the slicer operating environment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one aspect, a food slicer system includes a food slicer that includes: a base; a knife mounted to rotate relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; and a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position preventing slicing and a plurality of open positions allowing slicing at a corresponding thickness, wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at the sliced food falling side of the knife. The system further includes a tray removably positioned in the recessed area and having a bin portion for collecting food slices and an upper mating portion extending outward from the bin and overlapping the upper surface area of the housing.

[0006] In another aspect, a food slicer system includes a food slicer that comprises: a base; a knife mounted to rotate relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; and a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that permit slicing at a corresponding thickness, wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at the sliced food drop side of the knife. The system further includes a weighing scale removably positioned within the recessed area for collecting and weighing food slices, wherein the weighing scale includes controls that are connected via a communication link to the controls of the food slicer.

[0007] In yet another aspect, a food slicer system includes a food slicer that comprises: a base; a knife mounted to rotate relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; and a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that permit slicing at a corresponding thickness, wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at the sliced food drop side of the knife. The system further includes a food collection tray and a weighing scale. The food collection tray is removably positionable within the recessed area to establish a first slicer system configuration, and the weighing scale is removably positionable within the recessed area to establish a second slicer system configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the food slicer;

[0009] Figures 3 to 4 shows a view of the food slicer system including the food slicer and the tray;

[0010] Figures 5 to 6 shows a view of the tray alone;

[0011] Figures 7A to 7B and Figures 8 to 9 shows Figures 3 to 4 a partial view of the system;

[0012] Figure 10 shows a food slicer system including the food slicer and the weighing scale; and

[0013] Figure 11 shows a food slicer system including the food slicer and a deep hopper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Reference Figures 1 to 2, the food slicer 10 includes a base 12 and a motor-driven circular slicing blade 14 which is mounted to the base to rotate about an axis 16. Figure 1 The left side (where the controls are located and where the operator is located during slicing) is generally referred to as the front side of the slicer (i.e., the position where the operator stands to perform slicing), and Figure 1 the right side is generally referred to as the rear side of the slicer. The food can be supported on a manually operable (or motor-driven) food carriage 20 which moves the food to be sliced past the cutting edge 14a of the rotating slicing blade 14. The food carriage 20 reciprocates along a linear path Figure 1 from left to right such that the lower end of a large volume of food slides along the surface of the gauge plate 22, is cut by the blade 14, and then slides along the knife cover plate 24. The food carriage 20 includes a tray mounted on a tray arm 26 which orients the tray of the food carriage at an appropriate angle (typically perpendicular) to the plane of the knife cutting edge. The arm of the food carriage reciprocates in a slot 28 in the lower part of the outer housing 12a of the base 12. The carriage 20 can be moved manually (e.g., by a handle) and / or can also be driven automatically (e.g., by an internal motor 30 which drives a belt internally coupled to the arm). The gauge plate system includes a rotatable handle 40 (connected to an opening in the base 12) which includes a gripping portion 40a and an internal cam portion coupled to the gauge plate 22 such that rotation of the handle 40 effects movement of the gauge plate relative to the plane of the cutting edge 14a to adjust the slice thickness. Typically, the gauge plate 22 moves along an axis parallel to the axis 16 such that the food contact surface of the gauge plate 22 remains substantially parallel to the plane of the cutting edge 14a.

[0015] The base 12 is shaped to define a recessed corner region 12b on the side where the sliced food from the knife 14 falls, and this region 12b is bounded on two sides by outer surface portions of the housing 12a. This recessed corner region 12a is an area where the base 12 is absent and enables the food slicer 10 to be used in a modular manner, thereby resulting in various food slicer system configurations. Variations can be made, such as a U-shaped recessed area bounded on three sides by outer surface portions of the housing.

[0016] Reference Figures 3 to 9, in one embodiment, a food slicer system includes a food slicer 10 combined with a removable tray 50. The tray can be removably positioned in the recessed corner area 12b and has a bin portion 52 for collecting food slices and an upper mating portion 54 that extends outward from the bin 52 and overlaps the upper surface area of the housing 12a. Here, the housing 12a includes an upwardly extending knife mounting portion 12a1, and the upper mating portion 54 of the tray 50 includes a retaining section 54a that extends into the gap 60 between the upwardly extending knife mounting portion 12a1 of the housing and the knife 14, and the shape of the retaining section 54a is at least partially conformable to the shape of the upwardly extending knife mounting portion 12a1 of the housing 12a. The housing 12a also includes an upwardly extending bracket support portion 12a2. At least a portion of the bracket support portion 12a2 (e.g., the portion near the rear side of the food slicer) is opposite at least a portion of the knife mounting portion 12a1 to define a channel-shaped area 12c of the housing, and the retaining section 54a is shaped to conform to the channel-shaped area 12c. Here, the channel-shaped area and the retaining section 54a are generally V-shaped, but can vary. The mating configuration of the retaining section 54a with the housing 12 provides a nested arrangement of the shape of the upper mating portion 54 with the upper side surface of the slicer housing and helps to correctly position and retain the tray in the desired position during the food slicing operation.

[0017] In addition, the upper mating portion 54 of the tray includes a food debris collection section 54b that is channel-shaped and spaced from the bin 52, and the food debris collection section is positioned below the area 14b of the knife 14 from which food debris falls during the slicing operation. Here, the channel-shaped configuration enables the collection section 54b to better collect and hold food debris. Ideally, this provides a configuration where the section 54b collects small food debris and keeps the food debris separate from the food slices that fall into the bin 52.

[0018] As can be seen from the above, the upper mating portion 54 of the tray 50 includes a section 54c that extends upward along some portions of the knife mounting portion 12a1 of the housing and conforms to these portions and a section 54d that extends upward along some portions of the bracket support portion 12a2 and conforms to these portions. Here, the section 54d together with the flat portion between the sections 54c and 54d has a length L54d that extends along most of the front-to-back length L12a2 of the bracket support portion or the base itself (e.g., at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%).

[0019] In certain embodiments, the food slicer 10 can be mounted on a surface such that the depth of the bin 50 extends below the bottom plane 10a of the food slicer (e.g., where the bottom plane is defined by the support feet 11 on the slicer). Figure 11An example of such an arrangement is schematically shown, where the support feet 11 are located on a raised support structure 13 on top of the tabletop or other support surface 15, and the hopper 50 is also located on the tabletop 15. The support structure 13 can also be formed as part of a cart structure on which the slicer is located, and its height can be adjustable. In another embodiment, the tabletop or support surface 15 itself can be specifically formed with a lowered corner section that aligns with the recessed corners of the food slicer, thus allowing for a lower hopper arrangement.

[0020] Now referring to Figure 10 , in another embodiment, the food slicer system includes a food slicer 10 combined with a weighing scale 70. The weighing scale 70 is removably positioned within the recessed corner area such that the weighing pan 72 of the scale collects and weighs the food slices as they are cut. The weighing scale 70 includes a controller 80 that is connected via a communication link to the controller 100 of the food slicer 10. The communication link can be a hardwired link 82 from the weighing scale to the food slicer or a wireless link 84 from the weighing scale to the food slicer. As used herein, the term controller is intended to broadly cover any circuit (e.g., solid state, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuit, combinatorial logic circuit, field programmable gate array (FPGA)) that performs the control function of the machine or any of its components, a processor (e.g., shared, dedicated, or group, including hardware or software that executes code), software, firmware, and / or other components, or a combination of some or all of the above.

[0021] It should be clearly understood that the above description is for illustrative and example purposes only and not for purposes of limitation. Variations can be made.

Claims

1. A food slicer system, comprising: A food slicer, comprising: Base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that allow slicing at respective thicknesses; wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at a side of the knife from which the sliced ​​food falls; A tray is removably positioned in the recessed area and has a bin portion for collecting food slices and an upper mating portion extending outwardly from the bin and overlapping an upper surface area of ​​the housing.

2. The food slicer according to claim 1, wherein: The recessed area is configured as an inset corner area which is bounded on only two sides by surface portions of the housing in a top plan view.

3. The food slicer system of claim 1, wherein: The shell includes an upwardly extending knife mounting portion, wherein the upper mating portion of the tray includes a retaining section extending into a gap between the knife mounting portion of the shell and the knife, wherein the shape of the retaining section is at least partially conformal to the shape of the upwardly extending knife mounting portion of the shell.

4. The food slicer system of claim 3, wherein: The housing includes an upwardly extending bracket support portion, wherein at least a portion of the bracket support portion opposes at least a portion of the knife mounting portion to define a slotted area of ​​the housing, wherein the retention section is shaped to conform to the slotted area.

5. The food slicer system of claim 1, wherein: The upper mating portion of the tray at least partially nests with an upper surface shape defined by an upper surface area of ​​the housing.

6. The food slicer of claim 5, wherein: The upper mating portion of the tray is channel-shaped.

7. The food slicer system of claim 1, wherein: The upper mating portion of the tray includes a food crumb collection section that is spaced apart from the bin and positioned below an area of ​​the knife from which food crumbs fall during a slicing operation so as to collect the food crumbs and keep them separate from food slices that fall into the bin.

8. The food slicer system of claim 1, wherein: The shell includes an upwardly extending knife mounting portion and an upwardly extending bracket support portion, wherein the upper mating portion of the tray includes a first section and a second section, the first section extending upward along a portion of the knife mounting portion of the shell and conforming to the portion, and the second section extending upward along a portion of the bracket support portion and conforming to the portion.

9. The food slicer system of claim 8, wherein: The length of the second section extends along a majority of the front-to-back length of the bracket support portion.

10. The food slicer system of claim 1, wherein: The food slicer is mounted on a surface such that the depth of the bin extends below the bottom plane of the food slicer.

11. The food slicer system of claim 1 , further comprising: A weighing scale is removably positionable within the recessed area for collecting and weighing food slices when the tray is removed from the recessed area.

12. The food slicer of claim 11, wherein: The weigh scale includes a controller that is connected to a controller of the food slicer via a communication link when the weigh scale is positioned in the recessed area.

13. A food slicer system comprising: A food slicer, comprising: Base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that allow slicing at respective thicknesses; wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at a side of the knife from which the sliced ​​food falls; A weighing scale is removably positionable within the recessed area for collecting and weighing food slices, wherein the weighing scale includes a controller connected to a controller of the food slicer via a communication link.

14. The food slicer system of claim 13, wherein: The communication link includes one of a hardwire link from the weigh scale to the food slicer or a wireless link from the weigh scale to the food slicer.

15. A food slicer system comprising: A food slicer, comprising: Base; a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement past the cutting edge of the knife; a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that allow slicing at respective thicknesses; wherein the base includes an outer housing and further includes a recessed area at a side of the knife from which the sliced ​​food falls; Food collection trays; Weighing scales; wherein the food collection tray is removably positionable in the recessed area to establish a first slicer system configuration; Wherein the weighing scale is removably positionable in the recessed area to establish a second microtome system configuration.

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